\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41 Unspoken Ripples.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
A whisper of a rumor was making the rounds. \u201cIs it really true?\u201d someone wondered. \u201cSomeone of that caliber, taking an interest in our hospital?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely true,\u201d a colleague confirmed. \u201cI saw him myself this morning. The director was personally showing him around. Unbelievably handsome, and so tall. The nursing staff is going to be a lost cause.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett overheard the chatter as she passed by. By the time she\u2019d reached the locker room and slipped on her white coat, a nagging intuition told her they were talking about Nolan. She couldn\u2019t quite pinpoint why, but she felt almost certain it was him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No sooner had she stepped out than a figure blocked he path, making her jump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just me.\u201d A familiar, smooth voice murmured near her ear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s heart settled. She looked up to find Nolan standing there, already adorned in a crisply new lab coat bearing the insignia of Rivergate Central Hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2026\u201d she began, staring at him in confusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A smile played on his lips. \u201cWhat\u2019s the verdict? How do look?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett remained silent, offering no reply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not far off, a small group of nurses and residents were stealing glances in their direction, their hushed exchanges barely concealed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that the new doctor? Wow, he\u2019s seriously good-looking. So distinguished.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe seems to know Dr. Theron. And they look\u2026 close.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you see that? He just smiled at her. Oh my god, tha smile could melt ice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett felt a warmth rise to her cheeks. She met Nolan gaze and managed a quiet, \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His smile didn\u2019t fade. \u201cI was wondering if you\u2019d have lunch with me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before she could form an answer, yes or no, he added, \u201cConsider it my welcome celebration.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Put that way, refusal seemed impolite. She gave a slight hod. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s grin widened in victory. \u201cGreat. I\u2019ll come find you after my shift ends.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Scarlett repeated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled softly, then turned and made his way to the elevators, the eyes of the onlookers following his\u00a0<\/p>\n
every move,\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment he was gone, Scarlett found herself surrounded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, out with it. What\u2019s the story between you two?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way he smiled at you\u2026 you\u2019re hiding something, aren\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett glanced around at their curious faces, keeping er own expression neutral. \u201cNolan and I were just\u00a0<\/p>\n
|||\u00a0<\/p>\n
O\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0413\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:26 Wed, Jan 7 w.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41 Unspoken Ripples\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u3001,82%\u00a0<\/p>\n
49\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
classmates,\u201d she stated simply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Around noon, Nolan finished up a little early. Before the clock had even struck twelve, he was already waiting outside the pediatric department.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had just finished admitting a young boy with severe burns. After completing the necessary paperwork and medical orders, she finally had a moment to wash up and remove her lab coat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan waited patiently the entire time, occasionally engaging in polite conversation with nurses who mustered the courage to approach him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was nearly half past twelve by the time they left the hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan drove them downtown to an upscale restaurant known for its special cuisine. They were seated by the window, offering a panoramic view of Rivergate\u2019s city center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He seemed to remember her preferences. After they ordered, he poured her a cup of water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou seem distracted. What are you looking at?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett drew her gaze back from the window. Instead of answering directly, she said, \u201cYou know, our hospital isn\u2019t one of the major players in Rivergate. Frankly, with your qualifications, you\u2019re overqualified for a place like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With Nolan\u2019s skillset, she knew any number of prestigious hospitals would be vying for him. Yet he had chosen hers. Scarlett wasn\u2019t oblivious; she could sense there was more to his decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan simply smiled. \u201cThat\u2019s precisely why I want to be here-where I\u2019m needed most.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His answer was diplomatic, leaving no room for argument on the surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett couldn\u2019t quite let it go. She looked at him intently. \u201cThere are plenty of places that need your expertise\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before she could finish, Nolan interjected, his gaze open and intense. \u201cBut here, at this hospital, the need feels even greater.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett met his eyes, and a flicker of unease stirred within her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, the waiter arrived with their food, effectively diffusing the tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the waiter departed, Nolan said lightly, \u201cShall we et?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The lunch was exquisite, each dish beautifully presented and delicious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he served her a portion of steamed fish, Nolan asked asually, \u201cAre you free this weekend? There\u2019s a lecture I\u2019d like you to come to with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett paused, her fork hovering mid-air. \u201cWhat lecture?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mentor is giving a talk,\u201d Nolan replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett froze for a second, then offered a wry smile. \u201cA lecture by Dr. Thomas Newman? I don\u2019t think I\u2019m really in that league.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan laughed softly. \u201cDon\u2019t I count as your \u2018plus-one\u201d?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
313\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:26 Wed, Jan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41 Unspoken Ripples\u00a0<\/p>\n
Understanding dawned, and a genuine smile touched her lips. \u201cI suppose you do,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
82%\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thomas was a veritable legend in the medical community, his team responsible for numerous patents and groundbreaking research. He had mentored countless brilliant doctors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had once entertained the idea of applying for his PhD program, but life-specifically, marriage- had pulled her in a different direction. After graduating she hadn\u2019t pursued further studies, a regret that had lingered with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, at twenty-seven, starting over felt daunting. The path to becoming a surgeon was long; if she embarked on a master\u2019s and PhD now, she\u2019d be nearly forty by the end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the chance to simply listen to Thomas speak? That was an opportunity she wouldn\u2019t pass up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Halfway through their meal, Scarlett\u2019s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen; it was a call from her niece, Clara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.0K\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
09:26 Wed, Jan 7 Ju\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 41 \u00a0 Chapter 41 Unspoken Ripples.\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 A whisper of a rumor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-impossible-condition-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27405"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27405\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}