Nobody Told the New Nurse Which Patient to Avoid—So She Healed the Mafia Boss First
Chapter 4
The man’s name was Victor Shaw.
Adrian’s former lawyer.
The man who had allegedly managed his legal affairs for twelve years.
The man standing inside the hospital room as if he owned it.
Victor placed the flowers on the table.
“Your daughter sends her love.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Don’t use her name.”
Victor smiled.
“I thought you wanted to know she’s safe.”
Nora stood beside the bed.
“Who are you?”
Victor looked at her.
“Just an old friend.”
“No.”
Adrian’s voice was cold.
“He’s not.”
Victor stared at Nora.
“New nurse?”
“Yes.”
“You should choose your patients carefully.”
Nora didn’t move.
“I choose the people assigned to me.”
Victor smiled.
“How noble.”
Adrian glared.
“Leave.”
Victor leaned closer.
“You’re alive because we haven’t decided what to do with you.”
Nora felt a chill.
Victor left.
The moment the door closed, she turned to Adrian.
“What did he mean?”
Adrian looked at her.
“He works for Daniel.”
“Then why does he control your daughter?”
“He doesn’t.”
“Then who does?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Her mother.”
Nora frowned.
“I thought you said—”
“Emma’s mother died.”
Silence.
Nora looked at him.
“She died?”
“Yes.”
“Then who has your daughter?”
Adrian looked toward the window.
“My sister.”
“Your sister?”
“Clara.”
Nora slowly understood.
Someone in Adrian’s own family had Emma.
And Victor was using her as leverage.
Nora checked his wound again.
“You need another dressing.”
Adrian watched her.
“You always change the subject when things get emotional?”
“I change the subject when my patient needs medical care.”
He smiled faintly.
“Fair.”
As Nora worked, she noticed his breathing changed.
He was in pain.
But he didn’t show it.
“You should tell me when something hurts.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s my job.”
“Pain is useful.”
“No.”
“It reminds me I’m alive.”
Nora looked at him.
“That’s not healthy.”
“You’d be surprised.”
She finished.
Then she noticed another scar.
This one higher on his chest.
A surgical scar.
Long.
Old.
“What’s this?”
“Heart surgery.”
She froze.
“When?”
“Eleven years ago.”
“You were twenty-five.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Someone tried to kill me.”
Nora sighed.
“Of course.”
Adrian smiled.
Then became serious.
“You don’t have to stay here.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you?”
She looked at him.
“Because nobody else does.”
That answer silenced him.
Later that night, Nora found a note slipped under her locker.
STOP TREATING 417.
She stared at it.
Another note appeared beneath it.
HE IS NOT WHO YOU THINK.
She turned around.
No one.
Then she noticed something written on the back.
A name.
Emma Cole.
Nora’s heart raced.
Someone knew about Adrian’s daughter.
She went directly to Room 417.
Adrian was awake.
“I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Who is Emma’s mother?”
He stared at her.
“Why?”
“Someone left her name in my locker.”
His expression changed instantly.
“Get away from me.”
Nora blinked.
“What?”
“You need to stay away from me.”
“You just told me to care for you.”
“Not anymore.”
“Why?”
He looked at her with something close to fear.
“Because whoever left that note knows about Emma.”
Nora stepped closer.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Adrian looked at the door.
Then whispered:
“Emma’s mother is alive.”
Nora froze.
“Who is she?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Because the answer had just walked into the hospital.
