Chapter 1

A major car accident nearly cost me my life. With ambulances in short supply, paramedics provided basic care as I waited for rescue.

Mustering all my strength, I called Granger, who was on vacation, to save me.

He coldly replied, "Can you stop pulling these stunts to get me to see you? I'm very busy."

I was rushed to the ER and told there weren't enough doctors. The hospital called Granger to come back and assist with the emergency.

At that moment, he was at an intern's house performing surgery on a dog. He made various excuses and only returned to work at the hospital the next day.

But by then, I had already been transferred to another city for surgery, barely escaping death.

Three years later, I returned home to visit my father who had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. I ran into Granger at the hospital.

Wearing his white coat, he smirked at me, "Finally decided to come back? If you want to marry me, go apologize to Melody first. Then I'll consider whether to take you as my wife or not."

But I was already a mother by then, with a pair of twins. I no longer needed to beg him to marry me.

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Upon learning of my father's hospitalization due to a brain hemorrhage, I promptly purchased a plane ticket to return to my hometown and visit him.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Granger who was working at the hospital.

He was wearing a white coat, looking confident and accomplished, with a nameplate on his chest displaying his position as chief physician.

Seeing me looking travel-worn, he stopped me and said,

"Evelina, where on earth have you been these past two years? Did you go into hiding just because I didn't marry you?"

I hadn't realized Granger had changed hospitals, and it happened to be where my dad was admitted.

Eager to see my father and not wanting to get entangled with him, I spoke with a harsh tone.

"Get out of my way. Don't block me from my important business."

Never having heard me speak to him so brusquely before, Granger pulled his hand out of his pocket.

He grabbed my arm forcefully and said in an unpleasant tone, "I'm trying to have a civil conversation with you. Why are you still so disrespectful?!"

His grip on my arm was painful. I glared at him and said, "What's wrong with you?"

Granger looked at my reddened arm, paused for a few seconds, then said, "I'm sorry, I..."

Before he could finish, I walked away and took the nearby stairs up to the thirteenth floor where the inpatient department was located.

I saw that because my dad's condition was caught early and he received prompt treatment, he was conscious and able to move his limbs, though they were still a bit numb.

My anxious heart finally relaxed, and I let out a sigh of relief.Mom was worried that Dad hadn't slept for two days and one night. I told her to go back and rest, and I would take over watching him.

At seven in the evening, just as I was about to feed Dad, Granger appeared at the doorway with some fruit.

He had already taken off his white coat and was wearing casual clothes. After putting down the fruit,

His gaze fixed on my reddened hands. He took out some Tiger Balm from his pocket and said to me:

"Evelina, I'm sorry about what happened this morning. I got a bit worked up. Put some of this on first.

If you had told me earlier that your father was in the hospital, I wouldn't have treated you like that. You always keep things to yourself, just like two years ago when you left without a word."

What a phony. I rolled my eyes and swatted the ointment out of his hand.

I spoke coldly and distantly: "Please don't call me by my nickname, and you put your hands on me, that's what you did. Why bother with all these excuses? I don't accept your apology.

Before I lose my temper, take your fruit and leave."

Seeing how unfriendly I was, and noticing the strange looks from patients in the next room, Granger's face darkened.

Just then his phone rang, and as soon as he answered, his tone became gentle.

"Fifi threw up again? I'll come right away and take her to the vet. You..."He hurriedly walked out of the hospital room while talking on his phone, his voice fading until I could no longer make out what he was saying.

Fifi is Melody's pet dog.