CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FIVE

RICHARD'S POV

I couldn't help it. The laughter had burst out of me, uncontrollable and loud. The doctor whipped around, his face a mask of irritation.

"What's so funny?" he snapped, his voice dripping with condescension.

I wiped a tear from my eye, trying to catch my breath. "You...you've got it all wrong," I managed to say between chuckles.

His face turned red, the veins on his neck bulging. "Wrong?" he spat out the word like it tasted bad. "Do you know who I am? I'm the one and only Dr. Marshall, and I've been a doctor for twenty years. I know the symptoms when I see them."

I straightened up, my laughter fading but a smirk still playing on my lips. "Twenty years, huh? Impressive. But it doesn't change the fact that you're wrong."

Dr. Marshall's eyes narrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Show me your medical degree or shut up," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

The room fell silent.

The sick girl's brother stepped forward, his face now pale and worried. "Richard, please