CHapter 200


    Seeing the figure sprawled out on the hospital bed, Noe furrowed her brow.


    Calvin’s face lit up with hope upon spotting Noe!


    The patient was in critical condition, but he remembered Noe’s paper was about the very


    research on the symptoms now manifesting before them.


    Noe nced at Palmer and passed the sandwich Ulrich had handed her to Palmer’s waiting


    hands.


    “Be back in a jiffy.”


    “Sure thing.”


    Palmer knew she’d dive into the fray, so a faint smile yed on his lips.


    Donning surgical scrubs, Noe followed Calvin into the ER.


    “Take a gander, he’s got what looks like a problem in his aortic dissection. The inneryer of the


    aorta’s torn, and it’s a Type A. Guy’s passing out and bleeding massively from the dissection, and


    they didn’t even dare do CPR on the way here. We’ve got to operate now, and honestly, even I’ve


    only got a thirty percent shot at pulling this off.”


    Noe nodded. She grasped the gravity of the situation and looked up at Calvin with a serious tone,


    “I’ll take over, just sign the consent.”


    Calvin gritted his teeth. He knew there was no time to waver, thus quickly stepping aside


    for Noe.


    “Let’s get anesthesia going and prep for surgery!” Seeing the hesitant looks from the other doctors,


    Calvin asserted firmly, “I’m in charge! We’re all backing Noe on this!”


    With Calvin’s word and the urgency of the patient’s condition, the ER buzzed to action.


    Two hourster.


    The assisting doctor wiped the sweat from Noe’s forehead with awe at her steady


    hand.


    No wonder Professor Calvin had insisted on her for the operation. Her skill was rare even among


    seasoned surgical experts!


    Noe exhaled a sigh of relief, “The surgery went well, but we need to monitor closely for


    complications like renal failure.”


    “Don’t worry, I’ll inform the family.” Calvin affirmed.


    Noe nodded and exited with Calvin while peeling off her surgical attire.


    “Where did you pick up this case?” she asked.


    11:21


    Calvin wasn’t an ER doc, so stumbling upon such a dire case was a rarity for him.


    He chuckled wryly, “The patient’s Lucian’s grandson. Copsed fresh off the ne at the


    airport, and I just happened to be there after a conference.”


    He was so lucky to have run into Noe of all people.


    “Noe, what brings you to the hospital? Checking on your brother?”


    “No, the Gruber family had a fire. Malvina got burned and we rushed her here.”


    Calvin was at a loss for words.


    “Let’s keep this under wraps from Ulrich; I don’t want him worried. You signed off on it anyway, so


    it’s not on me. If anyplications arise, call me.” Noe added.


    But Noe was confident in her work. With proper care, the patient should pull through.


    Calvin gave a wry smile while washing his hands, “Fine by me. Just think, saving a patient with an


    aortic dissection disease puts me in the limelight for years toe at the hospital’s award


    ceremonies. If you don’t want the credit, I’ll take it!”


    “It’s yours. I don’t need it.” Such des never mattered to Noe.


    Stepping out of the OR, Palmer was briefing Annie on the Gruber family incident.


    Annie rushed over when she saw Noe, “Ms. Noe! The news of the Gruber family’s bankruptcy


    will break tomorrow, but it’s unclear how many made it out of the fire. They’ve nabbed the arsonist,


    a member of the Shadow Dragon Society.”


    Noe raised an eyebrow, “Shadow Dragon Society?”


    “Yeah, an insider helped Malvina start the fire. Apparently, the Gruber family’s gasoline was all


    supplied by the Shadow Dragon Society. He imed he had no idea Malvina wanted to end it all.


    Once he knew Malvina was hospitalized, he took the fall and got


    arrested.”


    The ER lights finally went off, and a weary Ulrich emerged.


    “She’ll live, but doesn’t seem to want to. The burn and smoke inhtion aren’t too bad; her airway’s


    clear.” He said.


    Malvina’s biggest issue was ack of will to live.


    Muttering, Ulrich added, “Why on earth would she kill herself out of the blue? You and Palmer can


    head on home, Noe. I’ve got it from here so she’ll make it.”


    “Alright. Will she scar?”


    “Not on her face, maybe on her legs. But a tattoo will cover that up nicely in the future,” Ulrich


    replied honestly.


    Noe looked at her brother. She had no idea that her brother was a caring doctor who


    11:21


    even thought about how to treat future wounds for his patient.


    “We’re off then. Let her know to call me when she wakes. Ordered you some food; it’s in your


    office. Lay off the sandwiches.” With a wave of the sandwich in her hand, Noe and Palmer left


    the hospital.


    Hearing about the meal from his sister, Ulrich beamed with joy.


    The Schnabel family group chat soon buzzed with Ulrich’s boastful videos.


    “Who’s the angel that bought me thiste–night feast? Oh, it’s my sis!”


    Beckett chimed in, “Why’s she at the hospital sote?”


    Stirling added, “Thought Noe was with Palmer? Howe she’s in hospital? Did he do


    something?”


    Ulrich quickly rified, and everyone rxed.


    ra scrolled through her gallery to share all those photos in the group, “Look at all these meals my


    sis arranged for me every day. She worries that I won’t eat well in Emerald County. She loves me!”


    Jasper teased, “Now that you’re not in Emerald County, you can skip meals.”


    “So jealous, huh? I even get to snuggle with sis at night, eat your hearts out, boys~” ra signed off


    from the group chat with a sense of satisfaction and quickly clicked on Ulrich’s private message.


    [Since Ms. Gruber got burnt with you being the lead doc and all, you gotta keep a closer eye on her,


    ya know?]


    Ulrich was all bewildered. Why should he care about Malvina in particr? Didn’t he care about all


    his patients?


    Bright and early the next day, Noe arrived at the hospital with ra in tow.


    Malvina was awake. Her once shiny hair was now dull and straw–like, her face drawn and tired,


    lacking its usual sparkle.


    “Noe, sweetie, thanks for saving me. Love you to bits.” She said.


    Noe just shook her head, handing Malvina a plush pillow to lean onfortably.


    Noe knew what Malvina fretted about and didn’t keep her in the dark.


    “The Grubers are bankrupt. Arthur, Yates and Walden are all hanging by a thread, but Yvonne


    Gruber managed to hightail it out.”


    Malvina nodded, “Hmm, that’s some silver lining, I guess.”


    RIA


    11-21


    ra was feeling uneasy, “Malvina, what are you gonna do with the Grubers going under?”


    Malvina gave a weak smile, her hand wrapped in bandages as she brushed her hair aside. “I’ve


    got a stash, you know. Kept it hidden. Even if the Grubers are bust, I’ve got my own trove – a


    bunch of gold bars worth a few hundred grand! Smart, huh? But I… never thought I’d make it out


    alive.”


    Her gaze


    feil on the photo album ced beside her, her eyes brimming with longing.


    “I miss my mom, miss her every day. So much that when I see Sienna calling to check if you’ve


    eaten, what you had, it just makes me wanna cry.”


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    She wiped away a tear, the corners of her lips pulling into a weary smile.


    “I’m really scared, you know. Scared Arthur would sell me off to some old geezer for a good price,


    scared Yates might off me someday, scared I won’t get to avenge my mom, and I was also scared


    of dying!”


    She was so full of fear, yet when it came time to avenge her mother, she showed such


    courage.


    The door to the room swung open, and there stood Ulrich, his face set in a stern expression as he


    looked at Malvina, “Your life was saved by me, Ms. Gruber! You don’t get to throw it away!”


    ALA