Chapter 64

"This is absurd. How could the Morgans accept such a diagnosis?"

"Selah's student? She's a fraud. How did someone like her even get into a seminar this important?"

The room grew louder. One voice fed another until the whole crowd was buzzing, tossing out accusations and doubts. Rylie stood calmly as whispers labeled her a fake. Leland stayed beside her, his face burning. He wanted to vanish.

He thought about speaking up. But with so many doctors around-people he might work with one day -he held his tongue.

Rory shook his head at Leland's reaction. In a clear voice that cut through the crowd, he declared, "I have faith in Rylie's skills. Even I can't figure out what the third patient's ailment is either, so it makes sense if he isn't sick at all."

Brock scanned the restless crowd. The tension had built too high. He clapped his hands to get their attention. "Let's settle this. I'll announce the final result now. The person chosen to serve as chief physician for Mr. Brad Morgan," he said, "is Rylie from HaloFlow Pharmacy, and Leland will be joining her."

The room fell into stunned silence. Then it shattered with disbelief. "What!? Did he just say HaloFlow Pharmacy?!"

Marsha stood frozen, stunned speechless. Evita blinked hard and rushed forward, yanking the slip of paper out of Brock's hand.

In thick, black print, it read: HaloFlow Pharmacy.

Leland's shame gave way to surprise, then pride, as the words sank in. He realized that Rylie hadn't just held her own. She'd beaten every doctor in the room.

Voices swelled again, this time buzzing with a different kind of energy.

The same people who'd mocked Rylie were now watching her like she lit up the place. The Wilde family,meanwhile, looked like they'd swallowed bitter pills.

Evita stood stiff with disbelief. Someone her age,with decades of respect behind her, had just been shown up by a girl that no one had even heard of until now.

With the slip still clutched in her hand, she took a breath to steady herself and asked, "As a physician,l know I shouldn't question the employer's decision.But I need to ask. How does someone so young,someone who hasn't even graduated, end up in charge of Mr. Brad Morgan's care? How can this choice be considered anything but reckless?"

The Wilde family led the outcry, questioning Rylie at every turn. More doctors followed, many of them proud of their credentials, now lining up to cast doubt on her.

"Rylie? She's just some outcast from the Kirk family.I heard she was trouble. If it were Leland standing here, maybe I'd believe it."

"With her past, there's no way she's that skilled. The Morgans should really rethink this whole thing."

Brock eyed the group of skeptics gathering fast. "So none of you are buying it?"

Evita turned sharply toward Rylie and Leland, eyes fixed on the latter. "Leland, you've been with VitaLink for years. School aside, most of your training came from this hospital. Didn't you help train her? Let's hear your thoughts about the third patient."

Leland tried to speak, but his voice came out rough."All three diagnoses were made by Rylie. She's more capable than l am."

Evita hadn't expected that. Her mouth tightened,clearly displeased that Leland didn't back her up. "I trust the Morgan family, but I can't let an opportunist walk away with this. If I'm going to lose, I need to see proof. Let her explain her diagnosis. I want to know who truly deserves the role."

Rory gave a dry laugh. "Come on, Evita. Don't be petty. You're too old for that."

Evita snapped back, "This isn't pettiness. I just want this junior to convince me."

Rylie spoke up at last, calm and unhurried. "The report was fake. The patient isn't sick. The heat from his body came from a hot water bottle. The shivering? Faked."

"That's ridiculous," Evita said quickly. But laughter broke out before she could say more.

At that moment, the doors across the room opened.

A man stepped out, walking with quiet strength. He held a hot water bottle in one hand, and though he wore a patient's gown, he carried himself like someone used to being in charge.

He smiled and said, "Sharp eyes, young lady. You're right. I'm not ill."

The room went dead silent.

Evita's hand shook as she pointed. "Mr. Morgan?"

He chuckled and handed the bottle to his butler. "It's me. I was the third patient, just in disguise."

Then he turned to Rylie with an approving look."Out of everyone here, only she figured it out."