Chapter 10
Chapter 10
It was almost morning. The sky in the east had started to lighten, and in the observation room, the IV drip ticked down steadily.
Nina hadn’t woken up yet, but her face didn’t look as pale as before.
“I brought her into this world, but I couldn’t protect her,” Yvonne said through sobs as she sat beside Nina, tears falling nonstop. She only wished she could trade places with her daughter.
“The doctor said it’s most likely a stress seizure, triggered by fear,” Robert added with a deep sigh. His bloodshot eyes were full of pain and guilt. “From now on, we’re not going back.”
Yvonne looked surprised. “You mean-”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. A tall, good-looking man walked in wearing a white coat. He had a kind of cold, distant vibe. His face was covered with a surgical mask, leaving only his calm, steady eyes visible.
“Is the patient Nina Edwards?” he asked.
It was Timothy.
“Yes,” Robert and Yvonne both paused for a second, then nodded.
“Routine check,” Timothy said. He placed the stethoscope on Nina’s chest, his eyes cool and unreadable as he looked at her delicate features.
Then, he gently lifted her wrist and pressed three fingers against her pulse with practiced ease. Casually, he ran a fingertip over the sapphire ring hanging from the chain around her wrist.
The moment he saw the letters H.J. engraved on the inside of the ring, something dark flickered in his gaze.
Meanwhile, Robert and Yvonne were still a little stunned. They hadn’t expected someone so young to be this skilled.
Suddenly, Nina opened her eyes and pulled her hand back. Her killer instincts had sensed eyes on her even in her sleep, snapping her awake instantly.
Timothy looked at her calmly and met her cold, guarded gaze. Under the hospital lights, her eyes looked sharp and icy.
“Nina, you’re awake?” Robert and Yvonne rushed over, thinking she was still scared from earlier. “It’s okay. He’s a doctor, not a bad guy.”
Nina gave a raspy hum and turned her eyes away, looking tired.
“Her heart’s fine,” Timothy said as he slowly removed the stethoscope. But his eyes lingered on Nina, filled with something unreadable. “Do you feel any other discomfort?”
Nina frowned a little and shook her head.
“Really?” Timothy almost smiled. “Then you’re very healthy.”
Nina’s fingers curled slightly, and Timothy noticed. He glanced again, quickly but carefully, at the sapphire ring on her wrist,
then turned and walked out of the room.
Quinn was waiting not far outside.
1/2
9:08 pm
Chapter 10
“So?” he asked right away. “Was it the ring?” His cheek was puffed up like a hamster, with gauze stuffed in his mouth after getting a bad tooth pulled-turns out the painkillers hadn’t helped much.
“Yes,” Timothy said as he took off the white coat, eyes turning cold. “Look into that family.”
In the hospital room, Yvonne couldn’t hold back her tears of relief. “Thank God… I’m just so glad Nina’s okay.”
Nina gave a small smile. “Don’t worry, Mom, Dad. I’m fine.”
“It’s our fault we didn’t protect you,” Robert said, eyes bloodshot and full of guilt, but his voice was firm. “But I promise you, this will never happen again.”
2
Just as he finished, his phone rang. He frowned the moment he saw the caller ID. Stepping out of the room, he finally answered.
“Robert, when are you coming back? I’ve been waiting at your place for almost two hours,” said a middle-aged woman on the other end. Her voice sounded warm and eager, but underneath it was full of scheming and greed.
“To thank you for helping with the down payment, Adrian even prepared a nice meal with wine and everything,” she added.
