Chapter 5
"Zoey, don't worry. I'll figure out a way to get Mr. Sanchez to approve your internship," Mason said softly, trying to comfort her.
Zoey didn't respond and walked straight to the parking lot.
As she opened her car door, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps and heavy breathing behind her.
"Ms. King! Hold up!"
Both of them turned around to see Albert jogging towards them, a sycophantic smile on his face, a stark contrast to his earlier businesslike demeanor in the office.
"After an emergency meeting with the board, we've decided to make an exception and accept you," Albert said, his tone almost obsequious. "A medical talent like you is exactly what we need at Nexus School of Medicine."
Mason frowned. Could Rhea have spoken to Albert privately?
"Do you have an official acceptance letter?" Mason asked cautiously.
"Of course, of course." Albert quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he opened his email. "Here's the electronic acceptance letter, already stamped and effective immediately."
He turned the phone screen towards Zoey, trying to please her. "I'll arrange for you to join the clinical internship group. You can start tomorrow."
Zoey remained silent, her cold eyes quietly observing Albert.
"Alright, it's settled then," Mason said, taking the lead since Zoey didn't speak. "I'll bring Zoey in tomorrow."
"Great, great. Mr. King, you can rest assured," Albert nodded repeatedly, then turned to Zoey. "Ms. King, if you have any special requests, feel free to contact me."
He handed her a gold-embossed business card, which Zoey ignored.
In the end, Zoey was assigned to the most peripheral group, mainly responsible for organizing medical records and sterilizing equipment—basic tasks.
This meant she wouldn't have access to core anatomy practices or surgical observations.
The next morning, at the staff meeting, the medical director, Roy Murphy, politely introduced Zoey to everyone. Anyone who could get Albert to make an exception must have a significant background, and Roy's professional instincts told him as much.
"This is Zoey, joining our team starting today," Roy said with a warm smile. "Zoey, you'll be working with Group Three. If you need anything, just let me know."
Zoey nodded slightly and walked to her designated spot.
A young female doctor in the group extended her hand warmly. "Hi, I'm Elysia."
Zoey nodded lightly in response.
"Are you crazy?" A male doctor immediately pulled Elysia aside, lowering his voice. "She's the Zoey King from that major medical incident two years ago! The whole neurosurgery department knows about it."
"What? Then why would Mr. Sanchez..."
"Probably, she has cozied up to some rich guy? I heard a handsome guy in a luxury car dropped her off yesterday. Maybe she's some VIP's mistress."
"But..."
"No buts. Stay away from her. Who knows if she'll cause another accident?"
These whispers reached Zoey's ears clearly, but her expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
This peripheral group was nominally a cushy job for those with connections, but in reality, few did any real work, and there were many who enjoyed bossing others around.
At lunchtime, someone bumped into Zoey's tray, spilling her food all over the floor.
"So sorry," Dash Rivera said with a fake apologetic smile. "Zoey, long time no see. Two years went by fast, and you're out already."
"Dash, you're still Cleo's most obedient lackey," Zoey sneered, wiping the grease from her hand onto his expensive shirt. "After all these years, you still only know how to play these dirty tricks."
"Damn you!" Dash fumed, grabbing her collar. "No one's here to protect you now! Believe me, I'll make you pay!"
His voice was loud, drawing everyone's attention in the cafeteria.
Dash thought Zoey would endure it like she used to.
But to his surprise, she suddenly raised her head and slammed her forehead into his nose.
"My nose!" Dash cried out, letting go as blood gushed from his nose, staining his uniform.
Everyone around was stunned. No one expected the seemingly docile Zoey to be so fierce.
"Watch your mouth next time," Zoey said coldly. "I used to let things slide, but not anymore. I remember everything you did for Cleo two years ago."
She made a throat-slitting gesture. "Tell Cleo, I am coming for her."
Dash clutched his nose, staring in disbelief at the completely different Zoey.
Had the world gone mad, or had she? How dare someone abandoned by the King family lay a hand on him!
He wanted to retaliate, but the cold look in her eyes made him hesitate.
Those eyes were terrifying, as if looking at a dead person.
He was determined to drive Zoey out of Emerald City!
After finishing her record-keeping in the afternoon, Zoey wanted to check out the anatomy lab.
As she turned a corner in the hallway, someone blocked her path.
"Ms. King, can we talk for a sec?" Oliver asked respectfully.
She nodded and followed Oliver to a private meeting room on the hospital's top floor.
Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his tall figure elongated by the setting sun.
Hearing the door open, he turned to face Zoey, his deep eyes locking onto hers.
"Why did you help me?" she asked bluntly, skipping any pleasantries.
Alexander rested his chin on his hand, a playful look in his eyes. "To repay a favor."
Zoey looked away, annoyed. "Please stay out of my business with the King family."
"I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity." Alexander suddenly stepped forward, grabbing her wrist. "I need your help."
Zoey easily broke free from his grip, her movements so swift and clean that Alexander raised an eyebrow.
Oliver, standing nearby, was secretly amazed.
Alexander, who usually showed no interest in women, was actually being so humble with Zoey?
What shocked him even more was that Zoey dared to treat Alexander this way.
"Haven't you heard I'm a murderer? I can't help you," Zoey said calmly, meeting his gaze.
Alexander's eyes were focused. "My grandfather has had a bad leg for years. You can help him."
"I can't," she refused flatly. "Last time was a fluke. It doesn't mean I'm omnipotent. If I were that good, I wouldn't just be an intern."
"I know you can," Alexander said seriously, his voice deepening. "My grandfather means a lot to me. If you help, I'll agree to any condition."
Zoey turned and walked away, her back resolute.
"Should we go after her?" Oliver asked quietly.
Alexander shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "She's stubborn. Chasing her will only get us rejected."
He watched Zoey's departing figure. "We'll take it slow."
Just then, his phone rang.
Daniel's excited voice came through. "I heard you found that top-notch suture expert? What's her name? Which hospital? Don't tell me you're keeping her to yourself?"
"Keeping her to myself?" Alexander's smile widened. "You could say that. So stop asking."
Late at night, Zoey, wearing a white mask, pushed open the back door of an antique shop.
As soon as she stepped inside, she felt a gust of wind coming at her.
She instinctively dodged to the side, delivering an elbow strike backward.
The attacker cried out in pain. "Rose, you're still so unapproachable."
Zoey removed her mask, glaring coldly at the woman in the fox mask before her.
"I told you, I hate surprise attacks."
"I just wanted to see if your skills have gotten rusty," Clover said, rubbing her shoulder with a cheeky grin.
"Get to the point."
"The missing pages of 'Herbal Chronicles: The Lost Remedies' will appear at tomorrow night's auction."
"The Garcia family wants to bid, and the seller specifically requested you to authenticate it."
Zoey's eyes flickered. "The Garcia family?"
"Yes, that Garcia family," Clover said, leaning in and lowering her voice. "I heard Alexander will be there in person. Interested?"
Meanwhile, Alexander was in his study, taking a call from Oliver.
"It's confirmed. The missing pages of 'Herbal Chronicles: The Lost Remedies' will be at tomorrow night's auction," Oliver said excitedly. "But the seller insists on the 'Collector' authenticating it personally."
"Finally showing up," Alexander chuckled, his long fingers tapping the desk lightly. "I'll meet this 'Collector' in person tomorrow night."
This legendary chief appraiser had never made a mistake in her evaluations.
In the world of collectors, her authentication was as good as gold.
And Alexander was looking for more than just the missing pages of "Herbal Chronicles: The Lost Remedies." He was searching for the mysterious woman who vanished from his sight two years ago.
The woman who inspired both fear and awe.
If he could get her, he could obtain all the treasures in the world, becoming richer than anyone else.