Chapter 298 In His Arms, Just Be Yourself
The car arrived at the hospital.
After completing the final stitches, Catherine let out a barely audible sigh of relief. "It was very successful. You can go inform the patient's family now."
Gavin looked at Catherine beside him.
He couldn't quite understand how Catherine's mind worked!
She was clearly not even twenty years old, yet she was more composed on the operating table than anyone else, her hands steady and precise. Gavin was merely assisting her.
After observing the entire surgery, Gavin's eyes and mind were in awe, and each time he gained a new understanding of Catherine.
Seeing Catherine's surgical gown soaked with sweat, Gavin urged her to quickly change her clothes.
As the lights in the operating room went out, Gavin removed his mask and walked out. Several people immediately surrounded him at the door.
Having worked with Catherine for so long, Gavin had mastered a complete set of explanations. "It was very successful, but post-operative observation is crucial. The patient has been transferred to the intensive care unit, which is equipped with the most advanced instruments."
Juniper anxiously asked, "Where's Catherine?"
"She went to change her clothes. Everyone is exhausted. The patient will be in a recovery period for a week, during which we will closely monitor her condition."
"Thank you!"
"It's our duty."
Philip hugged the tearful Juniper, letting her lean into his chest. "We're here now, aren't we? Your mom will be fine, don't worry."
Juniper sobbed uncontrollably, her tears soaking Philip's suit. "Philip, I'm so scared. I'm afraid Catherine will get hurt. I'm also afraid that because of me, Catherine agreed to Tiberius's request. Philip, I feel like such a failure."
"I know, I understand. You're afraid Catherine is struggling because of you, and you're also afraid that you hurt Catherine and your mom, right? Juniper, you're the strongest. Don't cry."
Charles patted Juniper's shoulder, his voice also very gentle. "Juniper, you've done very well. Leave the rest to us."
Juniper nodded quietly, letting her fear and grievances flow out as tears onto Philip's clothes.
In the dimly lit hospital stairwell, the sudden sound of a lighter broke the darkness. The fluorescent light didn't come on, and Catherine looked up to see Alexander standing in the stairwell, with a small flame at his fingertips. "What are you doing here?"
Alexander took a single puff of his cigarette before extinguishing it under his foot. His eyes reflected Catherine's figure as he steadily climbed the stairs. "I guessed you'd be here, so I came to find you."
Catherine's eyes flickered as she watched Alexander approach her step by step. "How did you know I'd be here?"
"I guessed."
In fact, when Alexander arrived at the hospital and saw that Catherine hadn't followed Gavin out, he knew she would be there.
Between them, there was already a deeper understanding than she realized.
"How did you know I'd be across from you?" Alexander asked.
Catherine didn't speak, meeting Alexander's intense gaze. Standing before her, Alexander had strikingly handsome features, as if chiseled by a master sculptor, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. "I guessed."
Alexander chuckled softly, spreading his arms, his expression showing a tenderness he himself hadn't noticed. "Do you mind the smell of smoke on me?"
He looked down at Catherine. "Since we are so in sync, I guess you need a hug right now."
In the past, they had hugged, but it was always initiated by Alexander. Now, their positions were equal, and she had the choice to take a step forward.
"Do I get to choose?" Catherine asked.
"Of course. I guess, after the surgery, you're exhausted. Everyone is busy taking care of the patient and Juniper, and you don't want to distract your family, so you came here to hide."
Catherine chuckled softly. "I didn't expect you to enjoy such boring guesses."
"But I guessed right, didn't I?"
Catherine took a step forward and hugged Alexander's lean waist, her voice somewhat muffled. "That's cheating. You said I could choose, but you didn't give me a second option."
With the wall behind her, he had blocked all her paths.
Alexander held Catherine in his arms, his deep voice magnetic and alluring. "You've worked hard."
She had to go to the hotel alone and complete such a tiring surgery, yet she could only process her emotions by herself, not wanting to bring negative emotions to her family.
Catherine always saved her best side for her family, spending the rest of her time growing up on her own.
"You've worked hard. My embrace is always here for you."Alexander said.
Catherine's arms were still a bit sore. The energy required for brain surgery was beyond imagination, and after the surgery, she felt her brain go blank for a few seconds! "Mm, thank you."
"Is it more stressful to operate on someone you know?"
Catherine nodded, finding a more comfortable position to hug Alexander's waist. "My first surgery was on my grandmother. On the operating table, I didn't dare look at her face, afraid I couldn't hold back."
"Was the surgery successful?"
"Very successful. I initially studied medicine just to operate on my grandmother."
Catherine didn't trust anyone else, and Elodie's condition was somewhat unique, leaving many doctors at a loss. It was then that she emailed Gavin for advice, leading to their connection.
"Did anyone praise you? You're really amazing."
At such a young age, Catherine had to learn so many things. She must have endured a lot, and the belief that kept her going was just to keep her only relative alive!
Listening to Alexander's voice, Catherine felt a moment of daze.
She didn't perform surgery on Elodie for praise. Just being able to keep Elodie around a bit longer was Catherine's greatest happiness.
But hearing his words, she still felt a warmth in her heart.
It seemed like the person in front of her really understood her.
"I was across from you because I knew you needed me," Alexander said.
Catherine asked. "Do you know me well?"
"Of course. In the past, it was to understand my opponent. Now, it's to understand my friend."
Whether it was understanding Blackfire or Catherine, it was all about understanding her!
In the past, they would make the same decisions, competing for the same resources and territories on the border, with a different kind of tacit understanding.
"I refused Tiberius, not considering Juniper's feelings. Don't you think I'm being selfish?"
"Catherine, you refused him, and I'm thrilled! Besides, Juniper loves you more than you think. You are family."
Catherine had refused Tiberius's request to break off her engagement with Alexander. He should be happy she didn't want to break off the engagement!
Even if her reason was just not wanting to be manipulated, Alexander was still overjoyed.
He held Catherine in his arms, his voice deep. "You can do whatever you want. From now on, by my side, you can always be Catherine, not Alioth!"
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