<b>Chapter </b><b>8 </b>
Pushing <b>through </b>the <b>crowd</b><b>, </b>she <b>saw </b><b>Jaxson </b>shielding <b>Caroline </b><b>protectively</b>. He had <b>intercepted </b>a <b>family </b><b>member’s </b>hand <b>mid</b>–swing before it could strike Caroline<b>, </b>who cowered fearfully in his <b>arms </b>with <b>a </b>pitiful <b>expression</b>.
The <b>family </b><b>member </b><b>seemed </b><b>intimidated </b><b>by </b><b>Jaxson’s </b><b>imposing </b><b>presence</b><b>. </b>Who… Who <b>are </b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>” </b><b>he </b><b>stammered</b>.
<b>Jaxson </b>pushed the <b>man </b>back firmly.“<b>Can’t </b><b>we </b><b>resolve </b><b>this </b>without violence<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Ask </b><b>her</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>The man pointed angrily <b>at </b>Caroline. “My <b>son </b><b>just </b><b>survived </b>major <b>surgery</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>this <b>doctor </b>had the <b>nerve </b><b>to </b><b>call </b>his <b>wound </b><b>disgusting </b><b>during </b><b>rounds</b><b>! </b><b>If </b><b>she </b><b>can’t </b><b>handle </b>it, <b>she </b>shouldn’t <b>be </b>a doctor<b>!</b><b>” </b>
That’s not what happened,” Caroline <b>protested </b>tearfully, looking up at <b>Jaxson</b>.“I felt <b>nauseous </b><b>because </b><b>of </b><b>something </b>I ate this morning, not <b>because </b>of the patient.”
<b>Jaxson </b>nodded. ‘I’ll handle <b>this</b>.<b>” </b>
He turned to the man.“She <b>was </b>genuinely unwell, not being <b>disrespectful</b>. I’ll <b>cover </b>all hospitalization expenses <b>to </b>make <b>up </b><b>for </b><b>it</b>.”
The offer immediately diffused the tension, and the man reluctantly <b>returned </b>to the patient’s <b>room</b>, muttering <b>about </b><b>bad </b><b>luck</b><b>. </b>
I’m sorry for causing trouble, <b>Jaxson</b>,” Caroline <b>said </b>with heartfelt <b>concern</b>.“You <b>didn’t </b>have <b>to </b>intervene. What if <b>you’d </b><b>gotten </b><b>hurt</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
Jaxson smiled slightly, “Your safety was what mattered.”
“Ms. Warren, is Mr. Hamilton your boyfriend?” <b>someone </b><b>asked</b>.
Caroline lowered her eyes demurely. “No, don’t talk <b>nonsense</b><b>…</b>”
“Come on, you two look perfect together!” The onlookers joined in teasing.
As the crowdughed, <b>Jaxson’s </b><b>gaze </b>found Charlotte’s <b>across </b>the room.
Her heart clenched painfully when their eyes met, a bitter taste filling her mouth.
There stood her husband, the <b>picture </b>ofpatibility with another woman.
She didn’t belong here.
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