Chapter 343 She Is Not Available Right Now
Katniss frowned, staring at Dylan.
Maximilian stood protectively by her side, both of them eyeing the breathless Dylan without responding.
Dylan took a deep breath before continuing, "Nathan's condition has gotten worse, Katniss. You need to come with me to see him."
Katniss, unimpressed by Dylan's bluntness, asked, "Where am I supposed to go? I can't just leave right now."
She had some free time because it was the weekend, but it was ending soon, and she had to get back to her research and training.
Moreover, she didn't appreciate Dylan's presumptuous attitude.
Dylan hesitated, about to say something, but caught sight of Maximilian's stern look and steadied himself before speaking again. "I'm not asking you to go back to Luminous City. Nathan is here in Starhaven. He's been unwell for a few days, and I couldn't reach you, so I transferred him here."
He had initially thought Katniss was hiding, but after some inquiries, he found out she was in Starhaven for training.
And Maximilian had come to Starhaven with her.
Katniss was going to be in Starhaven for a while, and with Nathan's condition unstable and their mother, Elodie, bedridden, Dylan had no choice but to transfer both of them.
They had traveled to Starhaven, and Dylan had also applied for a job transfer to stay close by.
He had tried calling Katniss, but she didn't answer.
Fortunately, he found out from Gabriel where Maximilian's company was located.
He figured if he found Maximilian, he would find Katniss. He hadn't expected to run into her so soon after getting out of the car.
He considered himself lucky.
"Where is he?" Katniss asked, glancing at Maximilian before turning to Dylan.
Maximilian didn't stop her, but he held her hand, making his feelings clear without saying a word.
Dylan quickly replied, "He's at the Serenity Health Institute, not far from here. We can go now."
Nathan's condition was dire, and though Dylan didn't say it, he was afraid Katniss might refuse to help.
But if she did refuse, he wouldn't just stand by.
He knew how to manipulate Katniss if necessary.
Katniss didn't immediately agree. Instead, she looked at Maximilian, who was displeased.
"She isn't available right now," Maximilian said coldly, then turned to Katniss and gently said, "Let's go get something to eat."
Dylan was taken aback by Maximilian's firm refusal and hesitated.
After a few seconds, he tried to follow, but Maximilian was already leading Katniss away.
They didn't go far, just towards a nearby food street.
Dylan followed them, thinking about Maximilian's earlier look and demeanor, and hesitated.
If it were just Katniss, he wouldn't hesitate. But with Maximilian there, he had to show some respect.
The Manners family was struggling in Luminous City, and though Maximilian wasn't there, his company was. Offending him would only make things worse for the Manners family.
While Dylan hesitated, Katniss was also conflicted.
Being held close by Maximilian gave her a sense of security, but her cheeks flushed.
"Max, maybe I should go check on him first?" she said softly after a few steps.
Maximilian didn't stop walking but asked gently, "Do you have to go?"
He hadn't been too hard on the Manners family, but he found it hard to like them.
Dylan's commanding tone towards Katniss had angered him.
He didn't want Katniss to suffer any more than she already had.
"I promised to treat Nathan," Katniss replied quietly.
She had agreed to treat Nathan, and when she left Luminous City for training in Starhaven, she had blocked the Manners family, hoping for some peace.
But she hadn't expected Nathan to follow her to Starhaven.
She couldn't just abandon him now.
Maximilian sighed, wanting to say something, but seeing Katniss's determination, he nodded.
"Alright, I'll go with you," he said.
Dylan caught up just in time to hear their conversation and felt relieved.
Katniss intended to treat Nathan, so he didn't need to persuade her further.
He hadn't expected Maximilian to come along, but he couldn't stop him.
Katniss, thinking about Maximilian's busy schedule, shook her head. "Conrad can come with me. You should eat and then go back to work."
Maximilian thought for a moment before saying, "I won't be too busy. Chris can handle most things."
Chris had been a manager at the Peterson Group and was now working for Maximilian.
Maximilian didn't intend to waste his talent.
Seeing Maximilian's determination, Katniss nodded.
Soon, they arrived at the hospital where Nathan was.
He was in a regular ward, as Dylan's authority wasn't as strong in Starhaven.
Katniss asked the two men to wait outside while she checked on Nathan.
Nathan looked worse than before, pale and unconscious.
Katniss quickly assessed his condition and realized he needed treatment.
Fortunately, she had her tools with her.
As she prepared, Nathan suddenly woke up.
He jolted awake, sweating and even paler.
"Katniss!" Nathan said, recognizing her.
"It's me," Katniss said, observing him. "Haven't been sleeping well?"
"No," Nathan replied weakly. "Nightmares every time I sleep, so I stopped trying."
His face showed clear distress, but his eyes were calm as he looked at Katniss.
Katniss was surprised to see an emotion in Nathan's eyes she hadn't seen before.
"You need treatment. Take off your shirt," she said.
Nathan hesitated before slowly removing his shirt, still shaken from his nightmare.
Katniss waited, not offering to help.
When his shirt was off, she saw how thin he had become, his ribs visible.
He hadn't been eating well either.
Katniss wondered if the Manners family had been neglecting him.
Nathan, unaware of her thoughts, placed his shirt aside and coughed. "Still treating my back first?"
Katniss snapped out of her thoughts and replied, "Yes, your back first."
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