ith Vivian, Madeline saw her off and re
ardly slept at all. She couldn't understand how that man could leave afterward, retu
ceful nor comfortable. One nightmare followed
dy the middle of the night, and the pa
source of the pain and discovered a large b
me, she had been drunk and felt nothing. After several hours of sleep, however, the bruise had become
medical a
deline left her apartment alone and took
ht for the orthop
ent slip, she glanced at the
n Spe
understand, she made no effor
s was an oppor
. Only a short wait passed before Madeline's name was c
is appearance and gave him the look of a refined professional. Compared to the man from the previous night, he
e door made him
gazes
d sharp flashed t
ne's chest, and she unconsciou
.. I
s to be th
ferent from how he would speak to any other pati
sh for trying to hide her uneasiness. Letting o
y lower
e placed the pen aside and leaned forward. Then his eyes se
h he had
had been carrying quickl
oat, she said, "I just
an unmistakable firmness behind it that made avoiding the
give me something for it. An oi
lips without warning, and his
eline stayed w
respond, he got to his feet, moved behind her, and l
O
e her yelp i
aterial of her clothing and landed directl
er
fened, and she sucke
hat's t
d, but his hand on her waist remained steady. When
se and a muscle strain.
deline's cheeks. She didn't
knew what
was the reason
Pulling his hand away, he returned to hi
ule out a fracture." He slid the
't be nec
her gaze directly. "You're my patient. I
ed something inside her. Was he only speaking as her do
natched up the form and hurried out of
ttle over ten minutes, but to her,
tion room, Nathan was still there. He lo
t for several moments before speaking. "There's no fracture. It's only a
added casually, "And stop getting
spread across M
n ointment and a back brace, then set both items in front of her.
can do
e he
s voice made it im
Madeline walke
shed lightly against the back of her neck. Using his fingers, he lifted the edge
trolled. He looked completely pro
spread through her body, and he
t hurts," he
does
oice lowered near her ear. "Why did
stood, and heat rushed
ointment and returned to his usual professional tone.
n't need a follow-up," Madeline
ed the injury. I'll tak
d lifted his gaze to her. A hint of
tween them was
ome of the tension inside her finally eased. At the ve
s sounded from the door b
iles in her arms. She carried herself with quiet confidence, and t
the patient in Room Three. His condit
Madeline. Then it moved over Nathan's hand as he pulled it
his head. His voice rem
"The director wanted to ask whether you'd like me to handle the coordination for this afternoon's joint consultation
od, "Send them by email. There'
quietly stepped back and creat
ately. A darker look
line's presence. With an easy smile, she aske
mall laugh. "Yes. The pain became worse in the middle of
e entered her voice. "Nathan usually doesn't treat patients perso
't obvious on the surface, but it
e patient has a muscle strain. I
ne with a gentle expression. "Then make sure you get plenty of r
e door. "I'll head back to work. I won'
ut quietly
ed to the cons
ely felt her nerv
adeline still noticed it. It was the kind of hostil
poke to Nathan sound
trace of amusement flickered through his eye
y said, "Come bac
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