Joaquin slammed him to the ground with a force that made Andrew grunt with pain.His foot hovered over Andrew’s hand, the tension in the room was palpable, ready to crush it completely. His breath came in heavy, controlled bursts as his anger surged through him. Just as he was about to press down, a voice shouted from the door.“Joaquin! Stop!”Joaquin froze, his eyes darting toward the voice. Serena stood in the doorway, her face a mask of stern authority.“Let him go! Now!” she ordered, her tone unwavering.Andrew, seizing the opportunity, gasped for air, his voice barely audible as he wheezed, “Help... Help! Someone—”Mikyla, standing by, quickly stepped forward. “Joaquin, are you completely out of your mind? Let him go! You’re going to ruin everything!”Serena’s gaze shifted from Joaquin to Andrew, then back. “Joaquin, this isn’t you. Stop this madness!”But Joaquin wasn’t done. His eyes narrowed, and his grip on Andrew’s wrist tightened, unyielding. “He assulted my sister!

In the quiet hum of the car, Joaquin sighed deeply and turned to his sister, Jasmine. "I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess today. You didn’t deserve any of it."Jasmine glanced at him with a gentle smile. "You’re my brother. You don’t have to apologize for standing up for me." She paused, her voice softening. "But you have to take care of yourself too. If things don’t work out at the hospital, it’s not the end of the world. You can find another path."Joaquin nodded, though his jaw tightened. He knew she was right, but the thought of leaving behind the career he had worked so hard for wasn’t easy.Jasmine hesitated before adding, "And Mikyla... she’s not the same person anymore. You deserve someone who values you for who you are, not what they can gain from you."He let her words sink in, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "I’ll think about it," he promised. "And I’ll be home early for dinner tonight."Jasmine nodded.Joaquin watched her disappear inside, then turned to Rick,

"If I’m being honest... this looks terminal. Whatever’s happening to you, it’s progressing fast. I’d estimate you have less than seven days—maybe less."Rick’s glare darkened. "Watch your mouth, doc. Do you realize who you’re talking to?"Miguel lifted a hand, his voice calm but commanding. "Let him finish."Joaquin hesitated but pressed on. "I think you’ve been poisoned. This isn’t an ordinary illness. From everything I’ve observed, this points to a rare and lethal compound snake venom.""Snake venom?" Miguel’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained even.Joaquin nodded. "It’s not just any venom, either. It’s engineered to act slowly, making it difficult to detect until it’s too late. Tell me—when did the symptoms first appear?"Miguel’s gaze drifted for a moment before he answered. "The first six months were... normal. I didn’t feel anything unusual. Then came the abdominal pain. At first, it was mild, manageable.""And after that?" Joaquin prompted.Miguel leaned back,

Joaquin stopped at the doorway, hesitation flickering across his face. “Wait,” he said, turning back.Miguel raised an eyebrow. “What now?”“I’ve thought of a possible treatment,” Joaquin said, his voice measured but firm. “It won’t cure you, but it might buy you more tiem.”Miguel’s expression darkened. “More time? Don’t toy with me, Joaquin. If this is some half-baked idea—”“It’s bloodletting,” Joaquin interrupted.Miguel barked out a humorless laugh. “Bloodletting? That’s your grand solution? I’ve tried it before, and it didn’t work. You think I haven’t explored every option?”“You haven’t tried it the way I’ll do it,” Joaquin said sharply. “This isn’t ordinary bloodletting. If done properly, it could give you an extra month. That’s time you didn’t have before.”Miguel leaned back, his arms crossed. “A month, huh? Seven days or a month—what’s the difference? I’m just postponing the inevitable.”“It’s more time to find a real cure,” Rick interjected. “More time to tie up loose

Joaquin stepped into the intensive care unit, the familiar scent of antiseptic hitting him instantly. He paused, his eyebrows shooting up at the unexpected sight before him.“W-What are you doing?” Joaquin stammered, his voice breaking the silence.Andrea was standing beside the bed, struggling with something behind her back. Her outer clothes had been tossed onto the chair, leaving her in a strapless bra and leggings. One hand clutched the edge of a blanket, her smooth skin catching the overhead light.Andrea turned, startled, before breaking into a sheepish grin. “Oh, finally! My hair got caught in my bra clasp. I’ve been trying to untangle it, but I need help.”“Help? Me?”“Yes, you!” She motioned him closer. “Come on, Doctor. It’s not like you haven’t seen worse things working here.”Joaquin hesitated, glancing around the room as if looking for an escape route. But Andrea’s pleading eyes left him no choice. “Fine,” he muttered.He stepped closer, keeping his movements careful