RedNovelRegret 250 That afternoon, the neurology department's waiting area was lined with about a dozen patients, all hoping for an appointment with Dr. Judd Carstairs. A few had already becfamiliar faces, returning for follow-ups or advice. Charlotte sat nearby, quietly taking notes, while Judd reviewed test results, assessed the severity of each case, and determined whether surgery was necessary-and if so, what kind.
Just then, an elderly man in his sixties, partially paralyzed, was wheeled in by his family. "Dr. Carstairs," called a middle-aged woman.
Judd recognized them immediately. "You're Mr. Connelly's family, right?" "Yes, that's us." The woman's voice was tinged with shame. "Last year, my husband spent stin neurology. The head doctor there asked you to cup with a treatment plan for us. If only we'd listened to you back then and gone ahead with the surgery... Maybe he wouldn't be like this now..." Her regret was palpable, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHer son stood by her side, trying to comfort her, while her younger daughter stayed silent, occasionally glancing up at Judd.
Charlotte shot Judd a quick look, but he said nothing. Instead, he picked up a penlight and moved over to examine Mr. Connelly's pupils.
"Dr. Carstairs, you're the youngest neurosurgeon at District General Hospital. It was our fault for not realizing how serious his condition was and ignoring your advice. Is there any chance my husband can recover?" "Has he had any episodes since he was discharged?" "Yes. He's been on blood pressure medication, but a few days ago he started having seizures, got confused, and then just... collapsed." Judd picked up the latest MRI scan from the desk. “What we're seeing is classic cerebral arteriosclerosis. Last year, it was only a minor stroke. If you'd agreed to minimally invasive surgery back then, things wouldn't have progressed this far." "It's my fault, all my fault." The woman buried her face in her hands, crying.
Her son turned to Judd, voice anxious. "So what happens now? Does my dad need surgery?" Judd glanced at Charlotte. "Director Sterling, you'll be leading the operation. What 12.52 Chapter 250 do you think?" The family looked at Charlotte in surprise. Even with her mask on, it was obvious from her eyes and delicate features that she was young-far younger than they expected for someone with the title "Director." Charlotte quickly reviewed Mr. Connelly's previous records on her computer, cross-referencing them with his current scans. She nodded. "We can perform a carotid endarterectomy-CEA for short. That means removing the thickened, fatty deposits from his carotid artery, which should prevent a blockage and reduce the risk of another stroke. It's a preventive procedure to keep him from suffering a major brain infarction." "Dr. Carstairs, is the surgery risky?" The woman bypassed Charlotte completely, directing her question to Judd, as if she couldn't trust such a young doctor.
Meeting Judd's gaze, Charlotte only smiled and said nothing.
Judd remained unfazed. "Every surgery comes with risk. But if you don't do it, and he suffers a stroke, have you considered the consequences?" The woman fell silent, weighing her options, then finally nodded her agreement.
Consultations continued until nearly four o'clock. As Charlotte finished gathering her files and prepared to leave, a young woman entered, looking for Judd.
"Dr. Carstairs," she called, her cheeks flushed and voice full of nervous excitement.
Charlotte instantly guessed what was going on. She turned to Judd and said, "Professor Carstairs, I'll be heading out now." Judd watched Charlotte as she left. The girl stepped forward, pulling out her phone shyly. "Dr. Carstairs, can I add you on WhatsApp? I just want to check in about my dad's surgery-if I have questions, I could reach you directly!" "I'm sorry, I don't add patients' family members on WhatsApp. If you have any concerns, please contact your attending physician." Rejected, the girl lowered her head, bit her lip, and rushed out, eyes brimming with tears.
She made her way back to the surgical ward. As she passed then nurses' station, she overheard two nurses chatting with envy in their voices.
"Professor Carstairs never used to bring female colleagues into hism clinics, did he? But now he's working with Director Sterling. Do you think there's something going on between them?" 2/3 12:52 Chapter 250
"Well, Director Sterling is the beauty of the surgery department, and m Professor Carstairs is still a man, not a saint. It'd be perfectly normal for him to be smitten, don't you think?" Chapter Chapter 251
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
