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
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
Hearing Wilfred’s suggestion, Karina was stunned for a moment. After some careful thought, she shook her head. “No, I’d rather not.”Now it was Wilfred’s turn to be caught off guard.“Switching back and forth isn’t a solution. Looking back, I shouldn’t have left in the first place. Were those people really capable of doing anything to me? Probably not. I just wanted to avoid trouble,” Karina said slowly.A person’s family would have a way of shaping their personality, and Karina’s upbringing with the Stone family had left her overly cautious—afraid of causing trouble or confronting conflict. But now, after everything she’d been through, she wasn’t scared anymore. Trouble was just trouble. She could handle it. “I’ll face whatever comes my way,” she added. “If it’s a challenge, I’ll rise to it.” When she shared her thoughts, there was silence on the other end of the line. Worried she might have disappointed him, Karina hesitated. “Did I let you down?” “No.” Wilfred’s quiet
After Yvette finished her rant, she finally got to the point.Karina learned that Dr. Lincoln had transferred out, leaving a vacant spot for a new director at the hospital.“So someone new is being transferred in,” she mused, absentmindedly nibbling on her pen. “I wonder who it could be.”But even Yvette, the self-proclaimed hospital gossip queen who usually knew everything, was stumped this time.“For once, I’ve got nothing,” she admitted, crossing her arms. “But I’ll bet you anything—they must have serious connections. Someone like that doesn’t just fly under the radar.”Karina just shook her head. Gossip wasn’t really her thing. She usually listened and moved on without a second thought. This time was no different. To her, it didn’t really matter who the new director was. After all, what were the odds it would be someone she knew?She would soon find out just how wrong she was.Not only did she know the new director, but she knew him very well. On his first day, Karina
Wilfred paused for a moment after hearing Karina’s suggestion, then nodded. “Sure. Let me grab my coat.”Karina didn’t think much of it at first. But when they arrived at the house, she realized it was the same one he had been borrowing last time. Surprised, she asked, “Weren’t you just renting this from a friend? You’re still staying here?”“Not renting anymore,” Wilfred replied casually, his eyes flicking toward her, a rare glimmer of something unspoken in them. “I bought it from him.”Karina didn’t catch the look. She didn’t know much about Wilfred’s circle of friends, nor did she pry.Inside, the same housekeeper from before greeted them. Familiarity made her more relaxed this time, and she didn’t try to stop Karina from stepping into the kitchen. But halfway through the preparations, Karina discovered a problem—no gas, and the fridge was nearly empty.The housekeeper smacked her forehead. “Oh no, I forgot to restock! I’ll run out and grab some now.”“No, we’ll go,” Wilfred i
Karina stood frozen in shock, just like everyone else. She didn’t snap out of it until Wilfred gently pulled her aside, her cheeks glowing bright red. Noticing her flushed face, Wilfred gave her a meaningful look and casually asked, “Why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?” As he spoke, he reached out toward her forehead. Karina panicked and quickly dodged him. She wasn’t sick. She just knew that if he touched her, her face would turn an even deeper shade of red. “I’m fine. Maybe it’s just the heat and humidity,” she mumbled, fanning herself as if she were uncomfortably warm. Wilfred watched her, clearly seeing through her little act but choosing to keep his amusement to himself. He recalled Xavier’s suggestion to take the initiative. What a brilliant idea. That evening, Karina put her skills to the test and prepared a platter of garlic butter crab. Wilfred happily indulged, eating several pieces with obvious enjoyment. *Wilfred quickly settled into his
Even though Karina dismissed the situation lightly, it didn’t stop the rumors from spreading around the hospital. Gossip sprang up out of nowhere, speculating that she had a personal relationship with Wilfred and had only gotten her opportunity through backdoor connections. The details were so vivid, it almost seemed believable. Yvette was furious. “Seriously? If they’re jealous, they should just admit it. Why do they have to sneak around and spread petty rumors behind your back?” Karina, however, remained calm and even comforted her. “Don’t be upset. Here, have some tea to soothe your throat.” She handed Yvette a cup of tea from a recent online purchase. It was advertised as premium oolong tea, though she wasn’t sure how good it really was since she hadn’t tried it yet. This seemed like the perfect chance to give it a taste. Yvette, coaxed into it, took a sip. Smacking her lips, she suddenly realized something was off. “Hey, they’re talking about you! Aren’t you even a l
But Wilfred wouldn’t bother explaining. In fact, he thought it was better to let the misunderstanding linger. The nurse glanced at Karina, then back at Wilfred, her face twisting with humiliation before she turned and fled the room. Karina instinctively stepped aside, avoiding a collision. “For a moment there… I thought I was interrupting something,” she hesitated, her tone uncertain. She couldn’t deny the relief she felt after Wilfred’s firm stance. The suffocating feeling, like someone gripping her throat, had finally dissipated. Her breathing steadied, though a lingering bitterness remained in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder why the nurse had acted that way. Wilfred looked at her briefly and explained, “I don’t know her. She knocked and let herself in. And not long after, you walked in.” Karina’s expression softened significantly. “Maybe it has something to do with the rumors going around the hospital recently.” Wilfred frowned. Though he said nothi
“Come, sit down. I hear you’re one of Wilfred’s students? I know him well. His students are practically my own,” Professor Cruz said with a warm smile the moment Karina sat down, catching her off guard. “You know Dr. Wilfred?” she blurted out, then immediately realized how silly the question sounded. Of course, they knew each other. How else could Wilfred have arranged for her to attend the lecture? Professor Cruz chuckled, unbothered by her slip. Instead, he found her straightforwardness rather refreshing. As he looked at her, he let out a sigh, seemingly lost in thought. “Good, good… I had thought that kid might…” He trailed off, speaking more to himself than to Karina. Karina didn’t catch his last comment. “I hear from Wilfred that you’re here to discuss your paper?” Professor Cruz asked, steering the conversation back. “Did you bring it with you?” “Yes, I did,” Karina said quickly, pulling out her paper with care and handing it over. Professor Cruz slipped on a
When Karina arrived at the classroom, the bell rang the moment she stepped in. Glancing around, she saw that all the seats were neatly filled. Hurriedly, she found a spot in the guest section and sat down. Her presence naturally drew curious glances from the students. It wasn’t every day a guest showed up in Professor Cruz’s class—something that had likely never happened before. Professor Cruz, elderly and slow on his feet, arrived late, long after the bell had rung. He walked in leisurely, clutching a thermos, exuding a relaxed air. Dressed in a simple jacket, he looked more like someone out for a stroll than a professor about to deliver a lecture. “Hello, class,” he greeted warmly as he reached the podium, smiling at the students. A chorus of voices immediately replied, “Hello, Professor.” Karina joined in, her voice blending with the others. Expecting the lecture to begin, she took out her laptop, notebook, and pen, ready to take notes. But then Professor Cru
Professor Cruz was a senior professor at the local medical university, responsible for teaching students in their sophomore year and above. With only three lectures a month and sometimes even fewer, his classes were always packed to capacity. The reason? His teaching quality was unmatched. Every student he mentored personally had gone on to achieve great things. Most earned doctorates, while the "least accomplished" held master’s degrees. If Professor Zeller was considered one pillar of the medical world, then Professor Cruz was undoubtedly the other. The two were strikingly different in one key way.While Professor Zeller was known for wielding influence and had even founded the prestigious "Tree of Life Association" to gather top talent in the field, Professor Cruz preferred a more carefree life. He was elusive, often absent even to the students he directly mentored. Securing a spot in one of his classes was nearly impossible. It was a rare opportunity not to be missed
Karina let out a sigh. “Maybe the topic didn’t align with their core values?” “Don’t let anyone else hear you say that,” Yvette warned, visibly uneasy as she shuddered. “If word gets out, you’re done for.” It was clear Yvette couldn’t believe Karina had the audacity to openly criticize the Association. Who else would dare? “I’m just trying to find some humor in a bad situation,” Karina said, exasperated. “I put so much effort into that paper, and now that it’s been rejected, can’t I even vent a little?” Yvette sighed again and plopped into a chair. “Seriously, though, why’d you even pick a fight with the Association? Now look, you and Dr. Wilfred are probably the only two people they’ve ever deliberately targeted.” Karina froze for a moment, then felt an unexpected urge to laugh. Technically, Wilfred wasn’t her mentor in the formal sense, but the situation was undeniably ironic. His paper had also been rejected by the Association in the past, and now hers had been too
After wiping away her tears, Wendy calmed down and seemed like herself againKarina thought for a moment before saying gently, “Don’t blame yourself because of them.” “What?” Wendy asked, confused. “They’re not worth it. What you need to learn first isn’t how to gain their approval—it’s how to accept yourself and love yourself,” Karina said, her words deliberate and firm, her gaze filled with both sympathy and a hint of reminiscence. She was thinking about her own past. When Karina was living with the Stone family, she was just like Wendy. Karina was ignored and treated poorly too. Back then, she was young and naive, thinking that if she just tried harder, Mr. and Mrs. Stone would one day change their view of her. It wasn’t until she had endured countless setbacks and hardships that she finally understood a crucial truth that not everyone was worth pleasing. Or rather, the moment someone demanded you to lower yourself to please them, they had already shown they were
Wilfred had been considering visiting Wendy’s home. After all, he was effectively one of her attending doctors now. It wasn’t unusual for a doctor to visit a patient’s living environment, especially when their condition showed little improvement. But doing so without an invitation felt too forward, and he wasn’t comfortable overstepping that boundary. After hearing this, Karina nodded in agreement, then sighed again. “Forget it for now. At least she’s here for the time being. We’ll just have to keep a closer eye on her.” Following that, Karina began visiting the rehabilitation center regularly. Each time she went, she would bring something for Wendy. Over time, Wendy’s attitude toward her softened, even though she still often greeted Karina with sarcastic remarks. At least now, the hostility had eased somewhat. *One day, Karina set off for another visit, carrying a bag of fresh oranges that Wendy liked. She had gone to great lengths to pick out the best ones—big, pl
No one said another word, and fortunately, everyone knew their place. The staff didn’t pry further, nor did they comment on Wendy’s behavior. What could they say? Wendy’s family was wealthy, making her the "VIP" here, while the caregivers were just employees. They could only accept the situation, no matter how frustrating. With long sighs, the caregivers left. Wilfred pulled out the equipment from the medical kit and handed it to Karina to perform the examination. Initially, they thought Wendy would resist, as she usually did. To their surprise, she merely let out a cold scoff. Even Karina, not to mention Wilfred, was caught off guard. Could a few words really have made her more cooperative? As it turned out, of course not. After the brief examination, Wendy began her tirade, directing it squarely at Karina. “Don’t think just because you said a few kind words to me that I’ll stop hating you,” she snapped. “As long as you don’t give Wilfred back to me, I won’t
But finding her couldn’t be delayed—any delay might lead to trouble. So, they split up and began a thorough search of the rehabilitation center. “Wendy!” Karina called out the girl’s name as she searched every corner. Suddenly, she heard a faint sound of sobbing ahead. The noise was soft and intermittent, almost as if someone was trying to hide it. This facility was specifically for patients who refused to go to hospitals or psychiatric institutions, often people with unusual or complex conditions. Karina’s mind raced with possibilities. Was it a mentally unstable patient? Someone with a fragile body or an unpredictable condition like epilepsy? Either way, it was unnerving. Still, she gathered her courage and moved forward, thinking it could be the person they were looking for. “Wendy, is that you?” As she approached, a foot suddenly shot out in front of her, as if trying to trip her. This kind of trick might work in movies, but in broad daylight, it was hard to mi
Wilfred’s words hit right where it mattered most, resonating deeply with the nurse. She sighed heavily, while the others shook their heads and muttered their own exhausted complaints, clearly worn out. “Exactly. But what can we do? She’s a patient sent to us, so we’ve got no choice but to deal with it,” the nurse replied, her voice tinged with resignation. It was then that she noticed Karina standing beside Wilfred. The way Karina seemed naturally close to him caught her attention. Though the two didn’t speak much, their dynamic was apparent even in their body language. Karina instinctively leaned slightly toward Wilfred, her posture subtly tilted in his direction—something she herself probably hadn’t realized. The nurse’s eyes glinted with understanding, and a knowing smile spread across her face. When she spoke again, there was an unmistakable hint of teasing in her tone. “Still, Dr. Wilfred, you shouldn’t have brought someone else into this situation.” She gestured sub