Chapter 1857

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.
It seemed the Association had a vendetta against them.
Still, Karina wasn’t planning to sit back and accept defeat. Letting this go would mean never publishing a paper again, and that wasn’t an option.
She fell into deep thought, but for now, no solutions came to mind. With no other choice, she set the problem aside for the time being.
*
Later, she told Wilfred everything.
He wasn’t surprised. After listening, he merely furrowed his brows. “I suspected as much, but I didn’t think they’d be so blatant about it.”
He didn’t elaborate further, and Karina assumed he felt the same as she did that it was best to let the matter rest for now.
*
Two days later, Karina received an exciting new research project. Enthusiastic, she rushed to find Wilfred, only to discover he wasn’t there. “Excuse me, do you know where the director went?” she asked a fellow doctor.
Qu
The doctor shook his head, equally puzzled. “No idea. He didn’t say. I was hoping you’d know when he’ll be back, Several surgeries are waiting for him, and now we have to find someone else to fill in
nov
temporarily.”
Wilfred’s exceptional skills were well-known, and his daily schedule was packed with two to three surgeries on average, many of which were complex. At this point, he was practically a legend in the
hospital-a role model for work ethic.
His sudden absence left everyone scrambling.
Karina thanked the doctor and left, deep in thought.
Wilfred rarely left the hospital unless it was for something urgent. What could have kept him away all day? She couldn’t figure it out.
With surgeries reassigned, Karina
Ä“
took on one herself. By the time she
was done in the evening, she was exhausted, her shoulders aching as if they might fall apart.
Just as she considered collapsing on the nearest bench, she heard voices down the hall. “Good evening, Dr. Wilfred!”
“Dr. Wilfred, welcome back!”
Karina immediately perked up, her fatigue forgotten. Her eyes lit up as she spotted him.
“You’re back! I didn’t see you all day. Where were you?”
Wilfred was carrying a bag, though its contents were unclear.
Without a word, he handed the bag to her.
“I went to the medical university,” he said. “Met with an old professor there. He asked me to pass these study materials on to you.”
Karina’s eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and excitement. She peeked into the bag, and after a moment, gasped.
“Professor Samuel Cruz?” she exclaimed in disbelief.
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