Athena continued the surgery with precise movements, quickly locating the source of bleeding and stitching it up. The bleeding stopped almost instantly. She glanced at the clock—her stitching time was two seconds faster than it had been during the simulation. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she exhaled in relief. The surgery was done, and it was a complete success. "Move the patient to the observation room," she instructed calmly. The operation had gone perfectly. Those watching the live broadcast were left in awe, flooding the chat with praise. Some even apologized for having doubted her before. After changing out of her surgical gown, Athena headed into the lounge to rest. She had barely sat down when Zaden walked in. "Congratulations, Athena." Hearing his warm tone, Athena could not help but smile. "Honestly, I should be thanking you. If it weren't for your help, things might not have gone so smoothly." If Zaden had not stepped in to find a new patient after the previous one backed out, this challenge might have ended before it even started. This was not just a surgery—it was her way of proving to herself that she could stand tall again. Not only had she surpassed Maya, but she had also proven she was still qualified to be on the operating table. Zaden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "I only helped a little. You're the real star here." Athena did not argue, just smiled softly, accepting his words.Right then, Kate and Jaylee entered the room. Zaden still had his arm around Athena's waist, and the two of them looked so comfortable together that Jaylee froze awkwardly. "Uh, Professor, should we come back later?" she whispered. Seeing how close Zaden and Athena were, Kate could not help but smile warmly. Her long-time wish had finally come true. It had taken her almost ten years, but seeing the two of them together like this made it all worth it. Athena, hearing Jaylee's teasing tone, felt a little embarrassed. She quickly stepped back from Zaden's arms and greeted, "Professor, you're here." Kate did not leave right away. Still smiling, she walked over and said gently, "I watched your surgery just now. You did an excellent job. In fact, I think you're even more confident and skilled than before." Once, Athena had been talented but inexperienced. Now, she operated with both confidence and precision, calm even when facing unexpected setbacks. That was the mark of a true professional. "The patient's condition was incredibly complex," Kate went on. "It was a high-difficulty surgery, yet you executed it flawlessly. I've already submitted your results to the medical journal. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to publish it." Athena knew that being a doctor was not just about doing surgeries. Sometimes, reputation mattered too. People like Maya were a perfect example. The reason she was so respected was not purely because of skill, but because of her title as a professor. In real practice, Athena doubted Maya could actually outperform her. Athena nodded. "Thank you, Professor."Kate had helped her in so many ways, especially with that situation abroad. If Kate had not found her a new place, she would have probably still been watched by Maya's spies. In short, everyone around her had been a true blessing. Kate smiled kindly. "You've been through a lot. Take a few days off—three, at least. I'll handle everything here, and I'll personally monitor the patient's recovery." The surgery was not completely over yet, as there was still the patient's recovery and follow-up care to handle. For now, Athena had only made it past the first hurdle, and there were still several more ahead. But since the first one was the hardest, things should go smoothly from here. Hearing Kate's words, Athena quickly said, "Professor, please let me handle it myself. I know his condition best, and it's more appropriate for me to take charge of the next steps." Kate only worried that Athena might overwork herself, but since Athena insisted, she did not argue and simply agreed. Then, Athena thought of the nurse from the operating room and frowned. "Where's that nurse from earlier?" Jaylee, who had also been in the room, immediately spoke up angrily. "How could she keep making mistakes like that? Don't tell me she was trying to sabotage Dr. Hall on purpose! "Even something as basic as dropping a scalpel! How could that happen? That's just ridiculous!"