2025-02-16 01:00:54The gala was exactly what Joaquin expected—grand, extravagant, and full of people who cared more about appearances than anything else.
Towering chandeliers bathed the ballroom in a golden glow, and the polished marble floor reflected the light like a mirror. Waiters moved effortlessly between guests, carrying trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres, while a classical quartet played in the background, setting the mood for the evening.
Joaquin exhaled as he adjusted the stiff collar of his suit.
It was his first time attending an event like this. If it weren’t for Andrea practically dragging him here, he wouldn’t have come at all.
Andrea, on the other hand, fit in effortlessly.
Dressed in a sleek, off-the-
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The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 51: The Slap
"But I hope you won’t poison him too."The words slithered out of Marion’s mouth like venom, coated in amusement but laced with something far more insidious.A hush fell between the three of them, tension crackling in the air like a brewing storm.Joaquin wasn’t stupid—he could hear the taunt, the insinuation, the arrogance dripping from every syllable. But what unsettled him more was the way Andrea stood frozen beside him, her nails digging into his arm as if she was holding herself back from doing something reckless.Then, to his surprise, Andrea smirked.“Why would I?” she said coolly. “You are not him.”Marion’s expression
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 52: Apologize!
The air was tense as the guards closed in, their polished shoes tapping against the marble floor in perfect unison. Guests watched with wide eyes, whispers rippling through the crowd like wildfire.Marion stood tall, fixing his suit as if he hadn’t just been punched in the face. His lips were still stained with blood, but the smirk never left. He turned toward the guards, his voice smooth and authoritative.“You’ll pay now!”Joaquin didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch.Two guards stepped forward, prepared to seize him, but Joaquin spoke before they could lay a hand on him.“Tell him to apologize first,” Joaquin warned. The guards hesitated, looking at each other for instruction.Marion let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Excuse me? You want me to what?” Joaquin straightened his posture, locking eyes with him. “You heard me. Apologize to Andrea.” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, sharp enough to cut through the tension.Andrea’s fingers twitched at her side as she wa
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 53: Unexplained Feelings
Marion’s body slumped against the floor, his once-pristine suit now wrinkled and stained with blood. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his face barely recognizable—swollen, bruised, his lower lip split from one of Joaquin’s punches.Yet Joaquin didn’t stop.His knuckles were raw, but he didn’t feel the pain. Not yet.“Joaquin, stop!”Andrea rushed to him, her hands grabbing at his arm, but her voice barely registered in his ears.His vision was locked onto Marion—the pathetic excuse of a man who had spent years thinking he was untouchable. Joaquin had seen enough of men like him before. Arrogant. Cruel. Believing their status shielded them from consequences.Joaquin’s fist tightened again. He was going to land another blow—one final punch to make sure Marion understood.“Joaquin! You’ll kill him!” Andrea pleaded, her grip tightening on his arm.The adrenaline in his veins roared, drowning out everything else.Then another voice cut through the chaos.“What is happening here?”It wasn
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 54: Come Home
Joaquin gripped the steering wheel, his mind replaying Serena’s words over and over again."I’m disappointed, Mr. Lopez."That single sentence clung to his thoughts like a stubborn stain, refusing to fade even as he drove through the dimly lit streets. The city lights blurred in his peripheral vision, but all he could see was the way she had looked at him—unreadable, cold.Disappointed.A sharp exhale left his lips. He shouldn’t care. He didn’t owe Serena an explanation. And yet, here he was, chest tight, thoughts restless.Beside him, Andrea sat with her legs crossed, head tilted back against the seat. She tapped her nails against her knee before glancing at him.“You’ve been quiet,” she mused. “Are you sulking over Ms. Del Mar? I saw you talking to her before we left.”Joaquin’s jaw tightened, his eyes fixed on the road. “I’m just driving.”Andrea smirked. “You know, you don’t have to pretend you don’t care. It’s obvious.”He didn’t answer.Andrea sighed, shaking her head. “That wom
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 55: The Governor's Daughter
The moment Andrea stepped into the grand mansion, a heavy wave of familiarity washed over her. The polished marble floors, the towering chandeliers, the scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air—it was all the same.Nothing had changed in the past five years.And yet, it felt different.Colder.She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing herself to keep her chin high as she strode forward. She wouldn’t let them see her weakness.At the center of the vast foyer stood her father—Emilio Johnson, the ever-imposing governor. Dressed in his signature dark suit, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, his sharp eyes locked onto her the moment she entered.His expression was unreadable, but Andrea could already tell what was coming.Trouble."You finally decided to come home," Emilio said, his voice calm, but there was a weight to it—a warning.Andrea met his gaze without flinching. "I didn’t decide anything. Your men dragged me here!"His lips pressed into a thin line. "You shouldn’t
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 56: The Half-sisters
"Joaquin!"Andrea's body moved before she could think.She ran.Her bare feet slapped against the cold marble floor as she rushed down the steps and out into the courtyard. The world blurred at the edges, but her eyes stayed locked on him.Joaquin.He knelt on the ground, his body slumped forward, but he didn’t fall. Blood seeped from his shoulder, staining his once-crisp shirt. His hands were bound behind his back, and his face—bruised, swollen—twisted in pain.Malvar stood above him, gun still raised.Her father was there too, his face void of any emotion, his suit pristine as if he hadn’t just ordered the execution of a man.Before Andrea could reach Joaquin, a guard stepped forward and grabbed her, stopping her in her tracks."Let me go! Stop this, Dad!" she screamed, her voice cracking.Joaquin groaned weakly, lifting his head slightly. His bloodshot eyes met hers."M-Ms. Johnson…" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.Andrea’s chest tightened. "Oh my God, Joaquin! You're
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 57: It's Your Fault!
Serena's cold sweat dripped from her forehead, but her hands never faltered. Every movement was precise, swift, and sure. She hadn't even changed out of her dress before she began operating on Joaquin—there simply wasn’t time.Her mind was racing, but her focus remained on him. The bullet wounds weren’t fatal, but they were still dangerous. It infuriated her that Joaquin was in this state because of Andrea. The moment she saw them together, she knew—Andrea would bring nothing but trouble to Joaquin. She always did.Serena exhaled sharply as she pulled out the last bullet lodged in his left arm. Malvar could have killed him, but he hadn't. Maybe, deep down, he still respected Joaquin.The moment she finished suturing his wounds, she let out a tired sigh. Joaquin's vitals were stable. He was safe—for now.Serena stepped back, exhaustion settling into her bones. She peeled off her gloves, washed her hands, and finally made her way out of the clinic.And the first person she saw?Andrea.
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 58: Waking up
He tried to move, but his body felt heavy, and unresponsive. The last thing he remembered was pain—searing, unbearable pain—and the sound of Andrea’s voice calling his name.Then… nothing.Joaquin's eyelids fluttered, and with great effort, he pried them open.Blurry shapes swam in his vision, and the dim light above him burned his retinas. A sharp pulse of pain throbbed through his body, making him inhale sharply. His throat was dry, his limbs ached, and every breath felt like a struggle.But he was alive.Slowly, his vision cleared, and the first thing he saw was a woman sitting in a chair beside his bed, her arms crossed over her chest. She was watching him with an unreadable expression.Serena.Joaquin blinked, his mind sluggishly piecing things together. Why was she here? And where was here? He took in his surroundings—a bedroom, large and elegantly furnished, yet unfamiliar. The sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, and the dull ache in his shoulder reminded him of th
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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.
Chapter 194: The Announcement
Joaquin didn’t stay long at the hospital. As soon as he had recovered, he left immediately. An invitation card had arrived for him—sent by the facilitator of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition. That day, the winners of Stage One would be officially announced.Joaquin didn’t really want to go. But he had something he needed to get back. He had to reclaim his ring. And he was certain Lina would be there.He didn’t bother dressing up. He simply wore the formal suit Rick had lent him. Rick also drove him to the venue.He entered the hall.
Chapter 193: Lost Ring
Joaquin slowly opened his eyes.The hum of the fluorescent lights above was the first thing he became aware of. His vision adjusted gradually to the blinding white ceiling. For a few seconds, he just stared up in confusion. The sterile white walls, the smell of antiseptic, the pristine linens... it all registered in bits and pieces.A hospital?He turned his head cautiously. Beside him were machines softly beeping, their rhythm oddly comforting. A drip was attached to his arm. His head ached—not sharp pain, just a dull, persistent throb, like a faded memory of something violent.
Chapter 192: Ending
Joaquin continued walking, gripping his knife tightly. Even after that battle with the creature, he couldn’t let his guard down.His legs were dragging with every step. It was only then he realized one of them had a deep wound.Sure, it wasn’t his first time facing strange creatures—but never something like that... Half-human, or whatever it was.He had a strong suspicion it was part of the Black Viper Society. Maybe one of their failed experiments. Maybe that’s why it turned out that way.When he turned a corner in the maze, his legs finally gave out. He slumped to the ground and leaned against the wall, breathing deeply.
Chapter 191: Surviving
Joaquin didn’t dare blink.The moment he did, he knew he might miss the creature’s next move.The man—if you could even still call him that—stood there motionless, like a statue with skin far too pale to be human. Behind him, the dark tendrils writhed slowly, like snakes savoring their prey before they struck again. The sickening slither and hiss echoed against the stone walls of the maze, creeping beneath Joaquin’s skin.His heart pounded like war drums inside his chest.The thing’s empty eyes locked onto his.“I don’t want to fight you,” Joaquin said, his voice low but steady. “I just want to pass.”Still no respo
Chapter 190: The Tentacle Man
Joaquin’s breath hitched in his throat. His eyes remained fixed on the grotesque sight before him—a mass of long, writhing black tentacles snaking their way out from behind the man. They curled and stretched like they were alive, reaching toward him with eerie intent.He stumbled back, heart pounding against his chest. “What the hell are you?” he muttered under his breath.The man didn’t respond. He just stood there, still and unmoving, like some kind of twisted statue possessed by a dark force. His face was completely expressionless, void of any humanity. It was as if he wasn’t even really present—like the tentacles were controlling him.Joaquin’s eyes darted to the side. He could still run. He hadn’t gotten too close yet. Maybe if he turned around now, he could
