Behind her, Nellie followed with a cold expression, striding forward.
I was about to speak.
But Nellie walked right past me without a glance.
She went straight to Chad's side and gently helped him to his feet.
"It's going to be okay. I'll figure something out. You're not going to take the fall for this."
Under the dean's authority, the crowd dispersed quickly.
I was called into the dean's office.
The moment the door clicked shut, every trace of that stern composure vanished from her face.
Panic replaced it.
"Thomas! I know this wasn't your fault, but you have to save this patient!"
"He's Edna Henson's brother. If he actually dies in our hospital, everyone — from the top of the chain all the way down to you — will have nowhere to hide!"
I let out a long breath.
The truth was, the only reason I'd dared let my phone stay dead was because I knew my colleagues were skilled enough to keep the patient alive.
Even if I didn't show up until after I'd slept, the patient could still be saved.
And that meant everything that came next was still on the table for negotiation.
I looked at the dean.
"What happened today — the responsibility doesn't fall on Chad Armstrong alone. It falls on Nellie Sullivan too."