Chapter 764

“The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable.” Nate stared at his phone, frustration creeping in as the automated message played for the fifth time. Something wasn’t right. Even if Lena was in surgery, her phone would usually just ring. Completely unreachable? That wasn’t like her.

Could her phone have died? Maybe, but in their line of work, that was rare. They always stayed connected—for emergencies, if nothing else.

“Nate.” Retta’s voice cut through his thoughts. He slid his phone into his pocket and looked up, his expression cold and unreadable. He didn’t bother saying anything.

Retta noticed his mood but pressed on anyway. “Mr. Jahn’s family still has a few questions for you.”

“Didn’t I already explain everything?” Nate’s voice was sharp, a warning in every syllable.

Retta’s lips curved into a faint, almost resigned smile, her tone softening with a coaxing edge. “I get it, but you know how families are. They just want to be sure—see if there’s any way to find a better solution.”

Her attempt at gentleness didn’t land. Nate’s reply was clipped. “You handle it. I’m leaving.”

The tightness in his chest was impossible to ignore, the unease that had started when he left Lena now clawing at him. She’d been fine earlier, agreed he should come, but the anxious weight in his gut wouldn’t budge.

“Nate,” Retta called again, grabbing his arm. “You’re already here. It won’t take long.”

Nate’s glare was ice-cold. “Let go.”

Retta’s hand dropped, her expression freezing. She’d lost track of how many times he’d hit her with this kind of chill—and it was always because of Lena. She had her pride. Normally, she wouldn’t tolerate this from anyone. But for Nate, she’d swallowed it, time and time again.

As he walked away, his steps urgent and unrelenting, Retta couldn’t ignore the truth staring her in the face. No matter what she did, she’d never have his heart. If that was the case, it was time to stop trying.

“Prof. Roane, where’s Prof. Neumann?” one of the patient’s family members called out, hurrying after her.

Rétta quickly composed herself. “I’m sorry,” she said with a practiced, apologetic smile. “Prof. Neumann had something urgent to handle—most likely concerning his girlfriend.”

A sharp snort escaped the family member. “What an arrogant doctor! We practically had to beg to see him, and after a few rushed words, he bolts without properly explaining anything!”

A flicker of something dark passed through Retta’s eyes, but she kept her tone calm and understanding. “Please try to see it from his perspective. He and his girlfriend haven’t seen each other in months. Today was probably their only chance—”

“Any man who’s so obsessed with a woman that he ignores his responsibilities won’t go far,” the relative snapped. “A doctor prioritizing romance over patients? Where’s the ethics in that?” With a final, bitter huff, they stormed off.

Retta’s gaze followed them as they angrily pulled out their phone, loudly announcing they’d be calling Prof. Hemington to file a complaint. Her eyes narrowed. In this world, you had to look out for yourself. If love was off the table, Retta would focus on her career no matter who she had to step on to climb to the top.

Nate had rushed to Lena’s workplace, but there was no sign of her. His next stop was her apartment. Using the fingerprint lock, he let himself in, only to find the place unsettlingly empty. Her shoes from earlier were gone, along with her bag. He’d called her countless times by now, but every attempt led to the same automated response. None of his texts had been read either. The eerie silence only amplified the unsettling emptiness.