Chapter: 273

"I just filled him in on how I got hurt, and his reaction was like that," Joanna explained as she turned toward Norah, her tone filled with sorrow. "Norah, I've missed you so much."

Back when being stabbed, Joanna's only thought was whether Norah would be able to heal such a severe wound.

Norah playfully scolded as she caught Joanna's tears, "No more tears, okay? Come on. Give me a smile! You seem to cry a lot whenever I show up. You don't want me to get the wrong idea of your distaste for me, right?"

Joanna smiled through her tears. "Oh, I like you dearly!"

After giving Joanna a few sips of water, Norah gently wiped at Joanna's dry lips with a moist cotton pad.

“Can you tell me what had happened exactly? I came out of surgery to find you collapsed in the entrance. You have no idea how scared I was." Norah frowned.

Thinking back to that day, Joanna appeared disheartened. “I came for you. When I sat in the lobby, I ran into..." She recounted the story.

"Norah, do you think I'm just unlucky? Trying to help ended up putting my life in danger." Joanna smiled sarcastically. "Without your expertise, I might have been greeting you from the other side by now."

"Hey! Don't talk like that! I am always there for you!" Norah glanced at Joanna and said softly, “Joanna, it's good to have a golden heart. Sometimes, though, people carry so much weight that even a small gesture can feel like too much. His father's death may have been the tipping point for him. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Norah's voice was soothing as she concluded, “You did nothing wrong.

It was his mental state. Joanna, you are the kindest and most wonderful girl in the world. I can vouch for that!"

Joanna couldn't hide her smile, proudly declaring, “Wow! I'm the one you appreciate the most! Guess what? I'm the president of Norah's fan club!"

"Then recover quickly." As Norah's hand gently rested on Joanna's head, she jokingly said, "My fan club president needs to get back in action."

"You have my word." Joanna whispered, her gaze lifting to meet Norah's, “Norah, how did things go at that auction? Did anything happen?"

Joanna had come to the hospital hoping for some gossip but left without any, only to be seriously injured instead. Yet, even in pain, her curiosity for gossip persisted.

She cast an eager look at Norah, saying, "Guess what, Norah? I left the training base just to catch up on some gossip with you..."

Observing Joanna's eagerness for gossip despite her situation, Norah was torn between amusement and frustration. Norah was just about to fill Joanna in on the latest happenings when her phone rang.

It was Jamison on the line, urgently requesting her presence in the director's office to address the issue raised by an anonymous complaint.

After ending the call, Norah gave Joanna an apologetic look. "Duty calls. I'll drop by again later. Make sure to tell Bryson if anything feels off, alright?"

"I will. Hurry back."

Norah felt uneasy seeing Joanna lying obediently on the bed, her weakened appearance stirring concern. When had this typically lively girl become so fragile?

"Be a good girl."

After a brief chat with Bryson by the door, Norah made her way to the director's office.

Upon her arrival and after knocking, Norah entered to find not only the hospital director and Jamison but also Gil and several associate directors gathered.