The Divine Physician System

Chapter 1

The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the corridor as Adrian Hale pushed a mop across the polished marble floor.

The squeak of the mop echoed through St. Raphael Medical Center, but no one paid him any attention. Doctors hurried past with patient charts tucked beneath their arms, nurses wheeled stretchers through the hallways, and anxious family members rushed between departments.

To everyone here, Adrian was invisible.

No.

He was worse than invisible.

He was the hospital's laughingstock.

"Hey, Son-in-law!"

A young nurse tossed an empty coffee cup onto the freshly cleaned floor without even looking at him.

"You missed a spot."

Her colleagues burst into laughter.

Adrian quietly bent down, picked up the cup, and threw it into the nearby trash bin before continuing to mop.

Three years ago, he had walked into this hospital wearing a white coat as an intern physician.

Now...He cleaned the floors. It wasn't because he lacked talent.

It was because the hospital director had made sure no one ever allowed him near a patient again.

"Some people really have no dignity."

A middle-aged man sitting outside the consultation room sneered loudly.

"I heard he's the Sterling family's live-in son-in-law."

His wife covered her mouth and giggled.

"So that's him? The man who sold himself for money?"

"I'd rather starve than marry into another family."

"Exactly. Men like him don't deserve respect."

The words reached Adrian's ears as clearly as if they had been whispered beside him.

His grip tightened around the mop handle until his knuckles turned white.

But he kept his head lowered.

He had long grown accustomed to humiliation.

Pride couldn't buy medicine.

Dignity couldn't save lives.

Only money could.

His phone vibrated inside his pocket.

Adrian immediately wiped his wet hands on his uniform before answering.

"Doctor Lewis?"

The voice on the other end sounded hesitant.

"Mr. Hale... your sister's condition has become unstable again."

Adrian's heartbeat skipped.

"What happened?"

"Her white blood cell count has dropped dramatically. The transplant can't be delayed any longer."

Adrian leaned against the wall.

"How much time do we have?"

"At most... forty-eight hours."

The doctor's sigh echoed through the receiver.

"The donor has already been arranged. If the surgical payment isn't completed before tomorrow evening, we'll have no choice but to give the donor to another patient."

Adrian slowly closed his eyes.

Half a million dollars.

Five hundred thousand.

That single number felt heavier than a mountain.

"I understand."

After hanging up, he remained standing silently for nearly a minute.

Then he opened his banking app.

Balance:

$327.14

He stared at the number until it blurred.

Three years.

He had worked at this hospital every single day for three years.

Yet his salary had never reached his own hands.

Every paycheck was transferred directly to the Sterling family under the excuse that they had already "spent enough" taking care of him.

His phone was already in his hand.

Without hesitation, he dialed the number he knew better than his own heartbeat.

Evelyn Sterling.

His wife.

The phone rang.

No answer.

He called again.

And again.

And again.

Voicemail.

He opened their message history.

Hundreds of unanswered messages filled the screen.

Lily's condition has worsened.

Please call me.

The surgery is tomorrow.

I only need to borrow the money.

I'll repay every cent.

Please...

Still nothing.

His thumb hovered over the call button before pressing it one last time.

Ring...

Ring...

Ring...

The call ended.

Not rejected.

Ignored.

Adrian forced a bitter smile.

Three years of marriage.

They had never shared the same bedroom.

Never celebrated an anniversary.

Never even eaten dinner together.

To Evelyn, he was nothing more than an obligation left behind by her late grandfather.

A decorative husband.

Someone whose name appeared on her marriage certificate but nowhere in her life.

"Brother Adrian."

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

A young nurse walked over nervously.

"Lily asked if you'd visit her during lunch."

Adrian nodded.

"I'll be there."

He removed the cleaning gloves before making his way upstairs.

Room 708.

The moment he stepped inside, his heart clenched.

Lily Hale looked even thinner than she had yesterday.

Her pale skin was almost translucent, and the IV lines attached to both arms made her appear fragile enough to disappear with the slightest breeze.

Yet she still smiled brightly.

"You skipped breakfast again."

Instead of worrying about herself...

She worried about him.

Adrian forced a smile.

"I already ate."

"Liar."

She pouted weakly.

"I can always tell."

He sat beside her and gently adjusted the blanket.

"The doctors said you'll have your surgery soon."

Lily lowered her head.

"Brother..."

"You shouldn't spend any more money on me."

Adrian frowned.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I heard the nurses talking."

Her voice trembled.

"The surgery costs five hundred thousand dollars."

She grabbed his rough, calloused hands.

"I don't want you suffering because of me anymore."

Adrian squeezed her fingers tightly.

"You are my only family."

"I'll find the money."

"No matter what."

Lily's eyes reddened.

She wanted to argue.

Instead, she simply nodded while forcing herself not to cry.

After leaving her room, Adrian headed straight for the hospital parking lot.

There was only one place left he could go.

The Sterling Mansion.

An hour later, he stood before the towering iron gates.

The mansion occupied nearly an entire hillside, its European architecture radiating wealth and power.

Luxury cars lined the driveway.

Crystal fountains sparkled beneath the afternoon sun.

Compared to the tiny apartment he and Lily had grown up in...

This place felt like another world.

The security guards recognized him immediately.

One of them smirked.

"The son-in-law is back."

"Probably here to beg again."

Another laughed before opening the gate.

Inside the grand living room, Eleanor Sterling sat elegantly on the sofa while sipping imported tea.

Her tailored dress and diamond jewelry reflected the prestige of one of the city's wealthiest families.

She barely glanced at Adrian.

"What do you want?"

Adrian bowed respectfully.

"Mother..."

Her expression immediately darkened.

"I've told you countless times."

"I'm not your mother."

"You merely married into our family."

Adrian swallowed the bitterness in his throat.

"Lily's surgery is tomorrow."

"I need five hundred thousand dollars."

"I'll repay every cent."

Silence.

Then...

Eleanor slowly placed her teacup onto the table.

"Repay?"

She laughed coldly.

"With what?"

"A cleaner's salary?"

"You've already eaten and lived off our family for three years."

"You should be grateful."

Before Adrian could answer, another voice echoed through the hall.

A stout middle-aged man walked downstairs while adjusting his expensive watch.

This was Eleanor's younger brother.

Richard Sterling.

He looked Adrian up and down with obvious disgust.

"So the parasite is here."

Adrian ignored the insult.

"Uncle Richard..."

Richard waved dismissively.

"Don't call me uncle."

"You're not family."

Adrian clenched his fists.

"My sister's life is at stake."

Richard burst into laughter.

"So?"

He walked closer until they stood face to face.

"What is your sister worth?"

"Half a million dollars?"

He snorted.

"She's not worth half a dollar."

"The Hale family has been nothing but trash for years."

"If they weren't, would you have become a pathetic live-in son-in-law?"

Every word landed like a hammer.

Adrian's breathing became heavier.

"I'll repay the money."

"I swear."

Eleanor stood.

Her eyes were colder than ice.

"Enough."

"The Sterling family isn't running a charity."

"If your sister dies..."

"That's her fate."

She turned toward the butler.

"Throw him out."

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward.

Before Adrian could react, they grabbed his arms and dragged him toward the entrance.

He struggled desperately.

"Please!"

"She's innocent!"

"She'll die!"

The heavy gates slammed shut before him with a deafening clang.

Adrian remained standing outside the mansion, staring at the towering walls that separated wealth from despair.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

The caller ID read: St. Raphael Medical Center.

A strange sense of dread washed over him as he slowly answered the call.