"You have suffered too much." he sighed with a pain in his eyes. Nora's fair neck had red marks of fingers. The moment he touched it, she flinched.
Nora's eyes were still closed. Her face was covered with cold sweat and she was shivering lightly. Max felt rage rising in his chest again. How he gave a dose of hemlock to that brutish woman rather than sending her to the police bureau.
"Max.." Max stiffened the way Nora called him in a low voice.
"Dr Maxmillian.." she finally opened her teary eyes and held his hands tightly. "Can you hug me for a second."
"..." surprised, it took him a second to return to his senses. She must be scared. He cursed for his mind and hugged her instantly.
She leaned on his shoulders. It looked like she was having a moment, but then she whispered softly, "Dr. I do not trust anyone here. Please keep this footage with you. This is my chance to get freedom from their claws." he stiffened again. When he thought that she was having a seizure, she was only worried about her future and noticed more than he had.
He let go of her and nodded immediately. He looked back at the worried nurse in the corner.
"Treat her wounds and bring her dinner. I will be back after checking with the police." Once she nodded, Max left the room hurriedly and went to the security room immediately. He copied all the data and saved it on the computer before taking the original and a few more copies with him.
The police officer was waiting for him in his office.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting. The patient had a seizure." He took his seat and then shared a copy with the police officer.
"This is the copy of the assault. The original would stay.. In the computer in the hospital for the record." the police officer nodded as he took the pendrive in his hands. "Do we need to do anything from our side?"
"The girl would need to give a statement. But since she is still a minor. A guardian would be needed on her behalf later if she is challenged to take decisions.
But for now, you can file the complaint since the incident happened in your hospital. You will be a witness too and this clipping would be of great help. I will inform you as soon as there is any more development?" The officer stood up and so did Max. They shook hands before the police officer left.
Max sighed. He knew that their hospital had a good name in the market and they could force the police to follow procedure but he would need Alric's help in the process.
"You just have to choose today to visit your family among other days. And now you would come cranky. How in the world will I deal with you!" he cursed as he did not find Alric in his office in the morning. The secretary told him that he was summoned to his ancestral house.
Shaking his head, he went to check on Nora again. She was drinking soup with a pale face.
He forced a smile on his face, "your aunt is taken away. Your family would never disturb you ever." he cheered but when he looked into her eyes, he felt like a clown fooling a smart child with his lousy tricks.
"I mean.."
"I will need a guardian or they could force me to return home and then they will deal with me there silently. You can not always help me." she spoke in a plain tone. There was no emotion on her face that hurt Max more. He would have felt better if she had cried or shivered. If she would have asked for another hug from him.
He sighed as he took the seat beside her bed. His lips twisted into a wry smile. The nurse felt the tension in the air and excused herself silently.
"You need not worry. I will sort this out." her gaze fell on him. A welter of guilt and regret, gratitude and joy hurt her chest.
She shook her head softly and her fingers traced the marks on her skin. The burning rage returned. She needed it to live. To walk in the path of revenge.
"My uncle would leave no stone unturned to save his wife. Even if he needed to drag me back there and beat me until I took the report back. Then you would be a laughing stock, Doctor. You can not save me from them. Not until.." she paused. But then she shook her head as if she was mortified by her own thoughts.
But her actions made his heart ache. If they can strangle her in a public place so easily. That too when they were already in the highlights, how they had treated us in private?
"We will find a way, Nora," he repeated. "If you have any plans, tell me. This time I will support you without question." he promised only for her to soften.
"I will exchange my freedom for my aunt. But for that I need your help." she leaned and held his hands. He stared at their hands with a strange feeling warming his heart.
He shook it away.
"Do you need me to lie about your condition?" she bit her lips but nodded.
"Yes, as long as you prove that I am in a critical condition because my aunt tried to kill me, I could use this chance to trade my freedom for my uncle. Can you do that for me? I know that you do not lie no matter what. But.."
"Wait! How do you know that?"