Chapter 405

Elyse's words had already stripped Nina of all hope,and now, she felt it vanish entirely, slipping away like sand through her fingers.

As Linden went to find Daniela, Nina was walking the same path.

When Linden's eyes briefly caught Nina's profile, an overwhelming sense of familiarity tugged at him,though he couldn't place why.

Nina's stomach lurched the moment her gaze met Linden's. She hurriedly rushed to the restroom,desperate to escape the sensation.

By the time she stepped out, Linden had already positioned himself in front of Daniela.

Linden's gaze lingered on Daniela, filled with a hunger he could not mask. The sight of her only stirred the flames of his wvild thoughts. Today, Daniela wore a simple black top paired with a modest skirt, yet there was nothing plain about her.Even in understated tones, she glowed her presence like a precious stone in a dull world.

Every time Linden laid eyes on Daniela, he was reminded of the very first time he saw her. Her allure always left him breathless, too entranced to form a word.

"Ms. Harper, I heard you specifically asked for me to stay?"

Seated on a bench in the corridor outside Cedric's room, Daniela focused on the contract her secretary had handed her, not bothering to look up.

"I was impressed with how you handled things.That's why I decided to keep you on."

Excitement sparked in Linden's eyes. "Does this mean you're allowing me to become your private doctor?"

At that moment, Natalie and Elyse appeared farther down the hallway.

The moment they overheard Linden's question,panic flashed across their faces.

This was a development they couldn't afford.

Linden knew the reason to Cedric's coma and their order to end his life. He had the evidence they had tried to kill Cedric.

Their original plan had been to get rid of Linden once Cedric was dead.

But if Daniela intended to keep Linden by her side,their carefully laid plans might unravel.

Natalie felt a wave of unease settle in her chest.Linden thought she had spent the night with him.If he stayed around, she feared his relentless pursuit and the danger it would bring.

Linden's ugly face made Nina's stomach turn, a wave of nausea hitting her instantly.

"No way!" Elyse rushed forward, her anxiety barely concealed. "There's no chance Linden could ever become Daniela's personal doctor!"

A smirk danced on Daniela's lips as she raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain why?"

The urgency in Elyse's response only revealed her desperation to stop this from happening.

"I'm just saying..." Elyse faltered, her words failing her.

Natalie, tightening her fists, stepped forward with a decisive edge. "His medical abilities are subpar at best. He's not even close to being qualified to be your doctor."

At first, the sight of Natalie filled Linden with excitement, but her words left him momentarily dumbfounded. "What do you mean, Natalie?"

He had thought his presence by Daniela's side would work out perfectly for both him and Natalie. Why was she pushing back so hard? It didn't make sense.Unless... He glanced at Natalie's face for a moment before his eyes shifted to Daniela, glowing with her usual charm.The pieces finally clicked into place.

With a quick turn, he lowered his voice, speaking only to Natalie. "Sweetheart, are you afraid I'll fall for Daniela and leave you behind?"

A shiver ran down Natalie's spine as his words sank in.Her glare was sharp and unyielding.

But Linden only seemed more pleased with himself.In a low, almost teasing voice, he added, "Relax,baby. You'll always have a special place in my heart."

Not far off, Nina watched the disgust painted clearly on Natalie's face.

A sneer tugged at the corners of her lips.

So,her dear sister found Linden so repulsive.

Hadn't she dismissed it all so easily before, brushing it off as nothing more than a physical matter?

"I actually think he would be a great family doctor. He's thorough and professional. Natalie, you're not a doctor. How can you claim he's not good enough for Daniela? What's really going on here?"

Natalie's eyes shot daggers at Nina, fury igniting within her. Anger bubbled up, and for a moment, she considered lashing out at Nina with every curse she could muster. However, she forced herself to swallow the venom in front of Daniela. She took a slow breath before stretching her lips into a strained smile."What's my motive, you ask? Everything I'm saying is for Daniela's benefit. Cedric stilI needs Linden's care here. How could he just leave to be her personal doctor?"

"Is that so?" Nina mocked. Her smirk deepened as she locked eyes with Natalie. "A second ago, you were saying Linden didn't have the skills. Now,suddenly, he's good enough for Cedric? Do you get to pick when his abilities measure up?"

The tension between them was palpable, and Natalie's temper flared in response.

Elyse, her face contorted in disapproval, snapped, "Nina, stop talking nonsense. Are you trying to stir up trouble?"

Nina barely spared her a glance, rolling her eyes in disdain.

Elyse leaned towards Daniela. "Daniela, we would never harm you. We know how much Cedric means to you. He needs a doctor now. You must understand that."

Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open with a quiet creak.

A shaft of sunlight spilled in from the window, casting a long shadow across the polished floor.

Everyone instinctively turned to the sound.

And there, framed in the light, stood Cedric in a sharp suit. His presence was commanding,handsome, and every inch the picture of authority.