Chapter 5 Darkroom Operations

Orion Russo came here to find Freya Stone and hitched a ride with Elijah. When Liora approached, he voluntarily opened the car door and got out.

"I'll go first," he said.

After he left, Liora entered the car and sat across from Elijah, feeling slightly uneasy as she realized that Elijah might have mistaken her for someone else. But she also recognized the benefits of getting close to him.

The director of the hospital had always admired Freya Stone but suddenly gave Liora an internship opportunity at General Hospital of the Second Military Region because of Elijah's recommendation. Liora decided to seize this chance and this opportunity was one-of-a-kind; she had to take it.

"I've made up my mind," she said, raising her gaze.

Elijah seemed surprised that she had made a decision so quickly. He moved his body slightly, seemingly casual but actually curious about what answer she would give him.

"I don't want anything," Liora continued. If he promised marriage, then they must have already had a substantial relationship. If she asked for marriage or other benefits right away, it would make her seem greedy. So, she decided to retreat to advance.

"I just want us to be ordinary friends."

Elijah pursed his lips tightly; his emotions were hard to read as he spoke calmly, "Have you thought it through?"

Liora nodded in response.

"Perhaps last night was just an impulse on her part." Elijah thought to himself.

He wouldn't force her into anything.

"I respect your decision."

...

Inside the hospital lounge area, Freya Stone was reading medical books when off-duty hours arrived; she didn't really want to return home or go back to Elijah's place either-- so killing time in the hospital while studying seemed like a good idea.

Someone knocked on the door before pushing it open. Orion Russo saw Freya inside and asked, "Why are you hiding here?"

"I'm not hiding."

Freya closed her book and stood up from behind desk asking, "What brings you here, Orion?"

"You helped me out earlier today, I need to thank you properly." He smiled at her saying, "Let me treat you something delicious."

She shook head saying, "No thanks."

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?" Orion noticed that something wasn't quite right with Freya's mood today.

She looked away from him saying, "No."

Orion Russo clearly didn’t believe this answer.

"Is there something bothering you? Or do I not even deserve your trust anymore?"

"It’s not that." She hurriedly explained before sighing softly, "We can’t become colleagues anymore."

"Why?" Orion furrowed his brow tightly, seeming to be angry. "Did the director change his mind? Who did he give the spot to? I'll go talk to him."

Freya Stone grabbed him and shook her head at him.

"Isn't your dream to be an excellent military doctor? If you can't even get into the general hospital, what's the point of dreaming?" Orion Russo felt like this wasn't like her.

All that hard work and studying, all that effort put in, wasn't it all for achieving her dream?

Freya lowered her gaze. It wasn't that she gave up on her dream; it was reality that made things difficult for her. Besides, she didn't want to cause trouble for Orion Russo.

Orion pursed his lips. "I understand."

Freya forced a smile at him. "Let me treat you to a meal."

"Next time." Orion Russo's heart was clear as a mirror. The director had already decided on Freya but she got pushed aside. Someone must have been manipulating things behind the scenes. Freya was just trying to calm things down because she didn’t have much influence.

But he couldn’t swallow this anger.

"I remembered I have something else I need to do, I'll leave first." He said before turning around and leaving in a fit of rage.

Orion Russo barged straight into the director's office with confidence--not only because of himself but also because of his family background from an influential family.

The director was on a phone call when Orion entered; after seeing him come in, he said one sentence before hanging up with a smile.

"Dr Russo, what brings you here?"

"The person chosen for General Hospital wasn’t supposed to be Freya Stone? Why did it change now? Who gave you benefits so that you could take shortcuts? If you don’t explain today clearly enough, don’t blame me if we’re not done yet." Demanded Orion angrily towards the director who seemed quite troubled as well by this situation.

The director was also quite helpless about this situation and explained, "I had no choice in this matter either! Elijah Silverton ordered me personally saying Dr Valentine needed special care."

Upon hearing Elijah’s name mentioned, Orion’s brows furrowed even tighter than before.

"If you're upset about it then go talk with Elijah Silverton." The director played dumb since both were people whom he couldn’t afford offending. So he passed off responsibility.

Anger still fresh within him, Orion walked out of hospital doors to find Elijah and he happened to see Liora Valentine getting out from car parked nearby .

He strode over quickly towards Liora who greeted him smilingly.

"Orion,"

Orion didn’t know how exactly should react so just nodded slightly giving face .

As Liora Valentine left, he thought about how unfair everything seemed towards Freya. Yet ironically enough, someone who took shortcuts ended up being one of his close friends.

Elijah had never really fallen for a woman before. But now, his feelings towards Liora Valentine seemed to be anything but ordinary. Could he mess up his good friend's good thing? It was rare for Elijah to actively pursue a woman's affection after all.

"I haven't quite figured it out yet, but what is it about Liora Valentine that caught your eye?"