Chapter 98

But her heart struggled to care for anyone else. Khzabeth couldn’t help but glance at Alexander. He was brimming with a furtive homecoming. His intense gaze made him turn to her. Elizabeth quickly looked out the window, feeling flustered, her fingers nervously twisting together. Their relationship felt stuck.

The van stopped at the hospital entrance. Alexander opened the door for her, and Elizabeth gave him a quick glance before heading to the emergency room. Alexander followed, looking serious. Elizabeth felt uneasy and kept glancing back at him. Alexander frowned and stepped right up to her. “What are you looking at?” Elizabeth found it strange. She used to want Alexander with her everywhere. Now, she just found him annoying.

In the exam room, the same doctor from before was waiting. Elizabeth lowered her head, letting him change her bandages. Alexander asked, “Will she need to come back for another bandage change?” The doctor replied, “No.” After a pause, Alexander added, “Will there be any—” “They’re minor wounds, so no scars,” the doctor replied. “Okay,” Alexander seemed relieved. But Elizabeth felt a pang of bitterness. She wasn’t afraid of scars; she already had some.

A nurse knocked on the door. “Doctor, someone is looking for you outside.” The doctor wanted to tell them to wait, but Alexander nodded, so he left. Before Elizabeth could ask the doctor to stay, Alexander approached. He sat by the bed and reached out his hand, saying, “Give me your hand.” Elizabeth didn’t understand and didn’t move. He took her hand and helped with the wounds the doctor hadn’t finished treating. He was meticulous and gentle.

Elizabeth thought of high school when he always asked her to help with his wounds. “You could treat your own wounds,” Elizabeth suddenly said. He responded with a serious look, which was quite handsome. “Every time you got into a fight and got hurt, you always came to me,” Elizabeth said, feeling a bit heartbroken. She thought of the infirmary, but he always came to her. She wondered if Alexander liked her back then. He didn’t want to dirty Eme’s white dress with blood and dirt.

Thinking of this, Elizabeth couldn’t hold back her grievance. “Wearden, you always bully me.” He glanced at her but said nothing. The doctor came. “Just try to avoid getting the scabs wet,” the doctor reminded her. Elizabeth nodded. “Thank you, doctor.” “You’re welcome. By the way, I heard you’re going to report to the cardiothoracic department?” the doctor asked casually. Alexander intently looked at Elizabeth. She was going to work at the hospital? How come I didn’t know about this?