The morning sun filtered gently through the windows of the Ling residence, casting golden rays across the marble floors. Alexandra tied her hair into a sleek ponytail as she passed by the ornate mirror in the hallway, adjusting the collar of her modest white blouse. Her slacks were crisp, shoes practical. She looked like she was headed to a routine hospital shift which, technically, she was. Just not at any hospital her family would expect.
She padded down the stairs, her worn leather bag slung over one shoulder. Leonard was still asleep, and Adrien was in Paris. But Vincent, looking sharp as ever, was already in the kitchen, sipping coffee in a tailored navy suit.
"You're up early," he commented, eyes flicking from his tablet to her outfit. "I thought you were here on vacation."
Alexandra offered a light smile. "I was, but a friend from med school is working on a community health project in a private clinic. They're short-staffed this week, so I volunteered to help."
Vincent hummed, unconvinced but polite enough not to press. "In which district?"
"Southbridge," she answered without hesitation. "It's a little far, I know. But they're doing some outreach work that I thought would be... grounding."
Damn it. I can never lie to him.
"Southbridge," Vincent repeated slowly, setting his cup down. That area was known for its high flood risk and low investor interest. His gaze lingered on her sensible shoes, not the designer flats she usually wore. "Do they have proper security in place?"
She nodded, throwing on her coat. "I'll be fine, Gēgē[1]. I'll be back before dinner."
He didn't respond right away. But just as she reached the door, he called out, "If you need anything, funding, contacts, even just a ride. Don't hesitate to ask."
Alexandra smiled at him, heart pricking with guilt. "Thanks, Vincent."
The drive to Southbridge took nearly an hour. The streets grew narrower, the buildings older. Alexandra watched the scenery change from gleaming commercial towers to chipped paint, sun-warped signage, and the unmistakable signs of neglect. The air carried a mixture of smog and something earthy, as if the land here remembered the floods that used to rise without warning.
The hospital itself sat like a relic of a bygone era. Its facade was cracked, the walls stained by time and weather. An old banner that read "Community Health Initiative 2010" still hung near the entrance, sun-bleached and fluttering in the breeze.
Inside, the corridors buzzed with activity. Nurses rushed past with charts, and stretchers creaked as they were wheeled through narrow hallways. There were too many patients and too few staff, but despite the chaos, the place had a strange heartbeat of its own.
Alexandra was led through the hospital by a cheerful woman from HR, who apologized profusely for the condition of the staff lounge and offered instant coffee like it was a delicacy. Eventually, she was introduced to the Department Director of Cardiology.
Dr. Manjov was a short, balding man in his fifties with a booming voice and a tendency to gesticulate wildly when excited. He clasped Alexandra's hand with both of his. "Ah, Dr. Ling! We are honored! Honored, I say!"
She smiled politely. "Thank you, ahh...Dr. Manjov."
"You've chosen cardiology, yes? Excellent, excellent. You'll be under the guidance of our most talented physician. Brilliant man. Studied in the UK. Turned down jobs from prestigious institutions to serve the people. A true hero."
As he spoke, Alexandra's eyes wandered. The walls were yellowed, a water stain shaped like a country she couldn't name blooming near the ceiling. Someone had scribbled a smiley face on the corner of a whiteboard and never erased it.
"You're lucky," Dr. Manjov continued. "He doesn't usually take on mentees, but when I mentioned we had a doctor trained abroad joining, he said he'd at least meet you."
Alexandra nodded absently.
They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door with a metal nameplate. Dr. Manjov knocked once and pushed it open without waiting for a response.
"Dr. Reid! I brought the new addition to our department!"
Alexandra stepped into the room, and her breath caught.
Behind the desk sat Damien Reid. His hair was slightly tousled, a pair of glasses perched low on his nose as he reviewed a patient chart. He wore a white coat, sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing lean, tan forearms. The years had carved more definition into his features, sharpened the quiet intensity in his eyes. But she would have known him anywhere.
He looked up slowly.
Their eyes met.
His expression shifted from mild distraction to sharp focus, his lips parting in muted surprise.
"You," Alexandra whispered.
A pause.
"Well," Damien said, standing. "This is... unexpected."
Dr. Manjov beamed, oblivious to the tension crackling between them. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted!"
He exited, closing the door behind him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Damien smiled faintly. "I guess some people are just... hard to get rid of."
Alexandra crossed her arms, heart pounding. "I could say the same thing."
[1] Translation: elder brother