Chapter 64 Her step sister!

Chapter 64 Her step sister!
April sat at her desk, flipping through a patient’s file, but her mind wasn’t fully focused on the words in front of her. 
The past few days had been unsettling, and no matter how hard she tried to push aside her emotions, Richard’s presence in the hospital kept invading her thoughts.
She had avoided any unnecessary interaction with him since their last meeting. 
It was better this way—keeping things professional, maintaining her distance. That was what she had trained herself to do.
Just as she was about to move on to another file, a knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Dr. Harrington,” a nurse said as she poked her head inside. 
“There’s a patient who needs immediate attention. She’s been experiencing severe abdominal pain, and the family wants someone experienced to check on her. The director asked for you to be called upon to handle this.”
April sighed, grateful for the distraction. “Alright, I’ll take it. Just give me some minutes please.”
She quickly gathered her stethoscope and medical kit before standing up. As she stepped out of her office, the nurse walked alongside her, briefing her on the patient’s symptoms.
“She’s been complaining about sharp pain on the lower right side of her abdomen. We suspect appendicitis, but we need confirmation before we schedule surgery,” the nurse explained.
April nodded. “I’ll examine her and determine the next course of action. If she needs to be operated on, we get to it.”
But the moment she stepped into the ward and laid eyes on the patient, she froze.
Lying on the hospital bed, looking as shocked as she was, was Cara.
Her step-sister.
The one person who had made her childhood and adulthood a living nightmare.
Cara, who had always taunted her. Who had done everything in her power to make her feel like she didn’t belong.
For a brief moment, April considered walking away. But then, as quickly as the thought came, she buried it. She was a doctor first. 
Whatever history they had, whatever resentment still lingered between them, this was just another patient.
She stepped closer, her expression neutral.
“Cara,” she said, her voice calm and professional.
Cara, however, looked horrified. “No way,” she muttered, her eyes narrowing. “This must be a joke.”
April ignored her reaction. “I’m here to check on you.”
Cara let out a bitter laugh, then winced as the pain shot through her stomach. “Of all the doctors in this hospital, you’re the one they sent to me?”
April simply put on her gloves. “I’m one of the best in this hospital,” she said matter-of-factly. “So, let’s get started.”
But Cara wasn’t done.
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered, shaking her head. “First, you disappear for years after that pathetic marriage of yours falls apart, and now you show up here as a doctor? Are you seriously trying to act important?”
April exhaled slowly, keeping her patience in check. “I don’t have time for this, Cara. If you want to get better, let me do my job.”
Cara smirked despite the pain. “Oh, so now you’re suddenly all high and mighty? Acting like you don’t care? I bet you didn’t even ask about Dad.”
April stiffened but didn’t let the words get to her. “Your health is my priority right now, not our family history,” she said, keeping her voice steady.
She placed her hands gently on Cara’s abdomen, pressing down on different areas to check for tenderness. The moment she pressed on the lower right side, Cara let out a yelp of pain.
April glanced up. “You’re showing clear signs of appendicitis. We’ll need to schedule surgery immediately.”
Cara’s expression twisted in anger. “Oh, hell no!” she snapped. “I’m not letting you anywhere near me with a scalpel!”
April arched an eyebrow. “You’d rather risk your appendix rupturing?”
“I’d rather have anyone but you operate on me,” Cara spat. “You probably see this as an opportunity to get back at me. Maybe even kill me while you’re at it.”
April closed her eyes briefly, inhaling deeply before speaking. “I’m a doctor, Cara. I don’t let personal feelings interfere with my job.”
But Cara wasn’t convinced.
“You expect me to believe that?” She let out a short laugh before wincing again. “You’ve always been jealous of me. Maybe this is your way of getting revenge. Maybe you want to make me suffer.”
April’s patience was wearing thin. “Believe what you want,” she said curtly. “I don’t have the energy to argue with you. You need surgery, and it needs to be done soon. If you refuse my help, I’ll arrange for another surgeon to take over. The choice is yours.”
Cara scoffed. “Oh, don’t act like you care. You never did.”
April met her gaze, her expression unreadable. “You’re right. I don’t.”
And with that, she turned on her heels and walked away.
She wasn’t going to waste her time trying to convince Cara of anything. If she wanted another doctor, she could have one. April didn’t owe her anything.
As she reached the door, she heard Cara fumbling with her phone.
“Dad, you need to get to the hospital right now,” Cara said urgently. “You won’t believe who’s here.”
April shook her head and stepped out of the room, making her way back to her office.
The last thing she wanted was to get involved with the Harrington family again.
Back in her office, April sank into her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose.
She should have expected this. Running into Richard had been enough of a shock, but now Cara?
She could only imagine what would come next.
And now, with Mr. Harrington being called to the hospital, she knew it was only a matter of time before the past she had tried so hard to escape came crashing down on her.
She wasn’t afraid, though.
She had faced worse.
And she wasn’t the weak, desperate girl they had once known.
If they wanted a fight, they would soon realize—
She wasn’t one to back down anymore.