2025-01-03 17:40:28Joaquin’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 respond. He felt an odd mix of admiration and pity.
The wound didn’t detract from her beauty, but he could see how it weighed on her. Someone so striking shouldn’t have to bear such a mark of pain.
Before he could say more, the door swung open, and a tall, no-nonsense figure strode in—Carlo, the attending doctor.
His gaze swept over the room, landing on the woman with a brusque authority.
“Ms. Andrea,” Carlo said, not bothering with pleasantries. “Let’s cut to the chase. The scar’s not going anywhere. Surgery might help reduce it, but there’s no way to erase it. You’ll need to accept that.”
The words landed like a slap. Andrea’s composed expression faltered, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“No medical solution?” she repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief.
“None,” Carlo replied, unfazed. “We can only do so much. This isn’t a beauty clinic.”
Joaquin watched the exchange, feeling a pang of frustration on her behalf. While Carlo’s words were technically true, his blunt delivery felt unnecessarily cruel.
As the tension in the room thickened, Joaquin spoke up, his voice measured.
“There are natural healing methods that could help. They might not erase the scar completely, but they can improve the appearance over time.”
Both Carlo and Andrea turned to him, their reactions starkly different. Andrea looked intrigued, her brows lifting slightly, while Carlo scoffed audibly.
“Natural healing?” Carlo sneered. “What are you, a shaman? Don’t fill her head with nonsense.”
“It’s not nonsense,” Joaquin said. “I’ve studied these methods. They focus on improving circulation and supporting the skin’s regeneration process.”
Carlo waved him off. “Enough. You’re here as a caregiver, not a consultant. Leave the medical advice to professionals.”
“Why? Are you afraid that I’m right?”
Joaquin smirked.
“You know nothing about being a doctor! Don’t meddle to things that you’re not sure about!”
“I’m not. I’m just giving my suggestion.”
“And you’re not here to give your opinions. Remember your place, Joaquin!”
Joaquin opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself.
Getting into a debate with Carlo wouldn’t help anyone, least of all Andrea.
Bowing his head slightly, he turned to leave.
“Wait,” Andrea said suddenly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Joaquin paused, glancing back over his shoulder. She was looking directly at him now, her sharp gaze softer, almost thoughtful.
“What kind of natural methods are you talking about?” she asked again.
“It’s nothing, Ms. Andrea! Don’t listen to him!”
Andrea glared at Carlo and he immediately looked away.
Joaquin hesitated, aware that Carlo was still in the room and he doesn’t want a new trouble again.
But seeing Andrea’s desperation, he decided to help.
“They’re based on traditional medicine,” he said carefully. “Topical treatments, massages to promote healing.”
Andrea tilted her head, considering his words. “And you know how to do this?”
“I do,” Joaquin said confidently.
“Andrea, don’t listen—”
Andrea nodded. “Then I want to try it.”
“That’s absurd!” Carlo snapped. “You’re wasting time on unproven methods! Stick to the treatment plan we’ve already discussed!”
“Your treatment plan doesn’t seem very promising,” Andrea shot back, her tone icy. “If Joaquin has an alternative, I’ll hear it.”
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
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
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 8: A Miraculous Turn
“What?”“You heard me,” she said. “Get out! I don’t need a doctor who can’t see past his own arrogance!”Carlo clenched his fists but ultimately stormed out, slamming the door behind him.The interns hesitated, glancing nervously between Joaquin and Andrea before hurrying after their superior.Outside the room, the interns huddled around Carlo, their voices low and filled with doubt.“Do you think he’s legit?” one of them asked.“Impossible!” another replied. “No one heals that quickly.”“He’s a fraud!”Carlo, still fuming, clenched his fists. “He’s hiding something,” he said. “I’ll find out what it is.” With that, he headed toward the caregiver station, determined to dig into Joaquin’s past.Back in the room, Andrea’s demeanor shifted. Her stern expression softened as she turned her attention to Joaquin.“That was… impressive,” she said, her voice teasing. “What do I owe you for such a miracle? My gratitude? Or something more… personal?”Joaquin blinked, caught off guard by the sud
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 9: Breaking Point
Andrew’s face turned an angry crimson, the sting of Joaquin’s slap fresh and humiliating. “Y-You… How dare you?!”He clenched his jaw, his fists trembling as he glared at Joaquin.“You’ll regret this!” Andrew hissed, his voice venomous. He raised his hand, but Andrea’s cold, cutting voice stopped him mid-motion.“If you lay a finger on him,” she said, her tone laced with steel, “you won’t leave this room unscathed! You should know better than to challenge me, Andrew.”Andrew froze, his pride battling his fear of Andrea’s influence. After a long, tense pause, he lowered his fist and spat out, “This isn’t over!” With one last glare at Joaquin, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by Andrea’s amused chuckle.“Well,” she said, leaning back in her chair, “that was dramatic. Tell me, Joaquin, how did it feel to slap Andrew?”Joaquin blinked at her, caught off guard by the sudden levity. Slowly, a small smirk crept on
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 10: No More Restraint
Joaquin’s vision blurred with fury as he launched himself at Andrew, his hand gripping Andrew’s throat in an ironclad hold. Andrew choked, his hands scrabbling at Joaquin’s arm, but the pressure didn’t ease. Joaquin’s voice was a low growl.“How dare you hurt my sister?!”Andrew’s legs kicked out, trying to break free, but Joaquin’s grip only tightened, cutting off his breath. His face was turning purple, the struggle in his eyes becoming more frantic.“Joaquin, let him go!” Mikyla shouted, stepping forward, her face stricken with fear.Joaquin turned his cold eyes on her. “Anyone who hurts my sister doesn’t deserve mercy!” he spat, the venom in his voice unmistakable.Mikyla flinched, but she didn’t retreat. “Please, think about what you’re doing! This won’t end well for any of us!”Joaquin ignored her, his gaze locked on Andrew, who was still gasping for air. Just when it seemed like Andrew might pass out, Jasmine’s voice broke through the chaos.“Joaquin, please!” she sobbed,
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 11: The Standoff
Joaquin slammed him to the ground with a force that made Andrew grunt with pain.His foot hovered over Andrew’s hand, the tension in the room was palpable, ready to crush it completely. His breath came in heavy, controlled bursts as his anger surged through him. Just as he was about to press down, a voice shouted from the door.“Joaquin! Stop!”Joaquin froze, his eyes darting toward the voice. Serena stood in the doorway, her face a mask of stern authority.“Let him go! Now!” she ordered, her tone unwavering.Andrew, seizing the opportunity, gasped for air, his voice barely audible as he wheezed, “Help... Help! Someone—”Mikyla, standing by, quickly stepped forward. “Joaquin, are you completely out of your mind? Let him go! You’re going to ruin everything!”Serena’s gaze shifted from Joaquin to Andrew, then back. “Joaquin, this isn’t you. Stop this madness!”But Joaquin wasn’t done. His eyes narrowed, and his grip on Andrew’s wrist tightened, unyielding. “He assulted my sister!
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 12: A Twist of Fate
As the security guards moved in closer, preparing to take Joaquin into custody, Serena stepped forward. She raised her hand to halt them, her voice clear. "Stop! You cannot just act without following the proper procedures! This is a hospital, not a battlefield!"Antonio sneered. "Procedures? This man assaulted my son! I don’t need to follow any rules when my family is involved."Serena’s eyes flashed with determination as she stepped in front of Joaquin. "You’re abusing your power, Mr. Alvarez! If you take one more step, you’ll be in direct violation of hospital regulations!"Antonio’s expression didn’t waver, his anger still burning. "I don’t care about regulations when it comes to my son! This ends now!" He gestured sharply to the guards, signaling them to move forward.Joaquin knew he had no choice but to stand his ground. His earlier restraint had already been a concession. But Serena, despite her calm demeanor, wasn’t backing down.Before anyone could act, a sleek Maybach
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 13: The Aura of Death
In the quiet hum of the car, Joaquin sighed deeply and turned to his sister, Jasmine. "I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess today. You didn’t deserve any of it."Jasmine glanced at him with a gentle smile. "You’re my brother. You don’t have to apologize for standing up for me." She paused, her voice softening. "But you have to take care of yourself too. If things don’t work out at the hospital, it’s not the end of the world. You can find another path."Joaquin nodded, though his jaw tightened. He knew she was right, but the thought of leaving behind the career he had worked so hard for wasn’t easy.Jasmine hesitated before adding, "And Mikyla... she’s not the same person anymore. You deserve someone who values you for who you are, not what they can gain from you."He let her words sink in, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "I’ll think about it," he promised. "And I’ll be home early for dinner tonight."Jasmine nodded.Joaquin watched her disappear inside, then turned to Rick,
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 14: The Rare Disease
Joaquin stood frozen, staring at Miguel. “You… are sick?”Joaquin looked at Miguel from head to toe. At first glance, he doesn’t look sick or dying at all. “Yes. It’s exactly what you heard.” Joaquin stepped back. “And you want me to treat you?”His voice wavered between disbelief and panic.Miguel gave a slow nod, his gaze steady and unwavering. "I wouldn’t have called for you if I didn’t think you were capable.""But… I’m just a regular doctor," Joaquin argued. "I’m not some miracle worker! There are specialists—people who’ve studied rare diseases their whole lives. Why me?"Miguel faintly smirked playing on his lips. "Because they failed. All of them. You wouldn’t want to know how many doctors had already seen me, but they all failed. You’re my last chance, Joaquin."“I… I don’t think I can do it too if they cannot!” he exclaimed. Rick stepped closer, his imposing figure adding weight to Miguel’s words. "He’s not exaggerating, Mr. Lopez. The others who refused or couldn’t d
Latest Chapter
Chapter 117: Blue Ranking Party
Joaquin couldn’t stop smiling.It was a rare feeling — happiness. Real happiness. The kind that wrapped around his heart and made him feel lighter, like the weight he had been carrying for so long wasn’t quite so heavy anymore.And it was because of Serena.The fact that they were finally, officially together made everything brighter. The fear and desperation still lingered — his sister was still lying unconscious in a hospital bed, her soul lost somewhere he couldn’t reach — but now, at least, there was hope.He wasn’t alone in this fight.But before he could let himself get lost in the comfort of his new relationship, there was still so much to do. Jasmine’s life was still hanging by a thread, and Joaquin knew that if he didn’t act fast, he might lose her forever.And that? That wasn’t an option.“Here,” Rick said, pulling Joaquin from his thoughts. He handed over a sleek black envelope with an embossed silver crest on the front. “Your invitation to the Blue Ranking Gala. This is yo
Chapter 116: The Kiss
After talking with Miguel Suarez, Joaquin decided to go back to the hospital first. He went directly to Jasmine’s room — and she was still unconscious.Her aura was faint. Her body might still be breathing, but it was weak — too weak.Joaquin knew that if he didn’t bring her soul back soon, her body would start to fall apart.“I’ll get you back, Jasmine. I promise. Just hold on for me, please,” he whispered, his voice trembling with desperation.The door to Jasmine’s room suddenly opened, and Serena walked in. She stopped in her tracks, clearly surprised to see Joaquin sitting by his sister’s bedside.“Joaquin? I didn’t know you were here,” she said softl
Chapter 115: Finding the Truth
Joaquin didn’t waste a second. When he was sure Jasmine was stable and in good hands, he left the hospital and drove straight to Mr. Suarez’s estate. His mind was a storm — thoughts of his sister, the terrifying vision of her soul being dragged away by that dark smoke, and the name George Beckham kept colliding inside his head.He needed answers. And there was only one place to get them.The drive felt endless, but Rick was already waiting for him by the entrance when he finally arrived at the grand estate.Rick’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw him. “Joaquin? What are you doing here? Is your sister awake already?” he asked, the questions spilling out one after the other.Joaquin shook his head. “Not yet. But I need your help. Where’s Mr. Suarez?”Rick’s forehead creased in concern. “He’s in his office. Why? What’s going on?”“I need to see him. Now.”Rick hesitated for a second, clearly alarmed by the tension radiating off Joaquin — but he didn’t push for answers. “Follow me,” h
Chapter 114: Dark Entity
Joaquin first took care of the paperwork for Jasmine’s stay at the hospital and went home to gather some of her things.He’d also found out the truth about what had happened to his sister. According to the police, a car had hit her just as she was about to cross the street. The driver had been speeding even though the light was green for pedestrians.That’s why Joaquin was sure this wasn’t an accident — it was intentional.Once he had prepared Jasmine’s hospital room, he went to the recovery room to check on her condition. Thankfully, his status as a doctor allowed him access.Joaquin’s heart nearly broke when he saw his sister’s state. Her leg was wrapped in bandages, her face was swollen, and her body was covered in bruis
Chapter 113: Anomaly
“Let me remind you again — the Blue Tiger competition is different from the First Ranking, Joaquin. You can’t let your emotions cloud your judgment,” Rick warned.Joaquin’s eyes darkened even more. “I know. And I understand that, Rick. I know what I need to do.”“Fine. Then, you need to start your training right away. If you want to fight George, you need to be ready. Don’t think that just because he’s only in the Blue Ranking, he’s weak. He’s stayed there for a reason.”Joaquin frowned. “What do you mean by that?”“There’s something strange happening with the Tiger Competition. We don’t know exactly what it is yet. But George has held that position for three
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
