Chapter 910

Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Evelyn Carter rose carefully, avoiding any noise that might wake her parents in the next room. She inspected her reflection, deliberately choosing a loose white blouse to conceal the subtle curve of her abdomen.

The service road by the hospital's side entrance was quieter than usual. Evelyn avoided the main doors, her heels clicking sharply against the asphalt. She positioned her ID badge prominently—if any reporters approached, they'd immediately recognize her as staff.

The scent of disinfectant hung thick in the changing room. Just as Evelyn fastened the last button of her white coat, a furtive rustling came from outside. Through the door crack, she spotted a woman in a beige trench coat glancing around shiftily.

The third suspicious figure this week.

Evelyn pushed the door open, intentionally dropping her medical chart. "Oops." As she bent to retrieve it, she caught the woman abruptly turning away.

"Need help?" Evelyn straightened with a professional smile.

The woman flustered, adjusting her glasses. "N-no, I'm just... waiting for someone."

"A patient from OB-GYN?" Evelyn pointed to the registration slip in her hand. "The specialist's queue is already at number 32."

The woman's ears flushed crimson. Her grip on the notebook whitened her knuckles. "Actually, I'm—"

"A reporter?" Evelyn finished for her. "Is your department that desperate for gossip?"

The trench-coated woman jerked her head up, eyes wide behind her lenses. "How did you—"

"Lucky guess." Evelyn shrugged. "Last week, a male journalist pretending to have stomach pains wore the same expression when security escorted him out."

The digital screen at the hallway's end displayed the time. Evelyn checked her watch. "I have rounds in twenty minutes. Let's make this quick?"

The woman bit her lip, shoulders slumping in defeat. "I'm Rebecca Watson from the Metro Morning Post lifestyle section. My editor sent me to dig up dirt on Hamilton Group's CEO's fiancée, but I don't even know what she looks like..."

Evelyn's phone buzzed in her coat pocket—a message from Alexander Hamilton asking about lunch preferences. She silenced the screen without reaction.

"Circulation numbers that bad?" Evelyn asked abruptly.

Rebecca blinked. "We had layoffs last year. Veteran staff like me got reassigned to hard news." A bitter laugh escaped her. "I was deputy editor of the finance section before maternity leave."

The examination room's call system activated. Evelyn adjusted her collar. "Here's some advice, Rebecca. Instead of chasing society scandals, write about women struggling to return to work after childbirth." She gestured to the faded ring mark on Rebecca's finger. "You'd understand that story better than anyone."

Rebecca stood frozen. By the time she regained her composure, Evelyn had vanished around the corner. Staring at the scribbled notes in her pad, Rebecca suddenly tore out the page and crumpled it.

On the third floor ward, Evelyn heard rapid footsteps behind her as she reached for a door handle. Rebecca caught up, breathless, holding up a recorder. "Dr. Carter, could you elaborate on your suggestion?"

Outside, plane tree leaves whispered. Studying this disheveled yet determined woman, Evelyn saw a reflection of her possible future. Her hand drifted to her abdomen as she pushed the door open. "Come along during my rounds if you want. But—" She waggled a finger. "Recorder off."

Rebecca fumbled to power it down, eyes suddenly glistening. "Thank you... really."

Evelyn offered no reply. Sunlight spilled through the doorway as she entered the first patient's room, casting her elongated shadow across the floor.