Chapter 5: Emergency-Save Him!
Sebastian was caught off guard as her slap landed squarely across his face.
She was too weak to use much force, yet the red mark on his cheek stood out clearly.
“Hazel.” His expression darkened instantly-he never expected her to slap him. “What did I say that was wrong?”
Hazel’s chest heaved as she pointed at the door, her voice trembling with fury. “Get out!”
Sebastian’s face turned cold in an instant, but he forced himself to stay calm. “Hazel, I’m a doctor. When I saw that drug, I knew it was for leukemia. That’s why I gave it to Vivian.”
“If you didn’t plan on giving it to her, why hide it? Or were you planning to use it as leverage to negotiate something with her?”
“Leukemia is serious-it can kill people. This isn’t something to mess around with.”
Hazel stared at him as he kept using his doctor identity to justify himself, never once mentioning his selfish motive. It was laughable. “I was going to take it myself. Is that not allowed? Who gave you the right to steal from me?”
The word steal made Sebastian lose all patience. He thought she was just throwing a tantrum. His voice turned colder, more distant. “I have work to take care of at the hospital. I’ll be busy for a few days. Drink more water for your cold, and don’t catch a chill.”
After he left, Hazel, fuming, swept everything off the table in a crash. Her head felt heavy-her cold and rage draining the last of her strength.
“Ma’am, did you have a fight with the mister?” Martha rushed in and caught her just before she collapsed.
Hazel pointed at the suitcase. “Martha, please help me pack my clothes.”
Martha hesitated. “Are you going somewhere?”
Hazel stared blankly at the bedroom. Their wedding photo still hung on the wall-she had been smiling so brightly, nestled in his arms.
Now, everything had changed.
Sebastian wasn’t the man he used to be.
He was tainted.
The divorce agreement was already signed. It was time for her to move out.
“Yeah… I’m staying at a friend’s place,” Hazel said vaguely, not wanting to risk anything that might delay the divorce.
She took the suitcase and called her best friend, Julia White, explaining everything-including what Sebastian had done.
She asked her to cover for her for a while.
Julia exploded. “That scumbag Sebastian!”
“So what are you planning to do now?”
“I want to apply for a position at Hawking Research Institute,” Hazel said softly. “I don’t want to waste what time I have left.”
She had looked it up the past few days. Hawking had been openly hiring pharmaceutical research assistants.
She had graduated from Capital University with a major in clinical pharmacy. It was the perfect fit. She wanted to fight for it.
Every extra day she lived was a gift.
And she was going to fight to earn it.
Her face was pale. She clutched her aching knees-purple bruises were starting to show. Every small movement brought excruciating pain.
She remembered one of the symptoms of leukemia: joint pain that could make walking impossible.
She was running out of time.
At Hawking Research Institute.
Dr. Leonard Grant scanned her résumé. A top graduate from Capital University, dual specialization in pharmaceutical chemistry and molecular biology, numerous awards, a national scholarship, and a pharmacist license.
But her work experience section was sparse-just one or two vague lines. A six-month internship at MD Research Center.
“You’ve got such an impressive background. Why so little work experience?”
Hazel tried to smile but ended up with a pained expression.
She had gotten married to Sebastian right after graduation. At first, they’d go to work together every day.
But then, one day, Sebastian had a stomach issue and Constance made a fuss, blaming Hazel for not being a good wife or caring for her husband.
For the first time, Sebastian had sided with her. He said, “Hazel, work is exhausting. Just stay home. I’ll take care of everything. I hate seeing you suffer through hair loss and lab stress.”
Because of those words-I’ll take care of you, I’ll love you-she quit her job and became a full-time wife.
Now, looking into Dr. Grant’s eyes full of pity, she suddenly realized how ridiculous and tragic it was to have thrown away her career for a family.
She needed to find herself again.
Even if she didn’t have much time left, she couldn’t just waste away.
If she wanted to live, she had to save herself.
“Dr. Grant, please… give me a chance to intern here,” Hazel said sincerely. Then she added, “I have leukemia. If the lab ever needs samples, I’m willing to provide my own.”
Dr. Grant looked at her pale face and those bright, determined eyes. Despite her condition, she radiated a fierce will to live-like the first light of dawn breaking through darkness.
He had a gut feeling.
This seemingly fragile woman had more strength than anyone realized.
And with credentials like hers, he had no reason to refuse.
“Alright. You’re officially hired.”
Hazel lit up. “Thank you, Dr. Grant!”
But after just two steps, her knees buckled and she collapsed.
Dr. Grant immediately had her put in a wheelchair. “Don’t rush into work. Get settled in first and focus on recovery.”
Hazel stayed in the infirmary all day. By the next morning, she was already getting restless. She called for Lilly, the young intern assigned to care for
her.
A freshly graduated college student, Lilly was full of youthful energy. Sensing Hazel’s boredom, she wheeled her out to the back garden.
Outside the wooden fence, a soft floral scent floated on the breeze. Hazel took a deep breath, feeling suddenly refreshed.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, gazing at the colorful blooms, the swing, and the bamboo pavilion in the distance-it all looked like something out of a
fairy tale.
Lilly stood on tiptoe, plucked a rose, and tucked it behind Hazel’s ear. Her eyes sparkled. “Miss Carter, you’re so beautiful.”
Hazel lifted her face. Even without makeup, her skin was flawless and translucent. The flower added a splash of color to her calm features, making her look even more striking.
The heaviness in her heart finally began to lift.
There were still beautiful things in this world.
She didn’t want to die. Not yet.
She wasn’t ready to let go.
Hazel smiled. “You really know how to cheer me up.”
Lilly stomped her foot. “I meant every word! I’m not just saying that.”
Hazel laughed at her cuteness. But just as she looked up, she spotted a slender man standing by the lake. He had an almost unreal kind of beauty-sharp brows, a straight nose, thin lips. She had never seen a face so wickedly handsome.
Sunlight poured down, but it seemed to avoid him. Dressed in a thin hospital gown, he gave off an air of deep cold, like frost that never thawed.
“Who’s that?”
Just as she asked, the man suddenly jumped into the lake.
Hazel’s heart dropped. “Someone help him!”
Lilly panicked. “I can’t swim-I’ll go get help!”
Hazel saw the man sinking, not even trying to fight it. Without thinking, she stood up, pushed past the pain, and leapt into the water.
She had nearly drowned as a child, so she had learned to swim just to overcome the trauma-never expecting it would one day save a life.
The man had his eyes closed, making no effort to surface. His delicate, almost ethereal face looked like it was begging for death.
Hazel kicked hard, swimming toward him. She grabbed his wrist.
He opened his eyes. They were beautifully shaped, but hollow-like a still lake in winter. Cold, yet strangely captivating.
Hazel was stunned for a second. She had never seen such a beautiful man.
She opened her mouth to speak-only to gulp a mouthful of water. Her face turned red as her lungs burned, but she refused to let go.
Please… hurry….
Bubbles escaped her lips as she struggled to breathe.
The man stared at her struggling face. His lashes trembled. Finally, he reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her to the surface.
Hazel had no strength left. By the time they broke the water, she had already passed out in his arms.
A crowd quickly gathered.
Even the normally composed Dr. Grant turned pale with fright. Looking at the dripping man, his voice trembled. “Young Master, are you trying to kill me with worry? If anything happens to you, how do I explain it to your father?”
Elias Sterling lowered his eyes. His lashes were so fine you could see the blood vessels beneath them. A faint mole sat beneath his lower lid.
He glanced at the wheelchair near the shore. His voice was cold, clear, and sharp like a mountain spring. “Whose is that?”
Lilly quickly picked it up and pointed to the woman in his arms. “It’s Miss Carter’s. She wasn’t supposed to move-her knees are still bleeding.”
Elias frowned slightly.
His eyes fell on Hazel’s pale but beautiful face. He pressed his lips together. “Can’t even save herself.”
And yet… she tried to save someone else.
He carried her back to her room.
Dr. Grant ran a full exam and confirmed that her joints had started bleeding again. He immediately gave her a fibrinogen injection to stop it.
Elias sat there lazily, voice indifferent. “Since when did you start admitting patients?”
Dr. Grant explained, “She has leukemia. She came to interview for a research assistant position. I hired her.”
Elias gave a faint, mocking laugh. “You really do everything.”
Dr. Grant wasn’t offended by the sarcasm. He sighed. “Young Master, trying to die like this won’t work. Once you recover, your father has already agreed to let you go.”
Elias shot him a cold glance and walked away. At the door, he paused and warned, “Don’t tell her who I am.”
Dr. Grant nodded. He wouldn’t have said anything anyway. Revealing that Elias was the heir to the Sterling Group would only cause chaos.
If the world knew he was here for treatment, panic would erupt.
When Hazel woke up and saw the familiar room, she asked Lilly, “That guy from this morning-is he okay?”
Lilly shook her head. “He’s fine. Dr. Grant took him in as a patient.”
Hazel nodded slowly.
She had asked Lilly before-these weren’t just regular patients. This was a research institute, not a hospital.
Most people here were drug trial participants.
She figured he must be one of them.
Lilly let out a nervous “Mm-hmm.”
Hazel didn’t press the issue. Her phone buzzed suddenly-over a dozen WeChat messages popped up on her screen.
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