21:23
Chapter 8
After that day, Nathan stayed alone in his office for two straight days and nights without closing his eyes.
His desk was piled high with stacks of documents, all related to
Maria.
Among them were records of her tampering with medical files at Christmas, invoices for her misappropriation of hospital funds to purchase imported equipment, and surgical records of her unauthorized procedures during this medical malpractice.
incident.
Nathan’s phone kept vibrating on the desk, with “Maria” flashing on and off the screen repeatedly.
Maria clearly hadn’t taken Nathan’s warning from that day seriously, and her messages were becoming increasingly desperate.
[Nathan, where the hell are you?]
[The police have already pulled the operating room surveillance footage. You need to figure something out!]
[I know I was wrong. Don’t abandon me!]
Nathan picked up his phone and switched it to silent without
even looking at it.
1/5
21:23
At Christmas, Liliana always said that once she got better, she would bake a cake for Nathan with her own hands.
At this thought, Nathan’s nails dug deep into his palms.
I floated behind him, watching as Nathan organized all the evidence into categories and labeled them.
With each document he sorted, his expression grew darker.
Especially when he saw that Maria had secretly destroyed key medication records to cover up this medical malpractice, Nathan’s hand froze in mid–air, his fingertips trembling slightly.
He murmured to himself, “So you were completely rotten all along.”
These words seemed directed at Maria, yet also like he was talking to himself.
On the third evening, Nathan packed all the materials into a black file folder and drove to the courthouse.
The security guard at the courthouse entrance recognized him and greeted him with a smile: “Dr. Morgan, here on business?”
Nathan nodded without responding and walked straight inside.
When submitting the materials, the judge looked at him with some surprise.
2/5
The judge asked, “Dr. Morgan, this evidence…”
21:23
Chapter 8
Nathan interrupted him, saying, “It’s all true. The real person responsible for that medical malpractice five years ago was Maria, not Caroline.”
The judge was stunned for a moment, then signed the record.
He said, “We’ll verify this evidence as soon as possible.”
When Nathan walked out of the courthouse, it was already dark.
He stood on the courthouse steps, looking at the streetlights lighting up in the distance, then suddenly crouched down, hugging his knees and began to cry.
This time, Nathan cried softly, but with a sense of relief from finally laying down a heavy burden.
I knew he had finally at
needed to be done.
Before long, police sirens echoed through Maria’s residential complex.
When Maria was taken away by the police, she was still struggling and shouting, “Nathan, you bastard! How dare you betray me!”
Neighbors curiously gathered at their doors to watch.
Someone said, “I never liked her anyway! Just because Dr. Morgan spoiled her, she always bullied others at the hospital!”
3/5
Another person added. “I heard she killed several patients.”
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Chapter 8
On the day of the court verdict, Nathan didn’t attend.
He sat in front of Liliana’s tombstone, holding a bouquet of white lilies.
The photo on the tombstone had faded somewhat, but the little girl’s smile remained as pure as ever.
Nathan gently traced the photo with his fingertips, outlining Liliana’s features bit by bit.
He said, “Liliana, I’m sorry. I came too late.”
I floated nearby, watching him place the flowers in front of the tombstone, then gently wipe away the dust.
The sound of wind rustling through leaves came from the distance, as if Liliana was softly laughing.
Later, the verdict was delivered to Nathan. I glanced at the
contents.
Maria was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for multiple charges.
Nathan crumpled the verdict into a ball and threw it in the trash.
He stood by the window, looking at the vehicles and pedestrians on the street below, his eyes vacant.
4/5
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I knew that even though Maria had received her due
Chapter 8
I could never again accompany Liliana in the sunshine, and Nathan could never personally say “I’m sorry” to me.
This absurd farce had finally come to an end.
But the price we paid was too heavy.
