A wave of indescribable disappointment welled up inside Alex White, pushing him to confront the man across from him. He spoke, his words sharp and heavy. "If I'd known you'd stoop to this-all for money-I never would've taken that bullet for you."

Matthew Ross kept his head bowed, shoulders trembling violently as Alex's words hit him. His breathing grew ragged, each inhale louder than the last.

Alex's eyes were cold, unyielding. He pressed on, voice tight with regret. "I honestly wish I hadn't thrown away my entire medical career for your sake."

Matthew's breathing only grew harsher; he hunched further, as if trying to disappear.

"Matthew Ross,” Alex said, voice hardening, "look at me. I'm telling you one more time-look at me."

Matthew's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "Alex, don't do this."

"No," Alex shot back. "You don't do this."

He didn't let up. "Your sister and brother's fake credentials? The university's already found out. Before the day's over, they'll be expelled. Their degrees-master's, doctorate—gone, erased. After today, they aren't students here anymore."

Alex laid bare the very things Matthew cared about most, mercilessly twisting the knife.

Matthew jerked his head up, desperation flaring in his red-rimmed eyes. He clung to Alex's words like a drowning man to a lifeline. "Alex-please-tell me the truth. Is it real? Are they really-?"

"It's real," Alex replied, his tone icy.

Matthew's face twitched, the last traces of hope draining from him. He slumped back in his chair, utterly defeated.

Alex watched him with a cold, bitter smile. “They're just being put back in their place, Matthew. There's no reason for this reaction."

Matthew opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Alex went on. "I came here today to stop you from making an even bigger mistake."

Matthew squeezed his eyes shut. "It was just a misdiagnosis..."

"Keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep," Alex said flatly.

He leaned forward, hands clasped on the table. “Matthew, Brandon, and Helen— your siblings—they've already gotten what they deserved. Now what about you? You owe me the truth. Not for me. Not for anyone else. For the patient whose life you ruined with your 'misdiagnosis."

"Did you forget the oath we took back in med school? No one expects you to be perfect—not the professors, not me. All we ever asked for was a shred of conscience. Mistake or not, you know better than anyone if this was just an accident... or something else."

Matthew opened his eyes and met Alex's gaze. "It was a misdiagnosis. That's all there is to it. Nothing more."

Stubborn to the end.

Alex's eyes flashed with fury. He drew a long, trembling breath. "If you're going to stick to that story..."

He clenched his jaw, voice low and raw. "Then I wish you had died that day instead of me saving you. I wish I'd let you bleed out on that street."

Matthew's lips pressed into a thin line. He closed his eyes, silent.

Alex waited. The silence stretched. Matthew didn't confess a thing.

A storm of anger boiled in Alex's chest. He shot to his feet, looming over Matthew like a judge passing sentence. "What are you holding onto? Do you even know what you're doing? Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?"

Alex slammed his palm onto the table, the sound echoing through the visitors' room.

"Matthew, you've known me for years. You know what kind of person I am. No matter what, I would never play games with a patient's life! If I ever made a mistake that cost someone, I'd rather take their place in the grave."

"If I'd known you'd sell your soul for money, I wouldn't have waited for those thugs to take you out—I'd have done it myself! Why let you graduate, only to ruin even more lives?"