Hot Shower, Cold Heart by Mark Twain 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Just like I predicted-Naomi got assigned to my department for her clinical rotation.
Let me be clear: when it comes to teaching, I don’t play favorites. Every student gets the same training.
During an emergency surgery I’m leading, I assign the interns to observe.
And I specifically choose Naomi as instrument assistant.
“Why does it have to be me?” she mutters under her breath, clearly pissed off.
“Dr. Ashford, isn’t this abuse of power?”
I glance at her through my surgical mask. “If you earned that scholarship on merit, prove it in the OR.”
We reach the critical phase of the procedure.
I call for a 2.5mm balloon catheter.
Naomi fumbles-and hands me a 3mm.
“Wrong! Vasopressors! NOW!”
I bark orders, the team scrambling to compensate.
After surgery, we step out of the OR.
Naomi follows behind me, face pale as death.
I turn to face her. Every word deliberate.
“In cardiothoracic surgery, you hold lives in your hands. One tiny mistake can kill someone.”
“The carelessness and incompetence you showed today? That gets patients killed.”
Naomi sways on her feet. Tears flood her eyes.
“Vivian! Is this really necessary?!”
Zach’s voice cuts through the hallway like a blade.
He strides over and plants himself between us.
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Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
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Chapter 4
“She’s a student! First-time nerves are normal! Everyone makes mistakes at first!”
“You don’t need to tear her down like this! Are you teaching-or just looking for an excuse to attack her?”
I stare at the man I once stood beside.
Now he’s defending another woman. Undermining my professional judgment.
My heart sinks into frozen water. Goes numb.
“Coach Carter.”
I use his formal title.
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“In cardiac surgery, there’s no room for trial and error. As her supervising physician, pointing out a potentially fatal mistake is my job.”
“Your job?!” His anger flares hotter. “You’re abusing your position!”
He grabs Naomi’s wrist. “Come on, sweetheart. We’re leaving. You don’t have to take this shit from her.”
He storms off with her, tears streaming down her face.
The other interns are staring at me now-wary, resentful.
My phone rings.
I hit speakerphone.
Emma’s voice rings out, crystal clear: “Sis, tracked down the IP addresses behind those smear posts. All traced back
to Naomi’s dorm room.”
“I posted the evidence online. It’s blowing up. Also sent copies to the academy’s ethics committee and the disciplinary board.”
I hum in acknowledgment and hang up.
The room goes silent.
Every single person who’d been glaring at me seconds ago is now staring at their phones in shock.
Shouting erupts outside.
A group barges in-led by one of Naomi’s friends, the girl who’d been teasing her and Zach before.
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Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
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Chapter 4
She shoves a phone camera in my face. “Dr. Ashford! What the hell is your problem?!”
“Even if Naomi screwed up, did you have to go this far?! Reporting her and Coach Carter?!”
“Just because your marriage is falling apart doesn’t mean you get to punish people for caring about each other! You’re just jealous!”
After her self-righteous rant, the other interns chime in:
“Apologize! You slandered an innocent student by calling her a homewrecker! That’s disgusting!”
“Get Naomi here! There are hundreds of thousands watching this livestream-let her confront you herself!”
I smile faintly.
“You want Naomi? Fine. I know exactly where she is.”
I lead the group down the hallway-toward the rarely-used emergency stairwell.
The closer we get, the clearer the sounds become.
Naomi’s breathy, teasing voice: “Coach… how do I compare to that old hag Vivian?”
Zach’s rough, lust-soaked groan: “She’s not worth a fraction of you. I’ll divorce her soon.”
“Babe, if you get pregnant this time, don’t get rid of it. I only want your kids../
Outside the stairwell, dead silence.
I stand there calmly.
Watching their faces drain of color. Watching shock twist their expressions.
The livestream explodes.
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Hot Shower, Cold Heart: How Water Temperature Exposed My Military Husband’s Affair
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