Do-hee stared at the decapitated car in horror, what had just happened.
The voice of people contacting the ambulance and rescue team were all muffled in Do-hee's ears. All she could think of was Olivia who was no where to be found.
"Olivia..." Do-hee whispered in fear. She prayed earnestly that what she was thinking wasn't true. "Olivia!!" She screamed heavily and took a step forward. Her body shook viciously.
"Olivia please answer me!!" Do-hee continued to call out to her friend. A few seconds passed and tragedy knocked on the door. "No no, Olivia please you can't go..."
Do-hee fell to her knees and wailed.
"Do-hee!!!" A voice echoed in the midst of the commotion causing people around to jolt and gasp in fear.
"Olivia?!" Do-hee looked up with hop fill in her eyes. She hurriedly ran over to the other side of the vehicle and fell on her butt when she saw Olivia clinging unto a body.
"Ol-oliv-a..."
"Do-hee," Olivia had blood stained on her shirt and her head slightly bruised. She struggled with the unconscious man in her hand and gradually pulled him out of the car. "Do-hee!!" Olivia yelled at Do-hee to get her back to her senses.
"Help me pull him out." Olivia yelled at the top of her voice. "The fuel tank is leaking, quickly before it blows."
Do-hee rushed over and help Olivia pull the man gently out of the car. Once they had created a distance between themselves and the car, the car exploded and the shop building collapsed on it. Passerbys began to assist Olivia to stand but she pushed them aside and quickly tended to the man.
She placed her head on his chest. "Heartbeat is decelerating, shock wave." She placed her hand on his chest and applied force on it thrice. She pulled off his jacket and studied the part of his abdomen that had metal piercing in.
Do-hee watched in awe as Olivia worked tirelessly. "Olivia, who is he?"
Olivia's focus didn't waver. "I don't know, but we need to keep him alive."
As Olivia continued CPR, Do-hee noticed the man's face. Familiar features sparked recognition.
"Wait... isn't he—"
"Haneul Tae-oh, the CEO's brother." A woman was quick to complete Do-hee's statement. Many passerbys had their phones in their hands ready to take a picture of the man.
Just then the ambulance rushed in, luckily it was the Wusang emergency medical team. They quickly brought in the stroller and expertly transferred Tae-oh onto the stretcher. The Wusang emergency medical team sprang into action, assessing his vital signs and stabilizing his neck.
Olivia stepped back, her eyes locked onto Tae-oh's pale face. "Multiple injuries, possible internal bleeding. Needs immediate surgical attention."
The lead paramedic nodded. "We'll get him to Wusang Hospital ASAP. You're...?"
"Olivia, medical student," she replied, her voice firm.
Do-hee grasped Olivia's arm. "You're coming with him, right?"
Olivia nodded, her gaze still on Tae-oh. "I won't leave his side."
As the paramedics loaded Tae-oh into the ambulance, the woman who had identified Tae-oh earlier approached Do-hee.
"You're friends with the CEO's brother's... victim?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
Do-hee's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
The woman smiled slyly. "Just that Haneul Tae-oh's family won't take this lightly. You should be prepared."
Do-hee's concern deepened as the ambulance sped away, sirens blaring.
Ambulance vehicle
Olivia puts on her gloves and begin to tend to the wounds.
"He has lost a considerable amount of blood."
The medic team begin to check the supply for equipment that would be able to sustain him before they get to the hospital.
Olivia stares at Tae-oh's slightly open eyes, she felt a surge rush in on her. Almost as though he was looking at her and had something to tell her.
Meanwhile Tae-oh who is slightly conscious is puzzled about his present state. He had no idea how he got here.
Flashback (Tae-oh)
The dining table, a majestic, hand-carved mahogany masterpiece, stretched across the center of the grand dining hall like a shimmering lake of polished wood. The soft glow of crystal chandeliers danced across its surface, casting a warm, golden light on the exquisite fine china, delicate glassware, and sterling silver utensils that adorned the table.
The air was alive with the aromatic scent of traditional Korean dishes: the sweet, savory fragrance of bulgogi, the spicy kick of kimchi, and the subtle tang of doenjang jjigae. The fragrance of freshly cooked rice and the earthy aroma of green tea wafted through the room, teasing the senses and signaling the start of a sumptuous feast.
To the left, floor-to-ceiling windows framed the breathtaking skyline of Seoul, the twinkling city lights a stunning backdrop for the opulent dinner party. The room's elegant décor – rich silk drapes, intricately patterned rugs, and vibrant artwork – reflected the Haneul family's impeccable taste and wealth.
As the relatives took their seats, the room buzzed with anticipation, the soft hum of conversation and clinking utensils filling the space.
Tae-oh sits aside on the dinning table, he quietly engrossed himself in the game he was playing. He wasn't used to gaining attention to himself, not like he'd gain even if he tried.
Yeung walked into the dinning dressed in a beautiful flowery hanbok and beside her was Jae-oh also dressed for the occasion.
All members begin to take their seats on the table. A few shot a pitiful glance at Tae-oh while most stared at him with disdain and annoyance.
"Remind me why he is also present dear?" So-i, Jae-oh's distant aunt looked displeased. She hated Tae-oh and put no effort in hiding her it.
Tae-oh had his ear pods on though he wasn't listening to any music, he used it as a decor to avoid battering words with his family members.
At the clap of Yeung's hands, the servants began to serve the guest all kinds of Korean dishes. It was truly a feast to welcome her back.
Tae-oh ate silently, other members conversed with each other and some with Jae-oh who was sitting at the head table, Tae-oh sat beside him while his grandmother was opposite him. She often glared at him whenever Jae-oh tried to bring him into a conversation.
Dessert was being served and a bottle of champagne was given to Jae-oh to make a toast. Jae-oh stood up with a glass of wine in his hand. "A toast to our beautiful Halmoni. After a long vacation in China, she has finally returned to her family." Everyone laughed at his joke.
Tae-oh looked across the table, he could see the admiration in his grandmother's eyes. She stared at Jae-oh with unwavering love. An action that stabbed Tae-oh for as long as he can remember. "And to my brother..." He snapped his head at Jae-oh.
"For always being there, being my backbone, my anchor. I love you Tae-oh and I'll be there for you just like you have been there for me."
The table was silent, not everyone was happy about what he said. Yeung most especially was furious. "Toast."
Tae-oh sighed with a smile and clicked glass with his brother. He sipped his wine, completely ignoring the spiteful gazes of the vipers around him.
"I have an announcement to make." Yeung said abruptly after Jae-oh had taken his seat. Everyone paid attention to her and waited for her to speak.
She cleared her throat and smiled. "Tae-oh has been recruited to the military."
Her words fell like a bomb, completely taking both brothers unaware. "I was able to meet with the general of the command force and he said Tae-oh would make a perfect brigadier, if not rise to the top as a general."
"He leaves by Monday." Jae-oh snapped his head at her, his jaw clenched in anger. "Then Ji-hoon would replace him." Ji-hoon who sat beside his mother smiled triumphantly and sipped his wine.
"What gave you the right to do that?" He asked in a ragged tone.
"I'm his grandmother, of course I have all rights. I believe he'll be more productive in the family as a soldier."
"He's more than productive in Haneul. I refuse." Jae-oh retorted and turned to his glass. "Tae-oh goes no where."
"What is wrong with you?" Yeung spat out angrily. "What is so special about this affair child?"
"He's my brother." Jae-oh retorted angrily. "Do you think I'm blind to you all constantly mistreating him? Tae-oh stays in the company grandmother."
"You forget I'm the oldest member of this family." Yeung said in an authoritative tone.
"I'm the head of the family, not you." Jae-oh sent a death glare at her. "You have no say or what do ever to this matter."
"I was the one who handed the company over to you." Yeung glared at him viciously. "I can take it back if I want to."
The table became tensed and suffocating. Jae-oh laughed sinisterly and stood up slowly as he towered his grandmother. "You were temporarily used to watch over the company before I came into power. My father built the company and handed it over to his son. I love you grandmother, but if you keep this attitude of yours, you might see a part of me that you never knew existed."
Yeung sighed heavily and turned to Tae-oh. "You must really feel accomplished, just like your harlot of mother." Tae-oh sipped his wine slowly as he ignored her.
"You've leeched your way into Jae-oh's heart. I wish I had killed your mother back when you were still in her womb..."
CLASH
Time stood still, everyone jolted at the sound of broken glass. Tae-oh stared at his bleeding hand which held the piece of tumbler in his hand. He sighed out deeply and stood up without a word. He bowed to Jae-oh and left the room.
"Tae-oh!" Jae-oh called out.
Flashback ends
Olivia scrubbed in alongside Dr. Lee, her focus solely on Tae-oh's fragile form on the operating table.
"Multiple lacerations, internal bleeding, and possible spinal damage," Olivia briefed the surgical team.
Olivia's gaze met Tae-oh's chart, her mind racing with the severity of his injuries.
"Let's get started," Olivia said, her voice calm and confident.
The surgical team sprang into action, their movements choreographed and precise.
As Olivia made the initial incision, Tae-oh's vital signs flickered on the monitor.
"BP's dropping," a nurse warned.
"Transfuse two units of O-negative," Dr. Lee ordered.
Olivia's hands moved swiftly, her expertise honed from years of practice.
But amidst the chaos, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Tae-oh's eyes had conveyed earlier – a message, a plea, or a secret?
"Lee, clamp," Olivia requested.
He handed her the instrument, their hands touching briefly.
For an instant, Olivia's thoughts strayed to Tae-oh's enigmatic gaze, the flash of connection they shared.
The beep of the monitor snapped her back to reality.
"Sinus rhythm restored," the nurse announced.
Olivia nodded. "Let's repair the damage."
The operation was a delicate dance, each step crucial.
As the hours ticked by, Olivia's focus never wavered.
Tae-oh's life hung in the balance.
Jae-oh rushed into Wusang hospital, his hair disheveled, he had tailed his brother and eventually lost him due to traffic. He never expected to find his brother's car bashed in a shop.
"I'm looking for Tae-oh." He slammed the reception slab startling Aunt Cha.
"Sir?" Aunt Cha was confused about the whole issue, it wasn't until a few moments ago she returned to her shift.
"Where is Tae-oh?!!" Jae-oh yelled angrily gaining the attention of the staffs and patients around.
"He's undergoing an operation." Do-hee came to Aunt Cha's rescue. She boarded a taxi to the hospital immediately after the ambulance left.
Jae-oh turned to her and frowned deeply.
"Aunt Cha, a patient was just rushed in about an hour ago."
"If you're talking about the patient who rushed in with Olivia then they are probably in section 8." A nurse chipped into the conversation. Do-hee turned to Jae-oh and nodded reassuringly before leading him into the hospital premises.
"Aunt Cha, isn't that the multi billionaire CEO?" The nurse who had spoken a while ago walked up to Aunt Cha with curiosity plastered on her face.
"I think so, did you see Olivia?" Aunt Cha turned to the nurse with a concerned look.
"I think Olivia was also involved in the accident, she had a bleeding head." The nurse replied and sighed heavily. "I wish life could go easy on the girl." The nurse added before leaving the reception and heading to her patient.
Do-hee and Jae-oh rushed into section 8, heading for the operation room. They were a few rooms away when they spotted Kim frantically walking to and fro.
"Kim." Do-hee ran towards him, "why are you here?"
"What happened to her?" Kim asked with fear inked all over her face. Do-hee looked at her hands feeling a little bit guilty.
"She was involved in an accident." Jae-oh walked over to the door and peeked in but her could hardly see anything.
"Then why?!!" Kim yelled at Do-hee but immediately composed himself. "Why is she in there operating a patient when she's one?"
Do-hee didn't seem surprised by Kim's words, she turned to the door and walked over to Jae-oh. "Sir please sir, she'll save him. She's one of the best doctors we have."
Jae-oh breath in and out trying to calm himself down, he walked over to the seats by the wall and sat down, his eyes never leaving the door.
"Olivia isn't meant to be in there." Kim pulled Do-hee and whispered for her to here. "What if she has a concoction? She has a bleeding head and a possibly dislocated arm."
"I believe in her." Do-hee said, she had known Olivia for a year now. She wasn't one who would become a burden when she was most needed. "She'll be fine."
A few minutes passed and the door of the operating room opened. Jae-oh sprang up to his feet and rushed over to the doctor, behind her was Tae-oh who was on a stroller and a few appliances with him.
"He'll be fine." Olivia removed her nose mask and smiled reassuringly, her face was stained with dry blood and her eyes looked deadpan and sullen. "He just needs rest and he'll be fine."
"Olivia," Kim didn't let her complete her statement when he pulled her arm and searched round her for bruises.
Do-hee nodded at Jae-oh and he tailed his brother. "Are you serious right now?" Kim scolded.
Olivia smiled warmly and sighed. "I'm alive aren't I?" Do-hee hugged her tightly and sighed heavily.
"God I thought you were dead, and then you weren't and I felt my life running in circles." She babbled nonstop and then gently stroked Olivia's hair.
"Come on let's get you clean." Kim pulled her arm and Do-hee followed, Olivia nodded but turned to the patient that being moved to the VIP section. Her mind drifted back to his eyes in the ambulance. The sadness in his eyes that made it look as though he longed for death.
"Your mom's being calling me," Do-hee's words snapped Olivia back from her thoughts.
"Did you tell her about the accident?" Olivia's eyes widened.
"No no, I just said you had an emergency and your phone was died during the call. I also picked your phone from the firearms, I was able to retrieve your SIM." Kim still had his eyes glued on Olivia, he scanned for anymore bruises other than the one on her head.
"Thank goodness. Ouch!!" She flinched when Kim stretched her arm.
"Your arm is dislocated." He said with worry on his face.
"Just bruised." Olivia smiled. "I'm hungry. Wanna eat?"
Tae-oh's ward.
Jae-oh studied his brother carefully, he felt guilty weighing on his shoulders the more bruises he counted. Tae-oh's eyes were slightly open and the ward lights glimmered in.
"Please be alright." He sighed and turned to the nurses in the room. "Thank you." They both bowed respectfully and left the room. Jae-oh sat beside him and carefully monitored his breathing.
"I'm sorry, I'm really terrible at being a big brother" he gently held his hand and sighed. "I thought I lost you." He bent his beard down and chuckled lightly. "You're the only one I have left."
Tae-oh opened his eyes slowly, he could hear his brother's voice from a distance. It was faint but clear, he smiled warmly and gradually let the sedatives administered to him drift him off to sleep. 'I thought you wouldn't come and keep bickering with that old woman.' he said to himself as he dozed off.
The next day
Olivia woke up early and got changed into her staff clothes. She had her head bandaged and her left hand was being held up with a bandage around her neck Her holiday had officially ended before it even started. She strolled towards the VIP section, she could barely sleep throughout the night. Her mind was hung up on the patient she treated yesterday.
"What ward is the patient that arrived yesterday in?" She asked a nurse who was carrying a tray of surgical equipment for cleaning out of the section. The nurse was part of the emergency team who helped her with the surgery.
"Ward 12D." The nurse replied calmly and walked past her. Olivia nodded slowly made her way to the ward. She arrived at the room and sighed heavily before stepping in.
"Good morning sir." She bowed to the man who claimed to be the patient's relative. She walked closer to the patient and smiled, "his breathing is stable."
Jae-oh stared at the foreigner with calculative eyes. If he was not mistaken she was the doctor who treated his brother. "Are you alright?"
He asked concerned about her condition. Olivia turned to him with a reassuring smile and nodded.
"It's just a few bruises I'm fine." She walked closer to him and checked his his heart pump. "If I may ask who are you to the patient?"
"His brother." Jae-oh replied calmly. "Thank you for saving his life regardless of the fact you almost died because of him." He stood up from the chair and bowed to her. Olivia laughed lightly and waved her hands.
"It's my job, so no need to thank me." She replied warmly.
"Is there a way I can repay you at least?" Olivia hummed and cupped her chin with her hands.
"I guess you can repay me with a meal." Olivia smiled. "To be honest, I'll be more satisfied when the patient is all better."
Just then Dr Lee walked into the room. He bowed to Jae-oh while Olivia bowed to him.
"Good morning Dr Lee." Jae-oh replied.
"Good morning Mr Haneul." Dr Lee replied and walked over to Tae-oh. "How's the patient?" He asked Olivia.
"Breathing is stable, heartbeat stable. Practically the patient is alright."
"The cut?" He gently pulled off the scrub Tae-oh wore by the neck to take a glimpse of the shoulder.
"It's deep but no bones or nerves were destroyed. Just a few muscles were cut." She replied. Dr Lee scanned her thoroughly and sighed.
"I thought Dr Park agreed to your leave?" He folded his hands and tilted his head. "I believe you're meant to be in a ward as well.
Olivia acted oblivious to his words and looked at herself meekly. "I'm fine. See no injuries." Jae-oh frowned a little bit while Olivia smiled childishly.
"Olivia!!" He started but she quickly walked over to the patient side and said.
"Dr Lee, I can't leave my patient unattended to right." She started.
"A nurse can fill in for you." Dr Lee retorted.
"That would be unprofessional of me." Olivia defended herself. "As a doctor, I should be able to take care of my patient regardless of my injuries."
"You don't seem fit to take care of him." Jae-oh sat on his seat and watched both doctors biker. For some reason he admired Olivia's reluctance to leave the same man who almost killed her.
"I'm alright." She pulled out her hand from the bandage and raised it up. "Do-hee said I could remove it by morning. It's just a bruise on my head I didn't suffer any concoction."
Dr Lee arched a brow and sighed. "Well that will be after I've seen your medical report."
Jae-oh's phone rang and he picked it up. "Yes Su, alright I'll be there." He stood up ready to take his leave. "Dr Lee could you please let this doctor take care of Tae-oh while I'm gone."
"As you wish sir," he turned to Olivia and shook his head. "You seem to have your way everytime."
Olivia bowed to Jae-oh brightly and thanked him. "Your meal will be delivered this afternoon. Just stay by his side and contact me if anything happens."
"I will sir." Olivia waved him off and stood beside Dr Lee. "Who is he?"
Dr Lee was taken aback at first but then he regained composure. "CEO of Haneul Corp."
Olivia nodded slowly then turned to him again. "What's Haneul Corp?"