Chapter 10: Hospital Rumors

Alina tensed. Nathan's statement cut like a dagger.

"What do you mean?" Her voice was calm, but her gaze was full of wariness.

Nathan didn't answer immediately. His eyes studied every expression on Alina's face, as if searching for something lost—something that once belonged to Aileen.

"You've changed. It's not just trauma or the accident," he said slowly. "Your movements, the way you speak, your gaze... everything is different. You're not the Aileen I knew."

Alina remained silent. She realized she had been too careless. She should have been more careful playing the role of Aileen. But now was not the time to panic.

At that moment, Lana's phone rang loudly, breaking the tension. She quickly stepped out to answer the call.

As soon as Lana left, Alina turned back to Nathan. "I had an accident, Doctor," she said, trying to sound natural. "Anyone who nearly died would change."

Nathan shook his head. "It's not just a personality shift. This is more than that. It's as if… you're someone else entirely, inside Aileen's body."

Alina held her breath. Nathan was too sharp. If she denied it, he wouldn't stop until he got a satisfying answer. Before she could respond, the door burst open.

Lana stood at the doorway, her face filled with confusion and fear. "Doctor… we have a big problem."

Nathan turned. "What problem?"

"The VIP patient… is missing."

Alina immediately went on alert. "What?!"

Lana nodded quickly. "When we returned to check on him, the room was empty. His bodyguards were gone too. As if they never existed."

Nathan ran a hand down his face, trying to process the situation. "My God… Is there CCTV footage?"

Lana swallowed hard. "That's the problem. All footage from the 20th floor in the last hour is gone."

Alina narrowed her eyes. Her instincts screamed one thing: this was no ordinary incident. Someone had erased the man's tracks.

Nathan stared at her. "You were the last person to see him. What really happened?"

Alina lifted her chin, her gaze cold and dangerously calm. "I just gave him a little lesson."

Lana shuddered. There was something in Alina's voice that sent chills down her spine.

Nathan exhaled heavily. "I don't know who you really are, but if you're involved in this…" He held her gaze. "I won't stand by and do nothing."

Alina smirked. "Then you better start digging deeper, Doctor. Because there's a lot you don't know."

Nathan and Lana exchanged glances.

Meanwhile, far outside the hospital, a man in a black uniform spoke into his phone.

"Report: The target has been secured," he said to someone on the other end.

The voice on the phone replied coldly. "Good. Now, make sure that doctor stays out of this."

---

Without wasting time, Alina headed straight to the CCTV room. The hospital staff and Dr. Richard were already there. As she entered, all eyes turned to her.

"Dr. Monroe, what are you doing here?" Richard asked.

Alina threw the question back at him. "What about you? Aren't you supposed to be on duty in the ER?"

Richard's face tensed, but he quickly composed himself. "I'm checking the CCTV footage. Isn't the VIP patient missing?"

Alina wasn't easily fooled. Richard wasn't the type to care about patients without a reason. If he was here, there had to be something in it for him.

"Really?" Alina crossed her arms. "Are you sure you're just checking?"

Richard stood firm in his answer, but Alina had another plan. She stepped closer, feigning sympathy, and swiftly placed a small device on the computer's CPU.

"Alright, Doctor. You really are dedicated." She turned away casually. "Well then, I'll get back to work."

The hacking device was in place.

When she returned to her office, she overheard the hospital staff whispering.

"I heard Dr. Aileen had a fight with the VIP patient."

"She even broke his finger!"

"No way! Dr. Aileen wouldn't do that!"

"I saw it myself. She didn't look remorseful at all."

Slowly, the whispers turned into accusations.

"Didn't she stab Dr. Richard before?"

"Yes! I remember! Her face back then… it was like a psychopath's."

The commotion eventually reached the hospital director's ears.

A staff member came to report. "Doctor, that girl is causing trouble again. This time with the VIP patient."

The white-haired man sitting comfortably in his chair only gave a thin smile. He raised his teacup calmly.

"Really? She did escape death." His gaze was cold. "But now, she's digging her own grave."

The doctor in front of him smirked, enjoying the game. "Exactly, Doctor. She hasn't learned from the past."

The bespectacled man grinned. "Keep an eye on her. Don't let her interfere with our plans."

---

In Alina's office, the tension was growing. The security team had begun their investigation, but discreetly, to avoid causing a scene.

Suddenly, Lana appeared out of nowhere. "Aileen, aren't you afraid?"

Alina flinched. She had been busy working on patient reports. Without looking at Lana, she replied calmly, "Why should I be afraid? I did nothing wrong."

Lana studied Alina closely. The Aileen she knew would have panicked if security got involved. But this one? Too calm.

Soon, a security officer approached. "Dr. Monroe, it's your turn for questioning."

Alina nodded casually and followed them to the interrogation room. Inside, a well-built man sat waiting, reading through his file.

"Aileen Monroe, young surgeon, correct?" he asked without preamble.

"Yes, that's me," Alina answered smoothly. "Let's get straight to the point. I don't have all day."

The man eyed her with subtle intrigue. Besides being beautiful, there was something about her—firmness, fearlessness.

"You were the last person to interact with the victim, weren't you?"

"Yes. So what?"

"You looked like you wanted to kill him."

Alina stared back at him, unwavering. "Doctors are human too." She leaned back. "And as a woman, I have the right to defend myself if a man tries to assault me, don't I, Officer?"

The officer hesitated, considering her words. After several questions, Alina was finally released.

The hospital staff whispered as she passed.

"How is she not arrested?"

"Isn't she guilty?"

Alina only gave a faint smile. Let them assume whatever they wanted—only she knew the truth.

Not long after, the officers left the hospital, and things slightly settled.

But Alina remained unaffected. She continued her work despite the rumors swirling around her. Words meant nothing to her. Unless someone dared to lay a hand on her—then she wouldn't hesitate to fight back.

While waiting for her shift to end, she checked the hospital's CCTV system through the hacking device. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, and in seconds, the missing footage was restored.

She quickly examined it, but the culprit was still unknown. Frustration built up. Then, she suddenly remembered the patient with a stab wound to the stomach.

Without wasting time, she rushed to his room and found the man awake, leaning against the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice flat.

The man lifted his head, giving a small smile. "Better, Doctor."

Alina studied his face. Too calm for someone who nearly died.

"You were stabbed," she continued. "What really happened?"

The man hesitated for a moment before answering, "I accidentally stabbed myself while working."

Alina's eyes sharpened. The wound was too clean, too precise—done by someone skilled with a blade.

"Are you sure?" she pressed. "The officers are outside. I can call them right now."

The man's face stiffened. His hands trembled.

"Pl... please, don't, Doctor."