Chapter 194 Eliminating Martin
After Patricia applied the nasal strip, and checked to make sure it's positioned correctly, she clapped her hands, and said with an easy smile, "There you go!"
"Thank you!" Hunter stared at her, offering thanks with a blank expression.
Patricia put her hands on her hips, feigning annoyance, "If you keep this up, I'm going to get angry."
Hunter's eyes gleam with hidden meaning, "Indeed, our relationship doesn't call for such formalities!"
Patricia missed the subtext of his words, and gets ready to leave, after tidying up the dishes, "Your fever is down now, I should be going. I took on a new patient yesterday and I need to check on her condition."
Hunter, not wanting her to go, held her hand, reluctant to let go, "Will you come back?"
Patricia nods, "Once I'm done with work, I'll come back. You rest well and regain your strength."
Hearing her answer, Hunter smiled joyfully. It was his first genuine smile in years. "Then I'll wait for you! Please come, don't stand me up."
His tone was one of a child, afraid of abandonment, and being forgotten. Seeing his woeful look, Patricia's heart ached slightly for him.
"I won't break my promise! I have to go now; you should head back to your room." She promised him, fervently.
Hunter shook his head, "I'll go back after I've watched you leave."
Just as Patricia was about to say something, she saw the unwavering look in his eyes and swallowed the words that had reached her lips. After picking up her jacket from the sofa, she left.
Hunter, lost in a daze, watched as Patricia left. Touching the nose strip on his nose, a foolish grin spread across his face. The feeling of being cared for and cherished was unfamiliar to him.
Ever since the incidents involving his mother and brother, he hadn't felt such warmth. Patricia was the third and only person, unrelated by blood, who could evoke such emotions in him. It felt wonderful.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, his expression turned dark. But there was a problem. Between them stood the irksome Martin. As long as Martin was around, Patricia's heart would never be his alone.
He had to get rid of him, completely. Slowly, a plan began to take shape in his mind.
...
After leaving Hunter's place, Patricia didn't go home, but headed straight to the hospital. On the way, she called Jade to ask for help, with taking the two little ones to the kindergarten.
Upon arriving at the hospital, before she could even change into her white coat, Martin showed up. He confirmed that Patricia was at work, gave her a smile, and returned to the ward. Patricia shook her head helplessly.
As Dr. Powell prepared for his rounds, passing by her, he joked, "Did you know? This is Mr. Langley's eighth visit!"
Patricia paused, "Eight times?"
Dr. Powell's smirk deepened, "Yes, eight times indeed. We've been keeping count! You don't know, but the previous seven times he didn’t see you, his face was so downcast... scared us to death, fearing he’d burn down the office in a fit of rage."
It wasn't an exaggeration at all. For Martin's complexion was truly awful, it frightened them so much they hardly dared to breathe. Patricia, thinking he was exaggerating, laughed.
"Let him be angry, then. He's always been petty." Though she said this, her heart was warmed.
During the ward rounds, Patricia first checked on the patients under her care with more stable conditions, and finally, she visited Milly's room.
Milly's condition was serious, so Patricia had arranged a private VIP room for her, complete with an ensuite bathroom, a small balcony, and a television.
Although Milly was awake, she was still very weak, her face pale as paper, her lips a purplish blue. Seeing Patricia enter, Milly gave a feeble smile.
"Are you the Professor Watson my father talks about? Thank you for taking us in!" Despite her young age, she was far more mature and understanding than other children.
Patricia smiled, "It's our duty as doctors to save lives, and heal the wounded."
Milly's gaze dimmed, "Not all who bear the title 'doctor' deserve it."
Patricia didn't know what she had been through, but hearing her speak, she couldn’t help but feel sorrow for her. She reached out and gently rubbed Milly's small head, smiling as she said, "You're only five years old, don't worry about such things. Your top priority is to get well."
"Okay!" Milly nodded obediently.
Her father, Roy, was washing dishes in the restroom when he heard voices. He ran out, hastily wiping his wet hands on his clothes, and greeted Patricia with a goofy smile, "Professor Watson, you’re here! Milly is feeling much better today, thanks to you."
Patricia asked, "Are the test results in?"
"They are, they are! I got them first thing this morning!" Roy quickly produced the test results and handed them to Patricia.
Taking the results, Patricia's expression grew increasingly grave as she read through them. Milly's condition was far worse than she had imagined. No, to be precise, it was much more grave than what Dr. Powell had verbally reported.
If it weren't for their hospital's top-tier medical resources and facilities, Milly might have already been lost.
Originally, it was just a case of a common heart issue, but due to Debbie's use of high doses of medication, Milly's organs had sustained damage, and the severity was far greater than what Dr. Powell had described.
Noticing Patricia's disturbed expression, Roy became tense, "Professor Watson, is Milly's situation really bad?"
Patricia glanced at Milly and walked towards the door, Roy immediately understanding and quietly followed. Having spent so much time in the hospital, he knew all too well what a doctor's gaze signified.
Even though he had braced himself mentally, at the moment he heard the answer, a wave of dizziness overcame him, his legs gave way, and he crumpled to his knees in front of Patricia.
"Professor Watson, I beg you, please at all costs save my daughter. She is only five years old; she is my life. If anything happens to her, what purpose do I have to continue living?... Professor Watson, I beg you... If you save her, I will do anything," Roy cried, his sadness making him forget to keep his voice down, drawing the attention of patients and doctors passing by.
Surveying her surroundings, Patricia quickly squatted down to help him to his feet. "Please don't do this. Even if you don't do anything for me in return, I will do everything within my power to save her.”
“I am only informing you of her condition, as her only family, you should be aware. But she is still a child. Where possible, let's keep it from her so as not to add psychological stress that could affect her condition."
Roy understood her completely and nodded incessantly. "I believe in you. Everyone says you're amazing, that you're the cardiothoracic professor, the hospital brought in from abroad, at a great expense. You've cured many patients with heart disease. You must be able to save Milly, you just must..."
The more he spoke, the softer his voice became.
While extolling Patricia, it was as if he were hypnotizing himself, reminding himself of how capable Patricia was, insisting that she must be able to save Milly, that Milly would certainly be all right.
Now having the new test results, and having a better knowledge, about Milly's condition, Patricia overturned all of the previous treatment plans and started afresh.
Milly's liver and kidneys, heart, and lungs were all compromised. While treating her congenital heart disease, they needed to simultaneously address her liver, kidneys, and cardiopulmonary issues.
She wasn't entirely confident she could cure Milly. Yet, she wanted to give it her all, even if the hope was one in a hundred thousand; she refused to give up. Patricia knew, as a doctor, she couldn’t abandon any patient.
Patricia was so engrossed in her work that she lost track of time. The other doctors and nurses in the office, went off shift or left for the day, but she continued working.
It wasn't until the 'knock, knock, knock' at the door that her thoughts were brought back to reality. Martin stood at the entrance to the open office, smiling faintly.
“Professor Watson, no matter how busy work gets, you must take care of yourself. We can’t have our patients get well, only for you to fall ill."
Patricia looked at him blankly: "Hmm?"
Martin took out his phone, his slender fingers gently tapping the screen, pointing to the time displayed. Patricia turned to her computer and was shocked to find that it was already half-past twelve.
She had promised not to stand Hunter up. And yet, she had done just that. With a sigh, Patricia quickly saved her files, shut down the computer, took off her lab coat, grabbed her bag, and dashed toward the door.
As she passed by Martin, he caught her wrist: "Where do you think you're going?"
Patricia replied anxiously, "I promised Hunter I'd cook him lunch. It's already half-past twelve; he'll blame me for breaking my promise again."
Martin's eyes narrowed slightly, a menacing aura surrounding him that sent chills down one's spine.
"Cook for Hunter?" Every word was laced with anger, almost hissed through clenched teeth
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