Jamison felt a pang of guilt for wrongly suspecting Callie.However, the image of Callie tenderly caring for Elias earlier that morning had reignited his anger.‘Dr Hawthorne,’ Jamison began, his eyes devoid of warmth, ‘even if your prescription is correct, there may still be issues elsewhere. However, since you are Suthat’s attending doctor, you must take responsibility for your patient. I won’t dwell on the process; what matters is his relapse and how to help him get better.’Callie met Jamison’s stern gaze. ‘Dr Garcia, are you accusing me of negligence?’Callie believed that doctors were only human, and she had followed her judgment in treating Suthat.She would not let her professional conduct be criticised like this.Callie stood her ground. ‘Dr Garcia, I’ll keep monitoring Suthat’s condition and dig into the cause of his relapse. But I have to defend myself here. I don’t believe I made any mistakes in fulfilling my duties. I simply did what a doctor should.’‘I hope your actions
Wendy shot out an arm to help her up, but Callie was already on the ground.‘Callie!’ Wendy immediately crouched down. ‘Are you okay?’Jamison had been about to leave but turned around upon hearing Wendy’s voice.He saw Callie on the ground and a hint of panic flashed across his eyes.He tossed aside the file he held, bent down and carefully lifted her into his arms.Wendy looked at Jamison, her eyes filled with tears. ‘Dr Garcia, she—’‘Miss Goldman, you’re a nurse, aren’t you?’ Jamison didn’t look at her. ‘Do your job.’Wendy snapped back to her senses, her shock wearing off. ‘Oh, right. I’m on it.’She sprinted off in the direction of the pharmacy.Jamison carried Callie back into the infirmary and laid her gently down on an empty bed.Callie’s face was unnaturally pale, her red lips a stark contrast due to the fever.Her brow furrowed slightly as her long black hair covered her small face, giving her the appearance of a fragile, trembling creature.Jamison’s first instinct was to
Callie remained unaware of Jamison’s presence.She continued to mutter, ‘Mummy, take me with you...’Her small hand, still connected to an IV needle, moved, clutching onto Jamison’s palm as if she had found solace at last.Jamison was surprised by Callie’s sudden move, but he allowed her to hold on.Her skin was soft and delicate, and he relished the sensation of her touch.It was as if his touch brought her comfort, for her frown smoothed, and the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly.As Jamison gazed at the vulnerable woman before him, a strange sensation welled up inside him—a sensation like a feathery tickle, gentle yet persistent.He couldn’t resist the pull, slowly leaning in, his breath growing hot as he drew closer to Callie’s lips.But at that critical moment, the door swung open.Elias, tall and imposing, strode in with a stormy expression.‘Dr Garcia,’ Elias said, his voice low and menacing as he leaned against the door frame, arms crossed. ‘What exactly were you ab
Elias briefly entertained the idea of sending Callie home, but knew she would never agree to it.Besides, there could be more admirers at Valour Ridge, and Elias wouldn’t be there to ward them off.Elias muttered a curse.Callie merely turned in her sleep, oblivious to her husband’s dilemma.In that moment, Elias found himself powerless when it came to Callie.Yet, as he contemplated the woman who was eight years his junior, he couldn’t shake off the jealousy that coursed through him.So many men were drawn to her, and Elias’s heart still burned with possessiveness.Unable to restrain himself, he bent down, his gaze fixed on Callie’s slumbering form.With an abrupt surge of passion, he kissed her fiercely, his lips domineering in their intensity.Fearful of waking her, he limited the kiss to a brief moment before pulling back and gripping her hand tightly.Callie, lost in a bizarre dream, felt a peculiar sensation.She dreamed of having rabbit ears and frolicking in the grass, waiting
Callie had grown up an orphan, accustomed to solitude.She faced every challenge alone, be it illness or injury.Despite a longing for familial care, no relatives ever stepped in.Over time, this solitude forged her into an independent and strong individual.She’d learned to rely solely on herself.‘Elias, you know,’ Callie’s eyes welled with tears as she spoke softly, ‘I can’t even remember what my parents looked like... Maybe that’s why Simon left me in the beginning. I’m not one for pampering or being pampered. I find it pointless. I’ve always kept my feelings to myself.’Simon used to mockingly say, ‘My girlfriend is so self-sufficient that I, as her boyfriend, don’t know what I can possibly do for her!’But what he truly meant was that he found her dull and uninteresting.Ultimately, he chose to betray her entirely, all for the sake of Abby.By then, Callie had become a fortress of independence.She was accustomed to picking herself up and facing life’s challenges head-on.Elias
Jamison turned away, avoiding Angelia’s touch. ‘No one hit me; I fell on my own. You are right. I need to rest. Dr Hawthorne, I’m counting on you to keep an eye on things in the infirmary. Callie’s still sick, so I’ll need you to share part of her workload.’Reluctantly, Angelia nodded. ‘Fine.’She had little desire to help Callie, but she would do so for Jamison’s sake.‘Does Callie need my treatment?’ she asked, wanting to see Callie’s injury.But Jamison didn’t give her the chance. ‘No, I’m her attending doctor.’Concerned about the bruise on his face, Angelia bit her lip and asked, ‘Are you sure you don’t need me to check out that bruise on your face?’‘It’s not a big deal. I have to get back to work.’ Jamison put his hands in his pockets and rose.He glanced at Angelia indifferently before leaving.As Angelia watched him go, a sense of confusion crept over her.The more she got to know Jamison, the more she felt he wasn’t as she had initially imagined.His gentle demeanour seemed
Callie’s hands trembled as she pulled back the curtains and approached him. ‘Suthat!’The boy’s face flushed with embarrassment, his big eyes wide.He bowed his head, avoiding Callie’s gaze. ‘Doctor, I’m sorry...’‘Sorry?’ Callie frowned, her concern evident.She picked up the leaking IV drip. ‘You should be apologising to yourself. Giving up on treatment like this will only make your condition worse.’Looking at the frail boy, Callie’s heart softened. ‘Suthat, why did you pull it out? Why didn’t you want to get better?’‘Doctor, I don’t want to leave this place,’ Suthat said softly, his clear eyes locked onto Callie’s, each word deliberate. ‘I have no family here, no idea where to go. If I leave, I’ll be all alone.’Callie was shocked by his explanation, her body tensing.She had never expected this to be Suthat’s true motivation.‘Doctor, I thought that if my condition stayed bad, I could stay here forever,’ Suthat confessed, his voice trembling. ‘I’m sorry. You cared so much for me
Elias turned to his aide. ‘Go ahead. I’ll be there shortly.’Lemuel saluted and left the room, leaving Angelia alone with Elias.‘Now that he’s gone, you can speak,’ Elias prompted.‘General Westwood, I’ve told you that Callie isn’t the loyal type,’ Angelia’s voice was low. ‘You may not believe me, but I must tell you she’s not as innocent as you think. Apart from you, I’m afraid she also has feelings for Jamison.’Elias clenched his jaw when he heard the name ‘Jamison.’‘On what grounds do you make such a claim?’ Elias asked coldly, his expression darkening.‘I don’t have concrete evidence,’ Angelia admitted, smiling faintly. ‘But by the time I do, she’ll have already betrayed you. I just feel bad for you. You’re working so hard to protect our country, but she doesn’t seem to appreciate it. I just thought you deserve—’Angelia stopped there, unable to continue.Because Elias had grabbed her throat, choking her.Angelia coughed and spluttered, her eyes bulging, her face red.She gaspe