“Dad, have you completely lost your mind?”
Lynn’s voice. A second later she was setting breakfast containers and a cup of coffee in front of him. The smell of warm pastries filled the office.“Why didn’t you come home? You’re not even on night shift.”
Jasper rolled his neck, rubbed his face, and frowned at her.
“And why aren’t you at the university this early?”
“Because the entire hospital is whispering about how you lost it over some patient last night,” she said, sliding the coffee closer, her eyes sharp.“You even canceled a surgery. I was worried, actually. What’s going on, Dad? Who is she?”
Jasper took a sip of coffee. Exactly what he needed. He looked out the window, avoiding her gaze.
“Just someone I know,” he said.“I decided to personallyhandle her case.”
Lynn studied him skeptically. He wasn’t going to explain—and truthfully, he didn’t fully understand himself why Nina’s appearance at the hospital had hit him this hard.
“Fine,” Lynn sighed at last.“Your call. But did you even sleep? Why didn’t you use the staff lounge? The couch there’s decent.”
“I’m fine,” Jasper snapped. He stood and changed into a fresh white coat.“Thanks for breakfast. Go—before you’re late.”
She smiled, but the worry in her eyes didn’t fade.
“Alright. I’m going. But don’t think this conversation is over. I fully intend to find out who this woman is—the one you’re so worried about.”
Jasper smirked, walked her to the door, and gently nudged her out.
“Being an adult doesn’t cancel the fact that I’m still your father and you still have to listen to me,” he said.“Drop it and go study.”
Lynn left.
Jasper let out a heavy breath and finished his coffee.
He glanced at his phone. No message from Nolan yet—meaning no information on the accident. That unsettled him. He had to see Nina with his own eyes.
Rounds would start in ten minutes.
After that, he’d go check on her.
Or… maybe that would be a mistake.
CHAPTER 38
Jasper stood outside the residents’lounge,flipping through lab results, his fingers restless. The unease inside him still hadn’t let go—an ugly, persistent knot he couldn't shake. A nurse stopped beside him and spoke quietly.
“Dr. Garth, the patient in room five is awake.”
He stiffened at once, forcing himself back to professional calm.
“Thank you. I’ll check on her later.”
What he actually wanted was to go there now. To see her with his own eyes. To make sure she was really okay. To find out what had happened.
But surgery was next. Duty first.
“Dr. Garth, are you coming?” the OR nurse called, snapping him out of it.
Jasper nodded, then stood there another second. He needed to pull himself together, get through the operation, and only then go to Nina. Right now the priority was clear—someone else’s life depended on him.
The surgery lasted nearly three hours. And the entire time, his mind kept drifting back to Nina.
