Rescue

After finishing all of her rounds, Catherine happily went back to the nurse station. She noticed that the nurse from earlier had already woken up.

"Feeling better now?" Catherine asked as soon as she sat down.

"Yes. Thanks for covering for me," the nurse replied gratefully.

"It's alright. Here are the updates for the ward patients. So far, they are all stable, but the grandfather in the ICU still needs monitoring." Catherine put down the papers on the table in a specific arrangement and grabbed the inventory board. "I'll check the medicine. I'll be in the storage room if you need me."

Without waiting for the nurse's reply, Catherine left. The storage room was a bit far from the nurse station. It was a well-ventilated area, perfect for storing medicines. After entering the room, Catherine turned on the lamps and tidied up some boxes lying by the door.

"This one should go here… this box… right here!"

After finishing the arranging, Catherine started her main task. Focused on her work, Catherine failed to notice the danger she was about to run into.

Meanwhile, at the emergency ward…

Luke, who had been out after dinner, came back with a blank face. His expression was unreadable, and his aura had changed. Seeing that there was only one nurse at the station, he asked about Catherine.

"Did Doctor Catherine take up the night shift?" The nurse was startled by Luke's sudden appearance and inquiry. Nonetheless, since Luke was her superior, she answered truthfully, "Yes. She covered for Doctor Mary, who was sick."

"I see. Where is she now?" he continued asking, his emotion unchanged.

Despite feeling a bit uneasy, she still answered, "In the storage area, taking inventory."

After receiving a reply, Luke did not bother to thank the nurse and immediately left. The nurse was offended by his actions, but seeing that Luke had already gone, she dropped the issue.

Luke walked unhurriedly towards the storage room. He obsessively muttered Catherine's name.

"Catherine. You're mine. But if I am not to possess you, then no one else shall."

In the Storage Room…

Catherine did not yet notice how the door slowly opened. Luke emerged from the doorway and looked at Catherine with a lustful gaze. He slowly approached her, and when he was about a meter away, he took out a handkerchief laced with opium.

Feeling the presence of someone in the room, Catherine looked back to see Luke. It had been quite some time since they had seen each other, and there was unfinished business between them, making the atmosphere immediately awkward.

Catherine called his name, wanting to have a serious talk, but he cut her off.

"Lu-" she could only say his name halfway when a handkerchief covered her nose and mouth.

Seeing Luke's manic face, Catherine fought back. She dropped the papers she had been holding and started struggling in Luke's arms. Luke, on the other hand, looked like a psychopath, smiling menacingly the whole time.

"Do you think someone will love you besides me!? No! You're mine!!!"

 Luke put his other hand into Catherine's neck.

"Why not me!? Catherine, you should be mine! YOU ARE MINE!"

Having her breathing obscured by the tight grip of Luke in her neck, Catherine's consciousness starts to fade away. The last thing she saw was Luke's lustful gaze and along with a very dangerous smile.

The storage room went silent as Luke slowly put down Catherine's unconscious body to the ground. He threw the handkerchief aside, and with a sinister grin, started to caress her face like a wolf enjoying his meal. Fueled by his mixed emotions of lust and anger, Luke impatiently tore Catherine's clothes.

His hands trembling with anticipation as he began to tear the apron on Catherine. His breath quickened, the room echoing with his heavy, unsettling silence as he relished in his twisted act.

But just before he could unbutton the second button, the storage door slammed open followed by a person's shadow running towards Luke and giving a powerful punch.

Seeing his sister lying unconscious on the ground with some of her clothes torn haphazardly at her side, Hendrix's eyes saw red. "YOU BASTARD!!!" Having restrained himself for the past few days for appearances' sake, Hendrix lost his cool entirely. There was no trace of his mischievous smile, only anger and murderous intent.

Albert, William, Lord Zachary, and Doctor Helene followed Hendrix inside. When they saw Catherine's pitiful state, Albert hurriedly took off his coat and covered her body. He cradled her unconscious form and checked for other injuries. Lord Zachary went to Hendrix's side to support him, while William assisted Albert.

"It's better if we take her to the emergency ward. We have to check her thoroughly for any injuries and…" Doctor Helene trailed off, but the people in the room are all adults and understood the implications.

Knowing what Doctor Helene meant, Hendrix flinched as countless scenarios ran through his mind. Albert silently gazed at Catherine, while William gave Luke a quick glare and nodded at Doctor Helene. "Yes, you're right. Albert, let us be off."

Albert stood up carefully, adjusting Catherine in his arms to ensure she was comfortable. Before he left the room, he turned and looked at Hendrix.

"I'll leave this to you. Make sure he gets what he deserves." Without waiting for Hendrix's reply, Albert left, followed by William and Doctor Helene.

"Oh, he will," Hendrix said to himself as he menacingly glared at Luke, who was currently on the floor.

"I know you're angry, but please know your limits," Lord Zachary subtly reminded Hendrix and went to close the door to give them privacy.

"Tsk!" Hendrix started walking towards Luke while rolling up his sleeves, preparing to give the latter a good beating.

"You know… I've investigated you. You only target young, pitiful women who come from poor backgrounds. And you thought my sister was one of them, didn't you?" Hendrix grabbed Luke's collar and gave him a hard punch.

"Sister!? Catherine is your sister?" Luke asked in surprise.

"My one and only. Yet you dare hurt her?" Hendrix lost his patience and started bombarding Luke with some heavy punches.

Whatever occurred in the storage room that day was kept secret by Lord Zachary. It was a tacit understanding between them never to utter a single word of it, especially in Catherine's presence.

In the emergency ward…

Albert gently laid Catherine on the bed as Doctor Helene went to check her. William accompanied Albert to the side as they waited for the doctor to finish her examination.

The wait was torture for Albert. He felt helpless as he could only watch Catherine from the side. William patted Albert on the back and reassured him that everything would be alright.

By then, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway as Hendrix made his way towards Albert and William, with Lord Zachary following him, albeit walking slowly.

"How is she!?" A worried expression plastered on Hendrix's face as he asked Albert, panting.

"Doctor Helene is still checking her." Albert replied emotionlessly. Hendrix nodded and slumped in the seat beside him. He seemed like a man who had just lost his soul and his body had been sucked dry.

Both William and Lord Zachary silently accompanied the two, while giving them space, understanding the situation.

Silence filled the hallway as they waited. After a few minutes, Doctor Helene slowly opened the door and stared at them seriously.

"Come in… all of you," she sighed and opened the door wide for them to enter.

All four of them entered the room. They saw Catherine sleeping soundly on the bed. An IV was inserted into her left hand. Her clothes had been changed by Doctor Helene herself. Some of the small injuries on her arms were also bandaged up.

"How is she? Why isn't she awake yet?" Hendrix asked as he gently held Catherine's left hand with the IV, while Albert silently went and stood at Catherine's right side, waiting for the Doctor's reply.

"To be honest… Catherine's situation isn't great." Doctor Helene informed them somberly.