- 16 hours ago
His loyal backup gone away
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was a top-tier emergency doctor. My ex-husband, Adrian, forged the medical records to send me to prison,
00:05just to protect his precious first love.
00:08Seven years ago, a patient died during an emergency rescue I led. The family protested outside the hospital with signs
00:13demanding justice.
00:15They were there every single day, blocking the entrance and yelling that I should pay with my life.
00:20My own father thought I was guilty. When he passed away, he didn't even let me attend his funeral.
00:25The hospital stripped me of everything, and I spent seven years in prison.
00:28When I got out, I went north to the forest. I became a ranger. I finally found peace.
00:34Then, Adrian Cross showed up and ruined everything. He was my ex-husband, and he'd done pretty well for himself.
00:39He ran a big hospital by then, and everyone knew his name.
00:42His team rolled into the ranger station during a heavy snowstorm, and their vehicles cut through the silent white landscape.
00:48Someone's voice rang out across the clearing.
00:50Dr. Wells, Mr. Cross has been thinking about you this whole time. He's still wearing his wedding ring.
00:55I saw him standing there in the crowd, looking perfect as always. Just seeing him made me feel sick.
01:00Because this man, who supposedly never stopped thinking about me, was the same person who rewrote the medical record seven
01:05years ago.
01:06He protected his precious first love and made me take the fall for everything.
01:11I opened the door, and Adrian was standing outside in his coat. There wasn't a single snowflake on him.
01:17Victoria?
01:18He sounded surprised, like he couldn't believe it was really me. I didn't answer.
01:22My hand grabbed onto the doorframe, and a rough piece of wood jabbed it into my palm. It hurt like
01:28hell.
01:28Connor, one of the other rangers, squeezed past me from behind. He was rubbing his hands together against the cold
01:34and grinning like an idiot.
01:35Mr. Cross, I heard you were bringing your team out here for winter medical rounds, so I thought I'd stop
01:41by and say hello. I'll just be here for a minute.
01:43My heart jumped, and something twisted in my chest. I didn't have a choice.
01:47I walked outside. The second I stepped through the door, a woman with glasses headed straight for me.
01:53I recognized her immediately. She used to work under Rachel Green. I had no idea what she was doing in
01:58Adrian's team back then.
01:59You're Dr. Wells, aren't you?
02:01Mr. Cross talks about you all the time. He always said you were incredible in the ER back in the
02:05day.
02:05I never thought I'd actually run into you out here.
02:07She smiled at me, but there was something pointed in her tone.
02:10Adrian cleared his throat suddenly, but his face stayed completely blank.
02:14Everyone took the hint and filed out of the cabin.
02:16Once they were gone, Adrian finally spoke.
02:19Victoria, am I too late?
02:22I bit down hard on my lip. When I spoke, my voice came out barely above a whisper.
02:27I wouldn't dare ask you to come find me, Mr. Cross.
02:29This was the first time I'd ever talked to him like he was a stranger.
02:33Adrian frowned and looked me up and down, then moved toward me.
02:36You look terrible. How'd you end up like this?
02:39What? Terrible? Was he seriously asking me that right now?
02:42I sneered and stepped back without thinking.
02:45Director Cross, if there's nothing else, you should probably head back.
02:48I've got patrol rounds to do later.
02:50I shoved my hands into my pockets to hide the chillblains covering them.
02:53I didn't want to give him anything to mock me with,
02:55but he just looked at me with that supposedly loving gaze and said,
02:59Vic, does it really have to be like this between us?
03:03Actually, there's something you didn't know back then.
03:06Just as Adrian was about to step closer, a voice interrupted him.
03:10Ad, didn't you promise you'd come with me to my prenatal appointment today?
03:13How did you forget again?
03:16Rachel had one hand resting on her slightly rounded belly,
03:19and she was pouting at Adrian like a spoiled kid.
03:23Dr. Wells, it's been forever since we last met each other.
03:26Ad and I had plans for later, so I got so worried that I had to track him down
03:30when I couldn't find him earlier.
03:31I hope I'm not interrupting your little reunion.
03:33So, they already had a baby on the way.
03:36Then what the hell was he even doing here?
03:38Had he driven all this way just so I could see how happy he was now?
03:41I shouldn't have been surprised.
03:43Back when I was the department head,
03:45he made me work as Rachel's assistant just to give her more opportunities.
03:48And when the medical accident happened,
03:50he threw me under the bus without a second thought.
03:52Love like that needed an audience.
03:54It always did.
03:55I forced a smile, and just as I was about to say something,
03:58Rachel's lackey from earlier piped up again.
04:01Oh, honey, you don't have to come all the way here.
04:03It's freezing out here.
04:04You should just stay home and rest.
04:06I've got everything under control here.
04:08What a fucking kiss-ass.
04:09I didn't want to deal with any of their bullshit,
04:11so I turned around and started closing the door.
04:16My brother, Zachary Wells, called me out of nowhere.
04:18I hadn't heard from him in years.
04:23Listen, Victoria, I'm warning you.
04:25Stop bothering Adrian.
04:26He's about to be a father, so quit embarrassing yourself.
04:29I froze.
04:30Rachel must have complained to him about me.
04:32You didn't even show up to Dad's funeral,
04:34and Mom's health is terrible.
04:35Adrian's been taking care of everything for us these past few years.
04:38Don't you dare cause any more trouble.
04:42I went to prison for seven years,
04:43and the whole family thought I was a disgrace to the Wells name.
04:47Before Dad died, he made it clear I wasn't allowed at his funeral.
04:50He didn't even want my name on his tombstone.
04:53Even Zachary and Mom, the two people who used to love me most,
04:56treated me like strangers by then.
04:58Thinking about Mom made my eyes start to burn.
05:00I wondered what they'd all think if they knew the truth.
05:03That Adrian and Rachel were the ones who destroyed my life.
05:07Adrian's hand shot out and stopped me from closing the door.
05:11Don't be too hard on Zach.
05:13He's in a tough spot.
05:14Mom's been sick ever since Dad passed.
05:16Zach's been handling everything on his own and taking care of her.
05:19It's not easy for him.
05:20He sighed and went on speaking.
05:22Look, I know I didn't handle things well back then.
05:25I've been trying to make it up to you all these years.
05:27If you need anything,
05:29I mean, if there's anything I can do...
05:30I didn't let him finish.
05:31I slammed the door shut.
05:33Who does she think she is?
05:34Does she seriously still think she's still the Dr. Miracle?
05:37The director came here himself,
05:38and she can't even be grateful.
05:40Stop it.
05:41If she doesn't want to see me right now, we'll go.
05:43Voices drifted through the gap, loud enough to hear.
05:46That was Adrian's voice, calm as ever.
05:50News traveled fast at a small ranger station.
05:52Within days, everyone knew Adrian had come looking for me.
05:56The talk started.
05:57My patrol route got reassigned to the northwest corner,
05:59the most remote area in the whole forest.
06:02The supervisor wouldn't look me in the eye when he told me.
06:05Victoria, you know, when I first heard about your background,
06:07I wasn't sure about hiring you.
06:08I only took you on because I felt bad.
06:10This section is pretty far out, but at least it's quiet.
06:13Nobody will bother you there.
06:14He put on a pained expression like he was doing me a favor.
06:17I didn't argue.
06:18I just took my tools and headed into the forest.
06:21Over the next few weeks, my workload kept increasing,
06:23but my paychecks kept shrinking.
06:25The reason was pretty obvious.
06:27When they started delaying my pay altogether,
06:29I went to the supervisor myself.
06:31Victoria, I think it's going to be a good decision for you to leave here.
06:33People would kill for the kind of protection Mr. Cross offers.
06:37You really hit the jackpot.
06:38Before I could say anything,
06:39he handed me all my back wages in one lump sum.
06:42I saw the stress written all over his face,
06:44so I quit right there.
06:45He looked relieved immediately.
06:47His whole expression relaxed.
06:49I knew it.
06:50Of course, this was Adrian's doing.
06:52Anyone who wanted that kind of jackpot could have it.
06:54I sure as hell couldn't handle it.
06:56I grabbed my beat-up bag,
06:58took a deep breath,
06:58and walked out of the ranger station for the last time.
07:02I visited my grandmother's grave.
07:04She was the one who'd raised me after my parents were gone.
07:07Then I wandered through the streets like a homeless person.
07:10For a while,
07:11it felt exactly like those first days after I got out of prison.
07:14A few days later,
07:15Adrian found me.
07:16He showed up at my apartment and looked around,
07:18frowning.
07:19The place was a dump,
07:20and we both knew it.
07:21I've set up an admin position for you at Sands Hospital.
07:24You can start tomorrow.
07:25His voice was calm and decisive,
07:27like he'd already decided everything.
07:29It was ridiculous.
07:31He was still doing this,
07:33still trying to arrange my entire life for me,
07:35just like he had years ago.
07:37Sorry, I'm not taking it.
07:38The words were out before I could stop them.
07:41Adrian's brow furrowed.
07:43Why not?
07:44What else are you going to do looking like this?
07:47We're divorced, but we're still family.
07:49You don't have to keep saying no.
07:51I'm doing this for your own good.
07:53For my own good?
07:54More like he was trying to ease his guilt
07:56over what he'd done back then.
07:58No thanks.
08:00I just want to find somewhere nobody knows me
08:02and live a quiet life.
08:04I don't care about anything else.
08:06Not even Zachary's job?
08:08I looked up into his eyes.
08:09They were so serious that I knew he wasn't joking.
08:13The next day,
08:14I showed up at St. Ann's Hospital right on time.
08:16As soon as I walked into the office,
08:18a familiar face came over.
08:19Dr. Wells, welcome to St. Annan's.
08:22I know you don't have your medical license anymore,
08:23but with your talent,
08:24I'm sure you'll do great anywhere.
08:26If you need anything at all,
08:27just ask me or add.
08:28Rachel held the flowers and handed them to me.
08:30Just like that,
08:32everyone in the room was staring at me.
08:34I heard people whispering behind me.
08:36So that's the Dr. Miracle from the news.
08:39I heard she killed someone during surgery
08:41and went to prison for years.
08:42That's her, Mr. Cross's ex-wife.
08:45She looks pretty plain to me.
08:47No idea what he saw in her.
08:48Dr. Green is so classy, though.
08:50Being this nice to her boyfriend's ex,
08:52that's what you get with someone who studied abroad.
08:56Watching Rachel act all superior made me feel sick.
08:59I walked straight to my desk and ignored her completely.
09:02But I knew exactly who was to blame
09:04for the life I was living.
09:07Rachel followed me over and set the flowers on my desk.
09:10Ad told me your mother's health hasn't been great.
09:12If there's anything I can do to help,
09:14please just ask.
09:15I really hope you'll be comfortable here at St. Ann's.
09:17Everything Rachel said reeked of fake compassion.
09:19She was dying for everyone to see what a saint she was.
09:23My mother heard I was working at St. Ann's,
09:25so she came in for an appointment
09:27and brought Zachary with her.
09:28Seeing her broke my heart.
09:30Her hair had gone completely white,
09:32and she was hunched over
09:33like she was carrying the weight of the world.
09:35My throat tightened,
09:36but she wasn't even looking at me.
09:38Her eyes were fixed on Adrian the whole time.
09:41Adrian, honey,
09:42thank you for everything you've done all these years.
09:45Taking care of an old woman like me,
09:47and now you have to deal with Victoria, too.
09:51Then after she finished,
09:52she started coughing like the speech
09:53had taken everything out of her.
09:55I smiled, but it was bitter.
09:57My heart ached,
09:58and I felt helpless at the same time.
10:00To both her and Zachary,
10:02I was just the family's permanent stain
10:03that wouldn't wash out.
10:06I was leaving work one evening as usual
10:08when Rachel and Adrian stopped me.
10:10Rachel was visibly pregnant by then.
10:12Dr. Wells,
10:13just thought I should warn you.
10:15I heard a patient going around today
10:16telling everyone you killed his father.
10:18He found out you're back somehow.
10:20He might be planning to come after you.
10:22You should really be careful.
10:24I caught the tiny smile on Rachel's face
10:25before she hit it.
10:26Sure enough,
10:27over the next few days,
10:28I noticed someone following me home from work.
10:30My apartment building got covered
10:32in hateful graffiti and signs.
10:34Someone even printed out photos of my face
10:35and slashed them with a knife,
10:37then plastered them all over the alley.
10:39The dead patient's family
10:40had filled my entire street with their rage.
10:42Finally,
10:43on a night when it was pouring rain,
10:45I was walking home late
10:46after working overtime.
10:48A group of men surrounded me.
10:50A wooden bat cracked against my skull.
10:53Blood ran down hot from my ear
10:54and dripped onto my collar.
10:56What a joke.
10:57You're gonna pay for my father's life today.
10:59Then I heard the sound of sticks
11:01hitting my body over and over.
11:03My father died on your operating table.
11:05You don't deserve to live either.
11:06Good thing Dr. Green gave me your address.
11:08Now you're gonna die knowing exactly why.
11:10My consciousness started fading.
11:13He grabbed me by the collar
11:14and yanked me up.
11:15Then he pulled out a knife from his coat.
11:17The blade caught the light.
11:19Rain pounded into my eyes
11:21like it was trying to wash away
11:22my entire miserable life.
11:24I thought of them all.
11:25My father,
11:26who refused to forgive me
11:27even when he was dying.
11:28My mother,
11:29who couldn't even look at me
11:30and left me to fend for myself.
11:32Zachary,
11:33who was so disgusted by me
11:34he still wouldn't speak to me.
11:36And my husband,
11:37who promised to stay with me forever
11:39and then betrayed me anyway.
11:40I closed my eyes.
11:42The knife plunged into my stomach.
11:44I collapsed onto the ground
11:45and I couldn't move at all.
11:46Just when I was about to leave
11:47this world behind,
11:48I heard footsteps running toward me
11:50and someone shouted,
11:51Stop!
11:53Right before I lost consciousness completely,
11:55someone lifted me into the ambulance.
11:57Police cars pulled up
11:58a few seconds later.
11:59When the guy who saved me
12:00wiped the blood off my face,
12:01I finally saw who it was,
12:03Nathaniel Hayes.
12:04He was in my med school class
12:05and we worked in the same lab together.
12:07He was focused on checking my wounds
12:09and I could see the worry in his eyes.
12:11Then he looked straight at me.
12:13Don't be scared.
12:14I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
12:16Trust me.
12:17His voice was gentle.
12:18I forced my eyes to stay open
12:19and managed to get the words out.
12:21Nathaniel,
12:21what are you doing here?
12:22I glanced at the hospital badge
12:24still clipped to his coat.
12:25I could barely make out the words
12:26through my blurred vision.
12:27Oakmont Hospital.
12:29That's where I worked
12:29right after graduation.
12:31After all these years,
12:32he was still there.
12:33Don't talk.
12:34Save your strength.
12:35We'll talk when you're better.
12:37They rushed me into surgery
12:38at Oakmont Hospital.
12:39The operation went well
12:40and I was moved to a regular room
12:41for observation.
12:43Nathaniel stayed with me
12:44the entire time
12:44through surgery and recovery.
12:46He said it was because
12:47we went to med school together
12:48and I was his patient.
12:50But days went by
12:51and nobody else showed up.
12:52Not a single familiar face
12:54except his.
12:56My wound healed quickly
12:57under Nathaniel's care.
12:58He noticed I kept looking
13:00confused about something
13:01so he finally spoke up.
13:02Victoria,
13:03I've heard what happened to you.
13:05The whole medical community
13:06has been talking about it.
13:08I was head of the city
13:09medical board by then
13:10and I'd been looking
13:11into your case
13:11pretty carefully.
13:13Something had happened
13:14in that operate room
13:14that we didn't know about yet.
13:16Look at this.
13:17The pre-op exam,
13:19the surgical procedure,
13:20the post-op care,
13:21everything looked fine on paper.
13:23But something went wrong somewhere
13:25and I couldn't figure out where.
13:26I'd been doing some digging though
13:27and I thought I was getting close
13:29to the real problem.
13:29Nathaniel,
13:31why were you doing this for me?
13:34The tears spilled over
13:36before I could stop them.
13:37All those years,
13:38not one person had believed me.
13:40Not my parents,
13:41not my brother,
13:41nobody.
13:42To them,
13:43I was a criminal
13:43and nothing was ever
13:45going to change that.
13:46Because you were Dr. Miracle.
13:47Nathaniel looked at my
13:48tear-stained face
13:49and smiled.
13:50I'd known you for years.
13:51I knew exactly
13:52what kind of person you were.
13:53If you'd actually screwed up,
13:54you would have admitted it.
13:55But that surgery,
13:56that was nothing for someone
13:57with your skills.
13:58No matter what it took,
13:59I was going to clear your name.
14:01Because I believed you.
14:03The moment Nathaniel
14:04stopped talking,
14:05the door swung open.
14:06I pulled back the curtain
14:07and saw Adrian walking in
14:08with Rachel right behind him.
14:10They both froze
14:11when they spotted Nathaniel.
14:12Mr. Hayes,
14:13are you doing rounds personally?
14:15Mr. Cross,
14:16it's been a while.
14:18I performed Victoria's surgery myself
14:20so I'm checking on her recovery.
14:22Also,
14:23the police will be here soon
14:24to ask some questions.
14:25Adrian nodded
14:26and walked over to my bed.
14:27How are you feeling?
14:28Any better?
14:29Before I could answer,
14:31Rachel grabbed my hand
14:32like she'd been terrified
14:33the whole time.
14:34Oh my god,
14:34Victoria,
14:34you really need to be me
14:36more careful.
14:37Ad and I warned you,
14:38but look what happened.
14:39I lay there
14:40and watched her perform.
14:41Then I yanked my hand away.
14:43I had nothing to say to her.
14:45Nathaniel stared at Rachel coldly
14:46like he saw
14:47right through her act.
14:49Then he turned to Adrian.
14:50Everyone in the medical community
14:52heard about what happened back then.
14:53Is there something
14:54you haven't told people,
14:55Mr. Cross?
14:56From what I know
14:57about Victoria,
14:58that case was never
14:59as simple as it seemed.
15:00Or maybe you had
15:01your own agenda all along
15:02and Victoria was just
15:03a pawn to you.
15:04Adrian's face went dark.
15:06Rachel stood behind him
15:07looking like she was
15:08about to pass out.
15:09After that,
15:10Adrian tried to transfer me
15:11to St. Anne's Hospital.
15:12He said I worked there,
15:13so I should be treated there.
15:15But Nathaniel refused.
15:16He said my wound
15:17hadn't healed yet.
15:18Victoria,
15:19do you remember the promise
15:20we made on our first day
15:21of medical school?
15:23We vowed to dedicate
15:24ourselves to healing,
15:25to save lives
15:26no matter how hard it got.
15:28No matter what it takes,
15:30I'm going to find out
15:31the truth for you.
15:32A cool breeze
15:33drifted through the room.
15:34I nodded slowly.
15:35Victoria,
15:36don't ever give up
15:37on yourself.
15:38All these years later,
15:39he was still the same
15:40teaching assistant
15:41who never quit
15:41until he reached his goal.
15:43The only difference was
15:44his conviction ran
15:45even deeper by then.
15:46My mother and Zachary
15:48came to visit me
15:48at the hospital.
15:49Nathaniel seemed
15:50to read my mind.
15:51He led them out
15:52of the room.
15:53Mrs. Wells,
15:54Victoria's recovery
15:55is going well,
15:56but she needs time
15:57to adjust to seeing
15:58you both again.
15:59What happened back then?
16:01My mother wiped her tears
16:02and looked at me
16:03through the doorway.
16:04Thank you so much,
16:05Dr. Hayes.
16:06She's recovering so well
16:07because of you.
16:09We didn't know
16:10they'd go this far.
16:12If we had known,
16:13I never would let her
16:14stay out there alone.
16:16Actually,
16:17that day at the hospital,
16:18I think I heard Rachel
16:19say something about
16:19making sure
16:20it was done clean.
16:21But I didn't want
16:22to think about it
16:23that way
16:23and I couldn't be sure
16:25if it had anything
16:25to do with
16:26what happened to you.
16:27They both glanced
16:28at me quietly
16:29and then walked
16:29out of the room.
16:30Nathaniel ran his hand
16:31through my hair
16:32but didn't say anything.
16:34After I started
16:35feeling better,
16:36Nathaniel and I
16:37began investigating
16:37the medical malpractice
16:38case from years ago.
16:40Nathaniel had actually
16:41already collected
16:42most of the evidence,
16:43especially with help
16:44from his cop friend.
16:45He found out
16:46that some of the witness
16:47statements from back then
16:48had serious problems.
16:49Look at this.
16:50The patient's blood pressure
16:52was already at stage 3
16:53before surgery
16:54and it never came down.
16:55He wasn't even a candidate
16:56for this kind of surgery.
16:58His age wasn't ideal either.
16:59They could have chosen
17:00conservative treatment instead.
17:02I don't know
17:02what happened in there
17:03but complications
17:03in this type of routine
17:04heart surgery
17:05are extremely rare
17:06unless the patient
17:07doesn't meet the basic
17:07requirements for the procedure.
17:09Back then,
17:09after the family learned
17:10about the father's condition,
17:11they insisted on the surgery.
17:12They signed all the consent forms.
17:14Rachel was the one
17:14who actually performed
17:15the surgery.
17:16Adrian insisted I assist
17:17so I was in the OR with her.
17:19During the procedure,
17:19Rachel made some mistakes
17:20that couldn't be fixed.
17:21The situation started to go wrong.
17:23The old man didn't make it
17:24through the surgery.
17:25You're telling me a doctor
17:26would gamble
17:26with a patient's life like that?
17:29Rachel had barely started
17:30at Sacred Horm
17:31and she was already
17:32doing surgeries?
17:33And Adrian just let her do it?
17:34Then he made you take the fall?
17:35I could feel how angry
17:36Nathaniel was
17:37but we didn't have
17:38any real proof.
17:39All the evidence
17:40pointed to me.
17:41It said the patient died
17:42because I made a mistake
17:43during the operation.
17:44Rachel came out
17:45of this completely clean
17:46because Adrian protected her.
17:48Even the surgical records
17:49had my name on them,
17:50not hers.
17:51I thought Rachel could handle
17:52a simple procedure like that.
17:54She'd trained overseas
17:55for years
17:55so I signed off
17:56on the paperwork
17:57without thinking twice.
17:58But then the investigation started
17:59and everything pointed
18:00straight at me.
18:01I was trapped
18:02with no way out.
18:03I couldn't defend myself.
18:05Nobody would listen.
18:07When Nathaniel heard all this,
18:08he grabbed my hand tight.
18:11His cop friend
18:12helped us dig into the case
18:13and we found out
18:14the nurse who testified
18:14had some major holes
18:16in her story.
18:17She said she saw me
18:17performing the surgery
18:18but the truth was
18:19she never even stepped
18:20into that operating room.
18:21She also claimed
18:22that Rachel was too new
18:24and that Adrian
18:24would never approve
18:25her performing surgery
18:26so soon,
18:27especially not a cardiac procedure.
18:29Her testimony cleared
18:30both of them at once
18:31and I had no idea
18:33she was even on duty
18:34outside the OR that day.
18:35That meant
18:36we never saw each other at all.
18:37We followed this lead
18:39and found out
18:39that this nurse,
18:40Lily Jensen,
18:41quit Sacred Heart
18:42right after everything happened.
18:43The suspicious part was this.
18:45Lily came from
18:46an ordinary family
18:47but suddenly
18:48she'd bought a huge house
18:49in a prime downtown location.
18:51The person who transferred
18:52her the money
18:53was Rachel,
18:54the same Rachel
18:54who walked away clean.
18:56Finally,
18:56we were making real progress.
18:58I was also discharged
18:59from Oakmont Hospital
19:00with a clean bill of health.
19:03The first thing I did
19:04after getting out
19:04was go to St. Anne's
19:05and quit my job.
19:06What was weird
19:07was that Rachel and Adrian
19:08didn't even try to stop me.
19:09They just made small talk
19:10for a minute
19:11and that was all.
19:12That same night
19:13I got a call
19:14from an unknown number.
19:15The voice told me
19:15it had been years
19:16and I should stay out of this.
19:18They said if I kept digging
19:19I would regret it.
19:20I told Nathaniel everything.
19:21He was worried
19:22someone might threaten me again
19:23so he found me
19:24a new apartment
19:24right near his place
19:25close to Oakmont Hospital.
19:26I didn't have many
19:27other options at the time
19:28so I accepted his help
19:30and moved in.
19:31But the threats
19:31didn't scare me off.
19:33If anything,
19:34they made me more determined
19:35to clear my name.
19:36Someone out there
19:37was getting nervous
19:38and that told me
19:39I was on the right track.
19:40That was when Nathaniel
19:41discovered something shocking.
19:44The people who showed up
19:45at the hospital
19:45claiming to be
19:46the patient's family
19:47had no relation to him at all.
19:48They were basically thugs
19:50who got paid
19:50to come after me.
19:51That meant
19:52Rachel's whole story
19:53about hearing family members
19:54at the hospital
19:54plotting revenge
19:55was probably a lie too.
19:56We realized
19:57we needed to talk
19:58to the patient's actual family.
19:59It had been years
20:01but the old man's photo
20:02still sat in the most
20:03prominent spot
20:03in their living room.
20:04It was clean
20:05and cared for.
20:06When the son heard
20:07we were there
20:08about his father
20:08he started crying again.
20:10Then I told him
20:11who I was
20:11and he dropped
20:12to his knees
20:12right in front of me.
20:13I'm so sorry Dr. Wells.
20:15You've suffered so much
20:16because of me.
20:17My family insisted
20:19on the surgery
20:19even though we knew
20:20dad's health was bad.
20:22We just wanted him
20:22to live a little longer
20:23but it backfired.
20:25Afterwards
20:26someone told me
20:27you'd done something wrong
20:28during the operation.
20:29They said that's why
20:30my father didn't make it
20:30off the table.
20:32They told me
20:32to report you
20:33and promised
20:34I'd get compensation money.
20:35I knew something was off.
20:37The harder they pushed
20:38the more suspicious it seemed
20:39but I was out of my mind
20:41with grief
20:41and I desperately needed
20:42the money
20:42so I went through with it.
20:44My conscience
20:44hasn't let me rest
20:45for a single day since then.
20:46I never thought
20:47I'd see you again Dr. Wells.
20:48This is all my fault.
20:50I ruined your life.
20:51Tears streamed down my face
20:52before I could stop them.
20:54Only I knew
20:54how much these words
20:55meant to me.
20:56Nathaniel helped the man
20:57stand up
20:57and asked if he remembered
20:58who contacted him.
20:59They never showed their face.
21:01Just called me on the phone.
21:03I remember hearing
21:04someone in the background
21:05call them
21:05Dr. Green.
21:07That evening
21:07when we left
21:08Nathaniel took my hand.
21:10He was trying to give me
21:11whatever warmth he could.
21:12I was one step closer
21:13to proving my innocence.
21:15But right when we thought
21:16we were about to succeed
21:17everything stalled.
21:21It's okay.
21:22At least you believe me.
21:24Don't worry.
21:25I'm not giving up on this.
21:31Victoria, where are you?
21:32I need to see you.
21:33It's important.
21:34Okay.
21:3515220 Ventera Bod.
21:37Adrian showed up
21:37at my new place
21:38pretty quickly.
21:39He must have been running
21:40because he was still
21:41catching his breath.
21:42When he realized
21:43Nathaniel was there
21:44he froze.
21:45The surprise
21:46was written
21:46all over his face.
21:48You don't need
21:48to hide anything.
21:49He's the person
21:50I trust most right now.
21:52I handled things
21:52really badly back then
21:53with that case.
21:56Victoria, I'm sorry.
21:57I should have spoken up sooner.
21:58You suffered because I didn't.
21:59I know it's late
21:59but I want to clear your name.
22:01Rachel had just gotten back
22:01from overseas
22:02when all this happened.
22:03We got together
22:03pretty quickly after that.
22:05That surgery was scheduled
22:06for you
22:06but once we got into the OR
22:08Rachel pushed her way
22:09onto it first.
22:10I didn't know what to do
22:11so I just had you
22:12assist instead.
22:13She should have been able
22:13to handle it fine
22:14but halfway through
22:15she made a critical mistake.
22:19Later Rachel told me
22:20she was pregnant.
22:21She ended up losing the baby.
22:22But back then
22:23I couldn't bring myself
22:24to expose her.
22:26Neither mistrusty littler.
22:27I let them blame you
22:28for the surgery instead.
22:30Just stood there
22:31and watched them
22:31take you away.
22:33Tears ran down
22:34Adrian's face
22:34when he finished.
22:35Maybe it was guilt.
22:36Maybe it was regret.
22:38So why are you suddenly
22:39willing to tell the truth now?
22:40Isn't she pregnant again?
22:41What happened to
22:42protecting her this time?
22:43Because I found out
22:44Rachel wasn't the person
22:45I thought she was.
22:47She wasn't innocent at all.
22:49She secretly opened
22:50multiple offshore accounts.
22:52One of them
22:52was linked to
22:53illegal organ trafficking.
22:55I may be a lot of things
22:57but I won't stand by
22:58and watch someone
22:58violate everything
22:59a doctor is supposed to be.
23:00With Adrian's testimony
23:02everything became easier.
23:03Nathaniel's friend
23:04helped track down
23:05the nurse who gave
23:06false testimony.
23:07The whole case
23:07started moving
23:08in the right direction.
23:09Soon enough
23:10with all the evidence
23:11laid out
23:11Rachel confessed
23:12to everything.
23:13She got so upset
23:14during questioning
23:15that she lost
23:15her second baby
23:16to Adrian too.
23:17When she looked
23:18at Adrian after that
23:19her eyes were full
23:20of confusion
23:21resentment
23:21and pure hatred.
23:23It was pretty clear
23:24those two were done
23:25for good.
23:32After all these years
23:33the medical malpractice case
23:35finally got overturned.
23:36I could walk in the sunlight
23:37again with my head
23:38held high.
23:39Adrian went to prison
23:40for covering up Rachel's crimes.
23:42The nurse Lily
23:43got arrested too
23:44for perjury.
23:45They also tracked down
23:46the guy who stabbed me
23:47that day
23:47and locked him up.
23:48As for Rachel
23:49she was facing charges
23:50for manslaughter
23:51illegal organ trafficking
23:52and conspiracy.
23:53She was probably
23:54never seeing daylight again.
23:56Nathaniel and I
23:57were standing on the rooftop
23:58of Oakmont Hospital.
24:00The sun was shining down
24:01on us.
24:02Do you want to be
24:03a doctor again?
24:06I turned to look at him
24:07and nodded.
24:08Being a doctor
24:09had been my dream
24:10since I was a kid.
24:12I didn't care
24:12how hard it was going to be.
24:14A few months later
24:15I passed to the medical
24:16licensing exam
24:17and officially started
24:18working at Oakmont Hospital.
24:19Nobody called me
24:20Dr. Miracle anymore
24:21but that was okay.
24:23Every day
24:23I watched patients' pain
24:25ease a little more
24:25and I heard them
24:26call out Dr. Wells
24:27when they needed me.
24:28It made me feel like
24:29that younger version
24:30of myself again.
24:31The one who'd been
24:32full of energy
24:32and confidence.
24:33All these small moments
24:35were healing something
24:36inside me.
24:37They gave me back
24:38the dignity
24:39and purpose
24:39I'd lost years ago.
24:41I worked hard
24:42and eventually
24:42I got the chance
24:43to partner with Nathaniel
24:44on cases.
24:45We worked together
24:46every day
24:46and our rhythm
24:47was even better
24:48than it had been
24:48back in med school.
24:49Our connection
24:50kept growing stronger.
24:51One evening
24:52after a long surgery
24:53we headed home
24:54through the snow.
24:56There was a fire
24:57burning in the fireplace
24:58and our dog
24:59was curled up next to it
25:00for warmth.
25:01Before long
25:01Nathaniel had the whole
25:02table covered with food.
25:03There was mac and cheese
25:05roasted chicken
25:05mashed potatoes
25:06all the comfort food
25:07I loved.
25:08He remembered.
25:09He'd always remembered
25:10what I liked.
25:13His face went red.
25:14He put down his fork
25:15and walked into his study
25:16without saying anything.
25:18Victoria
25:18the medical department
25:20is organizing rural clinics
25:21in underserved areas.
25:23I thought you might
25:23be interested.
25:24He'd always known
25:25what I wanted.
25:26He'd always understood.
25:27I held the form
25:28in my hands
25:28and smiled at him.
25:30I couldn't find words
25:31for a long time.
25:32Nathaniel nodded at me.
25:34His eyes were gentle
25:34but there was something
25:35steady in them.
25:36All these years
25:37I thought I'd figured
25:38people out.
25:39I thought I knew
25:40how the world worked
25:41but I never expected
25:42there would be someone
25:43who would keep believing
25:44in me,
25:44keep loving me,
25:46keep treating me
25:46like I mattered.
25:47Nathaniel gave me hope
25:48for a new life.
25:49He gave me a home
25:50when I had nowhere to go.
25:51He showed me that
25:52no matter how bad
25:53things got
25:53I shouldn't give up
25:55on myself.
25:55He was a doctor
25:56and he didn't just
25:57heal my body.
25:58He healed my broken heart too.
26:00From then on
26:01I moved forward
26:01and I wasn't going
26:02to be afraid anymore
26:03because I knew
26:04there was someone
26:04walking right beside me
26:05the whole way.
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