Chapter 4 Caught in the wrong place

Chapter 4

Lysander had been on her way to the break room when she heard the voices.

At first, she ignored them-hospital meetings were none of her business-but the sharp, biting tone of a woman's voice made her slow her steps.

"...Do you know how humiliating this is, Nolan? Do you have any idea what people say about you?"

Lysander paused just outside the door, frowning. Nolan?

"Not this again," came his voice, lower and edged with irritation.

"Yes, this again," the woman snapped. "You show up late to a meeting that could determine the future of this hospital-our hospital-and you waltz in here like you own the place. Like you can do whatever you want just because your name is Castille."

Lysander knew she should walk away. This wasn't her business. But something about the silence that followed, the kind that cut deep, made her hesitate.

Then came the father's voice. Colder. Sharper.

"She's right. You have no discipline, Nolan. No sense of responsibility. And yet, here we are, dragging you along because you bear our name."

Lysander's grip on her chart tightened.

Nolan let out a low laugh-but it wasn't amused.

"You don't need me here," he said flatly. "You just need a puppet to make it look like we're a happy little business-driven family. Congrats, you have each other. I'll show myself out."

Lysander barely had time to step back before Nolan pushed the door open.

She froze.

For a split second, she thought he would see her, but he didn't. He stormed right past, running a frustrated hand through his hair, muttering curses under his breath.

Then, he stopped.

Hands on his hips, shoulders tense, he exhaled sharply. Like he was unraveling.

Lysander swallowed. She shouldn't care. She shouldn't feel anything.

But for the first time, she didn't see the playboy patient who flirted just to get a rise out of her.

She saw a guy who had spent his whole life never being enough.