Love in the Shadows: A Reunion at the Haunted Mansion

"Hearts Stitched with Jealousy" ✨

Recap: After the mafia leader was brought into the hospital, the atmosphere quickly turned tense. The mafia members demanded immediate surgery for their injured leader, who was suffering from a severe brain injury and uncontrolled bleeding. A junior doctor assessed the situation but hesitated, stating he wasn't capable of performing the surgery alone.

Amid the chaos,  Kaning emerged, asserting her role as a qualified surgeon. However, the mafia members dismissed her, insisting that only the junior doctor could operate due to their distrust of women in such critical situations. Frustrated, Kaning warned them that their leader's life was at stake and threatened to send him to another hospital if they didn’t allow her to operate.

The situation escalated as the mafia members refused to budge. Kaning, determined to save the man's life, stood her ground, leading to a confrontation. The tension in the room boiled over into a physical fight, with Kaning fiercely defending her position as a doctor. She took on multiple mafia members, showcasing her skill and determination, determined not to back down.

After a chaotic exchange, Kaning emerged victorious, proving her capabilities in the face of aggression. She demanded to perform the surgery, emphasizing that the mafia's obstinacy could cost their leader his life. Realizing they had no other option, the mafia members finally relented, allowing Kaning to proceed with the operation, showcasing both her bravery and expertise in a high-pressure situation.

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The Day After the Surgery

The sun had just begun to peek through the hospital windows as Kaning made her early rounds, the scent of antiseptic lingering in the air. The successful surgery from the previous night had left her both exhausted and relieved, but there was no time to rest. Her patient, the infamous mafia leader, had made it through, though his recovery was still uncertain.

She walked down the sterile corridors, her white coat swishing softly as she approached the room where the mafia leader lay under observation. The nurses had been keeping a close watch on him, but Kaning wanted to check for herself. The man had suffered a severe brain injury, and even though the surgery had gone smoothly, complications could still arise.

As she entered his room, the atmosphere shifted. The mafia leader was propped up in bed, looking pale but awake, his dark eyes following her every move. He was known to be ruthless, feared by many, and now he was lying there, vulnerable, under her care. The irony wasn’t lost on her.

"Good morning," Kaning said briskly, her eyes focused on the monitor beeping steadily by his bedside.

"Morning, doc," the mafia leader rasped, his voice hoarse but filled with a surprising hint of amusement. Despite his condition, there was something about him that exuded confidence, as if he was still in control even when he clearly wasn’t.

She checked his chart, not making much eye contact at first. “You’re stable for now. But we’ll need to keep monitoring you closely.”

He smirked, his eyes glinting with something that felt more mischievous than grateful. “You know, you don’t seem like the kind of doctor who’s afraid of much.”

Kaning finally met his gaze, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not.”

“Good,” he said, settling back against his pillow. “Because I like a woman who isn’t afraid of a challenge.”

Kaning’s expression didn’t change. She’d dealt with enough difficult patients to know when someone was trying to push her buttons. This was nothing new. “Your vitals look fine, but you’ll need to rest for a while. Try not to exert yourself.”

He leaned forward slightly, wincing at the movement but never losing that glimmer in his eye. “I have to ask... Are you single?”

Kaning paused for a moment, not because she was flustered, but because she couldn’t believe the audacity. She stared at him, her mouth forming a slight smirk as she processed the absurdity of the question. Here he was, barely a day after life-saving surgery, and his mind was on that?