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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 21: The Awakening
“Descendant, wake up.”Joaquin’s eyes snapped open, finding himself back in the strange void. The voice was familiar, resonating with an authority that sent shivers down his spine.“You are ready, and I feel the fire in your heart already,” the voice continued.Joaquin tried to respond, but like the first time he was here, his voice didn’t work. He was forced to listen in silence.“Master the Blazing Sun Technique. Awaken your strength, and it will forge your path to power,” the voice commanded, fading as Joaquin’s surroundings dissolved into darkness.A vision materialized before him—a man, his ancestor, moved with fluid precision, demonstrating the steps of the Blazing Sun Technique. The sheer intensity of the movements radiated power, leaving Joaquin in awe.The dream ended abruptly.Joaquin woke up in his bed, drenched in sweat, his breathing heavy.“The Blazing Sun Technique...” he murmured, sitting up and crossing his legs. The dream wasn’t just a vision—it was a message fro
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 22: Confusion
“You will regret this, Joaquin! Why are you being so stubborn? Is this because of Serena? Did you two already do it?”Joaquin's mouth fell open in shock.“What?”Mikyla smirked, crossing her arms.“Well, you’re acting all high and mighty now, even though you're just a caregiver. Someone must be backing you up.”Joaquin let out a dry laugh.“Don’t point fingers at me, Mikyla. You know what? I’m just realizing now how pathetic it was that I ever fell for you. I wasted years trying to please someone like you.”Mikyla’s expression darkened. She suddenly felt self-conscious as she noticed passersby glancing in their direction.“And what’s that supposed to mean, huh? I was the one who wasted time on you! I should’ve been with someone better!”Joaquin smirked. “Then why are you still getting in my way? Can’t you just move on?”Mikyla clenched her jaw, unable to come up with a quick retort. Joaquin took that as his cue to walk away.“You’ll regret this, Joaquin!” Mikyla fumed internally, watc
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 23: Confrontation
Joaquin sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the floor as he waited for Serena to speak.He could feel the weight of her stare, sharp and unyielding, as if he had committed some grave mistake.After a long moment, Serena cleared her throat.“Do you like her?”Joaquin’s head snapped up, caught completely off guard.“What?”Serena leaned back, crossing her arms.“I asked if you like her.”Joaquin shook his head vigorously. “No, Ms. Del Mar! I—I’m just doing my job.”Serena rolled her e
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 24: Kidnapped
“I have your sister, Jasmine. If you want to see her alive, you’ll do exactly what I say.”Joaquin felt like the world froze around him.“Hello? Who is this? Hello—damn it!”Frustrated, Joaquin stared at his phone, but the call had already ended.Andrea and Serena exchanged concerned glances as they watched him.“Joaquin? Are you okay?” Andrea asked softly.“What happened? Who called you?” Serena added, her voice laced with worry.Joaquin took a shaky breath, his face a mask of worry. His sister had been taken, and he couldn’t think of anyone who would do this to them.Then, suddenly, a thought struck him.Without a word, Joaquin rushed out of the room.“Joaquin!” Andrea and Serena called after him.They both tried to follow him, but only Serena managed to keep up. Andrea cannot get out because of the dextrose hose that was in her arm. Frustrated, Andrea clenched her teeth and retreated back into the room to grab her phone.“Hello? Find out what’s going on with Joaquin right now!” A
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 25: He took her
“Joaquin, please! We should go to the police instead!” Serena pleaded, still trying to calm him down.But Joaquin was certain of his suspicion. No one else would do this—it had to be Andrew.Determined, he stormed toward Andrew’s room. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and rushed inside.Mikyla, who was casually flipping through a magazine, jumped to her feet at the sudden intrusion. She glared at him.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! Why are you here?” she demanded, her voice laced with irritation.Joaquin ignored her. His eyes darted to the bed—empty. Without missing a beat, he strode toward the bathroom and flung the door open.Nothing.Frustration boiled inside him. He turned back to Mikyla.“What do you want, Joaquin?! I’m calling security!” Mikyla snapped.Joaquin didn’t acknowledge her threat. Instead, he asked coldly, “Where is he?”Serena reached for his arm. “Joaquin, calm down first.”Mikyla raised an eyebrow. “Who are you even looking for? Are you blind
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 26: He took her 2
“He took my sister!” Joaquin said, his voice heavy with frustration.“We should call for help. This isn’t good!” Serena suggested.Joaquin turned sharply to her. “No.”Serena frowned, shocked. “What? Your sister is missing! We need to call the police!”Joaquin clenched his fists, his anger bubbling to the surface. “No one can help my sister but me, Ms. Del Mar. I appreciate your concern, but I’ll handle this.”Serena’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are you planning to do?”“I’m going to find her myself,” Joaquin said with unwavering determination. “Please, just let Ms. Johnson know about the situation. She might start worrying if I’m not back soon.”Joaquin walked toward the waiting shed, his mind set on one thing—revenge. He promised himself that anyone who had hurt his sister would pay.Serena was left frustrated. She couldn’t believe that, despite everything, Joaquin still thought about Andrea in the midst of this crisis. She grunted in frustration and made a decision.“Wait, Joaqui
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 27: He will come
Inside the dimly lit abandoned building owned by the Drey Group, Andrew paced back and forth, his fingers twitching with impatience. The place reeked of dust and rust, the air thick with the weight of old secrets and forgotten history. He turned to Nico Drey, who sat calmly on a worn-out chair, legs crossed, watching him with mild amusement.“He’ll come,” Andrew muttered, more to himself than to Nico. “Joaquin won’t ignore this. Not when his sister’s life is on the line.”Nico arched a brow, unconcerned. “And what if he calls the police instead?”Andrew scoffed. “Joaquin? Call the cops? That’s not his style. He’ll come straight here, ready to play the hero.”Nico smirked, tapping his fingers against the armrest. “You sound confident.”Andrew clenched his jaw, his voice laced with something darker—resentment, maybe even hatred. “Because I know him. Joaquin always plays by the rules. He thinks if he fights hard enough, he’ll win. But this time, he’s walking straight into my hands.”Nico
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 28: Desires
Nico walked with slow, measured steps toward the small, dimly lit room at the end of the hallway. His fingers trailed along the peeling paint of the walls, his mind lost in thought. He had agreed to help Andrew, but now that he was here, standing before the heavy metal door that separated him from the girl inside, he realized there was something about this situation that intrigued him more than he expected.With a quiet creak, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.The room was barely furnished—a single bed with a thin mattress, a chair in the corner, and a small window covered in grime. Lying on the bed was Jasmine, still unconscious, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The faint glow from the flickering lightbulb overhead cast shadows across her delicate features.Nico's gaze lingered on her. Even in this state, something was striking about her. He had seen countless women—beautiful, sophisticated, dangerous—but there was something different about Jasmine. Perh
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Chapter 112: Her Secret
Joaquin couldn’t keep still as he waited in the hospital’s waiting area. He kept standing up and sitting down every few minutes, his nerves getting the best of him.Jasmine had to survive. He wouldn’t be able to handle it if he lost his sister.He sat down again, his leg bouncing restlessly as he kept glancing toward the operating room doors. The light above the door was still on — a sign that the surgery was still ongoing. Just as he was about to sink deeper into his anxiety, his phone rang.He quickly pulled it out of his pocket, ready to silence it, but stopped when he saw Rick’s name on the screen. Without hesitation, he answered."Joaquin," Rick’s voice came through even before Joaquin could say anything. "Where are you? I’m at the hospital."Joaquin’s eyes flicked back toward the operating room. The light was still glowing, the doors still shut tight."Near the operating room. Why?""Are you busy? Come to the lobby. We need to talk — it’s important," Rick said, his voice sharp a
Chapter 111: Save her
“N-No…”Joaquin’s voice trembled as his eyes stayed locked on Jasmine’s unmoving body on the stretcher.“Joaquin,” Serena’s worried voice broke through the haze of shock.She quickly approached the stretcher, her hands moving with practiced urgency as she assessed Jasmine’s injuries. There were scrapes and bruises all over her arms and body, but what made Serena’s breath catch was the deep, gaping wound on Jasmine’s left leg — so severe the bone was nearly visible. Blood continued to seep from a gash on her head, staining the pristine white sheets beneath her.“Joaquin! Don’t just stand there!” Serena’s sharp command finally pulled him out of his daze.Joaquin blinked rapidly, his hands shaking as he reached for his sister, his mind barely able to process what he was seeing.“W-We need to—”“Get it together, Joaquin!” Serena snapped. “Damn it! This won’t work if you freeze up! Ready the surgery room!” she barked at the staff.Joaquin had treated countless patients before — he’d seen a
Chapter 110: A threat
Andrew stormed down the pristine, marble-floored hallway of Villareal Medical Hospital, his footsteps echoing with fury. His face was still red from the humiliation of the press conference, his mind spinning with disbelief. How had things turned around so quickly? How had Joaquin managed to clear his name so easily?He didn’t bother knocking when he reached James Villareal’s office — he simply pushed the door open and marched inside.“Mr. Villareal, did you see what happened?!” he burst out, slamming the door behind him.James Villareal sat calmly behind his enormous glass desk, flipping through documents as if nothing were wrong. The sleek, modern office was a stark contrast to Andrew’s chaotic energy, but James didn’t even glance up.Andrew’s frustration boiled over. “Joaquin just made fools of us! The entire hospital believes him now — they cleared his name! How the hell did this happen?”James finally set his papers down, his dark eyes lifting to meet Andrew’s furious gaze. Bu
Chapter 109: Finally
The whispers had already started by the time Andrew stepped into the hospital’s main lobby. Nurses gathered in small clusters, their heads bent together, their conversations urgent and hushed. The air was charged with tension, and there was only one reason for it.Joaquin Lopez was back.Andrew’s lips curled into a sneer. He moved through the crowd like a shark scenting blood, his eyes scanning the familiar faces until he spotted his target.There he was — Joaquin, standing near the nurses’ station, his posture straight and his expression calm. Too calm, considering everything that had happened. It made Andrew’s blood boil. After everything — the scandal, the suspension, the accusations — Joaquin still had the audacity to show his face here?Andrew didn’t wait. He stalked toward him, his voice loud enough to draw attention. “Well, well, look who decided to crawl back,” he sneered. “I didn’t think you’d have the guts to show your face around here, Lopez.”Joaquin turned slowly, his
Chapter 108: Evidence
The sharp, insistent knocking at the front door pulled Joaquin from his restless sleep.For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind still heavy with exhaustion and the weight of everything that had happened. The scandal, the accusations — they’d clung to him like a second skin, suffocating and relentless.“Jasmine… someone is at the door!” he screamed. But no one answered. The knocking didn’t stop so he had to drag himself to stand up and go to Jasmine’s room. She wasn’t there. He frowned. He went to the kitchen and saw a note sticking at the ref door. I need to go to work early. Breakfast is ready. Joaquin sighed, the quietness of the house settling around him. The knocking came again, more urgent this time. By the time he reached the door and swung it open, the last person he expected to see was standing there.“Serena?” His voice cracked with surprise.She stood on the doorstep, arms crossed, eyes blazing with irritation. Without waiting for an invitat
Chapter 107: I want to meet him
The Villareal mansion stood like a fortress — grand, imposing, and steeped in quiet power. Its sprawling estate was a reflection of the family that owned it, a dynasty built on influence, wealth, and ruthlessness. Inside its gilded walls, whispers of power struggles and secrets often drifted through the air like a permanent haze.In one of the opulent sitting rooms, James Villareal lounged on a velvet armchair, a glass of whiskey in his hand, the corners of his mouth curled into a satisfied smirk. Across from him, his mother, Gracia Villareal, watched him with approval, her eyes gleaming with the kind of pride that only came from seeing her schemes unfold perfectly.“I told you patience would pay off,” Gracia said, her voice smooth and warm with satisfaction. “Look at what’s happening now. Joaquin Lopez’s name is being dragged through the mud. His reputation is in ruins.”James chuckled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “It’s about time. He’s been a thorn in my side for far too
Chapter 106: The Tiger Party
The news spread like wildfire.It started as whispers in the hospital corridors — hushed, curious voices that quickly turned into harsh accusations. By the end of the day, Joaquin’s name was all over the media, his face flashing on news reports with headlines that painted him as a reckless doctor accused of malpractice. The patient’s family had gone public with their grief, claiming their loved one had died because of his negligence.And once the story hit the airwaves, the public turned savage.Joaquin barely recognized the world outside his home anymore. He stayed indoors, blinds drawn, phone turned off. Every time he glanced at his screen, his social media was flooded with comments — some demanding justice, others spewing hate. People he didn’t even know called him a murderer, a fraud. The same hands that once applauded him for his medical brilliance were now pointing fingers.The worst blow came when Senator De Vera entered the conversation.In a live press conference, the sen
Chapter 105: Accusations
Joaquin’s phone buzzed just as he was reviewing a patient’s chart. When he saw Rick’s name on the screen, he answered quickly, his tone casual.“Hey, Rick. What’s up?”“Joaquin,” Rick’s voice was low and serious. “Miguel Suarez wants to see you tonight. At his mansion.”Joaquin froze for a moment, his fingers tightening around the phone. The mention of Miguel Suarez’s name sent a chill down his spine — it was never good news when that man wanted a meeting.“Tonight?” he repeated, keeping his voice steady.“Yes. He said it’s important,” Rick confirmed. “Don’t be late.”“Got it. I’ll be there.”As he ended the call, Joaquin leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing. What did Miguel Suarez want with him? He had a feeling this meeting wouldn’t just be a friendly chat.But before he could dwell too much on it, his pager went off.“Dr. Joaquin, please report to hospital security immediately.”Frowning, he stood up and made his way to the security office. The air grew heavier with ea
Chapter 104: Start of something new
The next day, Joaquin arrived home with a smile he just couldn’t wipe off his face. No matter what he did, his mind kept replaying the events of last night — Serena’s warm laughter, the sparkle in her eyes, and of course… their confession to each other.I like you too, Joaquin.He’d heard those words over and over again in his head, but every time he remembered them, his heart still fluttered. It felt like he was floating on air — a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.When he entered the house, he found Jasmine having coffee in the kitchen. He hadn’t even sat down when she noticed the unusual grin plastered on his face.“Well, well! What’s going on with you? You seem to have woken up in an awfully good mood,” she teased, a playful lilt in her voice.“Nothing,” Joaquin answered, trying to keep his voice neutral, but his smile betrayed him.“Nothing, huh?” Jasmine arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Don’t even try to fool me, Joaquin. Something happened last night, didn’
