Chapter 12 The Patient Is From the Holden Family of Dithoria

Marcus gripped his phone tightly, and his brow furrowed as he typed another message to Natalie. "Ms. Walker, I'll let this incident slide, but if it happens again, I won't be so lenient." As Marcus sent the message, an animated character resembling a piglet holding a megaphone suddenly popped up on his screen. The cartoon character started shouting loudly. "Hi, I'm Penny Porcine! This is my brother Phil, and you are… a lunatic! A lunatic, lunatic, you're a lunatic! Oink, oink, oink!" Marcus froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. What was this nonsense? "Ethan," he commanded, his tone cold and firm, "stay close to my grandfather and double the security. Make sure Natalie Walker doesn't come anywhere near him." "Yes, Mr. Marcus," Ethan responded respectfully. Marcus jabbed at his phone furiously, but the animated Penny Porcine refused to disappear from the screen. Instead, she stuck out her tongue at him and kept shouting that he was a lunatic. His face darkened further. He spent a long time trying to get rid of the mocking cartoon, but the animated piglet refused to disappear. In the end, the animation vanished on its own. Fuming, he grabbed his laptop, connected it to his phone, and began typing furiously. He had figured it out. The other party had planted a program on his phone. It was time to strike back. Marcus launched his counterattack while Connie struggled to keep up. Realizing that Natalie's phone was about to be breached, she rushed to her side. "Ms. Walker, they're pushing back," she said, her voice tight with urgency. Natalie glanced at the screen, took the phone with ease, and made a few swift adjustments. A moment later, she tossed it back to Connie. "Done." "Thank you, Ms. Walker." Connie sighed in relief. "Let's go see the Holden family's patient," Natalie said. She and Peter had already discussed a treatment plan, but a thorough examination was necessary before confirming the details. "They're waiting in the VIP suite," Connie added. Natalie nodded. "Good." … The VIP suite at Quinton Hospital was a fully equipped facility with both an operating room and a recovery area. Outside the recovery room was a compact residential space, complete with everything a patient and their family might need. The suite featured three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen with a dining area, and a bathroom with shower facilities. It was spacious enough to accommodate not only the patient but their entire family. Patients could move directly from the operating room to the suite, ensuring a smooth and comfortable recovery process. These suites were typically reserved for the wealthy and influential. However, Natalie never chose her patients based on status or wealth. She cared only about the severity of their condition and their character. If someone was kind but couldn't afford treatment for a serious illness, she would take the case after Connie verified their circumstances. But if the patient was cruel or malicious, no amount of money could persuade her to help. For Natalie, the idea of a "doctor's benevolence" or "equality before life" didn't always apply. Saving the life of someone cruel and malicious only to let them harm others again wasn't an act of kindness. It was another form of evil. In most cases, those who were truly wicked didn't have much time to live. However, knowing they had been denied treatment often filled them with a dangerous mix of hatred and vengeance. They wouldn't hesitate to drag down the person who refused to save them, regardless of whether that person was a doctor or someone who had saved countless lives. Because of this, Natalie never revealed her true identity. Over the years, she had treated patients under various disguises and never appeared as herself. Sometimes she posed as an elderly male doctor. Other times, she became a middle-aged female physician. Occasionally, she disguised herself as a young man or woman, adapting to the situation as needed. This time, she was disguised as a middle-aged doctor with a bright and energetic demeanor. Natalie and Peter left the office and headed to the VIP suite. Inside, Marcus sat quietly by the bed. Meanwhile Charles, dressed in a hospital gown, perched on the edge, muttering under his breath. Natalie paused when her gaze landed on Charles, then turned to Connie. "Is this the Holden family's patient from Dithoria?" Connie nodded slightly and lowered her voice. "Yes, Dr. Elim." Before Natalie adopted her disguise, Connie had always addressed her as "Nat". But with the disguise in place, addressing her as "Dr. Elim" felt natural. Natalie gave a slight nod, immediately understanding. The man beside Charles had to be Marcus. Marcus was far more striking in person than in the photos Grace had shared. He had sharp eyebrows, striking eyes, a perfectly shaped nose, and slightly tense yet attractive lips. Everything about him spoke of elegance, paired with a quiet, detached charm. Natalie thought of the mysterious message she had received earlier. Could it have been from Marcus? But this was their first meeting. They hadn't spoken before. There was no way he'd think she was interested in him, right? She shook her head, dismissing the idea. It seemed absurd. As Natalie entered with Peter and Connie, Marcus was already on his feet. He stepped forward, extending a hand to Peter. "Hello, Dr. Elim. I'm the family member of the patient seeking treatment." Peter froze for a moment before hastily shaking his hand. "Oh, hello, hello." "The patient is my grandfather," Marcus said. Marcus stepped back, giving Peter a once-over. He hadn't expected the internationally renowned Dr. Elim to be none other than the director of Quinton Hospital. But after sizing up Peter, Marcus' gaze shifted to the older woman standing behind him. Her hair was streaked with gray, yet she radiated energy and vitality. "And this is…?" Marcus asked. "This is my mentor," Peter explained. "She's the real Dr. Elim." "I see," Marcus replied, his tone immediately taking on a respectful note as he turned to Natalie. Natalie offered a faint nod in acknowledgment, her expression calm. She caught a subtle whiff of sandalwood from Marcus, a scent she personally disliked because it reminded her of the diffuser sticks the maid at Langley's Residency used in the bathrooms. "Mr. Holden, you might want to consider changing your cologne," Natalie remarked, stepping back to avoid the scent. Marcus blinked in confusion. He sniffed his sleeve but found nothing unpleasant other than a faint sandalwood aroma. "Dr. Elim, I don't use cologne," Marcus explained. "Perhaps I picked it up while stepping outside earlier. I'll go change clothes right away." Natalie didn't respond. Instead, she walked over to Charles, ready to begin her examination. "Mr. Holden Senior, let me see your hand," she said, her voice deliberately raspier than usual. Without hesitation, Charles responded, "Doctor, we're about the same age. No need for all this formality. Just call me Charles." He chuckled. "I have a godsister from the Langley family about your age. How about we make it official and become godsiblings ourselves?" "Grandpa," Marcus interjected from the side. "This is Dr. Elim. She's here to treat you." Turning toward Natalie, he said, "My apologies, Dr. Elim. My grandfather enjoys making connections. Please don't take him seriously." Natalie nodded. "It's fine. Mr. Holden Senior is quite charming." Marcus stared at her, incredulous. Charming? His grandfather yells like a thunderstorm when angry.