Chapter 3

The security guards pushed me out of the lobby without mercy.

The steps outside had just been rained on. I stumbled and fell heavily into the muddy water.

My knee scraped open, but I couldn't care about the pain.

The automatic sensing door of the outpatient building closed mercilessly behind me.

I stood dazed in the cold wind with nowhere to go.

Suddenly, a man rushed out from the shadows by the flower bed.

He was disheveled with bloodshot eyes, clutching a butcher knife.

"Nadal! Quack! I'll kill you!"

My pupils contracted.

It was the family member of a patient who'd caused a disturbance in the emergency department eight years ago over surgical complications!

That surgery was clearly performed by Fernandez.

I'd taken the family's anger for him, even spending a full day and night with him at the police station giving statements.

Why would he appear at this moment? And how did he know my name exactly?

I had no time to think. Instinct drove me to turn and run back.

The blade swept past my ear, cutting off a strand of my hair.

I ran desperately toward the side safety passage, trying to rush through the door to seek help.

Just as I was about to grasp the door handle, that heavy glass door was slammed shut from inside.

It was Fernandez.

He stood right behind the door, pulling the terrified Ivanka into his arms, dragging her into the passage and locking the safety latch.

With a "click."

The lock engaged. My last hope vanished.

He'd shut me out in the danger zone.

The violent patient's footsteps closed in behind me.

I pounded desperately on the thick glass with both hands, tears flooding my eyes.

"Fernandez! Open the door! Please open the door!"

Inside, Fernandez watched me quietly through the glass.

His eyes held no panic or compassion.

He even raised one hand to cover Ivanka's eyes.

To completely destroy my will, he pulled out his phone with his other hand and aimed it at me struggling desperately outside.

He was recording.

No, that was the hospital's internal work group livestream interface!

He explained to the camera in a calm tone.

"Colleagues, look closely. This is what happens when you violate regulations and provoke family members with a bad attitude."

"Dr. Nadal is the best cautionary tale for all of you."

"Rip!" The sound of fabric tearing.

The blade behind me viciously slashed my left arm.

Blood instantly gushed out, staining a large portion of my white shirt red.

I screamed in pain and collapsed in front of the glass door.

The patrolling SWAT officers finally arrived at this moment, pinning the family member down with riot forks.

The instant the family member was subdued, Fernandez suddenly pushed open the safety door and strode out.

He didn't glance at me lying in a pool of blood.

Instead, he walked straight to the police and pointed accusingly.

"Officers, it was Dr. Nadal's bad attitude and insulting words during communication that caused the family member to lose emotional control."

"Our hospital will fully cooperate with the police investigation."

I clutched my bleeding arm alone, trembling all over as I raised my head.

I only saw him carrying the unharmed Ivanka in his arms, striding toward the emergency department.

"Quick! Prepare a stretcher! Ivanka has been severely frightened. Her heart rate is elevated!"

The cold wind penetrated my clothes.

I vowed to make him pay the price. But as soon as I entered the treatment room, even worse news followed.