Chapter 369
[ 511 words ]
Chapter 369:
She slipped out of the room, leaving her biological father still sleeping peacefully, and headed for the staff locker room to change. Her body felt heavy, each step an effort. But her mind was a live wire, pulled taut with a mixture of anger and anxiety.
She was halfway down the main corridor when she saw them. Melanie, flanked by two of her usual cronies, was standing directly in her path. They had been waiting for her, eager to escalate the blackmail Melanie had initiated in the restroom.
Melanie stepped forward, blocking her way. A smug, knowing smirk played on her lips. “Clock’s ticking, Thompson. I assume you brought what I asked for, or should I go ahead and take that little pathology report to Room 514 right now?”
Her voice was pitched just loud enough for the other nurses bustling past to hear. It was a public execution.
Caroline stopped. She looked at Melanie, at her smug face and her confident posture, her fingers subtly twitching as her tactical instinct mapped out three different ways to snap Melanie’s wrist in under two seconds. But she reined the impulse in, her gaze hardening into a look of pure, chilling promise. “Neither,” she said, her voice quiet but firm.
Melanie’s face flushed. “This has nothing to do with you, O’Malley. Stay out of it.”
“Caroline’s business is my business,” Brenna shot back, her voice ringing with protective fury. “And if I see you bothering her again, I’m going straight to the Director of Nursing. I’m sure she’d be very interested to hear about your conduct.”
Melanie tried to pivot, a sneer twisting her lips. “You have no idea who you’re defending. You think you know her?”
“I know she’s a damn good nurse,” Brenna said, her loyalty unwavering. “And I know you’re a cancer in this hospital.”
𝘓𝘢𝘁𝘦𝗌t 𝗰𝗁𝖺𝗽𝘵е𝗿𝘀 𝗼ո 𝗴alnо𝘃𝗲𝗹s.𝗰𝗼m
Stung by the public rebuke, Melanie’s face hardened into a mask of pure malice. She turned her glare back to Caroline. “This isn’t over. I want that letter on my desk by the end of the day. Or you’ll regret it.”
She spun on her heel and stormed off, her followers trailing in her wake like pilot fish.
The tension in the hallway dissipated. Brenna turned to Caroline, her expression softening into deep concern. She took in Caroline’s pale face, the dark circles under her eyes.
“What was that about?” Brenna asked, her voice low. “What does she have on you?”
Caroline shook her head. She couldn’t drag Brenna into this. It was too dangerous. “Nothing. Just the same old drama. Thank you, Brenna. Really.”
She tried to force a reassuring smile, but it felt brittle. Brenna wasn’t buying it.
“You look like you’re about to collapse,” Brenna said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She put a gentle but firm hand on Caroline’s arm. “You’re going home. Right now.”
“I can’t,” Caroline protested weakly. “Donovan…”
“I’ll watch him,” Brenna insisted. “I’m on shift anyway. I’ll sit with him. I won’t let anyone, especially not that witch, get near his room. I promise. Now go home and get some sleep before you end up a patient yourself.”
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