Chapter 24
Daeho quickly made the patient focus on him again.
“This is my last question. Have you ever suddenly forgotten words or found yourself unable to speak clearly?”
“No, I… wait, actually, maybe.”
The woman hesitated, as if trying to deny it at first, then slowly admitted it.
Without wasting a second, Daeho’s hands began to move. He carefully ran his fingers across the sides of the patient’s head.
Rustle, rustle.
Then, his fingertips froze in place as if they’d found something.
He looked at the guardian.
“Miss, please touch this area gently.”
“Here? Oh, Mom… what’s this? A lump? Did you hit your head?”
The guardian gasped in surprise.
Daeho calmly explained, “It’s a swollen area caused by a blocked blood vessel in her brain.”
“W-what? A blood vessel in her brain? Then that means…”
“In medical terms, it’s called a cerebral infarction.”
Thud.
The words hit the guardian like a hammer.
Her eyes widened, and she staggered.
“Mom!”
Even Dr. Park Jinkyu, standing nearby, was alarmed.
“Daeho, what are you saying all of a sudden?”
A cerebral infarction — a stroke — was one of the most critical emergencies of all.
But Daeho remained calm and continued explaining.
“Miss, it hasn’t ruptured yet. The blood vessel is abnormally narrowed, so the blood flow isn’t smooth, and the area has swollen.”
“I… I see. Then, doctor—”
“If it bursts, it’s over.”
The guardian’s knees gave out, and she fell to the floor with a soft thud.
“Ahh! Mom!”
“Dear, I… I feel… strange…”
The patient’s speech suddenly slurred.
Panicking, the guardian grabbed her shoulders, tears welling up.
“Mom! Mom, please!”
“I… I can’t…”
Realizing something was terribly wrong, the woman’s eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Then Daeho stepped forward, reaching out both hands.
He gripped the patient and guardian each by the arm, his gaze firm.
“It’s not too late yet.”
“Wh-what?”
“We can widen the blockage before it bursts.”
And right at that moment—
Clatter!
Nurse Hwang Semi burst in, breathing fast.
“Dr. Richard, the cerebral angiography room is ready!”
Perfect timing.
Daeho looked straight at the guardian and asked seriously,
“Will you entrust her to me?”
Before he even finished, the patient blinked rapidly and murmured,
“Y-yes… number one hospital… doctor…”
“Please, doctor! Do whatever you have to do. I’m begging you!”
The guardian grabbed his hand desperately.
Daeho’s eyes hardened.
“Move her, now!”
Tick.
The minute hand of the clock shifted — exactly one minute, just as Daeho had said earlier.
The emergency room was now thick with tension.
“Everyone, focus!”
“Will this really be okay?”
“Don’t question it. We made our choice.”
Nurse Lee Suyeon’s firm voice cut through the air.
The others fell silent, realizing what she meant. Their eyes still flickered with anxiety.
Meanwhile, Daeho was in the prep room beside the angiography lab.
Nurse Hwang Semi helped him into surgical scrubs.
Rustle.
“Doctor, your hands.”
“Thanks.”
As he prepared for the procedure, Park Jinkyu leaned against the doorframe, looking conflicted.
“Richard… are you really going to do this?”
“Should that be coming out of your mouth?” Daeho shot back sharply.
Park sighed. “I just mean… maybe we should call the neurosurgeon, or one of the specialists who went home.”
“That’s protocol, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Then call them. When will they arrive?”
As Daeho tied his gown, his tone was cold and impatient.
Park bit his lip. “Tch. I know, okay? I know you’re right. And I do trust you. But if something goes wrong—”
“If we wait, the patient dies.”
“Yeah… with her condition, she can’t hold out long.”
“Then why are we even debating this?”
By the time Daeho finished speaking, his gown was neatly tied.
Park slowly raised both hands.
“Fine. I won’t stop you.”
“This is my decision.”
“Then… you know what kind of backlash this could cause, right?”
“I do.”
Daeho met Park’s uncertain gaze.
Thump.
He stepped past him.
“Are you going to stand there forever?”
It meant — move if you’re not going to stop me.
