In the duty room of the hospital, Callie Norris was putting on her doctor uniform
Tonight was the first night of her marriage.
But when a colleague had asked Callie to take her shift for the night, she had gone straight to the hospital without hesitation.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Callie straightened her lab coat and smiled bitterly. No one cared where she went anyway.
All of a sudden, the door was violently kicked open from the outside, sending it crashing against the wall.
Before Callie could look up to see what was going on, she heard the click of the light switch, and the whole room became pitch black.
Scared out of her wits, Callie trembled, her hair standing on end.
"Who's-"
Before she could finish her sentence, she was slammed onto the desk. The items on the desk clattered to the floor, and a sharp knife was pressed against her neck. "Don't speak!" a voice threatened.
In the dim light, she could only make out a man's face covered in blood and a pair of fierce eyes.
The strong smell of blood filled her nostrils, and she knew this man was injured.
Perhaps it was her professional training that had taught her to stay calm in emergencies.
She gently bent her leg, trying to strike at the man's vulnerable side. But he noticed her movement immediately and clamped down on her restless legs with force.
"I saw him come this way."
Footsteps approached the door.
From the sound of it, they were about to open the door.
In a moment of desperation, the man lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Callie resisted, easily pushing the man away. He didn't use the knife in his hand to hurt her.
She froze for a moment.
Click!
Just then, the doorknob turned.
Callie made a split-second decision, tilting her head up to kiss the man, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Her voice trembled, but she tried to sound calm, "I can save you."
The man's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and in the next second, he switched from passive to active. His hot breath fell on her ear, deep and sexy, "I'll take responsibility for you."
No, he misunderstood. She just wanted to put on a show.
As the door was pushed open.
She mimicked a sound she had heard on TV, a soft, alluring moan that made the man even more entranced.
It also made the person at the door's heart race.
"What the fuck! It's just a couple making out here! I can't believe they'd do this at a hospital."
The door opened a crack, letting in a bit of hallway light that fell on Callie. The man pressed his body against hers, blocking the view of the person at the door. In the dim light, only their intertwined, passionate silhouettes could be seen.
"That's definitely not Shane. He's badly injured. He wouldn't have the strength to do this, no matter how sexy that girl is.
"'You have to admit, that girl's really good at making slutty sounds."
"Shut up and move! If we can't find Shane, we're doomed!"
There were rustling sounds and footsteps fading away.
The man knew that his assailants had left, but he found that he couldn't move away from the woman. He licked his lips, his lust blinding his reason.
The crisis was solved now, so Callie tried to push the man away. But just as her palms pressed against the man's chest, she suddenly thought about her marriage.
Her whole life had been controlled by others, including her marriage
Her father, a man ruled by his greed, had forced her to marry into the Robinson family.
Her grandfather used to be the chauffeur of Charles Robinson, the patriarch of the Robinson family. As fate would have it, he died saving Charles's life in an accident.
The small company run by her family had accumulated massive debt and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Her cunning father knew that if he asked for money from the Johnston family, their favor with them would be spent. So he came up with a vicious plan to make his daughter marry Shane Robinson,Robinson's grandson.
In this way, their family would finally establish a more solid connection withthe Robinson family one that was bound by marriage.
Besides, given the Robinson family's wealth, they were sure to get a lot of benefits in the future
The Johnston family couldn't afford to refuse the proposition, or they would risk losing face in one way or another.
Shane was extremely dissatisfied with this arranged marriage, so he requested that his new bride never tell anyone that she was his wife and that she keep her maiden name.
But no one asked Callie what she wanted.
And to make matters worse, the groom never showed up at the banquet, eventhough no one outside either family was present.
Callie had been left alone at the banquet, her face white as a sheet.
She felt so humiliated! And she refused to accept it!
Maybe it was the atmosphere, or perhaps the overly intimate position they found themselves in, but a surge of rebellion that Callie had never dared to express suddenly erupted within her.
Her life, constantly controlled by others, had always been shrouded in darkness.
She chose to rebel by indulging herself!
Callie didn't resist much; she simply followed the man's lead, surrendering her first time a midst the pain.
...
Afterward, the man gently kissed her cheek, his deep voice hoarse with satisfaction. "I'll come back for you.," he said before quickly leaving.
Callie lay there for a long time, her waist aching from being pressed against the edge of the table.
Just then, her phone, precariously balanced on the table's edge, rang.
She reached out to grab it, and an urgent voice came through, "Dr. Ayers, there's a car accident victim at the emergency center. The injuries are severe, and we need you to come quickly."
Callie adjusted her voice and calmly replied, "Alright, I'll be there soon."
After hanging up, she stared blankly for a few seconds. Just now...
The disheveled clothes and the sticky feeling beneath her confirmed that it wasn't a dream. It had really happened. On her wedding night, she had been with a stranger...
It was the most rebellious thing she had ever done in her life!
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She quickly dressed and rushed to the emergency center.
It had been a busy night.
Returning to the duty room, Callie found it still in disarray.
She seemed to recall the events of that night, and her hands clenched slightly.
"Dr. Norris, thank you for covering my shift," Belinda Ayers said with a smile as she walked over.
Callie forced a smile, "You're welcome."
"My business is done, so you can go rest now," Belinda said, raising an eyebrow at the mess in the room. "What happened here?"
Callie turned her head, trying to hide the flicker of panic in her eyes. "I accidentally knocked things over. Since you're here, I'll head out."
Belinda found her behavior odd but didn't think much of it. She started tidying up the scattered items on the floor.
Just then, the director appeared at the doorway with Shane Robinson's assistant, Henry.
The director said, "She is the doctor who was on duty last night, Belinda ."
Henry walked in, glanced at Belinda's name badge, and said, "Come with me."
Belinda was a bit confused.
"Where are we going..."
"Come on, hurry up," the director urged, not giving her a chance to ask more questions. He pulled her along, saying, "Don't keep President Robinson waiting."
Although confused, Belinda obediently followed them to the hospital director's office.
Shane was slouched on the sofa, his tall frame perfectly straight and imposing. Only a careful observer would notice the faint paleness of his thin lips.
The hospital's antiseptic smell masked the faint scent of blood on him.
Dressed in a pure black suit, his face exuded a sharp, commanding aura forged through countless storms. Just one look from him was enough to make anyone tremble with fear!
His assistant circled behind Shane, leaned down, and whispered, "All the surveillance footage from last night was deliberately destroyed. It must have been done by those who were after you, to avoid leaving any evidence. This is the doctor who was on duty last night, Belinda Ayers. The director confirmed it, and I checked the duty roster myself. She was indeed on duty last night."
Shane looked up.
Belinda gasped sharply. Wasn't this the CEO of Skyreach Corporation?
"Was it you who helped me last night?" Shane's gaze now held a hint of scrutiny.
Belinda immediately lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his. "Y-yes, it was me." She wasn't sure what exactly had happened last night, but she knew that getting close to him could only bring benefits.
It was also the perfect timing, as she was about to start her internship at the Second Military District General Hospital.
Everyone knew that once you went there, you would likely stay.
The resources there were far superior to those here.
If she could get Shane's support, securing a position at the Second Military District General Hospital would be a sure thing!
"I can give you anything you want, including marriage," Shane said, his usually stern face softening slightly at the thought of last night.
"This... I..." The good fortune came so quickly that Belinda was at a loss for words.
"Think it over. You can come find me when you've made up your mind." Shane stood up and instructed his assistant to give her his contact information.
The hospital director personally came to see him off. "President Robinson."
"No need to see me off," Shane said with his usual cold demeanor. As if remembering something, he paused for a moment. "She's in the hospital. Please take good care of her."
"Don't worry, I will," the dean replied with a fawning smile.
Once they were sure no one could hear, the assistant whispered, "Sir, you are already married. Your marriage..."
It seemed he couldn't make any promises to Miss Ayers.
Thinking of the woman who had been forced upon him, Shane's expression darkened, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Courting death."
The assistant shivered, unsure if Shane was referring to the woman he married or the person who orchestrated the whole affair.
...
Caller returned to the villa, her new husband's residence.
"Young Mistress," Mrs. Ford greeted her as soon as she stepped inside. "Why were you out all night?"
"I had an unexpected shift," Callie replied softly.
Her eyes were red, and she looked exhausted.
Seeing how tired she seemed, Mrs. Ford didn't press further.
Callie went upstairs and soaked herself in the bathtub. As she recalled the events of the previous night, her cheeks began to burn, and she buried her face in her arms.
Her feelings were quite complicated.
After all, she had given herself to a man she barely knew.
Moreover, she was married.
It seemed she was letting down her newlywed husband—Shane Robinson!
After taking a shower, she got dressed and headed out the door.
Mrs. Ford saw her about to leave again and walked over, saying, "You're heading out again? Aren't you going to have breakfast?"
Callie glanced at the time and said, "I'll be late for work."
Mrs. Ford knew she was a doctor and understood the nature of her job. Knowing that being a doctor was a respectable profession, she went to get some milk. "It's warm. Drink it before you go."
Callie looked at Mrs. Ford, feeling a warm sensation from her concern. She lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "Thank you."
"Oh, it's nothing," Mrs. Ford replied with a smile, her round face looking very kind and friendly.
After Callie finished drinking, Mrs. Ford took the cup from her, and Callie stepped out.
She didn't go straight to the hospital for work. She was out so early because she needed to visit the inpatient ward.
Her mother was in the ICU.
Entering the room, she checked on her mother's condition, which was still as dire as ever.
Her mood inevitably sank.
Her mother had heart failure, and it was in the terminal stage.
The only way to prolong her life was a heart transplant, which required a significant amount of money for the surgery.
She had agreed to marry into the Robinson Family because her father had threatened that he wouldn't pay for her mother's medical expenses if she refused.
Now, all they needed was a suitable heart, and her mother would be saved.
Looking at her mother, she spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "Mom, I will definitely cure you."
Her mother was the person she was closest to in this world.
Buzz, buzz—
The phone in her pocket vibrated.
"Callie, I need a favor," came the voice from the other end of the line.
The call was from her senior, Gabriel Byrne. They had graduated from the same medical school, though he was two years ahead of her and had gone abroad for further studies. Now, he was quite renowned back home.
Gabriel had always looked out for her, so they were good friends.
"What's up? Tell me," she responded promptly.
"I have a patient, but I have an emergency and can't make it. Can you go for me?"
Callie glanced at the time. She didn't have any clinic appointments today and only had two surgeries scheduled for the afternoon. She had time in the morning, so she agreed, "Sure."
"The address is Rose Garden, Area A, Unit 306. Just tell the guard you're looking for Mr. Henry, and they'll notify him."
"Got it."
"And Callie, don't mention this to anyone, and don't ask too many questions. Just focus on treating him," Gabriel instructed.
"I understand."
After hanging up, Callie hailed a cab and headed to the location.
The place was a high-end residential area with top-notch security and privacy.
At the gate, the guard stopped her. She mentioned she was there to see Mr. Henry, and the guard made a call to confirm. After getting approval, he let her in.
She found Unit 306 and rang the doorbell.
The door opened quickly.
Henry, expecting Gabriel, frowned upon seeing her. "You are…?"
Sensing from Gabriel's words that this patient valued his privacy, Callie didn't want to cause any trouble, so she wore a mask.
"I was sent by Dr. Byrne ."
Henry glanced at the medical kit she was carrying. "Do you know what to do?"
"Yes, Dr. Byrne explained everything. I won't say a word."
Henry figured that Gabriel wouldn't send just anyone, so he let her in.
He led Callie through the spacious living room and up to the second floor, heading towards a bedroom.
The room was dark. She said, "How am I supposed to treat anyone in the dark?"
Shane, hearing a woman's voice, pulled a discarded jacket over his face and said coldly, "Turn on the light."
Henry flipped the switch, and the room was instantly illuminated.
Callie felt a vague sense of familiarity with the voice but didn't dwell on it. She saw the man lying on the bed; the bloodstains on his white shirt had dried, turning a dark red.
She didn't scrutinize him further; she was there to treat his wounds.
It was clear the man didn't want his identity known, and she knew better than to pry.
She placed the medical kit on the table and opened it, taking out medical scissors to cut away the fabric around the injury.
Soon, she saw the wound, which had been roughly bandaged with gauze. She cut away the gauze to reveal two knife wounds on his right side.
She set the scissors aside and began cleaning the wounds like a professional. With calm and swift movements, she asked, "Are you allergic to anesthesia?"
After examining the wound, she concluded that it wasn't deep and hadn't damaged any internal structures, but it still required stitches.
This meant local anesthesia was necessary.
Her voice was so composed, a stark contrast to the panic she had shown the previous night.
So, even as Shane listened to her, he didn't detect anything unusual.
Confident in her medical skills, he responded coolly, "No allergies." Callie prepared the anesthetic and injected it around the area that needed stitching.
Two minutes later, as the anesthesia took effect, she began the suturing process.
An hour later, the procedure was complete.
It was impressively quick.
Her hands were stained with blood. "I need to wash up."
"There's a bathroom downstairs. Go ahead," Henry said.
She walked out.
Once she was downstairs, Henry closed the door and approached Shane.
"We've found out. The people last night were sent by Dina. It seems she went berserk after you removed all her spies from the company and tried to kill you."
Shane sat up on the edge of the bed, his clothes disheveled and looking quite battered. Yet, despite his seemingly weakened state, he exuded an astonishingly sharp aura.
He lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and deep like a bottomless pit. "Does this have anything to do with that woman who came in?"
Henry paused for a moment and then whispered, "Yes, I found out she had contact with Rafael. It's quite suspicious. Rafael specifically asked for you to marry her, not Damian. It's clear she's been up to something." "She's given me so many big 'gifts' one after another. If I don't return the favor, it would seem like I don't understand the concept of reciprocity." He had just gone abroad for some business, and people had taken advantage of his absence to stir up so much trouble.
His expression was indifferent, but the chilling coldness in his eyes was unmistakable. "I heard Damian is running a club called 'Enigma' on Central Avenue."
Henry immediately understood. "They no longer have a place in the company, so they're relying on the income from that club. If we take it down, their future will be bleak."
"Go ahead," Shane said softly.
As Henry walked downstairs, he saw Callie about to come up.
Henry knew Gabriel must have given her strict instructions, both as a reminder and a warning. "If today's events get out, you'll regret it deeply."
If the news of Shane getting hurt reached Dina and Damian, they would definitely seize the opportunity to cause more trouble.
"I won't," Callie said, her head lowered. "I'll just take the first aid kit and leave."
When she went upstairs, she saw the man with his back to the door. His blood-stained shirt had been removed, revealing a lean, broad back. His waist was narrow, without any excess fat, connecting seamlessly to his firm, well-defined hips. His physique was balanced and upright, exuding a subtle sense of strength.
"Not leaving yet?" The man didn't turn around, but he seemed to sense her gaze. His voice was lazy, tinged with a hint of mockery.
Callie quickly lowered her head, realizing she had been staring.
Thankuu