Chapter 1734

“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 to be his second-in-command. Is that true?”
Karina’s face flushed with embarrassment. Wilfred had mentioned it, but it wasn’t something she could confidently confirm, let alone broadcast. “I don’t know anything about that,” she replied hastily before making a quick exit to avoid further questions. Down the hallway, Wilfred hadn’t gone far. He stood there in his white coat, hands in his pockets, exuding an air of authority. People walked past him, but no one dared to interrupt him, giving the impression he was waiting for someone. Karina hesitated, her heartbeat slowing as she approached cautiously, unsure if she should disturb the moment.
But Wilfred turned on his own and looked at her. “We’ll dig further into this later. Names and identities can’t just vanish into thin air,” he said calmly, clearly referring to the missing intern.
Karina nodded, startled by his certainty.
Suddenly, a loud shout echoed from behind them. “You incompetent doctor! Stop right there!”
Karina spun around to see the same angry family members from days ago-the elderly couple and a younger man. This time, they weren’t empty-handed. Each carried makeshift weapons-bricks, wooden bats-and their expressions were filled with rage. Her stomach dropped, and she instinctively moved closer to Wilfred. “Dr. Wilfred, we should leave. It’s not safe to stay here!”
Wilfred stepped in front of her protectively, his voice sharp and commanding. “You go. Call the police.”
“But-how can leave you behind?” Karina protested, her voice trembling She turned to the family trying to reason with them. “This is a hospital! There are security cameras everywhere. If you hurt someone the police won’t let you get away with it!”
The older man likely the father, glared at them with deep hatred, his hand gripping his wife’s arm as he spat on the ground. “Let the police come. Even if the law itself stands in my way, I’ll make sure justice is served for my daughter!”
Karina froze in confusion, unsure what he was talking about.
Wilfred didn’t relax for a second, his sharp eyes scanning the situation as he addressed her once more. “Didn’t I tell you to leave? Why are you still here?”
Karina took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. “I’m not leaving. You’re the one who told me to stay in this hospital, and I owe you I won’t abandon you now.”
Her words, though simple, struck something deep within Wilfred.
For a brief moment, he stood frozen, overwhelmed by unfamiliar emotions stirring within him.
Had anyone ever said something like that to him before?
It seemed not. Even Nina had always prioritized other things over him.
No one had ever stood in front of him to shield him from harm. He had long since accepted this reality, even dismissed it as unimportant.
Yet now, as someone actually stepped up to protect him, Wilfred couldn’t help but feel a sense of stunned bewilderment.
Before he could find the words to respond, a wooden club came swinging down.
“Watch out, move!”
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