The Killer Queen

“What’s wrong? It’s not every day you take an interest in a patient. What’s up with Ms. Lavinia Richardson?”

Noella casually handed the medical file to Calvin. “I suspect someone’s been messing with her head on purpose.”

The Richardsons had kept Lavinin sheltered very well, having her stay at the estate all these years.

Calvin put down his fork, looking serious. “Are you serious?”

“That’s my initial suspicion. I’ll need to see the patient to know more.”

“Alright, she’s due for a follow–up in a few days. You can join me then.”

After a moment of silence, Noella looked up. “Did Grandpa Sexton get you to prescribe something?”

Calvin’s hand trembled! He had intended to brush it off with a vague response, but meeting Noella’s clear gaze, he felt as though she could see right through him!

The words he had ready died on his lips, and he could only manage a wry smile. “Can’t hide anything from you, can I? If you went into medicine, the Schnabels would have two genius doctors on their hands! Yeah, Sexton did have me prescribe him something. I checked him out, and his health hasn’t been great lately. You noticed too, didn’t you?”

Noella nodded, her expression somber.

Sienna had mentioned it offhand recently; Sexton had been very sleepy and developed a craving for strong flavors in his meals. At his age, it’s not unusual for health issues to crop up, especially since he

had surgery not too long ago and hasn’t fully recovered yet.

“Sexton didn’t want me to tell you or your family about his condition, but he knows about his own health.”

Calvin sounded slightly guilty, aware that Palmer might give him trouble if he found out. However, with Sexton insisting on secrecy, he dared not call Palmer either!

Noella sighed softly. “Let me see his medical file, and I’ll take over prescribing his medication.”

“If you’re overseeing it, Sexton might have a bit more time.”

Relieved that Noella didn’t press the issue, Calvin quickly passed Sexton’s medical file to her.

88 F2 2 5 8 9 8 9 2 = 2 8 ± 8 8 2 ± 5 2 2 2 2 2 3

Sexton’s condition was heart–related; he had undergone coronary bypass surgery years ago, and now, at his age, some of his organs had irreversibly started to decline! He must have realized the severity of his condition, secretly getting Calvin to prescribe medication while acting as if nothing was wrong, keeping it from his family.

Calvin had other patients to see, so after a brief conversation with Noella, he left.

As Noella waited for Ulrich, she studied the medical file in her hands. Suddenly, a faint crying sound came from the office next door.

Her instincts, honed by her profession, made her particularly sensitive to such noises!

She remembered that the office belonged to a well–respected surgeon, a middle–aged man. The crying, however, clearly belonged to a young woman.

Noella stood up, walked to the office door, and knocked.

“Hello, can I help?”

The crying stopped abruptly at her words. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

A nurse pushing a medication cart passed by. “Ms/ Schnabel, are you looking for Dr. Caleb? He’s still in surgery.”

“Who’s in there?”

“Probably a patient waiting for Dr. Caleb, or one of his interns.”

The nurse hurried off to deliver medication, as ER staff always raced against time.

Noella was left with a nagging feeling that something was off.

As she turned the doorknob, she said softly, “I’m coming in, sorry for the intrusion.”

The office was empty, with no one in sight. Then, the suppressed crying resumed, intermittent and coming from the cupboard!

Opening the cupboard door, Noella found a young woman in a lab coat curled up inside, her wrist slashed by a scalpel, biting her wrist

in agony, weak cries escaping her lips. Blood flowed from her artery, staining her white coat a shocking red.

Noella bent down to lift the woman,/simultaneously dialing Calvin.

“I need emergency authorization for an operation in OR three, now!”

Calvin, still confused, heard chaos through the phone, along with shouts

“Isn’t that Dr. Lowry? Get the OR ready!”

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“Dr. Lowry attempted suicide! We need to save her!”

Calvin rushed over as quickly as he could. Noella nodded to him at the OR door, their unsaid understanding clear.

Once at the operating table, Calvin stepped aside.

“Your do it! You can handle this surgery. I’m not familiar with her case, and you’re more steady– handed.”

Without hesitation, Noella began setting up life–saving equipment while talking to Calvin.

“Does the blood bank have her blood type?”

“She’s Rh–negative? I’ll call the blood bank right away!”

Rh–negative blood was rare in any hospital’s blood bank, making finding a matching donor crucial.

Noella calmly said, “My sister’s here at the hospital. Check with her if the blood bank’s out.”

She remembered the file mentioned Lavinia’s blood type was Rh–negative. As Lavinia’s child, Elara’s chances of having the same blood type were extremely high!

Calvin immediately had an assistant call for blood and find a donor. The assistants were nervous, racing against time. None had expected Dr. Lowry to have Rh–negative blood.

A doctor from Dr. Lowry’s training program couldn’t help but cry on the spot!

“I’m sorry, Professor Calvin, I know I shouldn’t be like this, but I can’t help it…”

They graduated together and came to the hospital for training, only to see a dear friend fighting for her life in the ER!

Calvin didn’t make it harder for her. “You’re not in the right state to be here. Go outside.”

“Can I stay with her? I can do the surgery log!”

“Wait outside.”

On the operating table, there couldn’t be any emotions. Even when a loved one lay before your eyes, you had to swallow all your

emotions!

Elara hustled down the hallway, trailing behind the assistants to the entrance of the OR, breathless with urgency. “I have Rh–negative blood. If it’s needed, I’m ready to donate!”

In a situation where every second could mean the difference between life and death, Elara didn’t hesitate for a moment, rolling up her sleeve without a second thought.

An hour later, the lights in the OR flickered off.

Ulrich emerged from the OR, peeling off his surgical mask, his gaze instantly locking onto Elara, who was seated anxiously outside.

“Elara, what are you doing here? Are you alright?”

“I came with Noella to bring you lunch. Just then, I heard there was a need for blood donation. Luckily, my blood type was a match.” Both Ulrich and Elara fixed their eyes on the OR doors as they swung

open, revealing Noella stepping out alongside Calvin! How did her sister end up inside the OR? Could it be that the patient in desperate need of Elara’s blood was Noella herself?