Chapter 5 MAIN TARGET

Morning sunlight filtered weakly through the tall glass windows of St. Havens Hospital, but Nora Daniels didn't feel it. Her body ached from yesterday's endless work, and her eyes still burned from crying herself to sleep on the thin mattress she shared with Maya at her apartment.

She had barely rested three hours before she was back on her feet, hurrying into the hospital's buzzing corridors. Every step echoed with nerves.

The other interns were already gathered near the surgical ward, chatting in clusters. Their voices lowered the moment Nora approached, like the air shifted with her presence. She tried to keep her head down, but she could feel it-eyes trailing her, whispers rippling just out of reach.

"She stayed all night again."

"Maybe that's why Dr. Cole is always on her case."

"No, I heard it's the opposite. He only picks on her because she probably turned him down."

"Or maybe... she said yes, and now he's punishing her in public so people won't notice."

"Come on, look at her. She doesn't even look like she belongs here. Bet she got in through connections."

The words slithered into Nora's ears like poison. She clenched her fists tight against her sides, fighting the urge to defend herself. She couldn't. If she opened her mouth, it would only add more fuel.

Maya pushed through the crowd, frowning hard. "Ignore them," she whispered fiercely, sliding to Nora's side. "They're just jealous. You're not doing anything wrong."

But Nora's heart was already sinking. She could endure the exhaustion. She could endure the humiliation. But being painted as something she wasn't-it clawed at her chest like sharp nails.

The whispers cut off instantly when Adrian Cole arrived. His tall frame moved through the corridor like gravity itself bent for him. His silver-gray eyes scanned the room, and just like that, silence took over.

He didn't even glance at the interns when he spoke. His voice was calm, controlled. "Today, one of you will assist me in surgery."

Gasps spread. This was rare. Head surgeons didn't usually let interns step foot inside such complex procedures-not unless they were exceptional.

Everyone straightened, some even puffing their chests, desperate to be chosen.

But then Adrian's eyes locked on Nora.

"Daniels."

The name cracked through the air like a whip.

Nora's heart stopped. Her knees threatened to give out beneath her. She could feel the room shift-the envious stares, the mocking smirks, the curious glances.

Maya gasped softly. "Nora, he-he's not serious-"

"Yes, sir?" Nora forced out, her voice trembling.

Adrian's expression didn't waver. "You'll assist me today. A triple bypass. One of the hardest surgeries you'll ever witness. I expect you not to faint or make a fool of yourself."

Whispers erupted behind her.

"A bypass? She'll ruin it."

"He's testing her. She'll crash and burn."

"Or maybe that's how she got in. Can't believe it."

Nora's ears rang. A triple bypass. She wasn't ready. She hadn't even assisted in the simplest procedures yet. Why would he throw her into this?

Her chest tightened with dread. She wanted to refuse, to beg him not to make her do this. But the thought of her father-lying weak in the hospital ward, depending on her-flashed in her mind. She couldn't give up. Not when everything depended on her becoming a nurse.

"Yes, sir," she whispered, though her throat was closing in fear.

Adrian's lips curved faintly-too faint to be a smile, too sharp to be anything kind. He scribbled on his clipboard and turned away. "Report to OR 3 in one hour. Don't be late this time."

And with that, he walked off, leaving the room buzzing with gossip.

Maya turned to her, eyes wide with worry. "Nora, this is insane. He's setting you up again. A bypass? Do you know how long those last? You'll be standing there for hours. What if you mess up? What if you faint?"

Nora swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "Then I'll just have to endure it."

Her best friend grabbed her hand, squeezing tight. "You don't have to prove anything to him. You just have to survive this. Do you hear me? Survive."

Nora nodded weakly, but inside her chest, her heart was pounding like a drum of doom.

She didn't know what Adrian Cole wanted from her-or why he seemed determined to break her-but she knew one thing.

The operating room wasn't just going to test her knowledge.

It was going to test her entire strength.

And if she failed... she wasn't sure she'd recover.