Dr. Carter’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“How could this even… get in there?”

The nurse beside her crossed herself quietly. “Is it…?”

“No,” Dr. Carter interrupted quickly, regaining control. “No assumptions. Prep the OR. Now.”

A Secret Buried in Pain

As the surgical team prepared, Dr. Carter knelt beside Leo once more.
“Leo, honey… I need to ask you something important. Did someone… make you swallow these things?”

For the first time, tears welled in his eyes. He turned away and shook his head violently, but his trembling hands told another story.

“Leo, it’s okay,” she said softly. “You’re safe here.”

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but all that came out was a broken whisper:

“I had to… It’s for… her.”

“For who, sweetheart?”

But before he could answer, he doubled over in pain. The monitors spiked. They didn’t have time for more questions.

The Operation That Revealed the Truth