Chapter 282

Evelyn Sinclair blinked in confusion at the doctor's words. Nathan Blackwood rubbed his nose awkwardly, rising from his chair while stealing hesitant glances at Evelyn's face.

The moment he turned toward the soldiers crowding the doorway, his expression darkened. "Enough chatter!" His commanding voice instantly silenced the room, though the men continued straining their necks to catch another glimpse of Evelyn.

She chuckled softly, addressing the group by the door. "Thank you all for risking your lives to save me." Her voice carried genuine warmth and gratitude.

Without their daring rescue, Evelyn knew she would have perished on that remote Pacifica Island long ago.

"No need for thanks, sis! We're all Montecitans here," one soldier called out. "And we're damn proud of what you did! Besides Commander Blackwood, you're the only person crazy enough to point a gun at pirate king Vincent Moretti's head!"

"Damn right! You and the Commander are perfect for each other!" another added.

The tall man in the white coat sighed dramatically as he pushed through the crowd. "Medical check-up in progress. Can you animals give us some space?" Dr. Maxwell Carter shot Nathan a pointed look. "Get them out of here."

Nathan hesitated, his dark eyes lingering on Evelyn before reluctantly leading the boisterous group away. "You too," the doctor said sharply to Lucas Sterling.

Lucas's triumphant grin vanished instantly. With exaggerated reluctance, he shuffled out, muttering about unfair treatment.

Every time Lucas came to visit his sister, Nathan's military friends found excuses to shoo him away - all part of their ongoing mission to give Nathan alone time with Evelyn.

The room finally settled into peaceful quiet.

Evelyn offered the doctor a grateful smile. "Thank you, Dr. Carter. I appreciate your patience with all this."

The doctor raised an eyebrow as he prepared his instruments. "You're not what I expected from the media portrayals."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, according to news reports, the Sterling heiress is spoiled, temperamental, and arrogant." He adjusted his stethoscope. "Nathan once mentioned you could be incredibly stubborn and unpredictable."

Evelyn's cheeks flushed at the blunt assessment. If Nathan had shared such personal observations, they must be close friends. She quickly changed the subject. "Doctor, how's Adrian - the young man who left the island with me?"

Dr. Carter paused his examination. "Recovering well. Eating and sleeping normally now that Nathan's finished beating some sense into him."

Evelyn's eyes widened. "Nathan beat him? Why?"

"You didn't know? That reckless explorer is Nathan's nephew. The Blackwood family cut off his funding when he chose adventuring over business school, but the kid somehow scraped together resources and disappeared to that godforsaken island alone."

Dr. Carter shook his head. "The Blackwoods reported him missing three months ago. If not for rescuing you, he might still be lost out there."

Evelyn's breath caught as memories surfaced - her semi-conscious state on the boat, Adrian shouting "Uncle Nathan!" The realization struck her: the young man she'd met by chance was Nathan's flesh and blood.

What an extraordinary coincidence.

Another thought troubled her. "Those men earlier...are they active military? Were there...casualties during the pirate confrontation?" The possibility filled her with dread.

The doctor chuckled as he redressed her wounds. "No losses on our side, though the pirates didn't fare as well. You actually took out several yourself."

He gave her an appraising look. "Everyone out there served with Nathan in the same special forces unit. That stretch of ocean around Pacifica Island? Pirate territory. No government would authorize an official rescue mission."

Dr. Carter's voice lowered. "Nathan had to personally beg our former commanding officer for this operation. We came as private citizens to avoid international incidents."

Evelyn's chest tightened as if struck by a sledgehammer. The doctor's words made her realize the depth of what Nathan had risked for her.

"Thank you," she whispered. "If you hadn't come..."

The doctor shook his head, his expression turning solemn. "If you want to thank someone, thank him. We all know you're divorced, but every man here followed Nathan without hesitation." He met her gaze squarely. "Because he told us you're his heartbeat."

A heavy silence filled the room.

"We couldn't let our brother lose the reason his heart still beats."