All Chapters of The Doctor's Reckoning: Chapter 291
- Chapter 300
342 chapters
Chapter 288
Joaquin grunted as he grabbed the wrist of the man clutching his throat. He tried to pull it off, but the grip was impossibly strong. The man’s eyes blazed with an unearthly red light, as if he were staring straight into a living inferno.“You think you can just walk away from me, huh?” the man snarled with a manic laugh. “Flamebearer? You expect me to believe that someone like you could wield such a title?!”His grip tightened. Joaquin gasped, his airway collapsing under the man’s hand. His lungs burned; his vision blurred. Veins pulsed in his temples, threatening to burst.“You’re weak,” the man spat.Then, with one violent motion, he hurled Joaquin backward. There was no ground to stop him—just an endless void—so he kept tumbling through the dark. Joaquin forced himself to stay conscious, took a deep breath, and braced for impact. But before he could regain his footing, his back slammed into something solid.“See? You’re weak, Flamebearer!” the man roared. He kicked Joaquin in the
Chapter 289
“Are you sure about this, Joaquin? Shouldn’t we tell the police first?” Andrea asked nervously as she gripped the steering wheel.Joaquin cleared his throat and turned to look out the window. His expression was calm, but his jaw was tight.“For now, the police can’t help us. And I already told you—you didn’t have to come.”Andrea scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Excuse me? You think I’ll just let you run off and do something reckless for my sister? Not happening, duh.”Joaquin clenched his right fist. His voice dropped, steady and firm. “You know I’d give my life for her, Andrea. This is nothing.”Andrea sighed dramatically, eyes rolling again. “Whatever. Just tell me—are you really sure she’s there?”Joaquin fell silent for a moment. Truthfully, he wasn’t entirely sure. His concentration had been broken by Veyrix’s sudden attack earlier. But thanks to Andrea’s help, they had traced the car James used—she had immediately ordered her people to run the plate number he’d given her.“Yes,” he
Chapter 290
Joaquin swallowed hard, his breath tight in his chest as he stared at the man before him. The stranger stood tall and sure, shoulders squared, his mouth curled into a mocking smirk—as if he already knew how this would end. Joaquin forced himself to steady his breathing, trying to calm the surge of heat that wanted to erupt from within him.His eyes darted to James, who was already walking away, carrying the unconscious Serena in his arms. Joaquin’s jaw tightened. His hands balled into fists.“Why, brother?” the man taunted, his tone dripping with cruel amusement. “Afraid your beloved will disappear from your grasp?”The man’s laugh echoed in the empty space—low, sharp, and derisive.Joaquin’s glare hardened. “Who the hell are you? And what do you want from me?”The stranger arched a brow, feigning offense. “Don’t recognize me anymore? It’s me—your brother.”Joaquin froze. He blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what he’d just heard.“What… what do you mean?”The man sighed dramati
Chapter 291
Joaquin was flung against a lamppost and spat blood as he hit. He glared up at Martin through the ringing in his ears.All this tossing and beating—he’d tried to hold back because of the word brother. But patience had run out. Time and mercy were luxuries he could no longer afford.“You… I’ve been too kind to you for too long,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “I told you to let me go.”Martin laughed—mad, hollow, not quite human. “Sorry, brother. I can’t do that. You must die.”Martin lunged again, fist aimed to crush. Joaquin didn’t dodge. He met the blow with a flaming fist of his own.The crack when their fists collided echoed like thunder. Martin screamed as force shoved him back; for the first time, surprise crossed his features. He hadn’t expected Joaquin to hit back so hard. Before Martin could recover, Joaquin was already in front of him—air thin with heat, arm cocked.“What—”Joaquin didn’t hesitate. He punched with everything he had. Martin, though larger and brutal, was d
Chapter 292
The car rolled to a stop before a large house. Like the abandoned building earlier, guards stood posted outside. Inside, Joaquin felt the familiar presences he’d tracked the whole night.James, and Gracia Villareal.His fists tightened. Their cruelty had not stopped with him; they’d dragged Serena into it too.He looked up at the attic where Serena’s presence had trembled in his senses.“Just wait for me, Serena. I’ll come for you,” he whispered.Joaquin stepped from the car and walked toward the gate. Two guards intercepted him immediately.“Who are you? Where did you come from?” one barked. “This is private property. You should—”He didn’t finish. Joaquin moved like lightning: one hand to the guard’s neck, a silent strike, and both men dropped to the ground, unconscious.As he slipped through the gate, more guards crumpled—taken down one by one, silent and precise. He was a ghost in motion; by the time the front door yawned open, he was in the living room where James and Gracia were
Chapter 293
“Serena!”Carmela rushed toward Joaquin the moment she saw him carrying the unconscious young woman in his arms.“Take her upstairs!” Emilio commanded.Joaquin nodded firmly and quickly made his way up to Serena’s room. He laid her gently on the bed — still lifeless, her breathing shallow.“Why did you leave me behind, Joaquin? I could’ve helped you!” Andrea complained, arms akimbo, frustration clear in her voice.Joaquin only sighed and stepped back from the bed. “It was for the best, Andrea.”Andrea rolled her eyes and crossed her arms even tighter.Carmela sat at the edge of the bed, her hand trembling as she brushed Serena’s cheek. “Why isn’t she waking up?” she asked, voice breaking.“I’ll get a doctor,” Emilio said, already turning toward the door.“I’m a doctor.”Everyone turned toward the voice. Jasmine nodded toward her brother. “Yes, my brother can help Ms. Serena,” she assured them softly.Carmela stood aside as Joaquin sat down next to Serena. He gently took her wrist,
Chapter 294
Joaquin watched Serena quietly from across the table as she devoured her dinner with childlike hunger, her eyes bright and alive again.“Do you like it?” he asked, his voice calm but softened with relief.Serena nodded while chewing eagerly. “Yeah! It’s so good! I feel like I haven’t eaten in a year — I was starving!” she said between bites, half-laughing.Joaquin smiled faintly. “That’s because of the poison that got into your system. Once it’s expelled, it leaves your body craving energy. You’re regaining your strength now.”Serena sighed, setting down her spoon for a moment. “I just can’t believe he did that to me,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “He lied to me… and we almost got married!” Her tone hardened as her brows drew together. “He’s going to pay for this when I see him again.”Joaquin’s smile faded. He averted his gaze, his expression tightening. He hadn’t even called the police yet — his priority was getting her to safety. James and Gracia were still out there,
Chapter 295
After confirming that Serena was finally safe, Joaquin decided it was time to return to the Philippines.He still had far too many questions that needed answers — about the poison, about the Society, and about himself.“I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here, Sir,” Joaquin said, his tone edged with concern as he faced Emilio.Emilio, however, had already made up his mind. He chose to remain in his family’s home rather than accompany Joaquin back.“I can protect my family, Lopez,” Emilio replied with quiet certainty. “I appreciate your concern—and thank you for everything you’ve done.”He gave Joaquin’s shoulder a firm, grateful pat.Joaquin sighed, glancing at Serena. She sat on the sofa, her posture small, her eyes downcast — fragile and uneasy.“Alright, Sir. I’ll talk to Serena before I go,” he said.Emilio nodded and left them to speak privately.Joaquin walked toward Serena, his steps careful. He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, but she flinched violently, pulli
Chapter 296
“What happened? I never taught you that,” Miguel said with a cold smirk as he slowly stepped out from behind Rick.He flexed his hand, opening and closing his fist as if savoring the raw force that had just thrown Joaquin across the floor.“You’ve grown weak, Joaquin.”Joaquin spat blood onto the marble floor, his breath ragged as he forced himself upright. “Why?” he muttered, his voice trembling between pain and disbelief.Miguel’s smirk deepened, his eyes flashing with restrained fury. “Why? Because you made fools out of us!”In a blur of motion, Miguel leapt high and landed right in front of Joaquin. Before the younger man could react, Miguel’s fist slammed into his stomach, sending him crashing back once more. Joaquin doubled over, coughing blood, his body screaming in agony.“You know what?” Miguel’s tone was mocking now, sharp as a blade. “The moment I saw you, I knew you had potential. I thought you could be one of us. But I didn’t realize you were just playing us all along!”M
Chapter 297
Joaquin didn’t know how to feel about what he’d just heard.Veyrix — the name of the previous Flamebearer — hung in the room like a cold wind.“Why did you ask?” Miguel said.“He came to me,” Joaquin answered. “He challenged me.”Miguel let out a bitter smirk. “That bastard. He’s been gone for millennia. He still remembers, huh?”“Right,” Rick said, flipping a page in his head as if the memory were a footnote. “I found his name in an old ledger. He was consumed by darkness — almost lost himself entirely when he used his power for evil.”Joaquin swallowed. The idea that such a thing had happened — that someone who had wielded the same fire as him could be devoured by it — made something cold and tight coil in his gut.“I thought we were soldiers of light,” he said. “How could he fall?”“Because darkness tempts the same parts of you that light feeds,” Miguel replied, his voice flat and dangerous. “You’re vulnerable, Joaquin. Just as anyone who can burn bright is vulnerable to being burn