Chapter 14
I learned later that Maximilian was not their blood grandson. He had been adopted by Dr. Celeste’s son and daughter in law. But fate was cruel. A car accident took them, leaving Maximilian with only Don Castillo and Dr. Celeste. No wonder he guarded them like a soldier at
war.
Four years went by. I was no longer the girl trembling in corners. I graduated with my head held high, though I still carried scars that no degree could erase. I became one of the youngest doctors in the hospital. Patients smiled when they saw me. Nurses called me soft but steady. And always, I remembered who I was before.
That day in the hospital, I was in the middle of a storm. A patient came in, gasping, his chest collapsing under his own weight. The heart was failing fast. We had no senior surgeon around, only me. My hands were shaking but my voice stayed steady. “Prep him now. Scalpel.”
Every second felt like my life was hanging on the same thread as his. I cut. I stitched. I prayed. When the monitor beeped again with a strong rhythm, relief burst in the room. Nurses clapped softly.
And then I heard a voice behind me. Deep, controlled. “Who allowed you to perform that?”
froze. My chest tightened when I turned and saw him. Maximilian. Standing at the door in his dark suit, sharp as ever, eyes colder than the steel I had just held.
One of the nurses whispered, “Sir Maximilian, she saved him. No one else was here.”
His eyes flicked to me. He looked like he didn’t recognize me at first. Then the silence stretched
and his brow furrowed.
‘Dahlia?” he said slowly. “It’s you…”
Dr. Celeste entered right then, smiling proudly. “Yes, it is. My best student. Did you see her Maximilian? She is a doctor now. And not just any doctor. She is one of the finest I have eve
rained.”
‘I only did what I could.”
Dr. Celeste touched my shoulder. “You did more than enough. You are becoming the woman you were always meant to be.”
Maximilian’s jaw tightened. His voice was calm but clipped. “We will talk later.”
And for the first time in years, I felt his eyes on me again. But not with suspicion. With something I could not name.
Dr Celeste’s birthday was approaching and I needed to buy her something nice. Nothing big, just something that would show her how much I appreciated everything she did for me. I had a small shopping bag with some toiletries, and then I walked into this luxury store to check out a necklace I saw last week.
The moment I stepped in, I froze. Yvette. And right beside her, Mrs. Livingston.
Yvette’s eyes widened then curled into a smirk. “Well, well, look who we have here. Dahlia. I thought you were dead.” She raised her hand, flashing a huge diamond ring in my face. “Did you
see this? Austin picked it himself. We just came back from Milan.”
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AAA.
I forced a polite smile. “Good for you.”
Mrs. Livingston gave me that familiar look, the one that sliced deeper than knives. “You’re still the same poor girl. Nothing changes, hm? Tell me, why are you here? Luxury stores are not for beggars.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I’m just looking for a gift.”
She sneered. “Gift? With what money? Oh, Dahlia, if only you had taken the billion I offered you. Even the hundred million. You could have lived like a queen instead of dragging your pitiful sell around. Look at you now. What are you doing here? Planning to rob the store? Don’t tell me you became a thief whore.”
Yvette laughed, loud and cruel. “I think so, Grandma. Women like her can’t even afford a steak Look at her shoes. I feel embarrassed just standing near her.” She pulled a stack of cash from her bag and threw it at me, the bills scattering on the floor. “Here. That should be enough for you o finally eat something better than instant noodles.”
clenched my fists, ready to speak, but before I could, Mrs. Livingston staggered. She gasped :lutching her chest. Her face drained of color and she collapsed right there on the floor. Grandma!” Yvette screamed, kneeling beside her. “Somebody do something! Call ar imbulance!”
The staff froze. People just stood there, whispering. No one moved.
dropped my shopping bag and rushed to her side. “Move!” I barked at Yvette.
the shoved me back. “What are you doing! Don’t touch her. You’re not even-”
snapped, “She’s not breathing properly. Move, Yvette!”
the slapped my hand away. “You’re not a doctor! Stop pretending!” She raised her hand to slap ne across the face but I stopped her midway.
pulled out my hospital ID and slapped her hard across the cheek with it. “You’re asking if I’m a loctor?” My voice cut through the chaos. “Yes, I am. NOW MOVE!”
‘vette’s eyes widened when she saw my ID, the word Resident shining clear. She froze.
pressed two fingers on Mrs. Livingston’s neck, then tilted her head and started chest compressions. “I need someone to call the ambulance right now! And bring me water, towels,
nything!”
The staff scrambled to obey. Yvette was trembling beside me, sobbing. “She can’t die. She can’t die.”
looked up at her sharply. “Then shut up and let me work.”
She whimpered but nodded.
kept working, every motion steady, controlled. My palms pressed down rhythmically on her chest, my breaths counting in my head. Time felt endless but I didn’t stop until I felt a faint pulse under my fingers.
Her eyelids fluttered. A weak groan left her lips. Relief washed through me like a storm breaking. “She’s stable for now,” I said firmly. “The ambulance is on its way. She’ll need proper care
immediately.”
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“You… you really are a doctor.”
stared at her coldly, sweat dripping down my temple. “Remember that the next time you try to throw cash at me.”
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