2025-03-30 01:05:29Joaquin pushed forward, determined to find Serena. He needed to talk to her—to explain everything before she heard it from someone else.
But she was nowhere to be found.
He checked the nurses’ station. Nothing.
The doctors’ lounge. Empty.
He even walked by the ER, hoping she’d be in the middle of a late shift.
Still, no sign of her.
His fingers tightened around his phone as he dialed her number.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
Voicemail.
Joa
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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 167: Taken
The morning was supposed to be like any other.Joaquin woke up early, moving through his usual routine—shower, coffee, grabbing his keys from the counter.But before he could step out the door, a heavy knock echoed through the apartment.It wasn’t the casual knock of a neighbor.It was firm. Purposeful.A sound that made his stomach drop.Joaquin opened the door.Two uniformed police officers stood there, their expressions unreadable."Dr. Joaquin Lopez?" one of them asked.Joaquin felt his pulse quicken, but he kept his face neutral
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 168: A Father's Help
Jasmine stood in front of the Villarreal estate once again, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.The last time she had been here, she had walked away with nothing but frustration. But today wasn’t about her.Today was about Joaquin.Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and walked through the grand iron gates.The guards hesitated at first, recognizing her, but when she gave them a firm look, they let her through without protest.Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached the entrance.This was the last place she wanted to be.But if she had to swallow her pride to save her brother, then so be it.
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 169: Doubts
Serena was in the middle of putting on her coat when her phone buzzed.She barely glanced at the screen before answering."Serena," a deep voice greeted on the other end.Her fingers froze around the doorknob.James.Her pulse quickened."James? Why?" she asked, her voice guarded."I'm outside," James said simply.Serena’s grip tightened. She hesitated for only a moment before walking to her front door.When she opened it, James stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe.His presence
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 170: Hope
Joaquin sat inside the small holding room at the police station, staring at the wall, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.His wrists were no longer cuffed, but he still felt shackled—by the accusations, by the weight of it all.It had been days since his arrest, and though he tried to keep his composure, frustration and exhaustion clawed at him.His entire career, his reputation—his life—were crumbling before his eyes.But the worst part?Serena hadn’t come.Joaquin swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. He told himself she would show up. That she had to.
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 171: More Doubts
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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 172: Who are you?
Joaquin sat in the quiet waiting room, his hands resting on his lap, fingers twitching with impatience.He wanted this trial to be over. He wanted to prove his innocence and go to Serena. He could see how heartbroken she was because of all of this—because of the accusations.He knew he hadn’t done anything wrong, but that didn’t change the fact that he was trapped in a vulnerable situation, unable to do anything.His gaze shifted to Emilio Vargas.Joaquin didn’t know much about him, other than the fact that he was one of the most sought-after lawyers in the country. People paid millions just to have him represent them.So why was he here, fighting for someone like Joaquin?Before the recess ended, Emilio sat down beside him, his sharp gaze unreadable."Alright, Mr. Lopez. Before we go any further, I need you to tell me everything. No omissions. No half-truths. If you want me to get you out of this, I need to know exactly what happened that night with Mikyla."Joaquin nodded, exhali
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 173: Confusion
Andrew paced back and forth in his office, gripping his phone tightly. His mind was racing, struggling to understand how Joaquin managed to get him—Emilio Vargas—as his lawyer.It didn’t make sense.Emilio Vargas wasn’t just some lawyer. He was the lawyer. The kind of man who only took cases for the most powerful people in the country.And, more importantly, he was exclusive to the Villareal family.Andrew clenched his jaw, his fingers tapping anxiously against the desk.This wasn’t just some coincidence.This was a problem.A big problem.If Emilio Vargas was defending Joaquin, it meant one of two things: either Joaquin had somehow pulled off a miracle, or—more terrifyingly—someone in the Villareal family was backing him.And if it was the second option…Andrew swallowed hard. That could change everything.He couldn’t let this case slip through his fingers.He couldn’t let Joaquin win.Not when everything was finall
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James couldn’t shake off what Andrew had just reported to him.Emilio Vargas was helping Joaquin.But how?James had grown up knowing Emilio as their family’s personal lawyer. He knew most of his father’s secrets.He was the only loyal person that James could never take away from his father.James clenched his fists.Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone and dialed Emilio’s number.The call barely rang before Emilio answered. “Yes, Mr. Villareal.”James narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Vargas. I hear you’re quite busy these days.”There was a brief pause on the other end before Emilio replied smoothly. “Well, I’m currently representing a client.”James scoffed. “I know exactly what you’re doing right now, Mr. Vargas.”His voice turned cold.He wasn’t playing anymore.Emilio remained silent for a moment, then chuckled. “And what is it that you want, Mr.
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Chapter 203: New Master
The next morning came faster than expected.Joaquin was up before the sun, already dressed in his formal clothes for the inauguration. His body still ached, but the pain had dulled, manageable now.Miguel greeted him in the foyer, dressed in a tailored black suit.“You look like hell,” Miguel said with a grin.Joaquin chuckled. “Thanks.”“But don’t worry. That’s what makes you intimidating.” Miguel tossed him a sleek silver pin shaped like a tiger. “Wear that. It marks you as a finalist.”Joaquin clipped it onto his lapel. “So, where’s this person I’m supposed to meet?”
Chapter 202: Celebration
Joaquin stood frozen in the doorway.He blinked once, twice, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.There was Serena, smiling brightly despite the dark circles under her eyes.Beside her was Jasmine, holding one end of a long banner that read “Congratulations, Joaquin!” in bold, silver letters.The cake Serena was holding wobbled slightly in her hands, the tiny candle on top flickering from the breeze of the open door.Joaquin’s heart thudded in his chest, a strange warmth blooming in the center of his ribcage. He hadn’t realized just how much he needed this. Needed her.“Surprise!
Chapter 201: Aftermath
Joaquin didn’t know how long he had been lying in bed, staring at the ceiling of the room where he was resting.His match had ended a while ago, but he still hadn’t stepped out.His body was still in pain. His wounds stung.But he simply endured it all.What occupied his mind more was Lina.The way she took his ring—and the way her appearance changed.That’s when he remembered the files Rick once showed him. And only now did it truly hit him: Lina was one of the Black Viper Society’s experiments.That explained her sudden transformation, how she became… almost feline.
Chapter 200: The Ring’s Reckoning
The sting of blood in his mouth was sharp.Metallic.Familiar.But it was the pressure in his gut—the searing pain of Lina's clawed hand still warm from piercing him—that blurred the edges of Joaquin’s vision.He couldn’t move.Not right away.His body was frozen from shock, heat and cold dancing across his spine like a cruel joke.He gasped for air, lips trembling, eyes barely holding onto the sight of Lina’s triumphant smirk.“Thanks for surrendering the ring to me,” she whispered again, her voice soaked in vict
Chapter 199: The Final battle 1
The arena was silent.Joaquin couldn’t deny the nerves coiling in his stomach as he stood at the edge, preparing for his final match.He had triumphed in his last two battles. But even before this one began, he knew—it was going to be hard.Not because his opponent was powerful.But because once again, he would be facing her—Lina.The same girl who had stolen his ring.To this day, she hadn’t given him a single reason why.He used to think he didn’t want to know. But when he saw her fight, he realized—there was som
Chapter 198: Shadows and Sparks
After his earlier match, Joaquin chose to stay in the room for a while longer, waiting for the call to his next battle.Outside, the muffled cheers of the crowd echoed through the concrete walls—constant, rhythmic waves of energy that reminded him: the war was far from over.He shut his eyes for a moment and let the ambient noise fade into the background.Then came a soft knock.A young attendant peeked in, eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and nerves. “Mr. Lopez, the next round’s schedule has been posted. Your match is in two hours.”Joaquin gave a small nod, offering a faint but polite smile. “Thank you.”As the door clicked shut, he stoo
Chapter 197: The First Clash
Joaquin woke up early the next day, readying himself for his first match. Stage Two of the competition had officially begun.He was already inside the waiting room, silently preparing as he waited for his turn. From where he sat, he could hear the roar of the crowd echoing from the arena. There were a few matches scheduled before his, which gave him time—but not peace.The arena was vast—an expanse of polished concrete with high ceilings that amplified every sound. Bright lights bathed the place in a sterile glow, casting long shadows that danced with every movement. Rows upon rows of seats circled the central platform, where the fighters for Stage Two were beginning to prove themselv
Chapter 196: The Last 50
Joaquin adjusted the collar of his coat as he stood outside the grand venue, staring up at the towering building before him. The banquet for the fifty remaining contenders of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition was being held at a luxury estate—one reserved for elite sponsors and facilitators. Nothing about this place felt casual. Every inch screamed prestige, wealth, and quiet pressure.He wasn’t nervous. But he wasn’t calm, either.For the past two days, he had trained relentlessly at the Suarez estate—throwing punches, dodging blows, simulating combat over and over again with Rick and Cedrick. He barely slept. Barely ate. Not because of the competition—
Chapter 195: A Celebration
After the announcement, Joaquin returned to the Suarez estate. He decided to spend the next three days there to prepare for the upcoming stage. He was already thinking of a plan—how to get his ring back.“Well, congratulations to you, Joaquin! I knew you'd make it,” Miguel said, beaming. He sounded like a proud father celebrating his son’s success.He raised his wine glass.Joaquin gave a small smile and toasted with him.As a celebration of his victory, Miguel had prepared a dinner.Rick and Cedrick were also there to join them.Miguel sat at the center of the long dining table. His son sat to his right, while Joaquin sat to his left.
