Chapter 8

Charlotte was startled by Errol's demand. Had Daniel given her a ride? Absolutely not. She didn't dare, and honestly, she didn't want to. There was something about Daniel that always made her feel suffocated, like she had to tread carefully with everything she said or did. Especially when those piercing eyes landed on her, she couldn't even bring herself to meet his gaze. "My lab class tonight is two hours long, Errol. It'll run pretty late." She turned slightly toward him. "Besides, like you said, Mr. Hoffman is a very busy man. Kyla can take me." Errol was taken aback. He had just said that Daniel was a busy man. He hadn't expected Charlotte to use his words against him. "Alright. If you insist." Daniel, still chewing on his food, glanced at them with a lazy, half-smile. He was pleased with how self-aware Charlotte was. … The sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the land, its rays stretching out like threads of hope threading through the day. Charlotte gazed out the car window, admiring the beauty of the setting sun. It reminded her of the days she used to rush to the library after class, chasing sunsets with a bag full of books. "I can't drive into the campus, Mrs. Hoffman. This gate is the closest to the lab building." "Thank you," Charlotte said, as she always did—polite but distant. Charlotte and Kyla walked through the campus. Charlotte wore a hoodie and jeans, while Kyla was all business—black suit, low heels, sharp eyes on high alert. They drew curious looks from the students around them. Charlotte hated being the center of attention. She tightened her grip on her bag and lowered her head, striding toward the lab building. The classroom was already half full. Small groups of students huddled together—people from the same elective course, but none she personally knew. Even in her own class, aside from her old roommates and the class monitor, everyone else was pretty much a stranger. Some students were gathered around the acupuncture mannequin, discussing acupoints and the flow of meridians. Others were memorizing point-location charts, while the rest were playing on their phones and chatting with nearby classmates. Charlotte found a quiet seat in the corner. She flipped open her acupuncture textbook and scanned the table of contents, reviewing the key points in her head. She only cracked open the book when something wouldn't come to her. Jedburgh Medical College was the most prestigious medical school in the country. More than 80% of the industry's experts had graduated from there. Most of the medical textbooks used nationwide were written by professors from this institution. To cultivate doctors who were well-versed in both modern and traditional medicine, the school offered plenty of elective courses that crossed both disciplines. Charlotte majored in clinical medicine, but traditional practices fascinated her, too, so she'd chosen every traditional medicine elective available. The classroom gradually filled, and soon, the seat next to Charlotte was taken as well. All of a sudden, the chatter died down. Charlotte looked up and noticed a man standing at the front of the room. He wore black-rimmed glasses and had a gentle smile tugging at his lips. He stood tall and slender like a pine tree. "Good evening, everyone. I'm Hector Hart, and I'll be leading tonight's lab class." His voice was smooth and mellow, every word calm and courteous, like a warm breeze brushing across the skin. "Woah!" someone whispered, followed by scattered applause. It was no surprise that the students were so excited. Charlotte had learned about the legendary Hart family after diving into traditional medicine herself. Hector came from a long line of traditional medicine experts. By the age of five, he could identify herbs by scent and tell the ingredients of a prescription just by sniffing it. Both his father and grandfather were world-renowned prodigies in the field. His grandfather, Patrick Hart, was one of the nation's most respected traditional physicians. He had even been received by heads of state. The Hart family also owned a century-old clinic called Vitalis Medical Center. Being able to work at their clinic was the ultimate goal for every traditional medicine student—a symbol of true recognition. Hector raised his hand, and the room quieted down. "Before we begin, I have something to share. This year, Vitalis Medical Center is planning to accept three students from clinical medicine, modern medicine, and traditional medicine majors to shadow experienced physicians at the clinic. "The mentors will include Patrick Hart, Ethan Hart…" Before he could finish, the classroom erupted into excitement. "We get to shadow Dr. Patrick? No way—that's like meeting a living legend!" "Dr. Ethan is one of the mentors, too? Doesn't he ever rest? He's our dean, and he's still mentoring students?" "I can't believe we'd get to learn from such icons… I need to work my butt off!" "Oh, please. Dream on! There are only three spots for three majors. The requirements are probably really high." Hector wasn't bothered when the students interrupted him. He smiled warmly, letting the buzz die down before continuing, "The students who rank in the top three of their respective majors in the final exam this semester, with no absences or failed courses, will be prioritized in the interview." Groans and sighs followed. "Dr. Hector, that's way too tough!" "There's an interview, too? We'll have to memorize every single thing!" "Winter break is still over two months away," Hector added. "You've got time, so do your best!" Then, he moved on to the lesson. "Some of you have taken a look at our acupuncture model before class. It's based on the one created by…" The students fell silent and turned their attention back to the lesson. Charlotte listened, but her mind was set on getting that internship. Ethan Hart wasn't just the college dean. He was a leading expert in hepatology. However, he hadn't practiced anywhere other than Vitalis Medical Center for years. If she could meet him and find a way to talk to him about Elyse's condition, maybe a combination of modern and traditional approaches could really help her. By the time class ended, night had fallen. Charlotte stepped out of the lab and immediately spotted Kyla waiting outside. "You didn't have to stand here the whole time. There's a bench right over there." "I'm just following Mr. Hoffman's orders, Mrs. Hoffman." Daniel had insisted on round-the-clock protection. Charlotte didn't argue. She had no say in Daniel's decisions and no power to interfere with them. In the car, she checked the time. It was already past 8:00 pm. Bianca should be off work. So, she sent her a message. "Bianca, I canceled the surgery. I went to register our marriage with the baby's biological father this morning." After sending it, her hands clenched around her phone. Her heart pounded so hard that it felt like it might break through her chest. Bianca was going to scold her into next week, no doubt. Charlotte waited, but her screen dimmed, and yet she still hadn't received a reply from Bianca. She sighed inwardly. "This is the life of an intern, always working overtime." If it weren't for the unexpected pregnancy and her marriage to Daniel, she'd be going through the same thing. The thought stirred something heavy in her chest. She didn't want to be a caged bird. When she returned to Waterside Residence, the house nestled in the woods glowed with warm lights. It was quiet inside, and no one else was around. She decided to shower and dive into her studies. If she wanted that internship, she couldn't just rely on her clinical skills. She needed to nail the traditional medicine content, too. She especially needed to memorize the four most important and foundational texts in the study of traditional medicine. She had to leave a solid impression during the interview. After her shower, Charlotte began unpacking. She opened the wardrobe and froze when she discovered the suits inside. She'd noticed there were two sets of toiletries in the bathroom, which perplexed her. Realization dawned on her. Daniel was going to live here, too. Still in her pajamas, she tiptoed toward the room where the lights were on, keeping close to the wall. Standing at the door, she heard faint sounds inside, like pages turning. Daniel was there. Her heart raced when she realized that. "Why are you sneaking around?" His voice was low, magnetic, and a bit stern. Daniel noticed the shadow on the floor. Couldn't even last a day without showing her true colors, huh? The person behind Charlotte really didn't know how to be patient.