Chapter 11

N O E L L E

“I have some errands to do this week. Can you take Noah with you?” I sighed in relief. I was afraid that it was something bad.

“Of course, mom. Maxwell and I can take care of him. Don’t worry about us.” Maxwell can look after him in the day while I’m at the hospital, and then I will take care of him at night while Max is in the hospital. Our new schedule is convenient in this kind of situation.

“Thank you, Noelle. He would love to come with you.” She said while smiling.

“I’m sure of it,” I said while chuckling.

We spent the weekend spending every minute of it with Noah. We went to the nearest park to hang out and enjoy nature. We went to his favorite fast-food restaurant and ordered his favorite food. I told him informative yet funny stories before going to bed.

Maxwell and I enjoyed spending time with him, and we were thrilled to take him with us. “Listen to your dad, okay? Behave while mom is working at the hospital.” I reminded him, and he nodded.

“Don’t worry about him, Noelle. We will take care of each other, right buddy?” Maxwell said as he winked at Noah, and he giggled.

“Max!” I warned him, and they both laughed. “Stop pampering your son, will you? You can’t always agree to what he says.”

Maxwell hugs me while chuckling. “I was just kidding. Rest assured that the whole unit is still okay when you get back.” I playfully punch his stomach, making him wince and break the hug.

“You better behave too, Maxwell Hughes!” I yelled in annoyance. I looked at Noah, who was laughing at us. “Look after your dad for me, Noah Hughes,” I said.

“Yes, mommy!” He embraced me before giving me a long sweet kiss on the cheeks. “I love you!” He said, and I smiled widely.

“You know how to tame me, don’t you? I love you more.” I said as I showered him with kisses. He was giggling when Maxwell told me to leave already. I punched him once again before leaving.

When I entered my office, I found Levi sitting comfortably on my couch. He was sipping coffee while looking so mad. “I believe this is not your office, sir,” I said.

“I was calling you during the weekend, but your phone was off.” He said while staring intently at his coffee.

“Yes, my phone was off, but I don’t need to explain to you the reason why.”

“Maxwell’s phone was off too.” I froze on my track. “Were you together during the weekend?” His eyes turned dark, and I didn’t like what I was seeing. He’s mad, freaking mad.

I gulped before diverting my gaze from him. I don’t need to explain my personal matters to him. He’s just my boss. “You are asking about my personal matters, Mr. Mitchell. You are just my boss. Please know your limits.” I said as I stormed out of my office.

Gosh! The nerve of that guy! He did not hold back just to know my whereabouts! He’s suffocating me.

I went straight to the ward, and I checked the condition of a patient who kept refusing the operation. I was with the resident doctors and nurses.

“Your condition is getting worse every day, sir. According to your most recent lab tests, the tumor in your brain is getting bigger. We need to do the surgery as soon as possible.” I explained to the nth time.

“I told you already, doctor, that I am ready to die anytime soon!” He yelled as his wife cried in distress. We’ve been convincing him since last week but to no avail.

“How about me?! Have you tried asking me if I want you to leave soon!? Our kids want to spend more time with you! Please have mercy on yourself!” His wife expressed her emotions before storming out of the ward.

I was startled when I found the patient looking furiously at me. “It’s your fucking fault!” He shouted before grabbing the flower vase and throwing it at me. My body froze as I closed my eyes and waited for it.

“Doctor Lewis!” I heard the other doctors and nurses shout until I heard gasps around me, but the vase did not land on me.

What is happening?

“Are you alright?” I opened my eyes, and I was shocked to see Levi in front of me. “Are you hurt?” He asked again as I looked at him from head to toe. Did he just save me?!

“Your arm.” The broken vase was already on the floor, and his arm was bleeding. I felt worried about him all of a sudden. “What did you do?” I asked as I grabbed his arm and checked it. It has multiple deep cuts.

“I’m fine.” He said as he pulled back his arm. He looked at the patient with dark eyes. “Get out of my hospital if you don’t want to get treated, or else I’m going to file a case against you.” He said in a very cold and deep voice before walking out of the ward.

I told the other doctors to report the incident and clean the area. I grabbed the first aid kit before following Levi, and I caught up to him while entering his office. He is wincing as he looks at his wounds.

“Let me treat you,” I said as he looked at me in surprise. I grabbed a chair, and I sat in front of him. “You should’ve gone straight to the nurse station to treat it,” I said while applying direct pressure on the cuts with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding.

“It’s just cut.” He said. I felt guilty and sorry for him.

I shake my head. “You are lucky your wounds have no debris from the vase,” I said. After a few minutes, the blood has already stopped. I washed my hands first before cleaning and dressing his wounds.

“Thank you,” I said without looking at him. “I had no idea he would do that.”

“Is the same incident with the patients happening all the time?” He asked, and his voice filled with annoyance.

I shake my head. “No. It’s an isolated case. I understand why the patient did that. He was pressured, depressed and frustrated because of his illness. He doesn’t want to get treated because he is worried about the hospital bills. He doesn’t want to torment his family.” I explained.

“But it’s not enough to excuse to hurt you.”

I nod. “You are right, but I can’t blame the patient. I’m sure he did not mean what he did. His emotions took him over, and I would like to apologize on his behalf.” I applied an antibiotic cream to reduce the risk of infection and covered it with a sterile bandage. “Change the bandage daily to keep the wound clean and dry,” I told him.

“I will pay for his hospital bills.” My eyes widened in disbelief. “Tell him to get the surgery, and he doesn't need to worry about his hospital bills.” Wow! I can’t believe it! Did the wounds affect his brain?

“Are you sure? He hurt you.” I just want to verify it.

He nods. “It doesn’t matter. I understand his situation too. I am willing to do it.” He said, and I smiled at him. “What?” He asked.

“Your heart softens, sir,” I said before turning my back on him. “I am sure he and his family will be happy. Thank you again for saving me, sir.” I said before closing the door of his office.

I went straight to the ward and told the patient about the good news. He cried and told me he was sorry for what had happened. His wife and kids were crying in happiness.

The next day, we scheduled his surgery, and it took us four hours to finish it. His family was crying in happiness when I declared that the operation was successful.

I was about to go home when Levi suddenly came in. “I’m done for the day, sir,” I said, but it did not stop him from sitting on my couch. He showed me his arm. “What?” I asked.

“You told me to change the bandage daily.”

“You may go to the nurse station, and they will willingly take care of you.”

“I want you to change it.” He said as he looked at me intently. “I was hurt because of you, right?”

“Are you blaming me?” I asked as I sighed. I grabbed the first aid kit, and I sat beside him. I started changing the bandage.

“It’s not what I meant.” He said. “His family thanked me for paying their bills.”

“You should do it as often as possible. You can’t take your wealth to the other life. Share your blessings.” I suggested.

“Our kids will inherit my wealth.” He said bluntly. He dares to use the word ‘our’. I will ignore his remark since I’m in a hurry to go home.

“You should find a girlfriend first before thinking about your future kids, sir.” I reminded him. “Done.” I declared. “I’ll go ahead, sir.”

“Are you cohabiting with Maxwell?” I was startled to hear his question, but I did not stop to answer him.

“Bye, sir,” I said before leaving him.

He is really bothered with Maxwell ever since they met each other nine years ago.