Isabella bristled with indignation. “You can’t do this, Chief. On what grounds are you suspending me?”
The Chief’s voice was sharp and final. “Enough. Not another word, or I’ll suspend you for a month. I’m not firing you—that’s me being generous.”
At those words, Isabella’s defiance crumbled. She didn’t want to be fired.
With a huff, the Chief turned on his heel and stormed off.
Nearby, the young nurse flashed a smug, victorious smile.
Rebecca had been quietly observing the whole scene—the nervous glint in the patient’s eyes when she accused Isabella, and the sly expression on the nurse’s face. Nothing escaped her notice.
Seeing her best friend so unjustly treated, Rebecca marched forward without hesitation and slapped the nurse hard across the face.
The sharp crack echoed through the hallway, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Even the irate patient from moments ago didn’t dare utter a word.
The nurse clutched her cheek, her composure shattered. “Who are you? What gives you the right to hit me?”
Rebecca’s glare was icy. “You lied about Dr. Cooper. That’s why.”
The nurse shot back, “I didn’t lie! I was just telling the truth—she made a mistake.”
Isabella, clutching the medication chart in her hand, stepped forward, her voice accusatory. “Did you tamper with my chart? I’m certain I marked everything clearly, but now it’s gone. Did you alter it when no one was looking?”
The nurse denied it flatly. “I did not.”
Isabella, unable to contain her anger, raised her hand to strike.
But the nurse caught Isabella’s wrist mid-air, her tone menacing. “Dr. Cooper, this is a hospital. If you hit me, aren’t you afraid the Chief will fire you? Go ahead, lay a finger on me—I’ll tell him myself, and you can kiss your job goodbye.”

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