The patient’s family rushed forward, shoving Karina hard. She fell to the floor, her forehead striking the edge of a corridor chair. A sharp pain shot through her, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Wilfred immediately crouched down to help her up. Seeing the blood trickling from her forehead, he shot a furious glare at the aggressors. “What do you think you’re doing?” One of the family members sneered. “What are we doing? You dare to ask? You’re a worthless doctor! If it weren’t for you, my daughter could’ve had a few more years to live. Now she’s gone—all because of you!” Wilfred was stunned, but Karina’s soft whimper of pain in his arms drew his attention back to her. Suppressing his anger, he glanced at the group advancing toward them. Before they could close in, he swiftly lifted Karina into his arms, causing several nurses nearby to gasp in surprise. His icy glare swept over the furious family members. “There’s a limit to how far you can go. If you don’t want this
At that moment, Karina shouted, her voice trembling, “I’ll tell you everything!” Her hands twisted together anxiously, her fingers fidgeting, and her rapid blinking betrayed her extreme hesitation and nerves. Wilfred didn’t rush her, standing silently as he waited for her to continue. Karina took a deep breath, her words spilling out as she recounted everything that had happened over the past few days. She left nothing out, from the stolen photos to the motivations behind her actions. When she finished, it felt as though a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. But Wilfred’s brows remained furrowed the entire time. Noticing his reaction, Karina’s initial relief was quickly replaced by regret. She had relaxed too soon. “I’m sorry. If you want to press charges, I’ll accept whatever consequences come my way.” Her confession was partly motivated by her desire to salvage her career, but even more so, she couldn’t bear to keep Wilfred in the dark any longer. She
Karina might appear frail, with slim arms and legs that seemed as if a single push could knock her over, but Wilfred knew better. He understood just how resilient she truly was.Others might work hard, but Karina always pushed herself several times beyond that. He often worked late into the night, performing back-to-back surgeries, and every time he left his office, she would still be there, pouring over medical journals long after everyone else had gone home. It was that dedication that had sparked Wilfred’s decision to give her a chance. Thinking back, he realized he had never seen Karina cry before. Not when the Stone family kept demanding money, not even when Kieran threatened her. Yet here she was, her eyes rimmed with red, struggling to hold back tears in front of him—a man who had once gone out of his way to help her. “I know I’ve disappointed you, Dr. Wilfred,” Karina said, her voice trembling. “Don’t worry, I’ll resign tomorrow. I’ll come up with an excuse, and if
“I don’t know,” the nurse replied. “She said there was an emergency at home and she had to leave immediately.” Karina’s chest tightened, and her fingers curled into fists. The more she thought about it, the more something felt off. Could it really just be a coincidence? It seemed far more likely that the intern knew she was about to be exposed and decided to disappear before they could question her—cutting off all leads and leaving them with nowhere to turn. While Karina felt heavy with unease, Wilfred seemed much calmer. It was as if he had anticipated this outcome all along. “Thank you for your efforts,” he said to the nurse, his tone steady and composed. He then turned his attention to Karina, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before turning away and walking off. Karina quickly followed him out of the room. The nurse couldn’t hold back any longer and called after her, “Dr. Norman, when did you get so close to Dr. Wilfred? Everyone’s saying he’s grooming you
The man who charged forward with the attack was the younger one. Wilfred had momentarily let his guard down, not expecting such a sudden outburst. The wooden stick struck him squarely on the back with a dull thud, causing him to grunt in pain. Karina froze, her mind going blank in shock. She rushed to Wilfred’s side, supporting him as best she could. “Dr. Wilfred, are you okay? Why would you take the hit for me?” Wilfred straightened up, his expression calm despite the obvious pain. Even now, he had the composure to explain. “It wasn’t for you. The attack was meant for me from the start.” He glanced briefly at his back, his gaze darkening. It hurt a lot but he wasn’t an ordinary person. As someone who had endured far worse as Pharaoh’s former test subject, he was accustomed to such pain. That didn’t mean he wasn’t angry. Wilfred turned his icy gaze to the young man who had attacked him, his penetrating eyes enough to make the assailant hesitate for a brief moment.
Seeing the two men gearing up to strike again, Karina instinctively reached for Wilfred, ready to pull him away. A little humiliation was better than getting hurt, she thought.The blow Wilfred had taken earlier still made her heart pound with fear just thinking about it. She couldn’t imagine the state of his back now. It was likely bruised and swollen but there was no time to sit down and check. Without hesitation, Karina reached out and grabbed Wilfred’s hand. His wide, warm palm enveloped hers, though she didn’t seem to notice. “Dr. Wilfred, let’s go. The police will handle this when they arrive,” she urged, tugging him gently. Karina didn’t pay attention to the moment, but Wilfred did. Her hand felt so small, so delicate in his, as if he could completely enclose it with just a slight movement. A strange warmth crept into his chest, unsettling him. He pulled his hand free, his voice calm but firm. “There’s no need.” Before Karina could argue, the sound of sirens p
Wilfred’s back was smooth and unblemished, his skin noticeably fairer than most, making the bruises stand out starkly. However, Karina wasn’t distracted and her entire focus was on carefully applying the medication. But for Wilfred, maintaining his composure was far more challenging.The warmth of her breath and the faint tremble of her fingertips felt like a persistent feather brushing over his senses, teasing his composure. For the first time, Wilfred realized just how sensitive his back was, and the discovery filled him with regret. His fists clenched as he silently endured. Suddenly, Karina leaned closer and gently blew on the bruised area. “Does it hurt? I’ll blow on it to make it better.” His entire body stiffened, and in one swift motion, he grabbed his shirt and shrugged it back on, quickly pulling his lab coat over it. His voice came low and firm. “That’s enough. No need for anything else.” Karina froze, her eyes darting around the empty office. It was just t
Karina was startled and quickly grabbed Wilfred's hand, rummaging through her bag for a wet wipe. “How did this happen? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”Wilfred gently brushed her hand aside, his cool demeanor and tired expression softened under the streetlight. “It’s nothing. Just a small injury. It’ll heal on its own.”“That’s not okay!” Karina shot back, ignoring his resistance as she took his hand and cleaned the wound with the wet wipe. She then pulled out a bandage, her movements precise yet tender.Wilfred watched her in silence, his gaze inscrutable. For a fleeting moment, something flickered in his eyes, as if his thoughts were both present and absent at the same time. Beneath the cold glow of the streetlamp, the air seemed to soften. Wilfred let himself linger in the moment, indulging in the rare warmth of being cared for.*The next day, they confronted Dr. Kerr, a prominent figure in organ transplantation. Dr. Kerr had narrowly lost the hospital's directorial po
Karina heard Harley’s parting word, but she didn’t stop walking. She already had someone like Wilfred who dared to stand up against authority. She wasn’t alone in her fight. When she returned, Yvette bombarded her with questions about her visit to the association. Karina chose to gloss over certain details, recounting only the less controversial parts. Even that left Yvette in awe. "You actually turned them down? You really did? Gosh, I admire you!" Yvette exclaimed.Karina swatted Yvette’s exaggerated thumbs-up. "Cut it out. I’m barely holding it together. I was so nervous."Yvette’s face twisted in mock disappointment. "You? Nervous? Where’s all that boss energy you walked in here with?""Boss energy? More like trembling cowardice," Karina retorted with a wry smile. "I was barely holding my knees steady in there."“No wonder people used to bow down to authority back in the day,” she thought. Standing her ground in front of someone like Professor Zeller had been nearly impos
Karina wasn’t naive enough to take Professor Zeller’s words as a compliment. Given his position and history with Wilfred, it was far more likely he was testing her or subtly undermining her. Still, Karina knew how to hold her ground. “So, Professor Zeller,” she began calmly, though her nails were already digging into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped imprints. “Why exactly did you call me here? I have responsibilities back at the hospital, and I’d prefer not to waste time.” Professor Zeller raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into an amused smirk. “You’re quite fond of your current job, aren’t you?” “Yes, I am.” Karina’s voice was steady, though her body was tense. She couldn’t afford to offend him—not someone with his influence. Zeller studied her in silence for a moment, then tilted his head with a thoughtful frown. “There’s something familiar about you... but I can’t quite place it.” Karina blinked, caught off guard, but before she could ask, he shook his head. “N
If Harley had never seen Karina’s genuine smile, perhaps he wouldn’t have noticed. But he had seen how she smiled at Wilfred, so radiant and pure it could light up a room. In contrast, her cold indifference toward him was painfully stark.Sliding the key into the ignition, Harley glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Can’t you at least crack a smile? All this frowning—it’s hard to look at.”Karina didn’t even bother turning her head. “I’m a doctor, not here to provide entertainment. If you’re that desperate for a smile, hit up a bar tonight. You can pay someone to grin at you all you want.”Harley froze, his expression darkening ever so slightly. For a moment, he was genuinely at a loss for words. Apart from Wilfred, no one else had ever managed to leave him speechless quite like this.Karina remained oblivious or perhaps indifferent to the fact that she had joined Wilfred in Harley’s mental list of thoroughly disliked people. And even if she knew, it wouldn’t have fazed her
Although Karina had no idea what they intended, with Harley already waiting outside her office, she figured she had no choice but to meet him. Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, she entered her office. Harley stood by the window, examining her pot of red dianthus on the windowsill. Karina frowned. “Dr. Carter, that plant is mine. Please be careful not to knock it over.”As soon as the words left her mouth— Crash!The flower pot toppled off the windowsill, shattering into pieces on the floor. Karina jumped in shock, quickly followed by relief. At least it had shattered indoors and not fallen outside. Someone could have been seriously hurt if it had. But that didn’t stop her from getting angry. “Dr. Carter, what’s the meaning of this?” she snapped, her frustration evident. She had barely finished warning him, and the pot had already fallen. Was that really just an accident?Harley pocketed his hands and apologized with an infuriating nonchalance. “My apo
Wilfred ended up eating two full bowls without realizing it. Only when he couldn’t take another bite did he put his spoon down and wipe his mouth. “The porridge is well made,” he remarked. The housekeeper chuckled. “It’s all thanks to Miss Karina’s idea. And to think I’m a certified nutritionist, but I didn’t come up with something like this. It’s a good thing she was here today!” Karina smiled sheepishly. “It’s just something I learned growing up in a regular household. We didn’t have much, and when I didn’t have an appetite as a kid, I’d make this porridge for myself. I’d always end up eating a lot. So, I figured it might work this time too. I’m glad it turned out well.” The housekeeper insisted she was being modest, showering Karina with praise. Wilfred, watching the simple yet thoughtful meal on the table, felt a rare warmth in his chest. It might not compare to a five-star meal, but knowing that every bite was made with care, specifically for him, made it more satis
Karina wasn’t eager to turn to the association for help. After all, the people there weren’t just disliked by Wilfred—she couldn’t stand them either. Hesitating, she muttered, “When the time comes, something will work out… right?” Wilfred glanced at her indecisive expression and sighed lightly. He could already tell she hadn’t given the matter much thought. “I figured it’d be like this. I’ve already thought it through for you. If you need a recommendation letter, I’ll write one for you.” “Really?” Karina’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t suppress the excitement in her voice. She had considered asking Wilfred for help. His reputation and capabilities were unmatched—even those in the association couldn’t hold a candle to him. But Karina had hesitated, feeling like she had already leaned on him for too much. He had helped her in countless ways. Asking for a recommendation letter felt like pushing the boundaries of her gratitude. Her joy didn’t last long before she falte
Wilfred coughed lightly and replied, “There’s nothing else to do while staying in the room.” His explanation only made things worse. Karina’s brows shot up immediately. “What do you mean by nothing else to do?” Her expression turned serious, and her tone carried an unusual firmness. “It doesn’t matter. When you’re sick, you need to rest properly. Your book is confiscated. Go lie down.” It was the first time someone had ordered Wilfred around like this, and he found it oddly amusing. Of course, if it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t have listened. Only Karina could manage to sway him. Even so, Wilfred didn’t head to bed but remained seated in his chair. “You mentioned earlier that you came because of something. What is it?” Karina hesitated briefly. “Well, the association sent me an email. I just saw it. They’re inviting me to visit when I have time.” As soon as she finished, she watched Wilfred’s reaction nervously. Knowing his antagonism toward the association
Karina had no idea why the association would send her such a letter. The invitation at the end even encouraged her to visit them in person. But instead of feeling flattered, her first thought was suspicion. Was this truly an act of goodwill, or was there something more behind it? Were they targeting her or perhaps Wilfred? Yvette noticed Karina’s lack of enthusiasm and tried to persuade her. “You’re not planning to go? This is an invitation from the association! For newcomers like us, meeting any of those big names is practically impossible.“If you join, everything could change.” Karina shook her head firmly. “I’m not interested at the moment.” “But what about finding a mentor…” “I’ll figure something out,” Karina replied calmly. “Thanks for your concern, but please don’t try to convince me. I don’t have a good impression of the association, and I won’t be joining.” Her tone left no room for further discussion. Yvette wanted Karina to join out of genuine conce
In the medical field, the association referred to here was an elite organization. Its members were either highly reputable figures like Professor Zeller or individuals with exceptionally powerful connections, like Harley. The majority of the association fell into two categories. The first was well-connected individuals who used their influence to secure their positions. The second was a rare group who stayed out of cliques and politics, dedicating themselves solely to their craft. These individuals were admitted into the association based purely on merit and skill. Wilfred had once belonged to this latter group before he chose to leave the association. Karina had learned all this inadvertently from Wilfred, whose brief mentions of the association had piqued her curiosity for a long time. Finally catching sight of the association’s forum, her eyes instinctively lit up. But then her gaze landed on a highlighted post in bold red letters: “How Can an Unknown Nobody Pull Off