Dr. Edward Blackwood, a brilliant and ruthless neurosurgeon, is haunted by the ghosts of his past. His obsession with perfection is a desperate attempt to escape the darkness that has driven him since childhood. With a mind that never sleeps and a heart that never yields, he has built a reputation as a surgical genius, but at a steep cost. His relationships are transactional, his emotions locked away, and his empathy worn thin. Clarice Hernandez, a compassionate and fiery nurse, is a force of nature on the hospital floor. Her warmth and kindness have earned her the admiration of patients and colleagues alike, but beneath her bright smile lies a complex web of scars. A devoted wife and mother, she has faced her own share of heartache and loss, yet her resilience and determination have only strengthened her resolve. With a quick wit and a sharp tongue, she can hold her own against even the most formidable opponents. When fate brings them together in a chance collision by the elevator, their bodies aren't the only things that crash. Their destinies entwine, setting off a chain reaction of love, redemption, and self-discovery. But as they navigate the treacherous landscape of hospital secrets and lies, they must confront the darkest corners of their own hearts. For some wounds cut deeper than the skin, and some secrets, when revealed, can shatter even the strongest of bonds. Will theirs be the love that heals, or the lie that destroys?
Chapter 1 A new dawn
Clarice's POV,
I stepped out of the elevator and onto the bustling hospital
floor, my heart racing with a mix of nerves and determination. I looked one last time at my shaking hands
before shoving them in my pockets. First days were always like this, once I
manage to get past the initial fright, thing usually went smoothly. I wasn't
gonna let my nerves get the better of me, I needed this job.
The aroma of disinfectant and freshly brewed coffee
enveloped me as I made my way to the nurse's station. I'd applied for the job just a weeks ago and I
wouldn't have imagined that I'd be here just a week later. Don't get me wrong,
I was good at my job and very passionate about it but I had a feeling that John
had something to do with this quick appointment. As I made my way to the
nurse's station, I was greeted with warm smiles and curious glances. My new
colleagues were eager to meet the newest addition to their team. "Hey
Clarice! Welcome to the madhouse" said a friendly voice, belonging to a
nurse with a bright pink streak in her short wavy hair. "Thanks, I think
I'm going to need that warning" I replied laughing.
I went straight to my locker, quickly changing into my scrub
and putting on my ID badge. I took one last look at my son's picture before
slamming my locker shut. I was shown my schedule for the week, I was handed my
patient chard but there where only two patients there for me to assist, it made
sense as I was new here. "Hey Clarice! Wanna grab a coffee during our break?
Trust me, you're gonna need it, this place can be crazy" Lucy, the nurse from
earlier said, smilling brightly at me. "Sure, why not" I replied with a bigger
smile, already certain that we two were gonna get along well.The rest of the
day flew by in a whirlwind of introductions, paperwork and medication rounds.
I'd worked in a teaching hospital in California, but a year earlier,
my son Carlos had been diagnosed with leukaemia. It had been a hard time for my
family, I'd had to quit my job to look after him fully. Alvaro had to work
multiple jobs to be able to afford the medications. Now here I was, in Blackwood
University Hospital, I'd never have thought this possible. Things were a little
different here, it was a very reputed hospital but in a way it was the same, I
was doing what I loved. I'd missed this, the adrenaline rush I got when I had a
new case, the bonds I furged with my patient.
My second patient for the day was a 65 year old widow, her husband had died five
years ago. Mrs Johnson had been diagnosed with NPH, normal pressure hydrocephalus
two years ago. A month ago, Mrs Johnson was admitted to the hospital after a
severe fall, which left her with a concussion which increased her NPH symptoms,
living her bedridden. She had a consultation with Dr Blackwood the following
morning, he was going to assess her to see if she was suitable for a surgical
procedure to implant a shunt to reduce her symptoms. I'd heard a lot about Dr
Blackwood, he was a very reputed neurosurgeon, he comes from a long line of
doctors, he's had several awards for his contribution to health science. I had
high hopes for this surgery, fingers crossed, everything should go smoothly.
After changing out of my scrubs and signing out, I made my
way to the elevator when I collided with a tall, dark-haired man, spilling his
papers and coffee everywhere. Embarrassed by my clumsiness, I bent down to help
him gather the scattered sheets. Our hands touched and I felt a sudden jolt of....
Something. I couldn't quite place it. As I stood beside this man, I couldn't
shake off the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. It
wasn't just his stern expression that intimidated me, it was the aura that
surrounded him, a palpable sense of power that seemed to radiate from his very
being.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as he turned to face me,
his piercing grey eyes seeming to bore into my soul. For a moment, I felt like
I was drowning in their depths, unable to look away even as my heart raced with
a growing sense of dread. "Um..." I started, but he interrupted me, his voice low
and smooth but with an edge. "Watch were you're going, nurse" I felt a flush
rise to my cheeks as I handed him the last of the papers. " I'm so sorry" I
said. He nodded curtly and walked into the elevator leaving me dazed. Such an
ass, it's good he left, there's no way in hell I was going to fit in there with
his pompous ass, I thought to myself as I waited for the elevator to return.
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