Sylvia and Franklin had arrived early. When they saw the three of them coming out, they immediately went to greet them.
“Sylvia! Franklin!” Mrs. Wright called out first. Seeing the couple, she seemed to find her backbone. “Look at Jenna now…”
Sylvia looked at the girl nestled in Brayden’s arms. The girl wore a fisherman’s hat, her small face pale and almost translucent, exuding a sickly and listless aura, completely different from the cheerful girl she used to be.
In just a few months, Jenna had been tormented by illness to the point of being unrecognizable.
“It’s okay, we can treat the illness. If we can’t find a bone marrow match, we’ll keep looking. I believe fate won’t be so cruel,” Sylvia gently held Jenna’s hand to comfort her. “Jenna, we’re going to the hospital now. I’ve already made arrangements.”
“Let’s go,” Franklin patted his brother Brayden’s shoulder in silent encouragement.
Brayden nodded at him and followed the couple towards the parked car.
On the way, Sylvia reviewed Jenna’s medical records. The illness had come on quickly and aggressively, ravaging Jenna’s body in just a few months.
“Have they found the person who injected the virus into her arm?”
“No,” Brayden shook his head. “It’s hard to find someone in such a large crowd, especially since there were so many people that day.”
“It seems premeditated, but Jenna has no enemies. Why would someone target her with such an acute virus?” Sylvia couldn’t understand, feeling as if an invisible net was closing in around them.
Brayden also found it unbelievable. “The Ritter family used to be our only adversaries, but they’ve fallen from grace… Could it be related to Jenna’s background?”
Sylvia paused. Jenna was an orphan, initially adopted by Aldo Carson before coming to live at the Wright residence.
No one knew who her biological parents were.
Franklin drove seriously. “We’ll investigate slowly. The truth will come out eventually.”
Mrs. Wright nodded in agreement. “Franklin is right. We’ll get to the bottom of this eventually. Right now, Jenna’s health is our top priority.”
After about an hour’s drive, they finally arrived at the hospital.
The sun was shining brightly, but it couldn’t dispel the gloom in their hearts.
After getting out of the car, Sylvia made a phone call. “Professor, I’m here. Are you in the inpatient department?”
“Okay, I’ll come find you right away.”
“Have you taken care of the admission procedures?”
“Alright, see you soon.”
Sylvia hung up and told Brayden, “We’re going directly to the inpatient department. All the procedures are done. Once we get to the ward, Jenna will need a thorough examination. Stay with her.”
“Okay.” Brayden felt grateful but knew it would be too formal to thank Sylvia verbally, so he said nothing.
The general hospital was large, bustling with doctors, nurses, and patients’ families.
They took the elevator to the ward floor, only to run into Sabrina as soon as they stepped out.
Sabrina had studied under Alondra at H Rovirsa and now worked in the hematology department at Aettosa.
Seeing Sylvia, she was momentarily stunned. “What are you doing here?”
Sylvia raised an eyebrow. “I’m here for treatment. Is that not allowed?”
“Oh! Are you dying from some terminal illness? That would be divine justice,” Sabrina sneered.
“Sorry to disappoint you; I’m perfectly healthy,” Sylvia ignored her and walked inside with Franklin and Brayden.
An elderly man with graying hair hurried out of a ward and lit up with excitement upon seeing Sylvia. He opened his arms and walked briskly towards her. “You finally came back! I had to agree to your conditions to get you here!”
Sabrina watched in shock as Professor Juan, the most renowned expert in Aettosa’s hematology department, shook hands with Sylvia. “Professor Juan, you…”
She knew Sylvia excelled in surgery but… this was hematology! Sabrina had transferred to hematology only after obtaining relevant certifications and extensive study.
Juan was thrilled and immediately gathered all the doctors and nurses for an introduction. “Let me introduce you all to our new doctor, Sylvia. She’s my protege!”
He chuckled. “If it weren’t for treating your sister’s illness, you wouldn’t have come here! What am I going to do with you?”
Everyone was surprised that Sylvia was Juan’s protege. Juan was famously eccentric and never took on students, supposedly because he had one exceptionally talented student who made him dismiss all others.
They had thought it was just a legend.
But it turned out to be true!
Could this beautiful woman be that legendary genius student?
Sabrina’s face twisted in jealousy. Why did Sylvia always have to stand in her way?
There was an opening for an attending physician in hematology that Sabrina thought she had secured.
But now Sylvia had appeared out of nowhere to compete for it?
Infuriating!
Sylvia had no idea of the impact her arrival had on the doctors and nurses present. She introduced herself gracefully.
“Hello everyone, I’m Sylvia. I used to be a surgeon at H Rovirsa’s First Hospital. While I prefer surgery over treating blood diseases, my sister has acute leukemia, so I’m here to take care of her and work with you all. I hope we can get along well.”
“I heard… there’s a top surgeon at H Rovirsa known as the best in surgery. Is that you?” A male doctor curiously eyed Sylvia. Could such a beautiful woman really be good at surgery?
“That might be me,” Sylvia nodded.
A nurse had already taken Brayden and Jenna to their ward to settle in while Franklin stood nearby watching Sylvia. He hadn’t expected her to also be skilled in hematology.
He should have been used to it by now.
After all, his wife had many identities and skills.
He shook his head helplessly.
In Professor Juan’s office.
He and Sylvia reviewed Jenna’s medical records together. “Her condition progressed rapidly and aggressively, leaving her very weak.”
“Yes, Professor. Do we have a match in our blood bank?” Sylvia was most concerned about this. “Do you have other sources for a match?”
“We’ll conduct matching tests over the next few days. Don’t worry; let’s do a comprehensive check-up first and then proceed accordingly,” Juan reassured Sylvia. “You know how difficult this disease is to treat. A bone marrow match is crucial.”
“I know it’s one thing, but being anxious is another,” Sylvia sighed.
“No need to be anxious; stay calm. Let me show you around and introduce you to other patients. I won’t miss any chance to put you to work,” Juan laughed. “Let’s go.”
Sylvia had no choice but to follow him.
Juan had already handled all her employment procedures at the hospital, so she quickly adapted to her new role.
Once Franklin saw that the Wright family members were settled in, he left for other urgent matters as the president’s assistant had called several times.
In the ward, only Brayden stayed with Jenna while Mrs. Wright returned to a nearby hotel to rest.
After all, she was getting old and found such long journeys exhausting.
“Have some porridge,” Brayden said, holding a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other. “You need to eat something; you’re already weak, and not eating will make it worse.”
Jenna obediently nodded and began sipping the porridge slowly.
She didn’t have much appetite but didn’t want Brayden to worry or feel sad.
So she tried her best to eat more.
As night fell and darkness enveloped them, Sylvia visited Jenna before leaving for home as she wasn’t on night duty.
By the time she returned to Hipps Family’s residence, it was past eight in the evening.
Dinner had been saved for her. As she sat at the dining table eating, Queena still found it hard to believe. “You’re working in hematology? I thought you’d go into surgery!”
“Jenna has a blood disease; what would I do in surgery? I’m working there mainly to take care of her,” Sylvia said softly. “Grandma, thank you.”
She suddenly thought of Jenna’s lonely situation without family but felt grateful that the Wright family treated her so well.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Queena tapped Sylvia’s forehead gently. “Hurry up and eat your dinner. Your uncle and aunt’s wedding is next month; the weather will be nice then. If we delay any longer, it’ll be winter and too cold. You’ll have to help your aunt wash her face during the ceremony!”
“I can’t do that! I’m already married; isn’t that only for unmarried women? Let Maritza do it!” Sylvia quickly shook her head in refusal.
“No wedding ceremony means you’re not married yet,” Queena insisted stubbornly.
“But we have our marriage certificate; it’s legally binding. So I can’t do it,” Sylvia laughed at Queena’s persistence. “I can help design the wedding dress though; have they picked one yet?”
Queena didn’t push further. “How would I know their plans?”
“I’ll ask them tomorrow then. If they haven’t chosen yet, I’ll take care of both the dress and rings; how about that?” Sylvia joked lightly. “I’m a designer after all!”
“You just love talking nonsense!” Queena huffed and stood up. “I’m going back to my room; take your time eating.”
“Alright! Take care, Grandma,” Sylvia called after Queena’s retreating figure before continuing her meal.