Chapter 3 Crossing the Line
552 Words
She had made up her mind. Instead of staying here and drawing everyone's resentment, she might as well pack her things, get her visa, and go abroad.
Seeing this quiet, composed Nia, Adrian felt a strange pang of emotion. She had always been sensitive, needing his attention over the smallest matters. Now, scarred and bruised, she didn't say a word.
He opened his mouth to speak, but a cry for help rang down the hallway.
"Help! Someone's collapsed!"
They didn't hesitate. Both sprinted toward the commotion.
The patient's family was already hysterical, sobbing and calling for help.
Adrian knelt beside the patient immediately, starting emergency care. A nurse brought a portable AED and a stretcher as they worked.
After tense moments, the patient was rushed into the operating room.
The situation had occurred so suddenly that most of the staff were performing surgeries in another building.
A nurse looked at Adrian anxiously.
"Dr. Locke, we're short a scrub nurse and an anesthetist. What should we do?"
Adrian scanned the room, then his gaze landed on Nia.
"Let her handle it. She knows the procedure. Just tell them she's the cleaning staff."
As an external staff member, Nia had no official clearance to be on the operating table. But there was no time for protest; she was shoved into the OR.
It wasn't until the surgery was over that fear and panic fully hit her.
"Adrian, why did you make me go? You know I'm not supposed to be on the operating table!"
Adrian looked at her with an expression she couldn't read, frowning.
"When lives are at stake, who cares about regulations? Since when did you become so petty? And from now on, don't mention that you've been to prison in this hospital."
A chill ran down Nia's spine. She instinctively took a step back.
In his eyes, any hesitation on her part was tantrum, irrationality, or prison aftereffects. He had long forgotten how he once pursued her, how he once cared for her.
Nia nodded, forcing a bitter smile.
"I won't embarrass you anymore."
Adrian was about to ask what she meant when Melody arrived and interrupted the moment. She naturally looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Adrian, I've been waiting so long my stomach is growling. Let's go grab dinner. We're on evening shift together today."
His icy expression softened instantly.
Although Nia had decided she no longer loved Adrian, her heart still twisted painfully. She was about to turn and leave when a nurse exiting the OR called after her.
"Hey, where do you think you're going? You haven't finished writing up the surgical report yet. Hurry up."
Nia froze. She asked reflexively, "When did it become my turn to write the report?"
The nurse glanced at Adrian, then her expression shifted from tense to irritated.
"If you're told to do it, just do it. Why so many questions? Everyone's busy. What's wrong with helping out? We can't make Dr. Locke or Melody do it, can we?"
Nia sneered. "Why not?"
The nurse froze, her face flushing red and pale in turns.
Adrian shot Nia an impatient look.
"Alright, you're just writing a report. Is it necessary to act so aggressive? You know how to do it. Everyone's tired; stop throwing a tantrum."
- Writer
