The Divine Physician System

Chapter 3

Adrian's heart lurched the instant he answered the call.

"Mr. Hale!"

Doctor Lewis sounded unusually anxious.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the administrative building. What's wrong?"

There was a brief silence.

"You need to come to Ward Seven immediately."

Adrian's grip tightened around his phone.

"Did something happen to Lily?"

"I..."

Doctor Lewis hesitated.

"Just get here. Hurry!"

The call ended.

An icy chill swept through Adrian's body.

Without another thought, he sprinted toward the elevator. The moment the doors opened, he rushed inside, repeatedly pressing the button for the seventh floor.

"Come on..."

"Come on..."

The elevator seemed painfully slow.

As soon as the doors parted, Adrian shot out like an arrow.

"Lily!"

He raced down the corridor, ignoring the startled looks from doctors and nurses.

When he reached Room 708, he threw the door open.

His heart stopped.

The bed...

Was empty.

The IV stand was gone.

The blankets had been folded neatly.

Only the faint smell of disinfectant remained.

"Lily?"

His voice trembled.

"Lily!"

He searched every corner of the room before grabbing the arm of a patient's family member.

"The girl who was staying here!"

"Where is she?"

The middle-aged woman frowned.

"You mean that leukemia patient?"

"Yes!"

"They moved her out."

Adrian froze.

"Moved her where?"

She shrugged.

"I don't know."

"They said her family couldn't pay the bills, so she had to leave."

His breathing became uneven.

"No..."

"No, that's impossible."

He rushed back into the hallway.

A passing nurse recognized him.

"Mr. Hale..."

"Where's my sister?"

The young nurse lowered her head.

"I'm sorry..."

"The finance department ordered her discharge."

"What?"

"They said the hospital couldn't continue treating patients with unpaid bills."

Adrian grabbed her shoulders.

"Where is she?"

"I-I don't know."

"They took her downstairs."

Adrian let go immediately and bolted toward the elevators.

His heart pounded so violently that it hurt.

Please...

Don't let anything happen...

Please...

The elevator took too long.

He abandoned it and sprinted down the emergency staircase instead.

Seven floors.

Six.

Five.

Four.

His lungs burned.

Three.

Two.

One.

He burst through the emergency exit into the hospital lobby.

The reception desk was crowded with people.

Security guards stood near the entrance.

"Lily!"

He shouted desperately.

"Has anyone seen my sister?"

Nobody answered.

Some looked away.

Others simply ignored him.

Then...

A loud scream echoed from outside.

"Someone jumped!"

"Oh my God!"

"Call an ambulance!"

Adrian's pupils shrank.

His legs moved before his mind could react.

He pushed through the crowd and rushed toward the hospital courtyard.

Dozens of people had already gathered around the flower garden.

The crowd formed a circle.

Some covered their mouths.

Others pointed in horror.

Adrian forced his way through.

"Move!"

"Please!"

"Move!"

The moment he reached the center...

The world fell silent.

A frail girl lay motionless on the cold pavement.

Blood spread beneath her like a crimson flower.

Her hospital gown had been stained red.

One of her slippers had fallen several feet away.

Her long black hair covered half of her pale face.

It was Lily.

"No..."

Adrian whispered.

"No..."

He stumbled forward before collapsing onto his knees.

"Lily!"

His trembling hands gently lifted her into his arms.

Warm blood immediately soaked through his clothes.

"Lily..."

His voice broke.

"Wake up."

"Please..."

Her eyelashes fluttered weakly.

She slowly opened her eyes.

When she saw Adrian's tearful face...

She smiled.

A weak.

Gentle.

Heartbreaking smile.

"Brother..."

"I'm here."

"I'm here."

Adrian desperately wiped the blood from her lips.

"You'll be okay."

"I'll save you."

"We're going back upstairs."

He tried to lift her.

Lily weakly grabbed his sleeve.

"No..."

Her voice was barely audible.

"I don't... want you... spending any more money..."

Adrian shook his head frantically.

"Don't say that."

"The surgery..."

"You'll have the surgery."

"I found the money."

It was a lie.

But he would tell a thousand lies if it kept her alive.

Lily smiled faintly.

"You always... lie... when you're worried..."

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

"I'm sorry..."

She whispered.

"I heard... the nurses talking..."

"They said... I'm just... a burden..."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Who said that?"

"I'll make them apologize."

"I promise."

Lily slowly shook her head.

"It doesn't matter anymore..."

"I don't... want you... suffering because of me..."

Tears streamed down Adrian's face.

"You've never been a burden."

"You hear me?"

"Never."

"You are my sister."

"My only family."

"I'd give up everything for you."

A fresh wave of blood escaped Lily's lips.

Her breathing became weaker.

She looked at Adrian with eyes full of guilt.

"Brother..."

"I'm sorry..."

"I couldn't... stay with you..."

"You've worked... so hard..."

"For me..."

Adrian held her tighter.

"No."

"No."

"Don't leave me."

"We still have so many places to visit."

"You promised we'd see the ocean together."

"You remember?"

"We were going to buy a little house."

"You'd plant flowers."

"I'd cook."

"You can't break your promise."

Lily's eyes became misty.

"I remember..."

A faint laugh escaped her lips.

"You always... burn the food..."

Adrian laughed through his tears.

"I'll learn."

"I promise."

"So stay."

"Please..."

Lily slowly raised her trembling hand.

With incredible effort, she gently touched his cheek.

Her fingers were icy cold.

"Brother..."

"If..."

"If there's another life..."

Her voice became softer.

"So soft that Adrian had to lean closer to hear.

"I want..."

"No..."

She smiled weakly.

"Brother..."

"Next life..."

"Let me..."

"Protect you."

Her hand slipped from his face.

It fell limply against the ground.

The smile remained on her lips.

But the light in her eyes...

Disappeared forever.

Time stopped.

Adrian stared blankly at her motionless face.

His mind refused to accept what had happened.

"No..."

He whispered.

"No..."

He shook her gently.

"Lily..."

"Wake up."

"You always sleep too much."

"Wake up."

There was no response.

He shook her harder.

"Lily!"

"Stop joking!"

His voice echoed through the courtyard.

Still...

Nothing.

The doctors and nurses standing nearby lowered their heads.

Some quietly wiped away tears.

Several patients watched with red eyes.

Yet no one dared to step forward.

Because standing near the hospital entrance was Director Victor Kane.

His hands rested calmly inside his coat pockets.

His expression remained indifferent.

One of the younger doctors instinctively took a step forward.

"We should save her..."

Victor's cold voice interrupted him.

"They still owe this hospital over fifty thousand dollars."

The young doctor froze.

Victor glanced at everyone present.

"If anyone wants to treat her..."

"You'll be personally responsible for every medical expense."

Silence.

No one moved.

No one dared.

Adrian slowly turned his head.

His bloodshot eyes met Victor's calm gaze.

Their eyes locked.

One filled with unbearable grief.

The other with cold indifference.

Victor merely adjusted his glasses.

"Hospital rules."

Those two words shattered the last thread holding Adrian together.

He pulled Lily's lifeless body tightly against his chest.

A heartbreaking howl burst from deep within his soul.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

The cry echoed across the entire hospital compound.

It was filled with despair.

With rage.

With helplessness.

With grief so overwhelming that everyone present felt their hearts tighten.

Tears streamed endlessly down Adrian's face as he held the only family he had left.

He had endured humiliation.

He had abandoned his pride.

He had bowed to countless people.

He had accepted every insult.

Everything...

Everything had been for Lily.

Yet in the end...

He had still been too late.