Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 90

ATHENA

Isabelle's lips curl into a small but encouraging smile.

“Alright. I’ll be there. But you, Dr. Dawson will be the one leading the operation.”

My stomach drops at the thought.

“Lead? But I’m not ready for this. This is a complex case. I don’t think-”

She raises a hand, cutting me off. “Listen. I know what you're thinking, but you've been trained for this moment. You know the procedures, the protocols, and the risks. You're ready. Don’t let your doubts cloud your skills. I’ll be there every step of the way, ready to back you up if needed. But you’ve got this. Believe in yourself.”

I swallow hard, trying to push down the anxiety that’s rising like a tidal wave in my chest. My palms feel clammy as I grip the file in my hands tighter.

“You can do this, Athena,” Isabelle continues, her voice soft and reassuring. “I'm sure you’ve been through worse. This is no different. You’ve got the knowledge, and more importantly, you’ve got the heart. I’ll be right behind you.”

Her words give me a sliver of confidence, even though it’s hard to shake the weight of Leah’s words that felt like a trap. I’m slowly starting to get ready for this, and yet, somehow, my mind shifts into something more positive.

Mum and Dad, are you watching me from heaven?

Are you proud of me?

I'm about to walk into an operating room as the lead surgeon.

Breathing in and out slowly, I calm myself, remembering everything I’ve learned, every drill, every textbook, every piece of advice drilled into me by mentors like Dr. Quinn.

“I can see you agree with me that you can do this!” Isabelle gives me a brief nod and stands. “I’ll meet you at 4. Get ready. This is your time.”

---

The OR is cold and sterile, and the hum of the machines sends a thrill through my body.

I scrub in, my hands trembling slightly as I wash. The familiar scent of antiseptic does little to calm my nerves.

Isabelle is at my side as we prepare. She’s been walking me through everything, reminding me to stay calm, breathe, and take it one step at a time. and it's been working because I feel more ready here in the OR than I did out there.

I take my place at the head of the table, my eyes flickering over the sterile drapes that cover the patient. The monitors beep in the background. The anesthesiologist nods to me, confirming the patient is stable for now.

Iann claps me on the back. “You did well. I’m proud of you.”

“News moves at the speed of light in this hospital.” I respond tiredly.

“I knew you had great potential! Keep going, Dawson. Not even the sky will be a limit for you.” He says with another tap as he walks away, making my heart swell with how proud I am of myself.

After checking one more time, I step out and shut the room softly behind me. Just as I turn, I notice Leah heading my way but halts the moment my eyes land on her.

She's alone this time.

But she doesn't look like she's here to hand me flowers either.

“Dr. Woods. I was actually looking for you. I wanted to appreciate the opportunity you gave me to shine. I hear I'll be the face of Quinn's institute for the week. I owe it to you, I should buy you a drink one of these days.”

My sarcasm seems to get to her because the sweet girl smile she always has on is nowhere to be seen.

I smile and wink as I walk away. This time, I have the final laugh, and I can smile all the way home because I just saved two critical patients within three days!