She had been clenching her fists so tightly that her nails dug in, trying her best to hold back, but a single drop of transparent liquid fell onto Nia’s hand.
It took her a moment to realize that it was a tear that had flowed from her own eyes.
“Ha! You jerk!”
Because you’re being so mean, I end up feeling worse.
Biting her lip, Nia glared in the direction Dylan had disappeared, and slowly, a venomous glint began to form in her wet eyes.
*****
In front of the nurse station on the 19th floor, where the VIP rooms were located, Lola was talking with the head nurse about a patient.
“Head nurse, did you administer alprazolam to patient Xavier?”
“Yes, doctor.”
“Were there any side effects?”
“No, not at all.”
“Did you administer benzodiazepines to patient Mark, who has alcohol dependence?”
The head nurse nodded after checking Mark’s chart, but suddenly, she seemed to remember something and looked worried.
“By the way! I heard there was quite a commotion in the ward because of that patient earlier?”
For patients with alcohol dependence, the neurology, internal medicine, and psychiatry departments were collaborating on treatment.
However, recently, as the patient had shown progressive symptoms after quitting alcohol, the residents from the three departments were having quite a hard time.
“I heard those patients can become very violent and scary when withdrawal symptoms appear, so please be careful not to get hurt, doctor.”
“Yes.”
Just as Lola was about to say something more with a faint smile,
Click, click, the cheerful sound of heels stopped beside her, and a whiff of perfume wafted through the air.
When she slightly turned her head, a woman with one corner of her mouth raised in a haughty smile came into view. Lola’s expression twisted as if she had swallowed bitter medicine.
Just seeing her face and hearing her voice made Lola feel unpleasant.
“Shall we talk?”
What could we possibly have to talk about, given that we’re practically rivals?
This woman, who would pop up every now and then to irritate her when she almost wanted to forget about her, was truly unwelcome.
But since there were many eyes around, she couldn’t afford to have a scene here.
The curiosity of the nurses, who had already noticed the elegantly dressed woman who had suddenly appeared, thickened.
Some nurses even mouthed to Lola, asking who she was.
“Follow me.”
Lola led Nia to a secluded end of the corridor. Standing facing Nia, she asked directly.
“What’s going on? If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
In contrast to Lola, who was openly showing her displeasure and busy demeanor, Nia was relaxed.
“I heard that Lola Dax is the attending physician for our professor.”
Lola had never even considered that Nia was a disciple of Professor Xavier.
She had almost erased the name Nia from her mind.
“Seeing this, it seems that you and I are not just ordinary acquaintances, are we?”
What a ridiculous thing to say about fate.
It must be a bad connection.
The more she listened, the more irritation surged at Nia’s shamelessness, but Lola still held her composure and maintained a calm expression.
“Please take good care of our professor.”
It didn’t seem like she had called her to say such trivial things.
There seemed to be many suspicious aspects, but Lola didn’t expose Nia’s ulterior motives.
“Yes. I’m quite busy, so if there’s nothing else, may I leave now?”
In an instant, one corner of Nia’s mouth rose dangerously.
What’s that expression?
It felt ominous and unsettling, but not wanting to exchange another word with her, Lola turned to leave.
No, she was about to turn when,
“I met Dylan earlier.”
Nia’s nonchalant voice flew into her ears.
“We talked a bit.”
‘What could this woman’s purpose be in saying such things to me?’
Perhaps Nia deliberately chose provocative words to make me uncomfortable.
If that’s the case, it seems she has achieved her goal to some extent.
Her words are scratching at my insides, and I’m currently shaken to the core.
But I must not show it!
Lola clenched her fists tightly, trying to regain control over her uncomfortable and dizzying feelings.
“Dylan is really picky, isn’t he? He can be cold too. He’s had that personality since school. For us, it’s nothing new since we know him well…”
Nia continued to chatter, closely observing even the slightest change in Lola’s expression.
“It seems like you don’t really know Dylan. It must be quite overwhelming to handle a man like him. I’m saying this because I’m worried about you, Lola.”
No, why are you, of all people, worrying about me?
Lola, who had been quietly listening, was taken aback and felt a lump in her throat.
If a stranger were to overhear this, they might mistakenly think that this woman knows Dylan like the back of her hand and that they are very close.
Lola found that even more absurd.
