The sharp, insistent sound of his phone dragged Joaquin out of a deep, dreamless sleep. Groaning, he reached blindly toward his nightstand, but before he could grab it, his door burst open.“Joaquin!” Jasmine’s voice was a mix of irritation and urgency. “Answer your phone! It’s been ringing non-stop!”He forced his eyes open, squinting against the morning light pouring through the curtains. His body protested every movement — not because of exhaustion, but because he’d barely gotten any sleep. His mind had been replaying last night on a loop: Serena’s laughter at the carnival, the warmth of her hand brushing his, the way her eyes sparkled when she hugged that ridiculous teddy bear.“Alright, alright,” he muttered, grabbing his phone just as it started ringing again. Seeing the hospital’s number flash on the screen, his heart immediately kicked up its pace. He sat up straight. “This is Dr. Lopez.”“Dr. Lopez, you need to come in. It’s Faye De Vera. She’s awake — and she’s not doing we

Joaquin still couldn’t get his conversation with James out of his mind. He couldn’t wrap his head around why James would take an interest in that ring — a simple piece of jewelry that, for Joaquin, held a value no amount of money could match. But he knew he had to set those thoughts aside. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.There were more important matters that needed his attention.When he received Serena’s text, he didn’t waste any time and headed straight to the conference room. That’s where they were scheduled to meet with several doctors to discuss Faye De Vera’s case.As soon as he stepped inside, Joaquin could immediately feel the heavy tension in the air. The atmosphere was thick with doubt and frustration. Quietly, he took a seat at the far end of the long glass table, with Serena sliding into the chair beside him."Where have you been?" Serena whispered, her voice low but curious."Mr. Villareal asked for me," Joaquin replied in the same quiet tone.Serena’s forehead cre

Joaquin hadn’t even made it back to his office when his phone buzzed again. He sighed. It was part of his job as a doctor, the constant call from everyone. But sometimes it took his energy out. Then he frowned when he saw who was calling. He immediately answered it. Dr. Lim wasn’t the kind of man you kept waiting for.“Director Lim. It’s Dr. Lopez. Do you need anything?” Joaquin answered, his voice calm despite the unease curling in his stomach.“Yes. Come to my office now if you are not busy.” “Sure. I’ll be coming, Sir.” The line went dead.Joaquin didn’t waste any time. He turned on his heel and headed toward the director’s office, his mind already working through the possibilities. When he reached the office, the secretary barely glanced up before waving him through.Dr. Matias Lim sat behind his large, meticulously organized desk, his sharp eyes focused on a folder in front of him. The room smelled of coffee and paper — familiar, but somehow oppressive today."Dr. Lopez,"

“Here.”Joaquin looked up, pulled from his thoughts by the warm scent of coffee. Serena stood in front of him, holding out a cup with a small smile. He took it gratefully, his fingers brushing hers for a brief second.“Thanks,” he said, offering a tired smile.She sat beside him on the bench, and for a while, they just sat in silence. The rooftop breeze was cool against his face, a welcome relief from the suffocating tension of the hospital. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting golden light over the city below — but even the beauty of the moment couldn’t ease the tightness in his chest.“Don’t stress too much, Joaquin. I know you did it,” Serena said softly, her voice gentle and encouraging.He smirked, taking a slow sip from the cup. The warmth seeped into him, though it did little for the cold worry gnawing at his insides. “I hope so,” he murmured. He sighed heavily, the weight of the last few days pressing down on him. “Thanks for the coffee, by the way.”“Wow.” Serena’s lips c

Joaquin sat in his office, his elbows resting heavily on his desk as his eyes burned holes into the medical report in front of him. The words blurred together from how long he’d been staring at them, but the anger rising in his chest kept him focused.Wrong medication was administered.It was right there, in black and white. He flipped through the pages again, his fingers tight on the paper, and the more he read, the clearer the pattern became. This wasn’t a simple mistake — this was sabotage.His jaw clenched. He should’ve seen this coming.Joaquin pushed back from his desk and stood, his movements stiff with frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm the storm inside him. Whoever had done this… they weren’t just coming after his career. They were targeting Faye’s life. And that was something he wouldn’t — couldn’t — forgive.He grabbed the report and strode out of his office, his footsteps echoing through the sterile hospital corridors. The staff greeted him wi