2025-01-03 17:29:05As Joaquin stepped out of Serena’s office, the weight of his humiliation pressed on his chest. He clenched his fists, his mind replaying the scene.
Andrew’s smug face, Mikyla’s betrayal, and Serena’s icy judgment all swirled in his thoughts.
They had stripped him of everything—his position, his dignity, and even his hope.
His steps quickened as he made his way to the elevator, needing space to think. But as the elevator doors opened, fate had other plans.
Standing inside were Andrew and Mikyla, their conversation halting as they caught sight of him.
“Oh, look who it is,” Andrew sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “The hospital’s newest orderly. How does it feel, Joaquin, to be demoted to cleaning up after us?”
Mikyla smirked, her arms folded, her disdain was evident.
“Maybe it suits him. He’s always been good at groveling.”
Joaquin said nothing, stepping into the elevator and standing rigidly in the corner.
“Quiet today, aren’t we?” Andrew leaned closer, his voice low but sharp. “What’s wrong, Joaquin? Too embarrassed to admit you’ve been thrown to the bottom? Or are you sulking because Serena didn’t protect her favorite pet?”
Joaquin’s jaw tightened, but he refused to respond.
Andrew chuckled, clearly enjoying the lack of resistance.
“What’s the deal with you two anyway? Did she demote you because you couldn’t keep up with her demands? Or was it something... more personal?”
He raised an eyebrow suggestively.
The insinuation made Joaquin’s blood boil, but he kept his gaze fixed on the elevator doors, willing himself to stay calm.
He knew the security cameras were watching, and any outburst would only worsen his situation.
“You know,” Andrew continued, his tone growing more vulgar, “Mikyla told me all about how naive you are. She said you actually thought she cared about you. Isn’t that right, darling?”
Mikyla laughed, leaning into Andrew.
“Poor Joaquin. He always thought he was so special. But really, he was just... convenient.”
Joaquin didn’t respond.
Each word cut deeper than the last, but he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing him break.
When the elevator doors finally opened into the bustling hospital lobby, Joaquin stepped out.
He didn’t waste his time with those assholes.
But Andrew wasn’t finished.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Andrew called after him, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. “Afraid someone might ask about the plagiarism? Or maybe about the attack you tried to cover up?”
The words hung in the air, drawing the attention of patients and staff alike.
Conversations halted, and all eyes turned to Joaquin.
“Plagiarism? What’s he talking about?” one patient whispered.
“I heard he assaulted a colleague,” another said.
Joaquin’s heart sank as the murmurs grew louder, the crowd feeding on Andrew’s lies.
“That’s right.”
Andrew declared, his voice full of righteous indignation.
“This man is nothing but a fraud. He steals others’ work, attacks his colleagues, and pretends to be a victim. It’s disgusting.”
The crowd shifted, their disapproval palpable.
Some patients began muttering angrily, their glares piercing Joaquin like daggers.
One older man stepped forward, his face twisted in anger.
“How can someone like you call yourself a doctor? You should be ashamed!”
Joaquin opened his mouth to defend himself, but no words came. He felt trapped, the walls closing in as the weight of their judgment crushed him.
Andrew, sensing victory, stepped closer, his smirk widening.
“What’s the matter, Joaquin? Nothing to say? Or are you finally realizing your place?”
Joaquin straightened his posture, his expression calm but deadly serious.
“Andrew,” he said, his voice steady but loud enough for everyone to hear, “don’t you fear the consequences of twisting the truth like this? Don’t you fear God’s punishment for your lies?”
God’s punishment?”
Andrew laughed sharply, his voice dripping with contempt.
“You’re just a pathetic excuse for a man!”
A sharp cry erupted from Mikyla.
“Andrew!”
Everyone turned to see Andrew clutching his head, his face contorted in pain.
He stumbled backward, collapsing to the floor as blood trickled from his temple.
The crowd gasped, stepping back in shock. Mikyla dropped to her knees beside Andrew, her hands trembling.
“What... what happened?” she stammered, her voice panicked.
“Like I said, God’s punishment,”
Joaquin smiled easily.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 4: A Chain of Consequences
“Someone call a doctor!” a nurse finally shouted, snapping everyone into action.Joaquin stood at the edge of the chaos, his face impassive but his heart thrumming with satisfaction. He couldn’t explain what had just happened, but deep down, he felt the power within him stirring.The chandelier had fallen perfectly, striking Andrew just as planned. It wasn’t a fatal blow—he had made sure of that.But it was enough to knock the arrogance out of him, if only for a moment.Andrew clutched his bleeding head, his cries of pain reverberating through the lobby. Mikyla knelt beside him, her hands fluttering uselessly as she tried to stem the blood with a piece of fabric torn from her coat.“This... this is your doing!” Andrew spat, glaring up at Joaquin, his voice trembling with both rage and pain.Joaquin tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Me? I didn’t touch you. Maybe it’s divine retribution. Isn’t that what I warned you about?”“You liar!” Andrew shouted, his words falterin
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 5: A Silent Vow
When Joaquin returned home, the familiar scent of a home-cooked meal greeted him. His elder sister stood by the stove, humming softly as she ladled soup into bowls. For a moment, Joaquin felt a pang of guilt. She worked so hard to keep everything together, yet here he was, weighed down by betrayals and battles he hadn’t even begun to share.“You’re just in time,” she said, her voice warm. “Dinner’s ready!”At the dinner table, Joaquin forced himself to act normal. He focused on eating, avoiding eye contact with his sister.“Is something bothering you?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.Joaquin hesitated. “No, just tired from work.”She seemed unconvinced but didn’t press further. Instead, she brought up a topic that made Joaquin’s chest tighten.“How’s Mikyla? She hadn’t come to our place for a while.”Joaquin’s grip on his chopsticks tightened, but he managed to keep his voice steady. “She’s been busy with work.”His sister’s expression softened. “That’s understandable. I
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 6: A Scar That Won’t Heal
Joaquin’s breath caught in his chest as the woman leaned forward, her robe shifting just enough to make him glance away. Her confidence radiated like a challenge, and for a fleeting second, he felt the urge to match her energy. But no—he reminded himself—this was his job.“I’m here to check the wound,” he said, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “Nothing else.”Her eyes narrowed, skepticism clear in her gaze. “Sure you are,” she said, leaning back with a smirk. “Go on then, but keep your hands professional, Joaquin.”Ignoring her sarcasm, he approached the bed, kneeling to inspect the injury on her leg. The stitches were tight, the wound deep. Even though it was healing, it was clear the damage had been severe.“What happened?” he asked, keeping his tone neutral.“Car accident,” she replied flatly. “Driver wasn’t paying attention. Surgery’s scheduled to minimize the scarring, but...” Her voice trailed off, her expression unreadable.Joaquin hesitated, unsure how to re
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 7: The Unbelievable Truth
The room buzzed with tension as Joaquin stood at the foot of the hospital bed, Joaquin was preparing his tools for the treatment. The air was thick with skepticism, and Carlo made no effort to hide his disdain.“This is ridiculous!” Carlo sneered, crossing his arms. “You’re feeding her false hope! There’s no way your little water-and-herbs trick will work!”Andrea leaned back against the pillows, her eyes fixed on Joaquin. “I’ve already told you, Doctor,” she said with a cool smile, “I’ll decide what’s worth trying. If Joaquin says he can help, I’ll let him.”An intern beside Carlo snorted. “A caregiver acting like a doctor? What a joke!”Joaquin glanced at them briefly, unfazed. “You’re welcome to stay and watch. Maybe you’ll learn something.”The boldness of his retort made the interns gape, and even Carlo’s eyebrows twitched in irritation.“Fine,” Carlo said, his tone laced with mockery. “Let’s see this miracle of yours.”Joaquin took a deep breath, steadying himself. He dipp
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 8: A Miraculous Turn
“What?”“You heard me,” she said. “Get out! I don’t need a doctor who can’t see past his own arrogance!”Carlo clenched his fists but ultimately stormed out, slamming the door behind him.The interns hesitated, glancing nervously between Joaquin and Andrea before hurrying after their superior.Outside the room, the interns huddled around Carlo, their voices low and filled with doubt.“Do you think he’s legit?” one of them asked.“Impossible!” another replied. “No one heals that quickly.”“He’s a fraud!”Carlo, still fuming, clenched his fists. “He’s hiding something,” he said. “I’ll find out what it is.” With that, he headed toward the caregiver station, determined to dig into Joaquin’s past.Back in the room, Andrea’s demeanor shifted. Her stern expression softened as she turned her attention to Joaquin.“That was… impressive,” she said, her voice teasing. “What do I owe you for such a miracle? My gratitude? Or something more… personal?”Joaquin blinked, caught off guard by the sud
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 9: Breaking Point
Andrew’s face turned an angry crimson, the sting of Joaquin’s slap fresh and humiliating. “Y-You… How dare you?!”He clenched his jaw, his fists trembling as he glared at Joaquin.“You’ll regret this!” Andrew hissed, his voice venomous. He raised his hand, but Andrea’s cold, cutting voice stopped him mid-motion.“If you lay a finger on him,” she said, her tone laced with steel, “you won’t leave this room unscathed! You should know better than to challenge me, Andrew.”Andrew froze, his pride battling his fear of Andrea’s influence. After a long, tense pause, he lowered his fist and spat out, “This isn’t over!” With one last glare at Joaquin, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by Andrea’s amused chuckle.“Well,” she said, leaning back in her chair, “that was dramatic. Tell me, Joaquin, how did it feel to slap Andrew?”Joaquin blinked at her, caught off guard by the sudden levity. Slowly, a small smirk crept on
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 10: No More Restraint
Joaquin’s vision blurred with fury as he launched himself at Andrew, his hand gripping Andrew’s throat in an ironclad hold. Andrew choked, his hands scrabbling at Joaquin’s arm, but the pressure didn’t ease. Joaquin’s voice was a low growl.“How dare you hurt my sister?!”Andrew’s legs kicked out, trying to break free, but Joaquin’s grip only tightened, cutting off his breath. His face was turning purple, the struggle in his eyes becoming more frantic.“Joaquin, let him go!” Mikyla shouted, stepping forward, her face stricken with fear.Joaquin turned his cold eyes on her. “Anyone who hurts my sister doesn’t deserve mercy!” he spat, the venom in his voice unmistakable.Mikyla flinched, but she didn’t retreat. “Please, think about what you’re doing! This won’t end well for any of us!”Joaquin ignored her, his gaze locked on Andrew, who was still gasping for air. Just when it seemed like Andrew might pass out, Jasmine’s voice broke through the chaos.“Joaquin, please!” she sobbed,
The Doctor's Reckoning Chapter 11: The Standoff
Joaquin slammed him to the ground with a force that made Andrew grunt with pain.His foot hovered over Andrew’s hand, the tension in the room was palpable, ready to crush it completely. His breath came in heavy, controlled bursts as his anger surged through him. Just as he was about to press down, a voice shouted from the door.“Joaquin! Stop!”Joaquin froze, his eyes darting toward the voice. Serena stood in the doorway, her face a mask of stern authority.“Let him go! Now!” she ordered, her tone unwavering.Andrew, seizing the opportunity, gasped for air, his voice barely audible as he wheezed, “Help... Help! Someone—”Mikyla, standing by, quickly stepped forward. “Joaquin, are you completely out of your mind? Let him go! You’re going to ruin everything!”Serena’s gaze shifted from Joaquin to Andrew, then back. “Joaquin, this isn’t you. Stop this madness!”But Joaquin wasn’t done. His eyes narrowed, and his grip on Andrew’s wrist tightened, unyielding. “He assulted my sister!
Latest Chapter
Chapter 228: A Call for help
Joaquin’s shoulders sagged heavily as he walked into the house.Every step felt heavier than the last.He didn’t want to leave Serena’s side—not when her life was still hanging by a thread.But he knew he had no choice.He needed rest if he was going to save her.He needed strength.And most of all, he needed answers.Because he knew deep in his bones that the cure for Serena’s condition wouldn’t be found in any hospital.Not in any book.Not in any medicine known to man.This—whatever had poisoned Serena—was something far more ancient.As soon as he entered his room, he didn’t waste a second.He locked the door and bolted the windows, making sure no one could disturb him.The familiar smell of home barely registered in his nose.All he could think about was her.Her pale face.Her weakening heartbeat.Her soft voice called his name before she slipped into unconsciousness.He pushed the memory away and dropped to the floor, sitting cross-legged right in the center of the room.The air
Chapter 227: The Surgery
The doors slammed shut behind Joaquin.For a moment, the world outside disappeared—and it was just him, Serena, and the fight that was about to begin.He quickly scrubbed in, his hands trembling slightly—not from fear, but from the overwhelming weight of what was at stake.You can do this, he told himself, breathing deeply, steadying his hands.He approached Serena's operating table.She looked so fragile, lying there under the harsh surgical lights, her face pale and still, her breathing shallow and strained."You’re going to be okay, love," Joaquin whispered under his breath."I’ll bring you back. I promise."The nurses around him moved efficiently, handing him tools, monitoring Serena’s vitals.Joaquin gave quick, sharp instructions, falling into the rhythm of a surgeon—focused, precise, merciless against the enemy threatening his beloved.But the moment he made the first incision and peeled back the damaged tissue, his heart stopped.What he saw wasn't something any textbook had p
Chapter 226: Trust
The ambulance ride to Villareal Medical Hospital was a blur.Joaquin stayed by Serena’s side the entire time, holding her hand tightly, refusing to let go even for a second. The paramedics tried to assure him that she was stable, but for Joaquin, nothing was certain until he saw her open her eyes and smile again."Just a little more, love," he whispered under his breath. "Stay with me."When they arrived at VMH, the hospital staff, already alerted by Dr. Reyes, rushed Serena straight into the diagnostic wing. Joaquin followed closely behind, barking rapid instructions to the doctors like a man possessed."Full-body MRI. Prioritize her brain scan. Blood work. Everything. Move!"No one dared question him.Inside the emergency room, the machines buzzed to life.Joaquin watched through the glass as Serena was carefully prepped.Each beep from the monitors sent a spike of fear through his chest.A few minutes later, Dr. Ramirez, one of VMH’s senior neurologists, approached him."Dr. Lope
Chapter 225: Sick
"Serena!"Joaquin rushed to her side without wasting a second.He scooped her up carefully and checked her condition.She was unconscious—but there was still a pulse."Serena, wake up!" he pleaded, gently tapping her cheek."My daughter!"Emilio suddenly appeared, hurrying toward them."You! Let her go!" he shouted, his voice laced with fury.But Joaquin didn’t even flinch.His throat tightened when he realized how faint her pulse was.Without hesitation, he pulled her closer and tried to leave——but Emilio and several of his bodyguards blocked his path."Where do you think you’re going?! Are you trying to kidnap her in broad daylight?!" Emilio barked, disbelief clear in his voice."She’s weak! She needs to be taken to a hospital!" Joaquin shot back.James stepped between them, arms spread as if shielding Serena."No! If she’s really sick, I’ll be the one to take her!" he insisted.Joaquin tightened his hold on Serena, feeling the panic and rage brewing inside him."We don't have time
Chapter 224: The Wedding
Joaquin had just arrived home after the competition.He hadn’t even stepped fully inside when Jasmine rushed out to meet him."Joaquin! Thank goodness you're finally back!" Jasmine cried, her voice tight with worry.Her face was pale, anxious, her hands wringing the hem of her shirt.Joaquin’s brow furrowed immediately."What's wrong? Did something happen?"Jasmine hesitated, glancing away, struggling to find the words."It's Serena, Joaquin," she said quietly. "I’m afraid... we’re out of time."At the mention of Serena’s name, Joaquin’s heart started pounding violently against his chest. His instincts kicked in, his mind already racing."What? What happened? Is she okay?" he demanded.Jasmine dropped onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands for a moment before taking a long, shaky breath."Earlier today, Mikyla came here. I thought she was just here to cause trouble again, but no. She was frantic—panicking even—because she said she couldn't reach you. She told me... Serena’s wedd
Chapter 223: The Serpent
The air backstage was thick with sweat, blood, and tension.Joaquin moved with slow, deliberate steps, the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. Every muscle in his body ached. His knuckles were split and bruised. His ribs burned with every breath. But none of that mattered. Not now.He hadn't forgotten.He couldn't forget.This fight was never just about the championship.It was about justice.It was about Master Iroh.Her sister, Jasmine.And George Beckham still had answers he hadn’t given.Miguel and Rick tried to steer him toward the locker rooms, but Joaquin shook them off with a tight jerk of his head.There was something he needed to do first."Give me a minute," he said, voice rough.Miguel frowned. "Joaquin—""I won't kill him," Joaquin said flatly. "Just talk."Miguel hesitated, then finally nodded. Rick crossed his arms, staying close but silent.George had just been hauled off the arena floor by two of his lackeys, limping heavily toward the private medical room
Chapter 222: The Winner
The morning of the final round arrived like a heavy storm.The city felt different—quieter, heavier—like the whole world was holding its breath.Joaquin woke before dawn, the restless energy inside him too much to ignoreHe barely touched his breakfast.He barely spoke a word.Rick came to pick him up, his usual casual grin replaced by a tense frown.Even Miguel, who rarely showed nerves, seemed heavier somehow, his presence more guarded.They knew.Everyone knew.This wasn’t just a fight.It was a war for everything Joaquin had left."You ready?" Rick asked as they drove toward the underground arena.Joaquin nodded once, his jaw tight.He didn’t trust himself to speak.Because the truth was—He wasn’t just ready.He was desperate.Desperate to win.Desperate to save Serena.Desperate to take back everything that had been stolen from them.The arena buzzed with anticipation.Spectators filled the stands, shouting and cheering as the final match of the Blue Tiger Ranking Competition wa
Chapter 221: Begging
The next few days flew by in a blur.Joaquin trained harder than he ever had before.He knew he had to focus on his training first, before he could go back to Serena.He was still worried—God, he was always worried—but he had to set it aside for now.If he wanted to get her back, he needed to win. He needed to be strong enough.Under Miguel’s sharp and relentless supervision, Joaquin sparred daily with Rick, working on his speed, his reflexes, and his technique.He pushed himself past exhaustion, past the ache in his muscles, until the only thing left was pure willpower.And there was something else—something strange inside him.That strange energy, that force he barely understood, was growing.It seemed to answer to his emotions, flaring to life whenever he thought of Serena, whenever he imagined her lost and confused, married off to a man she didn't even love.The stronger his resolve became, the stronger the energy surged inside him, crackling just beneath the surface of his skin.
Chapter 220: Doubts
Tears welled up in Joaquin’s eyes as he stood there, helpless and heartbroken.He watched Serena, who looked at him with both confusion and wariness.He couldn't blame her.After all, the people around her must have filled her head with lies while she was vulnerable.With a heavy heart, Joaquin turned away, clenching his fists tightly at his sides.He took one last look at her, memorizing her face — the face he loved more than anything else — and silently made a vow to himself."I’ll bring you back to me," he whispered under his breath, so softly that even Serena couldn’t hear him.When he stepped out of the room, Mikyla was waiting for him in the hallway, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on her face."How did it go?" she asked quietly.Joaquin shook his head, struggling to steady his voice."She doesn't remember me," he said hoarsely. "They already brainwashed her. She thinks she's engaged to James."Mikyla pressed her lips into a thin line, guilt flickering across her featu
