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Xander approached a moment later, tense and alert.

“Find out what she’s doing here,” Lorenzo ordered quietly, his tone grim. “There’s no way she’s working here just for money.”

Xander hesitated, then muttered, “Mr. Moretti, could it be... for you?”

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes and turned to him. “What?”

Xander cleared his throat, stepping closer and lowering his voice. “Mrs. could’ve worked at any hospital in the city, but she chose this one. She must’ve done it to see you… to be near you.”

Lorenzo’s heart gave a painful jolt.

His brows drew together as thoughts raced through his mind. “If it weren’t for what happened two years ago…”

Xander cut him off with uncharacteristic boldness. “Mr. Moretti, that wastwo years ago.And Ms. Esther’s fine now. Maybe it’s time to stop looking backward and think about yourself.”

Lorenzo’s face softened, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his stern features.

Then his voice dropped into command again. “Keep an eye on Esther. If she lied about this, she could be lying about more things. I need to know everything.”

“Yes, sir.” Xander nodded.

***

Krystal stepped out of Damion’s office and walked briskly down the corridor. She was eager to get home. It had only been a few days since she started working for Damion, but she had already made real progress with several patients. Still, with Esther’s truth finally exposed, there was no longer any reason for her to stay. The job had served its purpose. Now, she just needed to find the right moment to tell Damion she was quitting.

Just as she neared the main lobby, a loud voice erupted from nearby.

“My head’s gonna explode! What kind of shitty hospital is this?! Get me a doctor, now!”

A man’s voice echoed, drawing everyone's attention.

Krystal followed the sound. Behind the reception desk, staff exchanged anxious glances. A woman in the corner was already calling security.

Krystal quickened her pace toward the commotion.

The moment the man spotted her, he zeroed in like a predator catching sight of prey.

“You’re a doctor, right? You’re a doctor—help me! My head’s about to split open!” he shouted as he staggered toward her, frantic and wild-eyed.

He stormed toward her, voice rising, words tripping over themselves.

‘How’d he know?’ Krystal thought, confused. She wasn’t even wearing a doctor’s coat or a stethoscope.

Krystal took a step back, raising her hands.

“Sir, you need to calm down. The doctors are right there—they’ll help you in a minute. Look, they’re coming—”

Before she could finish, the man lunged forward.

“How dare you push me?!” he screamed, slamming his hands into her shoulders and knocking her to the floor.

As she scrambled to get up. In a blink, he grabbed her hand and forced it around the handle of a knife he had pulled from his jacket—then plunged it into his side.

A second later, he collapsed to the floor screaming, “Help! Help! She stabbed me! This woman stabbed me!”

Krystal’s eyes widened in horror. She stared at him—then at the wound.

He was smirking. Holding the wound like a performance.