At the same time, in Professor Xavier’s hospital room.
Andy and Tadeo, who had come to visit Xavier, tilted their heads in slight bewilderment.
‘Did the professor’s attending physician change in the meantime?’
They were both thinking the same thing.
Ms. Lola wasn’t around when they came the other day, either.
Today, when another doctor entered the room, Andy couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked cautiously.
“Has our professor’s attending physician changed, by any chance?”
“It used to be a pretty female doctor,”
Tadeo added, tilting his head.
Dr. Tae, who was covering Lola’s patients during her absence, glanced at the two tall and handsome men before speaking.
“Ah, you’re talking about Dr. Lola.”
“Yes.”
Andy and Tadeo nodded simultaneously.
“The attending physician hasn’t changed. I’m just temporarily taking care of Dr. Lola’s patients.”
“Where did Dr. Lola go?”
Andy asked, curious. Dr. Tae, with his hands in his gown pockets, hesitated slightly before answering.
“Dr. Lola was injured.”
The moment he said that, everyone in the room froze.
Andy and Tadeo exchanged surprised glances, Nina, who was sitting next to the bed peeling an apple, flinched. And Xavier’s expression darkened.
Since Dr. Lola hadn’t been around for a few days, Xavier and Nina initially thought something must have come up and didn’t think much of it.
Nina even resented her father’s attending physician for being so irresponsible. But they couldn’t hide their surprise at the unexpected news.
“How did she get hurt?”
“Was she badly injured?”
Andy and Tadeo asked, each with a very worried look.
Faced with a difficult question to answer, Dr. Tae scratched his eyebrow with his finger, gave a vague expression, and responded ambiguously.
“I don’t know the details myself. Dr. Lola will be back at the hospital next week.”
Dr. Tae gestured to the nurse, who promptly started an IV drip on Xavier’s arm.
Xavier had been feeling under the weather lately, and they had been keeping an eye on him. When his cough worsened, they decided to give him an IV drip.
“If you need anything, please press the emergency bell.”
Shortly after, Dr. Tae and the nurse left the room, and Andy and Tadeo whispered to each other.
“I was wondering why Dylan has been so scarce lately.”
“But how badly was Dr. Lola hurt?”
“Can we visit her?”
Xavier, who had been listening quietly, looked puzzled and asked curiously.
“What does Dr. Lola’s injury have to do with Dylan?”
“Ah, I guess our professor didn’t know yet.”
Andy muttered to himself. Nina lowered her head and continued to pretend to peel the apple.
“Didn’t Dylan tell you yet?”
“Tell me what?” Xavier asked, frustrated by Tadeo’s words.
Andy exchanged another meaningful glance with Tadeo before slowly opening his mouth.
“Actually, Dylan and Dr. Lola are getting married soon.”
“What?”
“We only found out recently ourselves.”
“Then why are you telling me this now?”
This was something to be celebrated, definitely good news, but Xavier couldn’t understand why Dylan hadn’t said a word about it until now.
As Xavier grumbled, unable to hide his disappointment, Andy and Tadeo shrugged lightly.
“Dylan, why didn’t this guy say anything until now?”
Tadeo complained quietly, and Andy nodded in agreement.
“I know, right.”
“Go find out where and how badly Dr. Lola was hurt right away. How could this happen…”
A heavy sigh escaped from Xavier’s lips as he muttered in dismay.
“Understood. We’ll go find out right away.”
Even after Andy and Tadeo left the room, Xavier’s heart remained heavy.
‘I hope nothing serious happened.’
Nina’s expression, mirroring her father’s thoughts, also turned dark and troubled.
*****
As Nia walked towards the parking lot, a shadow of anxiety fell deeply across her face.
Judging by Dylan’s momentum, he was definitely not going to let Amaya off the hook.
What if Dylan found out that she was behind it all?
The mere thought was terrifying, and Nia shuddered.
‘But where did Amaya disappear to without a word?’
She had come all the way to see her, but the person was nowhere to be seen, making Nia extremely uncomfortable.
Even though it was her fault for coming without an appointment, Nia blamed Amaya.
As she walked around the hood towards the driver’s seat with a frustrated gait, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Nia.”
Nia stopped abruptly. Turning around, she saw Amaya smiling coldly at her.
Amaya’s long hair fluttered in the wind. Perhaps it was because she was wearing a black dress, but she looked very eerie, sending shivers down Nia’s spine.
However, she tried not to show it and crossed her arms haughtily.
“It’s so hard to get a glimpse of your face, Nia.”
The quiet voice also sent chills down her spine, but Nia tried her best not to tremble.
“I’ve been looking for you so desperately. But you’re not even surprised.”
“Do I have a reason to be surprised? You should be careful. You’re not the only one looking for me.”
“Don’t bluff!”
Amaya’s eyes, glaring at Nia with a cold glare, were filled with venom and murderous intent. Nia frowned.
“If something happens to me, you won’t be safe either, Nia. I won’t die alone.”
Nia was about to retort to the chilling warning, but Amaya raised her hand to stop her.
“I have a lot to talk to you about. But it doesn’t seem comfortable to talk here. There are too many eyes watching!”
“Or are you afraid?”
“I told you not to bluff.”
She couldn’t argue with this ignorant woman forever.
Nia opened the driver’s side door and said. “Get in quickly.”
Amaya’s lips finally curled up into a smirk. As soon as Amaya slid into the passenger seat, Nia immediately started the engine.
Shortly after, they parked the car in a secluded and quiet place, and Amaya sneered spitefully.
“That guy was pretty handsome. I can see why you’d be greedy. Lola was lucky to have hit the jackpot.”
