Stepping out into the chilled morning air, I overheard the nurses chatting animatedly. "Dr. Hilton''s been straight onto the operating table since dawn. Two surgeries back-to-back. They don''t call him the ''Miracle Doctor'' for nothing. No one can snatch a life from his skilled hands." "Absolutely. And today''s pile-up was horrific. I heard the Goodwin family''s darling, the jewel of their family, got caught up in it, too."


    Curious, I edged closer.


    "Surface wounds, but her boyfriend seemed super stressed. Oh, right, her boyfriend''s the guy who was looking for Dr. Floydst week."


    "So, the Goodwin''s ballet prodigy, who treated us to coffee the other day, is dating that legal eagle? Talk about a power couple. A dance sensation and a courtroom genius."


    "Dr. Floyd has some solid connections. No wonder she can swagger around Dr. Hilton like she owns the ce."


    I looked down at my scuffed shoes, contrasting the high flyers they discussed. I had no influential backing for me, just a precarious existence.


    Arriving at the ward with them, they finally noticed my presence, greeting me with a nod, which I returned softly. Peering briefly at ude and Kate inside the room, they soon moved on, their gossip session over.


    I remained outside, hands buried in myb coat pockets, watching through the ss door. ude was carefully tending to Kate''s wounds, his gentle touch making her seem even more precious. It was a sharp contrast to the routine treatment I received the previous night, even though I was also hurt.


    "ude, isn''t Mrs. Hart visiting you and ire at home today? Maybe you should take ire back. I''ll be fine here," Kate suggested, pausing ude''s ministrations.


    "It''s okay. I''ll talk to Mom. You wouldn''t be here if it weren''t for ire''s reckless adventure yesterday. Thankfully, it''s just some scratches," ude reassured her. Kate bit her lip, silent. Was her concern genuine or just an act?


    I was about to knock when Max appeared behind me, gripping my wrist. "Looking for more trouble?"


    I stared back, puzzled by his


    intervention, but instead of waiting for an answer, he pulled me back down the corridor toward his office, which drew curious nces from


    the nursing staff.


    I tried to wriggle free, but his grip was firm. Was he this desperate to keep me away from ude and the others?


    "I''ve been on my feet too long in


    surgery. Help me with a new


    dressing, Max finally said, a hint of


    amusement in his voice, as if the


    request was the most natural thing in the world.  en This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Dr. Hilton, you do live up to your nickname, don''t you? Lie down. Wounded, you still performed surgeries ''quipped, helping him


    remove his coat and shirt while et


    my


    professionalism was battling with the awkwardness. If I werena doctor tasked with changing his dressing, I''d feel like I was taking


    advantage of him.


    As I unbuttoned his shirt, I subconsciously checked the hem but saw no initials. It looked like the Room 6088 I was talking about wasn''t the same Room 6088 he was referring to. After recing the dressing, I packed all the used materials in a ck bag to dispose of them discreetly.


    "You got feelings for ude?" Fastening his cuffs, Max paused, a slight tilt to his head as he asked, the air charged with unspoken thoughts.