Chapter 872

The black Cayenne roared through the night, the driver pushing the car to its limits as if his foot might break through the gas pedal. Yet, Aaron wasn’t satisfied. “Faster,” he barked.

“There’s no need to rush. Safety first,” Lena said, her voice calm despite her pale complexion. As a doctor, she knew the basics. Judging by the snake that bit her, it was likely just a common green snake, non-venomous.

Despite her reassurances, Aaron remained tense, his entire body rigid. The driver, responding to the urgency, raced toward the hospital at record-breaking speed. What should have been a twenty-minute drive was reduced to eight. By the time they screeched to a halt, the driver’s legs were trembling from the adrenaline rush. It was the first time in his life he had experienced such an intense, heart-pounding ride.

Aaron didn’t wait for the car to stop completely. He leapt out, carrying Lena straight into the emergency room. “Doctor, she’s been bitten by a snake,” he said urgently.

“Doctor Lane?!” The attending physician immediately recognized her.

Lena’s face was ashen, not from the pain of the bite or fear of venom, but from sheer terror. Despite being in Aaron’s arms the entire way, she was still shaken—both by the snake and the breakneck speed of the drive.

“I was bitten by a snake. It shouldn’t be venomous,” she explained to the emergency physician.

“It’s not up to her to decide if it’s venomous or not. Run the tests,” Aaron interrupted, his voice icy and commanding.

The attending physician glanced at Aaron and quickly issued orders for blood tests and wound treatment.

At the blood draw station, Lena extended her arm. As the nurse inserted the needle, Aaron reached out and covered her eyes with his hand.

“Dr. Lane, your boyfriend is so considerate and caring,” the nurse remarked, smiling as she worked.

Lena sighed inwardly. This kind of misunderstanding wasn’t new, and she was long immune to it. Still, she clarified, “He’s my uncle.”

“Uncle?” The nurse’s eyes widened in surprise before she turned to Aaron, her gaze subtly shifting. Smiling, she asked Lena, “Does your uncle have a girlfriend? He’s so handsome.”

Just as Lena was about to respond, Aaron’s cold voice cut in. “Does your hospital allow casual chatter during working hours?”

The sharp tone immediately silenced the nurse, who flushed with embarrassment and quickly focused on her task.

“Thank you,” Lena said politely as the blood draw was completed. She turned to Aaron as they walked away from the station, tugging at his sleeve. “Why so harsh? No wonder you’re still single.”

“Seems like the snake didn’t scare you enough,” Aaron retorted, his words teasing but tinged with relief. The fact that she was chatting so casually was a good sign—her bite likely wasn’t venomous. Still, the blood tests would confirm if there were any other risks.

“Lena!” Nate’s panicked voice rang out as he hurried over, his steps frantic. He stopped short at the sight of Aaron holding Lena, his expression briefly stiffening. “I heard you were bitten by a snake. How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”

“I’m fine. Really,” Lena replied, trying to ease his concern. “If it were serious, I wouldn’t be standing here. Venom travels through the bloodstream—its effects would have shown by now.”

Nate’s gaze flickered toward Aaron, who remained composed but protective. The tension between the two men was palpable, like an unspoken standoff.

Lena, oblivious to the undercurrent, shifted her arm slightly and winced. “It’s just sore from the bite and all the excitement,” she added, hoping to defuse the moment.