Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 537

Florence's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she took a deep breath. "Then I'll be waiting for you in the operating room."

Her words hit Ryan like a hammer to the heart, sending his pulse racing.

---

An hour later, Whitney was writhing in agony from stomach pain. She made her way back to the self-service kiosk to print out her test results, which were still pending. Heading towards the information desk to inquire about the delay, she was intercepted by a nurse. "You're Dr. Bill's patient, Whitney, right? Dr. Bill mentioned your test results came back a bit concerning. Please follow me to his office for a follow-up."

Concerning?

That word usually meant something serious. But Whitney felt in tune with her body and sensed no significant issues. She could self-diagnose to an extent.

In the office, the previous doctor sat behind his desk and pulled out a blood test report. "Ms. Valentine, here's the situation. Your bloodwork is a bit complex, indicating it's not just a simple case of gastritis. To rule out the possibility of benign or malignant tumors in your stomach, we need to perform an endoscopy. The procedure requires anesthesia, and due to a high volume of patients, there might be a wait. Are you okay with that?"

"Tumors?" Whitney glanced over the report; indeed, the indicators were off. She confirmed her name; it was her report. Shaking her head, she said, "It can't be that serious. Maybe it's just the acute symptoms that are skewing the bloodwork. I've had stomach issues before, sensitivity to certain foods. But a tumor, that's highly unlikely. I'm really uncomfortable right now; could we start with an IV?"

Seeing her organized refusal, the doctor hesitated, conflicted. "I'm sorry, Ms. Valentine. Our hospital follows a strict diagnostic protocol. Given the abnormalities in your test results, I can't just proceed with an IV treatment. If there's a serious issue with your stomach, misdiagnosing could lead to me facing medical liability. If the endoscopy shows everything's clear, we'll get you on an IV right away."

Whitney frowned deeply. She had been at the hospital for an hour; heading to another facility would mean more waiting, likely without being seen before closing time. The pain made her physically and mentally exhausted.

"Fine, let's do the endoscopy."

After paying, a nurse escorted Whitney to another floor crowded with people waiting for their turn. She vomited once in the restroom, then found a seat to catch her breath. Taking a sip of water, she pondered if the lunch at the hotel could have been the culprit. Pulling out her phone, Whitney messaged Tiana on Facebook, "Do you think our lunch at the hotel was off? My stomach's a mess." She copied the message to Nyx, concerned they might be experiencing similar symptoms. After waiting a few minutes without a reply, she checked the time; it was past 2 PM, they must be on their flight. Her pain escalated, clouding her clarity of thought.

Then, the nurse returned, holding a number. "I saw how much pain you were in, so I managed to bump you up the queue. Ms. Valentine, let's get you prepped for anesthesia."

Whitney nodded and followed her

into a quiet examination room, devoid of other patients. A masked male doctor was already inside, preparing the medication. Whitney unfamiliar with the endoscopy, process, noticed something amiss as the doctor began to hook up an IV a local anesthetic, not general. The

bag. "Nurse! I optedokup an

procedure should involve spraying anesthetic into my throat, not an IV..."

Before she could finish, Whitney felt a sudden paralysis. Looking down, she saw the doctor had swiftly inserted the needle into her hand. Within seconds, the anesthesia took effect. Her eyes glazed over as she struggled to maintain

eve

consciousness, but her lips umbly sealed shut. In a final effort, she pulled off the doctor's mask,

revealing the face of a stranger, a middle-aged man. The doctor paused, then quickly averted his face.

Ryan, the doctor, increased the dosage, watching as the beautiful woman on the bed closed her eyes, sweat beading on his forehead from the tension.

"Dr. Ryan?" The nurse locked the operating room door behind them, approaching him. Ryan clenched the surgical tool in his hand, eyes closed for a moment. "Let's begin. Remove her pants."

An hour later, Dr. Ryan sanitized his hands and exited, taking a medical kit from the nurse that contained a vial. He put on his mask and crossed over to the last building of the hospital, where Florence was anxiously waiting in a room, nearly bursting out to ask about the situation. Seeing Ryan with the medical kit, Florence's breath hitched, her eyes gleaming. "Dr. Ryan, you're here!"

Ryan stood at the doorway, Myra closing the room door behind them. In a moment of moral conflict, Ryan held the medical kit closely, his gaze flickering, voice husky. "Ms. Sheldon, once I implant this embryo, it will develop inside you. You promise me, you'll take good care of it, raise it as your own?"

"I promise!" Florence's eyes slightly reddened with the promise of power and fortune. "I love Ludwik! It's his child, and having it means I'll be the best mother. I want nothing more than for Ludwik and me to have a happy family. Trust me, if Whitney carried it, she'd never keep it. You're saving a life."

Florence's manipulation tapped into Ryan's vulnerabilities, his dedication to medicine, and his indecision. Ryan had no choice. The embryo was already harvested, and with a heavy heart, he approached Florence...

In her drowsy state, Whitney felt an eerie silence around her, the doctor and nurse long gone. Suddenly, the window creaked open, letting in a stream of light. A shadowy figure

barged in. It was small, unlike a net

adult. It seemed to be a child. Whitney felt a wave of warmth rushing towards her, a familiar scent, so deeply ingrained it felt like part of her. A voice whispered in her ear, its tone clear and tender, tinged with a sob... Then, more people stormed in!

---

Ryan stepped out of Florence's operating room, receiving a message from his trusted aide that left him utterly shocked, a secret too heavy to share with Florence! Frustrated and panicked, he raced back, bursting into Whitney's examination room. A small figure lay collapsed on the floor beside the bed...