A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

“Mr. Simpson… Wait up, Mr. Simpson!” The click–clack of high heels echoed as a woman dashed out after him, but Adrian didn’t so much as glance back. He simply pinched a wad of cash from his wallet and scattered it out the car window. The engine roared to life, and he sped away, leaving a whirlwind of bills fluttering behind.

The woman stood frozen, unable to believe what had just happened, as the money danced in the air around her.

Adrian had dropped Matilda off at the hospital at one in the morning. Keaton Johnson was still in the land of nod when a jarring ring of his phone ripped him from his dreams, informing him that someone needed their stomach pumped.

Rushing to the hospital in his white coat, Keaton arrived just in time to see Matilda lying on the gurney. He let out a heavy sigh. “Was she bullied or something?”

Chloe was beside herself with tears.

Adrian, overwhelmed and irritated, shouted, “Knock off the waterworks, will you?”

This only made Chloe cry harder.

Adrian’s temper flared. “Shut it, or I’ll call Declan over!”

The threat of Declan worked like a charm; Chloe clammed up instantly.

Adrian looked at Matilda inside the room and then at Keaton. They waited outside until, after what seemed like an eternity, Keaton stepped out forty minutes later.

“You’ll need to handle her admission paperwork. Alcohol poisoning and a bleeding stomach–if we’d waited any longer, we’d have a real wake on our hands.” Keaton peeled off his gloves, glancing at Chloe. “Unbelievable. How can she drink so much?” Chloe, sniffling, recounted the night’s events. Adrian listened, his expression darkening.

“She didn’t have any guys looking out for her?” He had always assumed Matilda was never short of male company, but now, in this crisis, it appeared the two of them had been left helpless.

Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes again. “What guys? Matilda used to have her brother Gideon Thompson watching her back, but since Gideon’s gone, she’s been on her own!”

10:03

Even Logan, the little man of the house, was away from home.

Adrian fell silent, then began to pull out more money. “Go get her checked in.”

Chloe, still crying, asked, “And what are you going to do?” NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“I’ll wait here for her to wake up.”

Chloe stared at Adrian for a long moment. “Do you like her or something?”

Adrian’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly retorted, “Like someone who’s been to jail and had a kid? I’d sooner fall for a guy!”

Chloe, unconvinced by his tough exterior, trotted off in her heels to handle the paperwork.

Adrian, having arranged for Matilda’s admission, sat quietly in the room. Meanwhile, Keaton, hands in his pockets and draped in his white coat, strolled out with effortless charm.

As he passed through the hospital corridor, the sleepy night–shift nurses perked up at the sight of him, their faces flushed. “Dr. Keaton, what brings you here tonight?”

Keaton offered a casual smile. “An acquaintance of mine had a bit of trouble. Just. came to check in.”

The young nurses swooned. “You’re so dedicated, Dr. Keaton.”

He smiled again and moved on without a word. Behind him, the nurses gushed. “Dr. Keaton is so dreamy…”

“Stop drooling. He’s out of your league.”

“I heard Dr. Keaton’s brother is a famous lawyer. That family is something else.”

“I also spotted a gorgeous halfie sitting star. Tonight’s shift is totally worth it!”

in the corridor earlier. Looked like a movie