Chapter 123
The voice came from above her head, causing Pearl to freeze. She looked up and saw Hugo holding a file between his fingers, wearing a smug smile.
“Yes…” Pearl retracted her hands and frowned at Hugo. “I told you, Hugo, I have no feelings for you. Why are you making things hard for me?”
“But you’re the only one I want.” Hugo placed the file aside and slowly walked over to the other side of the
desk where Pearl was.
Pearl caught an unexpected scent of orchids in the air, which made her feel somewhat uneasy.
“Do you think this is how a gentleman should behave?”
Hugo’s eyes turned cold at her words. “Why not? Who gets to decide that? Ruthless Richard?”
Pearl could sense Hugo’s hatred for Richard. “He’s not what you think… ”
“Yes, you’ve all been blinded by him and falling head over heels for him. Of course you can’t see it.”
Taking advantage of Hugo’s distraction, Pearl raised her foot and stomped on his foot.
“Ouch!”
Hugo jumped away in pain, and Pearl seized the opportunity to grab the file. She quickly made her escape, leaving Hugo behind with a cunning smile.
Pearl rushed back to her room and, to avoid Hugo catching up to her, locked the door and switched on her
laptop.
She quickly began transferring the information. Surprisingly, everything went smoothly, almost unbelievably so.
As soon as the data transfer was complete, Pearl called Renee to inform her and coordinate her mother’s
transfer to another hospital.
Renee didn’t fully understand the situation but trusted Pearl unconditionally because she knew Pearl was trying to help her mother.
That night, Hugo had another surgery, granting Pearl enough time to arrange the transfer of Renee’s mother. However, just before she could reach the room, she received a call from Renee.
“Something happened, Pea!” Renee’s voice trembled with tears. “My mom’s condition has deteriorated. She coughed up blood just a while ago and is now unconscious!”
“What? Have you told the nurses?”
“I pressed the call button about ten minutes ago, but no one came. Do you think my mom will make it?”
Pearl’s mind went blank as this wasn’t part of her plan. The situation was spiraling out of her control. She contemplated calling Hugo to understand what was happening but remembered he was in surgery, likely with his phone turned off.
She hurried to the doctor’s office area and grabbed a nearby doctor to ask, “Where are all the surgeons?”
“I have no idea… I’m not a surgeon…”
She asked around and realized all the surgeons in the hospital were mysteriously missing.
She then called the nearest hospital to send an ambulance, but was informed they wouldn’t accept patients transferred from another hospital. They were unfamiliar with the patients’ conditions and didn’t want to assume responsibility.
As a last resort, she called Richard.
“Stay there. I’m on my way.” Richard, who had just left Susan’s room, saw Pearl’s pale face and understood the gravity of the situation.
“Let’s go to Renee’s mother’s room, and I’ll bring her to the nearest hospital.”
