Chapter 211

Yuna was Hayden's little sister, but more like his child, since he'd essentially raised her. Their bond was so strong it explained why the tough Hayden became so protective and worried about her. Yuna shared many stories, such as how Hayden built their courtyard brick by brick, and how he'd take her fishing and grill their catch, always boasting about his top-tier cooking—perfected to ensure she ate well. As she spoke, I understood Hayden better, in a way that deeply moved me. His quirks stemmed from years of shouldering responsibility and loneliness.

Yuna eventually drifted off mid-conversation. Watching her sleep, I felt a sudden urge to call Hayden, to tell him I would care for him, a change from his constant care for others. But the feeling passed, and I didn't call. Instead, I dialed Lena.

"Where'd you go?" she asked, sounding exhausted. I sensed something was wrong. "What's wrong? Did you just get out of surgery? You sound drained."

"I'm sick," Lena said, surprising me. Considering her workload, it wasn't entirely shocking. People aren't machines; even doctors get ill.

"What happened? Did you take anything?" I asked, worried.

"Yeah, it's nothing serious, just burnout," she replied, quickly changing the subject. "But where were you? Did you have another meltdown?"

I laughed. "Do I seem like I run at the first sign of trouble?"

"No," she said, knowing me too well.

"Lena, I need a favor." I explained Yuna's situation, but Lena fell silent. I wondered if she was having trouble. "What's up? You don't have any contacts in that field?"

"...I do," Lena finally said. "And based on what you've told me, it sounds doable."

"Thanks, Lena. I really appreciate it." Initially, I noticed nothing unusual. Then she said, "But I don't want to reach out to that person."

Her words stunned me.

Chapter 211

I froze. "Wait, do you have a grudge against him? Or...is this more personal?"

Lena laughed. "No grudges."

"So, personal then?" I pressed, remembering Lena's massive, unrequited crush on a senior during college. It was a lifelong secret crush, never acted upon. As she'd once explained, "He already had someone perfect for him." Lena was in love, but respected boundaries.

"Is your old crush married now?" I asked, half-joking.

Lena paused. "I don't know. After graduation, I stopped following his life. The only thing I've seen are his published papers. He's a big deal in cardiology now."

This filled me with hope for Yuna. "Lena, you should reach out. Saving a life is more important than anything else," I urged, knowing it wasn't easy. Selfishly, I hoped he might not be with the woman Lena believed was perfect for him. Perhaps this could reconnect them, give her another chance.

Lena sighed. "Keira, you really are the type to pick love over everything else, huh?" Hearing that, I knew she was in.

Chapter 212