Chapter 1743

Karina’s grip loosened instantly, her eyes filled with disbelief. “What did you just say?”
How could they possibly know…
Could it be the intern? But hadn’t she already left the hospital?
The nurse smirked and shook her hand dismissively. “Oh, you didn’t know? Go check online yourself. Someone’s already exposed all your shameful secrets.” Boom!
Karina staggered back, her face pale as a sheet. It took all her strength just to steady herself. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone.
Her movements were frantic, her urgency barely concealed. In her mind, she prayed over and over again, begging it not to be true.
But reality wasn’t kind.
Karina unlocked her phone, and an overwhelming flood of messages and trending headlines popped up.
The words “secretly taking photos” leapt off the screen, stabbing her like a blade. Her limbs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed under the weight of the revelation.
One of the nurses sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. “If anyone’s got the director’s favor, it’s definitely our dear Dr. Karina. Too bad all that trust went to waste. Who’d have thought? She looks so proper, yet she’s out here secretly selling someone’s private photos. Unbelievable.”
Karina’s nails dug into her palms, but the pain didn’t register.
The ridicule and taunts from those around her pierced Karina’s ears, cutting deep into her conscience. The words twisted like knives, and all she could picture in her mind was the look of disgust Wilfred had given her the day he discovered her attempt to drug him.
His face blurred with those of the people around her, their words morphing into accusations she imagined coming from his lips:
“Karina, how could you be so ungrateful? After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? I truly misjudged you.” “If I’d known this, I would never have treated you differently.”
“Get out. Don’t stay here and be an eyesore.”
Suddenly, a firm, commanding voice broke through the chorus of jeers, silencing the crowd. “What’s going on here?”
“Dr. Wilfred, it’s not us… it’s her. Karina’s causing trouble for us.”
“Karina?” Wilfred’s gaze settled on her.
The usual brilliance he admired in
her was nowhere to be found. Karina looked utterly defeated, her presence dim and lifeless, like a
wilted flower. Even as his voice
reached her ears, she couldn’t
herself to lift her head, let alone
bring
meet his eyes with the usual spark that lit them up whenever he was near.
Wilfred frowned. Strange. Why did he even notice that?
His expression grew colder, his tone sharper as he addressed the nurses. “Abandoning your posts during working hours? I’ll make sure this behavior is appropriately addressed.”
The color drained from their faces as they scattered in fear.
Left alone, Karina stood frozen.
Wilfred waited, but the familiar voice
he had come to expect from her didn’t come. He glanced over and saw the faint redness at the corners of her eyes and the glimmer of unshed tears. She kept her head bowed, as though desperate to hide from him.
Wilfred felt a jolt in his chest. For reasons he couldn’t quite understand, seeing her like this unsettled him.
His voice softened instinctively, a gentleness even he wasn’t aware of. “Why are you crying? Are you really going to let a few harsh words bring you down like this? If I sent you to a lecture to debate with other top doctors, would you rely on tears to Win?”
“Of course not…” Karina’s voice quivered in protest.
“Then wipe them away.” His tone grew firmer, though not unkind. “The Karina I know wouldn’t crumble over something like this.”
Sniffling, Karina turned away, using a tissue to wipe her face before turning back to him. Her eyes were still rimmed with red, and Wilfred found himself struck by how much she resembled a rabbit.