Chapter 6

As soon as I realized it was Sonia, my whole body stiffened.

I quickly said, "I want a different nurse."

I instinctively tried to sit up, but the doctor held me down. "Stop making a fuss. Ms. Peterson is one of the best nurses in our department. Other patients don't even get the chance to have her on their surgical team. You're lucky she came over to help you herself."

I was going to say something, but the anesthetist was already coming over with the needle. "Relax. Just take a nap, and everything will be over."

The cool liquid slowly spread through my veins.

I started to lose consciousness.

The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Sonia standing under the surgical light, staring at me with a sinister gaze.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but I was woken up by the pain.

There was a severe, heavy pain in my lower abdomen, as if something was flowing out ceaselessly.

I opened my eyes. The ward was empty save for Sonia, who was writing something down in my chart.

"I don't feel too good," I said in a weak voice.

Sonia came over and took a glance. She seemed calm as she said, "That's normal. It always happens after surgeries. Just rest, and you'll be fine."

With that, she continued writing in my chart.

But as time ticked by, the dizziness only grew stronger. I even had difficulty breathing.

I struggled to raise my hand. "Please…"

Sonia finally looked up, her eyebrows slightly creased as she said, "Don't worry. It's normal to feel weak after surgery. We'll keep you under observation for a while."

With that, she turned around and left.

I lay on the hospital bed, my consciousness gradually fading.

I was in a daze when someone barged in.

"Clara!" It was Hailey.

By then, I was too weak to even speak. I could only grip her hand as hard as I could manage.

Looking down at the bedsheets, Hailey immediately screamed, "Doctor! Get the doctor! She's bleeding!"

The ward instantly descended into chaos.

Footsteps sounded from all sides.

Someone shouted, "Her blood pressure's crashing!"

Another person urged, "Get on it, now!"

Someone barked, "Get an IV going!"

It was all a confusing cacophony to me. Then, I completely lost consciousness.

By the time I woke up again, it was already evening.

I was the only person left in the ward.

I overheard a fierce argument coming from the other side of the door.

"You call this handling it properly?" It was Hailey's voice. I never knew she could get so furious. "She was going into shock from blood loss! What would've happened if I hadn't noticed it in time? Is this how you take care of your patients?"

There was silence for a moment, then Sonia's sobbing voice rang out. "I'm sorry… I really thought it was just a normal phenomenon… Many patients went through the same thing before… I didn't mean for this to happen…"

Hailey was so mad that her voice was shaking. "You didn't mean for this to happen? You think you can just say that and walk away? She almost lost her life!"

Just then, a familiar voice rang out. "Enough."

My breath caught in my throat.

It was Keith.

"Keith…" As if she had finally found someone to lean on, Sonia stifled a sob. "I really didn't mean to…"

Keith reassured her in a low voice, "It's okay. I'll handle this."

Hailey scoffed in frustration. "Handle this? How exactly are you going to handle this? She almost killed a patient!"

Keith said sternly, "Ms. Peterson is one of the best nurses in this hospital. She has never made any serious mistakes in the past few years. She was observing the patient according to protocol. As of now, there is no evidence that she has been negligent in this case. I trust in her professional capabilities."

Hailey was so furious that even her voice had become unrecognizable. "Keith! Do you even know who's in the ward right now?"

Keith was silent for a moment. Then, he remained calm as he said, "You're Clara's friend, but that doesn't mean I'll bend the rules for your family."

He thought Hailey was speaking up for her family.

Hailey was panting heavily with rage, and for a long while, she couldn't utter a single word.

Meanwhile, Keith had already left with Sonia. Their footsteps faded into the distance.

Soon, other voices started discussing.

Someone said, "Dr. Reed is so nice to Ms. Peterson. He was defending her throughout the confrontation."

Another person said, "If I were Ms. Peterson, I'd marry him on the spot."

Someone said, "They're a match made in heaven! They're our hospital's star doctor and nurse, after all. I'm green with envy!"

Every word they said seemed to pierce right through my heart.

The door to the ward opened, and Hailey came in with reddened eyes.

When she realized I was awake, she immediately panicked. She hurriedly came over to me and covered my ears. "Don't listen to them. It's all nonsense."

I gently pulled her hands away and smiled at her. "It's okay. I've gotten over it."

Having been so close to death, there really was nothing I couldn't get over.

I had just finished speaking when my phone, which was on the bedside table, suddenly vibrated.

The incoming call was from Keith.

Hailey's expression instantly darkened. "He still has the nerve to call you?"

I was unusually calm as I answered the call.

The next second, Keith's familiar voice rang out. He sounded a little displeased as he asked, "Clara, where have you run off to?"