Chapter 6

Nathan moved gently toward them, sluggishly, as if he were counting his steps—like he was walking into a room already filled with lies he could sense but not yet name.

His gaze didn’t come to me first.

It went straight to Johnson.

The room was tense, heavy with unspoken accusations. Megan stood stiffly beside the bed, arms crossed, while I sat upright against the pillows, my face pale, my hands clenched tightly beneath the blanket.

My eyes followed Nathan instinctively, hope flickering in my chest despite everything.

“Oh! We…” Johnson started, his voice rising too quickly before faltering. He swallowed hard and darted a shocked glance from Megan to me, then back to Nathan, his lips trembling as he searched desperately for words that wouldn’t collapse under scrutiny.

“We’re confronting this brat,” he finally blurted out, pointing sharply at me as though accusation alone could make it true. “She needs to confess why she pushed Celine into the water.”

“T–that’s right!” Megan snapped immediately, far too eager, her voice sharp and rushed. “She still won’t admit she’s wrong. Johnson and I are burning with rage!” She turned suddenly to Johnson and rubbed his chest in quick, soothing strokes, her tone softening unnaturally. “Don’t be mad.”

The display was clumsy. Desperate.

Nathan released a slow breath through his nose, his jaw tightening. His gaze finally shifted to me.

I sat still, my shoulders rigid, eyes swollen from crying, my lips pressed tightly together. I didn’t defend myself. I didn’t beg. I simply looked at him, as though waiting for something. Maybe judgment. Mercy. Recognition. Anything.

“Celine is shaken up because of her,” Nathan said calmly, though irritation threaded through his voice. “She hasn’t recovered yet.”

My fingers twitched slightly against the sheets.

“If she won’t admit her mistake, then—”

The door opened abruptly.

The sudden interruption cut through the room like a blade.

Everyone turned.

A man in a white coat stood at the doorway, his expression shifting from cautious professionalism to visible surprise the moment his eyes landed on Nathan.

“Dr. Harrison?” My voice escaped before I could stop myself.

My eyes widened.

The man froze for half a second, then his face softened into recognition. “Miss Charlotte,” he said warmly, stepping inside. “I was wondering when I’d see you again.”

Megan stiffened instantly. Johnson’s face drained of color.

Dr. Harrison glanced briefly around the room, sensing the tension, then looked back at me apologetically. “I’m sorry I had to leave so suddenly back then,” he explained. “The emergency transfer to London happened without warning. I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye.”

I swallowed. “You… you’re back?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “But only briefly. I won’t be staying long.”

His eyes then moved to Nathan. And lit up.

“Mr. Mills,” he said with unmistakable joy, stepping forward. “It’s good to see you awake. Standing. Stronger.”

Nathan frowned slightly, irritation flashing across his face at the intrusion. “What’s going on here, Dr…?” he started, his tone clipped.

“Dr. Harrison,” the man corrected gently, extending his hand. “I was one of the doctors who attended to you during your coma.” He held the handshake out expectantly.

Nathan didn’t take it.

He slid his hands into his pockets instead, his gaze sharpening as he studied the man from head to toe.

My mom and dad exchanged panicked glances.

“Nathan,” I forced a smile, stepping in quickly, “this is the doctor who attended to you for about fifteen months. Before he was transferred abroad.”

“Yes,” Dr. Harrison confirmed with a small smile, completely unfazed by Nathan’s cold reception. “And you’re truly blessed to be standing here today.”

He paused, then looked at me again, his expression softening further.

“You’re even more blessed,” he continued sincerely, “to have a woman like Miss Charlotte who stood by you all—”

“Excuse me, Dr—” My mom snapped sharply, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Her politeness vanished.

“Dr. Harrison or whatever you call yourself,” she continued disdainfully, her voice dripping with irritation. “You can see we were busy here before you rudely barged in. You can excuse us now.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Dr. Harrison blinked, visibly taken aback. His mouth parted slightly as he tried to recover. “Oh… um, I didn’t mean to—”

“Wait.”

Nathan’s voice cut through the air like a command.

He lifted one hand slightly, stopping the doctor before he could retreat.

I saw mom’s breath hitch as she turned to exchange a worried glance with my father beside her. His fingers instantly curled into fists.

Nathan’s eyes didn’t leave Dr. Harrison’s face.

“You were saying something,” Nathan said slowly. “About Charlotte standing by me.”

The room felt like it stopped breathing.

Dr. Harrison hesitated, sensing something wasn’t right. He glanced at me instinctively.

I shook my head almost imperceptibly, my eyes pleading.

Nathan noticed.

His brows furrowed.

“What do you mean by that?” Nathan asked, his tone sharpening. “What are you talking about?”