Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Clara’s POV
After Monica left, I became exceptionally busy in Maplewood City.
The surgeries I had agreed to perform at the banquet were proceeding as planned. After I finished surgery on Marina’s mother-in-law, Paige told me that my name had started circulating in Maplewood City’s medical circles. According to her, Marina now treated me like her personal savior and praised me everywhere in her social circle. In just a few days, almost everyone knew about the role I played on Gloria Nguyen’s medical team.
After completing another surgery that lasted more than ten hours, I walked out of the operating room and felt that my steps were heavier than usual.
Derek noticed the look on my face and asked softly, “Clara, you look exhausted. There’s a room in the hospital where you can rest. Do you want to go lie down for a while?”
“No, thank you,” I said. “This patient’s condition is very serious. The end of surgery doesn’t mean the patient is out of danger. I’d rather stay nearby in case any complications arise.”
I looked toward the patient who was being transferred to the ICU by the nurses.
Derek knew my temperament and did not press further. “All right. There are some chairs outside. You can sit there and wait. If anything unexpected happens, I’ll notify you immediately.”
I nodded, walked to the bench outside the ICU, and sat down.
The fatigue in my body came rushing over me all at once. I leaned back against the chair and closed my eyes before I knew it.
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Kael’s POV
Blake accompanied me to discuss Zoe’s admission arrangements with Derek.
When I saw Clara asleep on the bench at the end of the corridor, curled up, still wearing her scrubs, with her hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, people passing through the hallway kept glancing at her. Those looks made me uncomfortable.
“Go find Derek and get Zoe’s admission arranged as soon as possible,” I said to Blake.
Blake headed toward Derek’s office.
I walked over to Clara and bent down to look at her. She was sleeping deeply, the kind of sleep that came from real exhaustion, not pretense. Even in sleep, her brow had not fully relaxed.
People in the hallway were still looking this way.
Without thinking much, I picked her up from the bench and walked out.
Across from the hospital was a luxury hotel. Because Zoe came to the hospital often, I kept a long-term suite there. I carried Clara inside. She did not wake up. That exhaustion had weighed on her too heavily.
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Iris’s POV
I covered my face and appeared at the hotel where I was meeting Juan.
As I stepped out of the elevator, I caught sight of a figure in the distance down the corridor who looked like Kael. He was carrying a woman in his arms and walking toward the other end of the hall.
My heart tightened, and I followed after him.
Before I could get close, a hand reached out from one of the nearby rooms, grabbed my arm, and pulled me inside. The door shut behind me.
It was Juan.
He pinned me against the wall. Before I could react, he forcefully kissed me and groped me all over. Within seconds, there was barely any clothing left on me.
My thoughts were still on that figure in the corridor.
I pushed him. “Let go of me. You’re hurting me.”
Juan was already aroused and displeased by my resistance. He moved quickly and slapped me across the face.
The sting snapped me back a little. “Juan, what are you doing? Why did you hit me?”
He picked me up, threw me onto the bed, and kept hurling vulgar insults at me. “Damn it, you slut. I brought you here to fuck you. And now you’re telling me to let go? Stop pretending to be innocent. I’ll show you who’s in charge here.”
He pinned me heavily onto the bed. His breath was hot, reeking of tobacco and alcohol, as he kissed my lips roughly, his tongue forcing its way in, plundering and tangling with mine. I tried to push him away, but he pressed me down with even greater force.
“Don’t move, baby,” he growled, taking off his pants and exposing his thick, aroused desire, pressing it directly against my entrance.
I wanted to keep resisting, but I was afraid of being hit again, so I submitted.
Without any foreplay, he thrust in hard. The tearing pain made me scream out loud. His rhythm was savage, every deep drive hitting the deepest part of me, the bed shaking violently.
I gripped the sheets, my nails digging into my palms, my body gradually adjusting to the pain, mixed with involuntary pleasure. His hand kneaded my breast, his thumb roughly rubbing at my nipple, while his other hand gripped my hip and sped up his thrusts. Sweat dripped, breathing tangled, along with the stream of filthy words from his mouth.
Afterward, Juan lay on the bed smoking, one arm around me. I leaned a little closer to him.
“Damn woman,” he muttered. “Weren’t you resisting me just now? Look how obedient you are now.”
He blew out a ring of smoke. “Tell me, am I better than your fiancé Kael?”
When he finished his cigarette, he rolled over and pinned me beneath him again.
Afterward, Juan tossed the gift he had promised onto my chest. “A deal’s a deal. Take it.”
I picked up the two gift boxes and placed them in front of him.
“Juan, I don’t want these anymore. I want you to help me with something instead. Can you?”
He asked, “What do you need? Don’t worry. Once I make up my mind, there’s nothing I can’t do. Besides, you made me feel damn good just now. I’ll make sure to handle whatever you need properly.”
I pulled a photo out of my handbag and placed it in front of him.
“Juan, can you help me teach this woman a lesson? Preferably the kind where you do whatever you want to her first, then get rid of her. This woman has a certain charm—I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with her.”
Juan took the photo and studied it for a while before asking, “What is your relationship with this woman? Iris, if you want me to handle this, you need to be honest. Before I take a job, I always need all the details. And I suggest you don’t lie to me.”
I did not tell the truth, but I knew how to make a lie sound real.
“Juan, this woman is my half-sister. She’s extremely vile. Ever since she returned to Eldermist, she’s been bullying me and my mother, and she doesn’t even respect my father.”
I paused. “Recently, she’s been trying to seduce Kael.”
Juan continued looking at the photo and did not speak immediately.
I saw his expression shift from scrutiny to the kind of possessive interest he only showed toward beautiful women.
I caught that change and dangled the bait. “Once you deal with her and I successfully marry Kael, I’ll make sure to facilitate cooperation between your family and Voss Group.”
Juan turned the photo over and set it on the nightstand, a curve pulling at his mouth.
“Deal.”
After that, the room returned to heated entanglement.
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