Chapter 2

I dragged my suitcase step by step to the ticket change counter.

"I want a refund."

I slapped my passport on the counter, my voice filled with resentment.

The counter staff glanced at the screen, looked me up and down, and rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, but since you didn't board for personal reasons, you can only get a two-hundred-dollar refund, not the full amount."

I laughed in fury. "Personal reasons? Your flight was overbooked and you threw me off. That's my personal reason?"

The counter staff's fingers clattered on the keyboard, her face full of impatience.

"Who told you to make a scene in the cabin and disturb the order? You're lucky to get two hundred dollars back. Don't be ungrateful!"

Just then, the sound of high heels approached.

The flight attendant from earlier strutted over arrogantly, holding up her phone that was still recording.

"A broke loser desperately trying to extort money from the airline—truly desperate for cash!"

"Isn't she just trying to get more compensation? What's with the high and mighty act?"

The flight attendant crossed her arms, her face full of mockery.

"Two hundred not enough? I'll post this online so everyone can see how pathetic you look. Maybe some kind soul will crowdfund three hundred for you!"

I looked at her extremely arrogant face and suppressed my anger.

"You'll regret what you did today."

The flight attendant laughed as if she'd heard a joke, nearly tearing up.

"Regret? Coming from someone too poor to afford first class, who can only squeeze into economy?"

"Mr. Thompson booked the entire first-class cabin. Even his bodyguards are in business class!"

"Who do you think you are to make me regret anything?"

She spun around and shouted at the passengers coming and going in the departure hall.

"Everyone, come look!"

"This is the person who not only refused to cooperate when the flight was overbooked, but tried to extort our airline!"

"Now she's making a scene at the counter, seriously disrupting everyone's travel. She's a menace to society!"

Surrounding passengers were instantly drawn over, their pointing and gossiping rising in waves.

"She's dressed so well, how can she be so classless?"

"Exactly! The airline already compensated her and she's still making trouble. She must be crazy for money!"

"Just get out of here and stop embarrassing yourself!"

I ignored the onlookers and turned to the ground staff.

"I'll take the refund."

"But you must write in black and white on the refund form that this is due to your airline's overbooking and forcible denial of boarding."

I didn't want the Thompson family tracking me down later and thinking I'd deliberately broken the contract.

I absolutely wouldn't take the blame for this.

The flight attendant's face darkened. She slammed her hand on the counter.

"Dream on!"

"We gave you a solution and you refused it. Now you want to smear our airline?"

"Security! Get this crazy woman out of here!"

Several airport security guards immediately rushed over and grabbed my arms from both sides.

"Let go!"

I struggled desperately, but the security guards wouldn't listen. They dragged me toward the airport exit.

As I passed the flight attendant, I couldn't help warning her.

"You'd better remember my face today, and every word you just said."

"Soon you'll be on your knees begging me."

But instead of being intimidated, she kicked over my suitcase.

My already damaged suitcase completely burst open.

The clothes and specially prepared medications inside spilled all over the floor.

The flight attendant stepped on a medicine bottle, crushing it. The custom medicine inside instantly turned to powder.

This was bad!

That was the special medicine I'd prepared specifically for Thompson—one of a kind!

Without this medicine, Thompson wouldn't survive the post-surgery recovery period!

"Oops, I'm so sorry."

The flight attendant mocked from behind with fake sympathy.

Countless phone cameras instantly focused on me. Various mocking voices completely drowned me out.

I was thrown out of the departure hall and landed heavily on the concrete floor.

The flight attendant tossed my luggage at me like garbage.

"Take your junk and get lost! If you make any more trouble, we'll call the police and report you for disturbing public order!"

Just then, my phone suddenly vibrated frantically.

The moment I answered, a barrage of questions came through.

"What's going on with you!"

"The plane took off ages ago. I just checked the passenger manifest and your name isn't on it!"

The caller was the Thompson family's butler, his tone full of reproach and arrogance.

"Our family spent so much effort inviting you. We even sent the deposit. And now at this critical moment you're pulling a diva act?"

"Who do you think you are to make our family wait for you?"

"If it weren't for your surgical skills, you think you'd be qualified to treat Mr. Thompson?"

I was about to explain it was the airline's fault, but he wouldn't listen at all.

"I'm warning you, Mr. Thompson's terminal illness can't be delayed. If you're not at Houston First Hospital's operating room before dark today, don't blame our family for being ruthless!"

"You took our money and dare not do the job? Believe me, I'll make sure you can't work in the entire national medical field!"

The call was abruptly hung up. The busy tone echoed in my ear.