Chapter 35: Feel Free to Call Me

1:30 PM.

Radiant Life Hospital.

Nolan hustled into the top-floor conference room, spotting Michael. "Mr. Tudor."

Michael glanced up, looking annoyed. "What's up?"

Nolan blurted out, "Tina Green got hurt by accident and she's at Radiant Life Hospital now."

Michael's impatience was clear. "Do you really need to tell me this?"

When Nolan didn't leave, Michael pressed, "Anything else?"

Nolan hesitated, then added, "Aurora Mansion called. Miss Howard took a tumble down the stairs. She's got some scrapes and bruises and she's also at Radiant Life Hospital."

Michael's face showed even more irritation. "Anything else?"

Nolan wiped the sweat off his forehead and continued, "Miss Howard specifically asked for Dr. Howard to handle her care for the next few days."

Nolan braced for Michael's anger, but there was just a long silence. He glanced up.

Michael was sitting there, deep in thought. After a bit, Michael asked, "Has Charles left?"

"Doesn't look like it. The nurse on duty hasn't seen Mr. Percy leave."

Michael tapped his phone screen a couple of times and said, "Have Anna take care of Thalia's injuries."

Nolan was about to leave when Michael added, "And put Tina and Thalia in the same room."

"Yes... Huh?" Nolan was confused, "Mr. Tudor, did you say to put them in the same room?"

Michael stood up, straightening his shirt and tie, and looked at the stunned Nolan. "Is there a problem?"

Nolan didn't dare say there was. "No, Mr. Tudor. I'll arrange it right away."

Meanwhile, third floor, Room 308.

In the lounge.

Anna woke up to find Charles all wrapped around her. She moved her slightly numb wrists and gently pushed him. "Charles, it's 1:40. You should go back."

Charles nuzzled her neck and kissed behind her ear with his cool lips. She shrank her neck and moved away.

Charles took the chance to turn and kiss her lips. His actions were gentle, but his kiss was strong and unrestrained.

A few minutes later, she urged him to get up. "Get up, it's almost 2:00."

Charles glanced at the time.

1:52.

Eight minutes until 2:00.

He obediently got up and didn't cling to her anymore.

After getting ready, Anna opened the lounge door and was about to leave when Ryan's call came in. After finishing the call, she looked back at Charles and said, "I have to go to work. You should go back."

Charles raised an eyebrow in agreement.

The building Anna worked in was the emergency department. The adjacent building was the inpatient department, where all the patient rooms were located. As Anna walked into the inpatient building, she ran into Ryan at the entrance.

Ryan handed her Tina's medical record and said, "Dr. Howard, Miss Green was in a car accident two hours ago. She has multiple soft tissue injuries and a mild concussion. I've done the initial treatment, but the follow-up will need your attention."

Anna quickly glanced through Tina's medical record and nodded, "Okay."

Remembering Ryan's mention of Thalia on the phone, Anna asked, "What's up with Thalia?"

Ryan looked a bit troubled, "She probably took a spill down the stairs. I got an urgent surgery now, so I need you to handle Thalia too."

After telling Anna which floor Tina and Thalia were on, Ryan hurried out of the inpatient department.

On the fourth floor, as Anna stepped out of the elevator, she bumped into Austin, who had just finished Tina's admission paperwork.

Austin was leaning against the white wall, eyes glued to his phone, occasionally tapping the screen to send a message. Sensing someone approaching, Austin put away his phone and looked up to see Anna walking towards him with a medical record.

A flicker of emotion passed through Austin's usually calm and indifferent eyes. He straightened up and took a step forward, blocking Anna's path. "You Dr. Howard?" His voice was deep, with a hint of barely noticeable gentleness.

He deliberately softened the usual sharpness in his eyes, so as not to scare Anna.

Anna stopped and looked at Austin. She was sure she hadn't seen Austin before, but somehow, he felt strangely familiar.

Anna frowned slightly, pushing aside the inexplicable feeling, "And you are?"

Austin gestured to the nearby room, "Miss Green got hurt because of me. I hope Dr. Howard can take extra care of her."

Anna assumed he was a relative of Tina's and nodded, "That's my job. Don't worry."

She then moved past him to enter the room.

Austin instinctively grabbed her.

Anna turned to look at him. Realizing his abruptness, Austin quickly let go.

He then took out a business card and handed it to Anna, "This is my card, Dr. Howard. If you need anything, feel free to call me."

Anna was puzzled.

Just then, Austin's phone rang. He placed the card in her medical record and walked away.

Anna picked up the card, which only had a name and a number. Seeing the name Austin, a vague image flashed in Anna's mind. But before she could grasp it, the image disappeared.

Anna didn't dwell on it, placing the card in her medical record and heading into the room.

At the stairwell corner, Patrick walked over with his phone, and Austin had just finished his call.

Patrick leaned against the corner wall, looking at Austin with curiosity. "Austin, who was that girl? It's the first time I've seen you approach a girl in all these years."

Austin was a Black Ops SWAT officer. He had been in the military since childhood, undergoing rigorous training. His numerous life-and-death missions had made him increasingly cold.

To put it bluntly, calling him emotionless wouldn't be an exaggeration. In the SWAT team, Austin's cold and stern demeanor earned him both respect and fear.

Patrick, also from the SWAT team, had fought alongside Austin for years, making them unspoken allies and partners in sync. Over the years, Patrick had the closest relationship with Austin.

So this time, seeing the usually aloof Austin give his number to a girl he didn't know, Patrick was both surprised and curious.