2025-03-30 01:10:04The tension in the courtroom was suffocating.
Joaquin's pulse hammered in his ears as he met Serena’s gaze. She stood near the back, hesitant, like she wasn’t sure whether she belonged there.
He wanted to go to her. Ask her why she hadn’t come sooner. Why she had let him rot in that damn cell, drowning in the weight of accusations he didn’t deserve.
But now wasn’t the time.
He turned away and focused on the trial.
Emilio Vargas, the best lawyer in the country, the personal lawyer of Villareals, had arrived just in time. Joaquin didn’t know how or why, but right now, none of that mattered.
He had someone fighting for him.
Vargas adjuste
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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 1: The Betrayal
Joaquin pushed open the door to his apartment as the exhaustion clung to him like a second skin. His day at Villareal Medical Hospital had been grueling, and all he wanted was a quiet evening with Mikyla. But before he could call out her name, faint voices filtered through the hallway—coming from the bedroom.He froze. The voices were muffled but unmistakable. A man and a woman, their tone teasing, urgent, and far too familiar. His chest tightened as realization dawned. Heart pounding, he moved closer, the words becoming clearer.“So, you think he’ll figure it out?” the man chuckled.“Joaquin?” Mikyla’s voice replied with a scoff. “He’s clueless. The guy’s too naive to suspect anything.”A cold chill swept through Joaquin’s body.‘What?!’“And the position?” the man asked.“There’s only one permanent slot,” Mikyla said smoothly. “Serena might back him, but your dad has the final say, right? That fool doesn’t stand a chance.”‘How can she do this to me?!’The man was Andrew Alvarez,
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 2: Awakening
Darkness enveloped Joaquin, but the silence was broken by a resonant, ancient voice echoing in his mind.“Descendant,” it said, calm yet commanding. “I am the ancestor of your family, and I have chosen you to inherit my legacy. The abilities I have mastered—medical expertise, martial arts, and more—are now yours. But heed my warning: use these gifts to uphold justice. Stray from the righteous path, and calamity will befall you.”Joaquin tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. He could only listen as the voice continued.“The gold ring you carry is my vessel. It holds the essence of my power. From now on, it is bound to your soul.”Suddenly, the ring appeared in his vision, glowing with an intense golden light. It transformed into the shape of a phoenix, its wings spreading wide before soaring toward him. Joaquin gasped as it pierced his chest, a burst of warmth flooding his body.The voice faded, leaving only silence.When Joaquin opened his eyes, he was on the cold bathroom fl
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 3: Breaking Point
As Joaquin stepped out of Serena’s office, the weight of his humiliation pressed on his chest. He clenched his fists, his mind replaying the scene. Andrew’s smug face, Mikyla’s betrayal, and Serena’s icy judgment all swirled in his thoughts. They had stripped him of everything—his position, his dignity, and even his hope.His steps quickened as he made his way to the elevator, needing space to think. But as the elevator doors opened, fate had other plans.Standing inside were Andrew and Mikyla, their conversation halting as they caught sight of him.“Oh, look who it is,” Andrew sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “The hospital’s newest orderly. How does it feel, Joaquin, to be demoted to cleaning up after us?”Mikyla smirked, her arms folded, her disdain was evident. “Maybe it suits him. He’s always been good at groveling.”Joaquin said nothing, stepping into the elevator and standing rigidly in the corner.“Quiet today, aren’t we?” Andrew leaned closer, his voice low but sha
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 4: A Chain of Consequences
“Someone call a doctor!” a nurse finally shouted, snapping everyone into action.Joaquin stood at the edge of the chaos, his face impassive but his heart thrumming with satisfaction. He couldn’t explain what had just happened, but deep down, he felt the power within him stirring.The chandelier had fallen perfectly, striking Andrew just as planned. It wasn’t a fatal blow—he had made sure of that.But it was enough to knock the arrogance out of him, if only for a moment.Andrew clutched his bleeding head, his cries of pain reverberating through the lobby. Mikyla knelt beside him, her hands fluttering uselessly as she tried to stem the blood with a piece of fabric torn from her coat.“This... this is your doing!” Andrew spat, glaring up at Joaquin, his voice trembling with both rage and pain.Joaquin tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Me? I didn’t touch you. Maybe it’s divine retribution. Isn’t that what I warned you about?”“You liar!” Andrew shouted, his words falterin
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 5: A Silent Vow
When Joaquin returned home, the familiar scent of a home-cooked meal greeted him. His elder sister stood by the stove, humming softly as she ladled soup into bowls. For a moment, Joaquin felt a pang of guilt. She worked so hard to keep everything together, yet here he was, weighed down by betrayals and battles he hadn’t even begun to share.“You’re just in time,” she said, her voice warm. “Dinner’s ready!”At the dinner table, Joaquin forced himself to act normal. He focused on eating, avoiding eye contact with his sister.“Is something bothering you?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.Joaquin hesitated. “No, just tired from work.”She seemed unconvinced but didn’t press further. Instead, she brought up a topic that made Joaquin’s chest tighten.“How’s Mikyla? She hadn’t come to our place for a while.”Joaquin’s grip on his chopsticks tightened, but he managed to keep his voice steady. “She’s been busy with work.”His sister’s expression softened. “That’s understandable. I
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 6: A Scar That Won’t Heal
Joaquin’s breath caught in his chest as the woman leaned forward, her robe shifting just enough to make him glance away. Her confidence radiated like a challenge, and for a fleeting second, he felt the urge to match her energy. But no—he reminded himself—this was his job.“I’m here to check the wound,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “Nothing else.”Her eyes narrowed, skepticism clear in her gaze. “Sure you are,” she said, leaning back with a smirk. “Go on then, but keep your hands professional, Joaquin.”Ignoring her sarcasm, he approached the bed, kneeling to inspect the injury on her leg. The stitches were tight, the wound deep. Even though it was healing, it was clear the damage had been severe.“What happened?” he asked, keeping his tone neutral.“Car accident,” she replied flatly. “Driver wasn’t paying attention. Surgery’s scheduled to minimize the scarring, but...” Her voice trailed off, her expression unreadable.Joaquin hesitated, unsure how to re
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 7: The Unbelievable Truth
The room buzzed with tension as Joaquin stood at the foot of the hospital bed, Joaquin was preparing his tools for the treatment. The air was thick with skepticism, and Carlo made no effort to hide his disdain.“This is ridiculous!” Carlo sneered, crossing his arms. “You’re feeding her false hope! There’s no way your little water-and-herbs trick will work!”Andrea leaned back against the pillows, her eyes fixed on Joaquin. “I’ve already told you, Doctor,” she said with a cool smile, “I’ll decide what’s worth trying. If Joaquin says he can help, I’ll let him.”An intern beside Carlo snorted. “A caregiver acting like a doctor? What a joke!”Joaquin glanced at them briefly, unfazed. “You’re welcome to stay and watch. Maybe you’ll learn something.”The boldness of his retort made the interns gape, and even Carlo’s eyebrows twitched in irritation.“Fine,” Carlo said, his tone laced with mockery. “Let’s see this miracle of yours.”Joaquin took a deep breath, steadying himself. He dipp
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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
Chapter 171: More Doubts
The tension in the courtroom was suffocating.Joaquin's pulse hammered in his ears as he met Serena’s gaze. She stood near the back, hesitant, like she wasn’t sure whether she belonged there.He wanted to go to her. Ask her why she hadn’t come sooner. Why she had let him rot in that damn cell, drowning in the weight of accusations he didn’t deserve.But now wasn’t the time.He turned away and focused on the trial.Emilio Vargas, the best lawyer in the country, the personal lawyer of Villareals, had arrived just in time. Joaquin didn’t know how or why, but right now, none of that mattered.He had someone fighting for him.Vargas adjuste
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.
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
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.
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
Chapter 166: Girlfriend's Assurance
Joaquin 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
Chapter 165: Disgusted
Joaquin stepped out of the administrative office, the weight of the accusation pressing down on his shoulders. His mind was spinning, trying to process everything.Mikyla had filed a complaint against him. She had twisted the truth, turned the story around, and painted him as the villain.But why?He didn’t understand. Was it revenge? Was she trying to destroy him because he had rejected her?Joaquin clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.He needed to talk to her.Find her.Fix this before it got even worse.His steps were quick as he moved through the hospital hallways, ignoring the
Chapter 164: Accusations
The hospital felt different today.Joaquin had barely stepped inside when he noticed it—subtle at first, but unmistakable.The shift in the air, the way people turned to look at him, their eyes filled with something he couldn’t quite place at first.It wasn’t curiosity.It wasn’t admiration or even the usual indifference of a busy hospital.No. It was disgust.Whispers followed him as he walked down the hall. Soft, hushed words spoken just low enough that he couldn’t hear them completely—but he caught pieces."Did you hear?""I can’t believe it!"
