CHAPTER 76: DISGUISED AS DANTE CORTEZ

Red stepped out of the car, looking directly at the woman who stood with her arm around Rose.

Judging by her appearance, she looked far wealthier than someone who needed a job, yet she still worked at this government hospital.

And she wondered what Rose had done to receive such special treatment from her. She was the one who had deceived that family in the first place.

"Alright, your friend has arrived."

Lyra cupped Rose’s face and kissed her on the cheek before wrapping her arms around her for their last hug.

Then she helped Rose climb into the car and shut the door.

She spun around toward Kane, who was loading the suitcase into the trunk.

"Thanks, Kane. I’m sorry I can’t go with you to the airport. Special guests are arriving later, and the director needs me there."

"Not a big deal, madam," Kane replied with a smile as he climbed back into the driver’s seat.

Red was about to get into the car again, but Lyra stopped her.

"Ah, hi. Nice to meet you. You must be Red."

Lyra raised her hand, smiling as she offered a handshake.

Red hesitated, but slowly she took Lyra’s hand and shook it. Then Lyra pulled her into a light hug that startled Red.

"Please take care of her," Lyra said softly. She patted Red’s back and released her.

Red just nodded, her face puzzled and hesitant, unsure of what to say.

Just like in her past encounters, women who saw themselves as "proper" had always treated her like dirt, spitting at her, seeing her as nothing more than a whore.

Yet Lyra didn’t hesitate. She reached out... and hugged her.

Slowly, a small smile curled on her face. Her heart began to ease at the sight of that woman.

Maybe the world wasn’t so cruel after all. There were still people who treated her kindly, and she still had a chance to start a new life.

Red climbed into the car and kept waving at Lyra until it pulled away.

Lyra waved back, staying there until the car vanished from sight.

Then she spun around and hurried back into the building. The guests wouldn’t arrive for another hour, which meant she still had enough time to check on Ivy.

"Lewis."

She called to him softly when she spotted him at the end of the hallway, just about to round the corner.

Lewis stopped and rested his hand on his hip. "Hurry. We don’t have much time."

Lyra frowned. "Why are you rushing? We still have an hour."

He shook his head. "You didn’t read the message, did you? They moved the event up by thirty minutes because the guests have somewhere else to be afterward."

Lyra’s mouth fell open. She’d been busy with Rose and hadn’t checked her messages.

Lewis caught her wrist and tugged her along. "Come on. Quickly."

Ivy had been moved to a regular ward. She was no longer as aggressive as before, which made her treatment much easier.

They checked her condition, and she seemed far more stable now.

"What do you think? Her condition looks stable enough for discharge," Lewis said, looking at Lyra.

"I was thinking the same."

Then, Lyra turned toward Ivy.

"You can be discharged tomorrow if your condition keeps improving."

Lyra smiled as she delivered the good news.

But Ivy only stared back with a vacant expression.

She didn’t know if she should return to the place stained by the tragedy that had happened to her.

She had been assaulted by someone she still couldn’t identify, and the perpetrator was still out there.

And she wasn’t sure if she could return to work either, not after being gone for so long.

After Lyra and Lewis left, Ivy pulled the blanket over herself and curled up on the bed. Her mind wouldn’t stop racing.

...

Lyra and Lewis quickened their pace toward the hospital’s meeting room in the next building, but even then, they arrived five minutes late.

By the time they got there, the guests were already inside with the director and several other important staff members.

Lewis tapped lightly on the door to announce their arrival. They stepped in and offered a slight bow.

"Sorry we’re late," they both said, still a little breathless, before hurrying to take their seats.

But Dr. Carvin, the director, motioned for them to come forward so he could introduce them to the guests.

"This is our special guest, Mr. Dante Cortez, along with his team. He will be providing funding to our hospital."

He then turned his attention to Dante.

"These are two of our dedicated staff members.

Dr. Lewis is a senior with years of experience,

and Dr. Ashford, though still a junior, is one of our most reliable young doctors."

Lewis shook Dante’s hand first before stepping aside to give Lyra space.

Dante’s eyes brightened when Lyra stepped closer, sending a jolt through his chest.

He had intentionally come to Mistvale, using the funding discussion as the opening move in his plan to track her.

What he hadn’t expected was for Lyra to be included in the meeting too, which brought this encounter sooner than he had anticipated.

"Mr. Dante?" Lyra asked, feeling awkward when he didn’t take her hand.

"Oh—sorry, I just..."

Dante cleared his throat, then turned to the director instead.

"Dr. Carvin... why didn’t you mention this hospital has such a beautiful doctor? I must admit, I was a little caught off guard. I can imagine patients enjoy coming here."

He chuckled lightly and said it in a teasing tone, as if it were the director’s fault for not warning him.

The remark drew a soft wave of laughter through the room.

Carvin nodded several times, smiling. "Yes, yes... she is beautiful, and she’s also the one keeping this hospital running smoothly."

He was pleased, seeing it as a good sign that Dante was willing to joke around.

He felt confident the hospital would receive a large amount of funding from the Cortez side without much effort.

But Lyra smiled stiffly. Being teased so openly in front of so many eyes made her feel more awkward.

Then Dante finally took her hand, giving it a gentle shake as he leaned slightly forward to meet her gaze.

"Nice to meet you, Doctor." He gave her his most charming smile before gently letting her hand go.

The director then gestured for everyone to take their seats, and they began the discussion.