Chapter 68: Intermission [PART 5 - END]
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8h
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Two figures froze, facing each other, until the janitor suddenly broke the silence.
"If it isn't Miss Maria, hahaha! It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
The janitor's lips trembled as much as his hands, and sweat trickled down his forehead as his attentive eyes followed her every movement.
Maria immediately felt a pang of guilt and shame at seeing him in such a state.
Months ago, she had been under immense pressure and sleeping very poorly, and the man before her had been an unfortunate victim of her impulsiveness.
"Hmm, about when I grabbed you by the collar earlier..."
"Ah, it's such a beautiful day! I feel like I should clean the entire second floor! Forgive my intrusion, Miss Maria, but duty calls!"
Without hearing another word from Maria, the man ran off, clutching his mop. He moved so fast it seemed as if he were fleeing from a bomb about to explode at any moment.
Maria's hand froze mid-air as she watched her last glimmer of hope vanish before her eyes.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind, as if delivering her sentence.
"If it isn't Nurse Maria!"
Maria's back trembled at the unnatural voice announcing her presence to who-knows-who.
Her cheerful expression gradually froze, and her eyes closed as if she had just tasted something bitter. But seconds later, a professional smile formed on her face.
She had already been exposed, so there was nothing to be done. She would help just this once. After all, she would be leaving this frustrating job soon anyway.
"Doctor Liam..."
As the words left her mouth, her eyes scanned the people around him. The first thing that caught her attention was an introverted cutie with glasses, strikingly similar to an acquaintance of hers. Beside her stood a man with a depressed expression and a heavy aura that seemed to swallow the abyss itself.
These were people she had only seen in photos before, and now they had suddenly taken shape.
Maria, who had been smiling, suddenly short-circuited. Her tongue got stuck behind her teeth, twisted awkwardly, unable to produce the next word.
'What were the Maheswarans doing here?'
Suddenly, she felt as if she had returned to her first job interview. Her back broke out in a cold sweat, and her breathing became uneven.
She remembered the words she had just said and the position she was in now.
These were exactly the people she should be trying to impress. How much had they heard of the previous conversation?
"Maria was the nurse who spent the most time with the patient, and she will also be the one taking care of her during this period."
Liam began to present her in a rather suspicious manner. He approached and patted her shoulder twice while introducing her to the Maheswarans.
Maria stood there like a robot short-circuiting, unable to say a word.
"If you have any questions, just ask Maria. She had the most contact with the patient and accompanied her through all the procedures."
Two pairs of eyes sharpened in her direction, making Maria shrink like a rabbit in front of a predator.
"My time is unfortunately limited, and I need to go to the emergency ward on the second floor to treat some patients. Maria, I leave the situation in your capable hands."
"Eh? Wait, Dr. Liam...?"
Before she could regain her senses, the irresponsible doctor had already fled, dumping everything onto the poor nurse's shoulders.
What the hell had just happened?
Was her little totem back in the hospital? Why did they look so distressed? Had something serious happened? And what about her stable job...?
Maria's world began to crumble in real time, but before she could sink into her thoughts, a firm hand grasped her wrist. A serious gaze studied her, as if looking straight into her soul.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Maria swallowed hard under the man's penetrating gaze, and her legs trembled like those of a newborn deer.
She had no idea what she had gotten herself into, but her survival instincts kicked in quickly.
"Yes, sir. Ask me anything."
Her smile was perfect, but her hand gripped the resignation letter so tightly that it became crumpled beyond recognition.
It seemed her resignation would be delayed.
This week was going to be a very long week for Maria.
*
Author's note
This chapter was reworked. In the end, it turned out a little different from what I planned, but all the essential elements were there and connected well. I'm satisfied. The next arc is a little different from what I'm used to, but I have some interesting things planned. I wonder how much of it will make it from the draft.
Love you ❤️
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