Chapter 386
+25 BONUS
Hayden had just cracked open a water bottle and taken a sip when the OR doors flew open. Retta rushed out, looking serious. “Who’s the patient’s family?”
She was assisting Nate in the surgery today.
“I am!” Hayden jumped to his feet so fast he almost lost his balance.
I caught his arm and walked with him toward Retta. “What’s happening?”
“There was major bleeding during the surgery. You need to prepare yourselves.” She handed him a consent form.
Her words hit like a truck, freezing us both.
“How bad is it? What’s happening now?” Lena, still in her scrubs, walked up, right on time. She wasn’t even supposed to be here, but had to fill in last minute.
“We’re doing blood transfusions and trying to find the source of the bleeding,” Retta explained, passing another form to Hayden.
He didn’t move, his hands frozen with fear.
I had no clue what to do, so I glanced at Lena.
She shot me a look, silently telling me to grab the form.
But before I could, Hayden snatched it up himself. He looked at Retta. “Is there a risk of… complications?”
“There is, but Prof. Neumann and I are doing everything we can. Please, sign quickly–we don’t have time. to waste,” Retta’s voice was steady, but urgent.
I squeezed Hayden’s hand, hoping it would help. He glanced at me for a second, then scribbled his name.
“Thanks for all your hard work,” Lena said for both of us as Retta turned to leave.
Retta just gave a quick nod and hurried back into the OR.
Once the door shut, Lena turned to us. “Don’t panic. It’s just a formality. Prof. Neumann’s got this.”
Hayden couldn’t sit still. He just kept pacing, so I stayed close, matching his steps.
Two hours crawled by. Finally, the light above the OR flicked off.
For a second, it felt like the world stopped.
Lena had stayed with us the whole time, still in her scrubs, not leaving our side for a second.
We all stared at the door like it held our entire world behind it.
Finally, it opened, and Nate and Retta walked out, still in their gear.
They looked like heroes stepping into the light, and all eyes were on them.
Hayden and I rushed over. “How did it go?”
Nate smiled. “The surgery was a success. But his eyes flicked behind us–toward Lena.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 386
But we were too focused on Yuna’s condition to notice. “When can my sister come out?” Hayden asked, voice tight.
Nate didn’t answer, just glanced at Retta. She took the hint and stepped forward while Nate moved aside.
Lena walked up, hands tucked into her scrub pockets, her eyes shining as she looked at Nate. “Thanks for all your hard work, Prof. Neumann.”
Simple words, but the way she said them had a teasing edge.
Nate smirked. “Well… Dr. Lane, aren’t you gonna say something more?” He held out his hand to her.
Lena laughed and walked right into his arms.
Right there, in front of us all, they hugged, like it was the most natural thing. No drama, just pure, easy love.
It was the kind of love where they were on the same level, like partners. They held onto each other for a while, not in some big, sweeping romantic way, but in a way that felt real–happy.
If Nate and Retta walking out together looked like a high–powered team, there was no warmth–just two doctors sharing a stage.
Nate and Lena felt totally different. Their hug, standing there in scrubs, was real, raw, and human.
Retta seemed more like a partner in work, while Lena was clearly a partner in life.
I couldn’t help but smile, and without even thinking, I leaned into Hayden.
+25 BONUS
C
