Chapter 109 Reluctant
Finished
Perry’s abdominal fluid kept building up, so to reduce the burden on his organs, he had to stop eating for now.
Philip had brought a meal, but it was specially prepared for Evelyn.
They went up to the rooftop, where there was no scent of medicine or noisy halls. Finally, a quiet spot to enjoy food.
Thinking over the surgical plan and having Perry’s agreement, Evelyn felt much more at ease.
Even the food in her hands seemed especially tasty.
Philip reached out, brushed a strand of hair from her face, and said gently, “I need to return to the base for now. Quade will be here soon to cover my shift.”
“Go ahead, I understand,” Evelyn answered with empathy.
At the base, the commander always praised Philip as his brightest student, so naturally, he got extra duties.
“Your place is at the base, mine is here in the hospital. We should both respect and other,” Evelyn added.
But Philip didn’t look pleased with how calmly she took it.
“You don’t even seem a little unwilling to let me go,” he said.
Evelyn froze for a second, then burst into laughter.
Her lunchbox shook, nearly spilling the pile of potatoes.
So Philip needed a bit of affection too.
She teased him, putting on a playful voice and saying she’d miss him.
But she exaggerated so much she even gave herself goosebumps,
Pretending to act sweet and delicate really wasn’t her way.
Philip felt awkward as well. “That didn’t sound real.”
Their eyes met and both of them started laughing again.
On that rooftop, their troubles disappeared for the moment.
support each
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Right then, they only had each other in their eyes.
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When it came time to head back down, Evelyn timed it perfectly, wrapped her arms around Philip’s neck, and kissed him on the cheek. “Be safe on the way. I’ll miss you.”
This time, she truly meant it.
Philip paused, then looked down at her. His dark eyes shimmered with emotion, growing deeper and deeper. He leaned in and kissed her back.
It was difficult to part, all their yearning and reluctance sealed in that kiss.
Evelyn kept watching Philip leave, not turning away until his car was completely gone. Only then did she head back into Rowan’s office.
Rowan looked furious. Medical charts were scattered all over the table, and the office phone was smashed on the floor.
Evelyn didn’t need to ask as she already knew what had gone
down.
She crouched, picked up the phone, and started straightening the desk. “Dr. Cook, it’s just us, right? Surgery isn’t a fistfight. We don’t need a whole team to pull it off.”
That was what she said, but Rowan was still seething.
He trusted his apprentice, believed in her abilities.
But the problem was, the others didn’t.
They thought it was too much of a gamble, unwilling to take the chance, worried about ruining their careers.
A few people wanted to help, but they were stuck far away in Kingstead. Just traveling here would take three or four days, and by then Perry might not survive.
He was so frustrated he started throwing things across the table.
“Damn it, Evelyn, it’s my fault,” Rowan muttered as he blamed himself.
Evelyn was touched.
From the start, Rowan never said her idea was wrong. He had always backed her.
It almost felt like, no matter what, he’d stand behind her.
Thinking of that, Evelyn wanted to be sure. “Dr. Cook, are you just letting me try for practice, or do you truly think my plan can succeed? Is that why you’re going all out to help me?”
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What kind of question was that?
Rowan was so mad he nearly exploded.
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He snatched up a medical file and smacked Evelyn on the head with it.
The lines at the corners of his eyes tightened. “You brat, are you calling me a fraud? Of course I believe in your plan, that’s why I’m helping!”
If he was only letting her attempt it for experience, that would mean he didn’t care about Perry’s life.
And for a doctor, that was the ultimate sin.
Evelyn smiled awkwardly, stuck her tongue out, and apologized earnestly. “Sorry, Dr. Cook.”
Rowan had been truly angry, but when he saw her playful expression, his fury faded away.
“Alright, so what did Perry decide?” Rowan shifted the topic.
Evelyn told him everything.
Since Perry had agreed to the operation, there was no reason to delay. If all went well, they could begin first thing in the morning.
Evelyn felt the weight on her shoulders. She couldn’t sleep at all, just kept reviewing and refining the surgical plan.
The next morning, she arrived with dark circles under her eyes, ready for work.
Afraid of losing energy during surgery, she brewed tea and chewed a handful of leaves to stay alert.
But when she entered the operating room, she saw that besides Rowan, another doctor was already in scrubs.
Someone else had decided to join them.
Evelyn rushed forward and realized it was Tom.
“Dr. Hayward!” Evelyn called out.
Tom still had that same kind look, smiling as he greeted her. “Evelyn, you’ve really worked hard for this patient. Look at those eye bags! Once the surgery’s done, I’ll ask the director to give you a few days off, alright?”
“Hey, she’s my student. If anyone deserves time off, it’s me. Why are you acting like the nice
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guy here, sugar–head?” Rowan muttered.
Finished
These two missed each other when apart, but once together, they started bickering nonstop.
Evelyn quickly stepped in and asked Tom, “Dr. Hayward, why did you come back?”
“I came to help you out. I reviewed your plan; it’s possible, though a bit dangerous. But if we don’t attempt it, there’s zero chance. You’ve got courage.”
“How did you even hear about this?”
The hospital at the mountains was over a hundred kilometers away, so it wasn’t easy for Tom to
come.
Tom tilted his head slightly toward Rowan. “Dr. Cook got drunk last night, called the hospital, and poured everything out to me. Since he asked, I had to come.”
“Hey, what nonsense? I didn’t pour my heart out, I just mumbled after drinking. How was I supposed to know I dialed you? I meant to call my wife,” Rowan shot back.
Evelyn couldn’t resist exposing him. “Dr. Cook, your wife’s at home. You don’t need to call her, do you?”
“You … What do you know? Our house is so big, we call each other from the kitchen to the living room.”
Fine, let him brag. She’d just let it slide.
But drinking the night before surgery? Was that really okay?
“It’s an old habit of his. Before a big surgery, he always has a drink to calm down. He’ll manage just fine,” Tom reassured her.
If that was the case, then there was no issue.
Evelyn nodded, looked at the two of them, and said, “Let’s prepare for the operation.”
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