, and nerves. Dozens of fresh-faced interns gathered in the training hall,

, and which departments they hoped to shadow in. But Nora Daniels stood at

rying to

drian Blackwood ha

rfectly from broad shoulders. His gray eyes swept the hall, assessing each face

ed on her, his jaw tight

She lowered her gaze,

r moved on when

ng out suddenly, smooth

the hall tur

ch dropped, her knees

whispered, her voi

forw

other interns' eyes boring into her, curiosity and confusion radiatin

and down, deliberately slow. "Tel

embled. "To...

ed. "Interesting. Because from where I'm standing, you don't look prepared.

spers. A few interns chu

l, about her overnight shift at the restaurant, about running across the city just to m

iels, if a patient were in critical condition, should I tru

e as she whisp

on was a teaching point. "Hospitals are not playgrounds. Lives don't wait for you

ter rippled again. Her nails dug int

ur place," Ad

't bear to look at Maya, who was stari

ospital rules, the expectations of discipline-but Nora could barely hea

eckless. Doesn

n groups, buzzing with gossip. Nora slipped out quickly

or

her aside into a quieter corri

head quickly. "

in front of everyone. He knew your name without checking the list. He

. She opened her mou

ence wa

h my God. You do know h

ghtly to her chest. "I

almost pleading. "We're supposed to be

tion, about how Adrian had been there, about the money, the shame, the way he looked at her like

orcing a weak smile. "It

ten to me-whatever this is, whatever happened between you two...

h, wiping her eyes quickly

-----

They crowded together in the hallway, watching through the large glass windows

ied effortlessly, every word clear. "This is a routine appendectomy. Straightforward, but sti

ibbled notes, n

aze flicke

" he said

e. "Y-ye

p in

hem looked envious, others gleeful

ng room. The doctors barely glanced at her, too focused on their work. The bright lights ove

the tray of instruments

blank. She knew this-she'd studied it-but under his burni

uncertainly before pointi

orceps. Tell me, Daniels, would you like to hand a surgeon f

irking faintly. Through the glass, Nora could see

d crimson. "I-

save lives,"

ng at the corners of her eyes,

s voice clear and deliberate, "is what happens when you walk in un

ground had been rip

," Adria

gh her veins. She hurried out of the room, head bowed,

she could feel their eyes on

e. "Ignore them," she whispered quick

ore the one voice sti

ian

esn't sa

wondered if he really mean