Carlos arrived at the hospital the following morning, his body feeling as if it had been run over by a truck; he had not slept well and got up feeling a little dizzy and nauseous. He couldn't even manage to have breakfast.
He knew that all these symptoms were the result of the stress from the past few days. When he started seeing his patients, he realized he was less focused and even distracted. During a coffee break, Nina approached him.
"Hey, are you okay today? You look a bit worn out and tired. Did something happen?" Nina asked, visibly concerned for her friend.
"I'm fine, I think it's just the aftermath of that day. Everything was very stressful."
As much as he trusted Nina, he didn't intend to tell her about what happened at his house and the whole situation with the mobsters. He couldn't risk involving her too.
"Why don't you take some time off? You've been through a lot in the past months and you need to relax."
Carlos knew she was referring to the breakup with Lucas and, more recently, the incident at the hospital.
"I don't need to, Nina. I know you're worried, but I just need things to get back under my control again."
"Sometimes, things going out of control aren't necessarily a problem, doctor. There might even be room for good things to happen," Nina tried to cheer him up.
Carlos didn't see things the same way. What good had happened since he lost control of his life? Lucas left him, he faced two mobsters in the early morning, and his routine, mood, and concentration were a mess.
It was around ten-thirty in the morning and Carlos had just finished seeing another patient. He accompanied the patient to the reception and was signing some documents when a delivery man approached.
"I'm looking for Mr. Carlos Smith."
Carlos looked up and saw flowers and chocolates in the delivery man's hands.
"That's me," Carlos replied, taking the packages and signing.
Lucas observed the scene and heard the nurses whispering at the reception.
"Ooh! Look at that, receiving flowers and chocolates. Are you dating and didn't tell us, doctor? So, who's the lucky one? Come on, tell us, we want to know," Carlos blushed and tried to contain the girls' excitement.
"Hold on, I'm not dating anyone. It must be from a patient as a token of gratitude, that's all."
Carlos smiled and looked to the side, seeing Lucas standing in the hallway. Lucas averted his gaze and walked away. Carlos returned his attention to the girls and the things he had received. He picked up the card attached to the flowers and read it.
"To the most handsome doctor in this city. Andrey Marastrove."
The smile on Carlos' face disappeared upon seeing that name. Could it be that he would be pursued by that man? He sighed and looked at the items again.
"Girls, leave the flowers at the reception to decorate and you can eat the chocolate." He pushed the items and walked towards his office.
None of the girls understood Carlos' reaction, including Nina, who was also there. She chose to leave him alone for now, but she was genuinely worried.
A few minutes later, at the reception, it was Lucas who was signing some things when a tall, strong, and elegant man appeared at the reception with flowers in his hands. Two men accompanying him stood further away, while the handsome man approached the counter, capturing the attention of the nurses and Lucas, who was there.
"Good morning! Could you tell me where Dr. Carlos Smith's office is?"
Lucas paused his pen in the air and looked at the man. Nina, who was also arriving there, heard and immediately responded.
"Follow me, please."
He smiled at the girls and followed Nina.
"Oh my goodness! Who is that man? Is he the one who sent the other flowers and now he's here to surprise him?"
The girls at the reception became all excited, discussing various things. Lucas, who was still there, clenched his teeth, looking at the back of that man heading towards Carlos' office. He dropped the pen and left the reception, appearing displeased.
After Lucas left, the girls continued talking, now speculating whether Lucas was envious or jealous of the fact that Carlos had moved on.
Nina knocked on Carlos' office door and opened it, only putting half of her body inside.
"Carlos, more flowers," Nina said, smiling.
Carlos furrowed his eyebrows, got up annoyed, and went to the door.
"I don't want any more flowers," he said, finishing opening the door and was surprised to see who was there with the flowers in his hands.
"Alberto?!" Carlos said, surprised.
He didn't expect to see that man again, let alone with flowers and looking for him at the hospital.
"I'm sorry, I thought you liked flowers," Alberto said, apologizing.
"I do, it's just that..."
Carlos didn't finish speaking and looked at Nina, who was still there with a silly smile on her face, looking from one to the other. Carlos cleared his throat and gestured for Alberto to enter his office. Alberto obeyed, and Carlos made a motion with his eyes and mouth to Nina, indicating that she should leave.
Carlos closed the door and approached Alberto.
"Are these for me?" Carlos asked, staring at Alberto.
"Yes, but it seems like you don't like receiving flowers," Alberto said with a small smile on his face.
"It depends on who sends them," Carlos replied, reaching out to take the flowers. He turned around and walked to the other side of the desk.
"Have you received flowers recently, to say that you didn't want them anymore?" Alberto asked, trying to figure something out.
Carlos looked at him, sighing, and extended his hand, inviting him to sit down. He considered whether he should tell him, but knew that Alberto could find out if he wanted to. However, given that Alberto was asking directly, Carlos bit his lip while he thought, and Alberto narrowed his eyes upon noticing this movement.
Carlos stared at Alberto again, responding to his question.
"Yes, I thought the flowers were from the same person who sent me some earlier. Andrey Marastrove."
Carlos observed Alberto's reaction as he answered and noticed that the other man tensed upon hearing Andrey's name.
"So you're friends with Andrey Marastrove?" Alberto asked as if he didn't know they had met before.
Carlos shook his head and stood up, replying:
"I'm not friends with that man. I removed a bullet from him on the same night I did the same with you, and I suspect you two must have clashed, right?"
Alberto leaned on the chair to stand up, still feeling pain where he had been shot. He approached Carlos and looked at him seriously.
"Yes, I was ambushed that day, and I was the one who shot him. But you should stay away from Andrey, he's a damn sadist who doesn't care about hurting people."
Carlos seemed to have detected a trace of concern in Alberto's eyes.
"I have no intention of being close to him, but from what I see, he doesn't think the same way," Carlos said, sighing.
Alberto took another step, getting closer.
"If he finds out that you saved my life that night, he may want to hurt you," Alberto said, extending his hand to touch Carlos' face but pulling back his hand. "I won't allow him to do that. Give me your phone."
Carlos handed his phone over, a little hesitant. Alberto saved his number and gave an order:
"Call me if anything happens, or if Andrey bothers you again."
Alberto handed Carlos his phone back. He took it, looked at the saved name, looked into his eyes again, and asked.
"So, will you protect me?"
"Even if you don't want me to, I will."
The two stared at each other for a while, and Carlos blushed a bit, averting his gaze from Alberto, thanking him.
"Thank you."
Carlos bit his lip, and Alberto approached closer, once again placing his hand on Carlos' face, this time not pulling back.
"Don't bite your lips like that. You don't know how it makes you look."
Carlos let go of his lips and felt his heart racing, with all the blood rushing to his face.
Carlos stumbled, his face turning red, as Alberto continued to gaze into his eyes. The mobster leaned in, as if about to kiss Carlos, but they were interrupted by a few knocks at the door. Alberto pulled away, and Nina opened the door.
"Sorry for interrupting, but the director asked for you in his office," Nina said, looking at Carlos apologetically before closing the door again.
Alberto smiled and said he was already on his way out, reminding Carlos not to forget to call him. He bid Carlos farewell and left the room.
Carlos remained by the door, watching as Alberto walked away. Andrey and Alberto were both mobsters, but for some reason, Carlos felt more at ease with Alberto than with Andrey. There was something sinister about Andrey that emanated from him.
As Carlos continued to watch Alberto's departure, his vision started to blur, and he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 80 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments