Chapter 88 James Still Won't Give Up
I struggled to turn my head, trying to see who had arrived. The figure gradually came into focus before my eyes, and the corner of my mouth drooped.
How could it be him?
James's expression was cold as he glanced at me lying awake in the bed. His gaze shifted to Nicholas beside me.
"Catherine's heart was also injured. After reviewing the medical records, the hospital leadership decided to assign me as the attending physician."
My... heart was injured?
Hearing this, I calmed down and carefully tried to sense my heartbeat. Only then did I belatedly realize the rhythm was much slower than normal. There were even moments of chest tightness and shortness of breath.
I'd just assumed these were simple aftereffects of my injuries. It hadn't crossed my mind that my heart was damaged too.
Wait—no! Even if my heart was injured, I absolutely could not fall into James's hands.
Memories from my past life flashed rapidly before my eyes. Countless scenes of him using me for clinical trials felt like they'd happened just yesterday. Cold instruments, injection after injection of drugs pumped into my body...
I was having a stress reaction. Nicholas quickly stepped forward. I gripped his hand tightly, tears glistening in my eyes.
James pulled a stethoscope from his white coat pocket, preparing to come check on my condition. The moment he approached, Nicholas looked up warily.
"Don't come closer."
James's brow furrowed. "Nicholas, who's the doctor here—you or me? Can't you see she needs treatment right now?"
Nicholas snorted coldly, refusing to budge. "Before you showed up, her condition was perfectly stable."
James was momentarily speechless, seemingly not expecting Nicholas to be so disrespectful. But he still said, "This is a hospital, not a place for you to run your mouth. Professional matters should be handled by professionals. Would I really harm her?"
"You would."
You would!
Nicholas and I spoke in unison—though mine was only in my head. Nicholas had somehow voiced my exact thought.
Both their faces looked terrible. In the end, James didn't come any closer. Standing several steps away, he took a deep breath.
"Catherine, weren't you the one who insisted you could live just fine after leaving the Rosewood family? How'd you end up in such a pathetic state? You nearly died. We only wanted you to test medicine for Sabby. Was it really necessary to rebel against us like—"
"Enough!" Nicholas's voice was sharp.
He patted the back of my hand soothingly and tucked the blanket around me. Then Nicholas straightened up, meeting James's dissatisfied gaze head-on.
James looked at him sideways. "I'm talking to my own sister. What business does an outsider have butting in? Who are you to Catherine anyway? Besides, am I wrong? The Rosewood family raised her all these years. Instead of being grateful, she—"
Nicholas slammed the bowl of congee down hard on the bedside table, cutting off James's speech. The two men faced off.
I couldn't help feeling anxious. Sure, Nicholas and I had an ambiguous relationship, but if you asked what we actually were, we were just friends.
And I understood James's motives for saying all this. He'd seen me nearly lose half my life and figured I might as well have died for Sabrina. Dying out here on my own versus saving his precious Sabby—James would rather I died with some value. He was deliberately saying these things, trying to manipulate me into returning to the Rosewood family.
I sneered inwardly. After all this time, James still hadn't given up. He still didn't understand why I'd rather leave the Rosewood family and struggle than continue being their obedient, dutiful little sister.
Nicholas's next words hit exactly what I was thinking.
"James, quit pulling rank as the older brother to pressure me. Catherine's already severed ties with you all. In such a huge hospital, why are you the one assigned as her attending physician? Don't think I don't know what you're planning. Let me make this crystal clear—as long as I'm here, Catherine will never test medicine for anyone ever again. Whatever happens to Catherine has nothing to do with any of you. Now, please leave her room. You're polluting the air."
Nicholas issued the dismissal without an ounce of courtesy.
I'd been quietly watching James's expression the whole time. That face that had always been cold and merciless toward me turned pale, then flushed with anger before he finally left.
My mood lifted. I tried to move the corners of my mouth into a smile for Nicholas, wanting to show my gratitude. I couldn't help thinking—if Nicholas hadn't been here, how would I have faced James?
Listening to those words, even though they no longer affected me the way they once did, they'd still leave me feeling awful. And if James had tried to force medicine on me, in my current physical state, I'd have had no way to resist.
Thank god Nicholas was by my side.
The moment that thought formed, I felt even more anguished. Nicholas mistakenly thought I was worried about James.
He quickly reassured me. "Don't worry. They only brought you to this hospital because it was closest after the rescue. Before you woke up, I already contacted the best private hospital in the city. It's owned by Blake's family. No one there will hurt you."
So he'd been planning the transfer all along. Thinking about it this way, I seemed to owe him even more.
My eyes grew moist. I could barely contain my emotions anymore. Nicholas was too good to me.
He'd rescued me from the hellish Rosewood family. Taken me in. Knowing I needed money, he'd found ways to pay me a salary. He'd helped investigate things I wanted to know, taken me to that party to watch Sabrina embarrass herself. When I was afraid of facing the Rosewood family, he'd encouraged me.
Sure, he'd also kissed me forcefully when his emotions got out of control, but he'd never gone further than that. Nicholas embodied every beautiful fantasy I had about love.
What a shame... He just happened to be indirectly responsible for my parents' deaths.
From another angle, Nicholas deserved half the credit for the life I had now. But in my heart, I couldn't bring myself to hate him at all.
What was I supposed to do?
Just as my mind spiraled into chaos, the hospital room door opened once again. Two figures walked in.
Seeing Nicholas wasn't in his office, Melissa had realized I might be awake and hurried over. When our eyes met, she suddenly covered her mouth as tears fell.
"Cate, you're finally awake. I almost thought, thought..."
"I told you she'd be fine, but you insisted if we came any later we wouldn't see her." Liam's voice was somewhat grating, carrying that cocky, carefree edge.
I looked between them in confusion, not understanding how they'd ended up together. And why was Liam so different from how I'd known him?
At the Johnson family banquet and during the competition, Liam had been a dark, twisted kid. How had being around Melissa completely changed his whole vibe? Not only was he sunny and cheerful now, but his entire demeanor was different.
Nicholas didn't give Liam a pleasant look. He only addressed Melissa. "Why'd you bring him? He's nothing but trouble."