bChapter /bb139/bb: /bbConfrontation and /bbVulnerability /b

bChapter /bb139/bb: /bbConfrontation /bband /bVulnerability

b(/bbElena /bbckwood’s /bPOV)

Hugo arrived bat /bbthe /bmedical center dormitory with food band /bdrinks, bbut /bwas met with an unweing response from his colleagues. The atmosphere in the break room grew tense as soon as he entered.

Dr. Edmond Fisher looked up from his coffee with obvious irritation. “Hugob, /bbyour /btiming is terrible. We’re trying to have ba /bpeaceful meal here.”

Hugo set down the bags of food with deliberate care. “Why are you being so picky about timing?b” /b

Dr. Mitchell shifted ufortably in his chair. The tension between the colleagues was palpable.

Dr. Edmond Fisher’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Your mood swingstely are worse than a she–wolf during

her heat cycle.”

Hugo’s expression darkened instantly. A coldugh escaped his lips as he straightened to his full height.

“Is that so?” His voice carried a dangerous edge that made everyone in the room freeze.

Without another word, Hugo mmed the door shut with such force that the entire frame shook. The sound echoed through the corridor like a gunshot.

Dr. Mitchell and 1 exchanged puzzled nces. Neither of us understood what had triggered Hugo’s sudden burst of anger.

“What was that about?” Dr. Mitchell whispered, still staring at the closed door.

I shook my head, equally confused by Hugo’s vtile reaction to what seemed like harmless teasing.

As evening approached, I returned to my apartment expecting to find Rachel settling infortably. Instead,

I discovered Marcus sitting in my living room with his legs crossed, looking perfectly at home.

Rachel sat across from him on the edge of the sofa, her posture rigid with difort. Her eyes darted nervously between Marcus and the door.

The moment she saw me, her face lit up with unmistakable relief. “Elena! You’re back!”

I set down my medical bag and looked between them. “When did you arrive, Marcus?”

“This evening,” he replied smoothly. “I was curious why you hadn’t informed me about your friend’s visit to

Riverside City.”

I deflected his implied criticism with practiced ease. “I didn’t want to trouble you with such small matters.”

Marcus’s golden eyes studied Rachel with calcting interest. “I could rent her an empty apartment in this building at a reduced rate.”

Rachel’s eyes widened with obvious temptation. The offer was clearly generous beyond her expectations.

“The first three months could even be rent–free,” Marcus added, his tone deceptively casual.

Despite Rachel’s obvious intérest, I stepped forward firmly. “That won’t be necessary. Rachel can stay with me since I have ba /bguest room,

Chapter 139 Confrontatio

bMarcus’s /bjaw btightened /bbslightly/bb. /bb“/bbShe /bhas bno ie /bbyet/b. It bwould /bbbe /bbmore /bbpractical- /b

“If byou /bbwant /bher bto /bbleave/bb,/bb” /bbI /bbinterrupted/bb, /bbmy /bbvoice /bbrising /bwith bdetermination/b, b“/bbthen /bI’ll bmove /bbout /bbtoo/bb.” /b

bThe /bbwords /bbhung in /bbthe /bbair /blike a challenge. bThe /bbatmosphere /bbbecame /bbsuffocatingly silent/b.

bRachel’s /bbface /bbwent /bpale as she witnessed the bconfrontation /bbetween bthe /bmated bpair/bb. /bbShe /bbquietly /bbretreated /bbto /bher roomb, /bclearly terrified by the tension.

Marcus finally stood and approached us with measured steps. His presence seemed to bfill /bbthe /bbentire /bbroom/b.

“You promised to make amendsb,/b” I reminded himb, /btrying to keep my voice steady.

He pulled me into his embrace before I could step away. His arms encircled me with gentle but firm pressure.

“I will satisfy your requests,” he admitted quietly. “But I don’t want you to avoid me.”

I tried to deny his usation. “I’m not avoiding you.”

His golden eyes pierced through my weak protest. “Having Rachel

stay is clearly a way to

event being alone

with me.”

The truth in his words hit me like a physical blow. I couldn’t maintain the pretense any longer

In a moment of vulnerability, I finally opened my heart to him. The words poured out like water through

broken dam.

“You make me feel uneasy, and I’m afraid,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marcus’s grip on me tightened, but he remained silent, letting me continue.

a

“How can I not be afraid? In my memory, you were never this good to me, never held me like this or said such things.”

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as years of pain surfaced. “You ask me to trust you, but I’ve trusted you countless times before.”

My voice cracked with emotion. “Every single time ended in disappointment.”

Marcus’s face contorted with pain as my words struck him. His golden eyes reflected genuine remorse.

“I’m afraid that your current kindness can’t erase past hurts,” I continued desperately. “If I believe in you again, it might all turn out to be just another dream.”

The fear in my voice was raw and honest. “A dream that will end in emptiness, leaving me with nothing but

more pain.”

Marcus cupped my face with both hands, forcing me to meet his intense gaze. His touch was gentle despite

the firmness of his grip.

b“/bIt won’t happen, Elena,” he promised with unwavering conviction. “I promise you.”

He sealed his words with a gentle kiss on my forehead. The gesture was tender and reverent, unlike anything

bhe /bhad ever done before.

S

Rachel remained at my apartment, though she was still visibly shaken by the previous night’s tension when

we went to the hospital the next day.

“Are you sure you’re ready for the interview?” bI /basked as we walked through the hospital corridors.

Chapter 139 Confrontatio

bRachel /bbnodded/bb, /bbthough /bbher hands /bbtrembled slightly/b. b“/bbI /bbneed this job/bb, /bElena, I bcan’t /bblet /bbfear /bbhold /bbme /bbback/bb./bb” /b

bAt /bbthe /bbhospital/bb, /bI was bsupposed /bbto /bwork bwith /bbDr. /bbEdmond /bbFisher /bbfor /bbthe morning /bshift. Howeverb, /bHugo bAshworth /bbunexpectedly /bbappeared /bat bthe /bnurses‘ bstation/b.

b“/bbI’d /bblike /bbto /bswitch bshifts /bbwith /bDr. Fisher,b” /bbHugo /bannounced bwithout /bbpreamble/b.

bDr. /bFisher locked surprised but didn’t object. b“/bbIf /bthat’s what you bprefer/bb./bb” /b

The bmorning /bproved particrly busy with a long queue of patients waiting in the corridor. Several emergency cases of acute cerebral infarction arrived simultaneously, creating chaos in the emergency department.

I found myself assisting Hugo, quietly taking notes while he exined surgical risks to worried family members. His bedside manner was professional butpassionate.

“The procedure carries inherent risks,” Hugo exined to an elderly couple. “But without interventionb, /bthe prognosis is significantly worse.”

The family members nodded gravely, trusting his expertise despite their obvious fear.

After seeing several patients through the morning rush, we finally had a moment of quiet as noon approached. The corridor had emptied, and the emergency cases had been stabilized.

Hugo paused at the office door as he prepared to leave for his lunch break.

E

122

bComments /b

Watch videos get points (0/10)

Vote