NOVEL NEXT Chapter 972 Zhane Taking Action
Zhane shifted back to his usual stern demeanor, ready to speak, but the female doctor cut in before he could.
"Dr. Everett, please don't be angry. Since I worked under Mr. Hendrix for some time, when I heard he was hospitalized and gravely injured, I wanted to find a way to check on him and express my gratitude for recommending me to such a prestigious hospital."
"When the head nurse mentioned it was time to call you back for his round, I offered myself instead. I knew you were away, and since medication must be administered on time, I convinced the head nurse by explaining my connection to the patient. Please don't scold anyone; it was all my decision."
Zhane's brows lifted slightly at her explanation. Even Hera, who had remained quiet until now, turned her gaze on the woman, studying her carefully.
It didn't take long for Hera to recognize the pattern, the gentle voice, the gracious façade, the way she subtly shifted blame while sprinkling names to secure her innocence. This woman is a textbook white lotus, playing innocent while planting little landmines with her every word.
Before the female doctor could continue, Zhane cut her off. "You're overthinking. Who said I'd scold the head nurse, when you yourself admitted it was your fault? And it was you who overstepped without being asked."
His sharp retort was enough to make the female doctor choke on her own words and fall silent. Hera's head snapped toward Zhane in surprise, her eyes lighting up. She almost wanted to give him a thumbs-up for how effortlessly he dismantled a white lotus act.
'Did he notice that she was acting just now?' Hera wondered, studying Zhane. But his stern, unreadable expression gave nothing away, and she eventually gave up trying.
Behind her wheelchair, Rafael cleared his throat, clearly struggling not to laugh and add to the female doctor's embarrassment. He was supposed to be a gentleman, but Rafael had never been the gentlemanly type. After barely two seconds of restraint, he finally burst out laughing, loud and unapologetic, making the female doctor's face flush beet red.
Humiliated, the moment Zhane dismissed her, the female doctor rushed out in tears, her fragile pride and ego shattered.
But once she was gone, Zhane's expression hardened even further. He wasn't just putting a troublesome doctor in her place; he was actually in the middle of investigating a far more serious matter: the leak about Leo's hospitalization.
That information was supposed to be under tight wraps, which was why he had reserved an entire floor exclusively for Leo and his other injured subordinates. Yet this woman had so casually mentioned Leo being admitted here.
Zhane's mind worked quickly. 'Did she actually see Leo being escorted to this floor? Or had she been monitoring the hospital's movements closely, noticing the chopper landing on the helipad and deciding to pry?' The thought unsettled him. 'Or worse, has she been keeping tabs on Leo himself?'
She had claimed to have worked with Leo for some time, which meant she might have found a way to track his movements. If that were true, then she wasn't just a nosy doctor; she was bordering on being his stalker.
It seemed that Hera, Rafael, and even Leo had realized the same thing. They all knew how meticulous Zhane had been about keeping any news from leaking. Rafael himself had been controlling the flow of information in the entertainment industry to ensure not even a whisper of gossip emerged about a chopper bringing a high-profile patient to Zhane's hospital.
Hera and the others, too, had agreed to keep Leo's recuperation here a strict secret, knowing that if word got out, those who wanted him dead would start hunting elsewhere.
But since Silvia had discovered Leo's condition, it could only mean one thing: the secret was already compromised. If she knew, then others likely did too. News of Leo's injury, and worse, his location, might already be spreading.
And if that was the case, then the Northern Faction's current boss, Leo's most dangerous enemy, had probably already learned of it… and could be preparing to strike again.
Seeing the female doctor, Zhane could only grow more suspicious. Most of the medical staff in his hospital were long-time employees who had benefited greatly from the institution and proven their loyalty countless times.
When Zhane ordered information to be kept within the hospital walls, not a single word slipped out, not even to their family members. That trust had already been tested over the years as they treated high-profile figures, politicians, and other protected individuals targeted in assassination attempts. His staff knew the drill; all it took was his word.
Even newcomers such as interns, trainees, or fresh hires were strictly lectured and put through rigorous training on the hospital's uncompromising standards of patient confidentiality.
By the time they were cleared to work, they understood that even if their lives were on the line, they were expected to guard patient secrets at all costs. That discipline and integrity were what kept the hospital's reputation spotless.
It now seemed that the female doctor was either a spy working for Leo's enemies or just a stalker. Either way, she had practically walked right into Zhane's grasp. Without wasting time, Zhane pulled out his phone and typed a message:
[Zhane: A new female doctor was recently hired at the hospital. She managed to get into a restricted floor without proper authorization. I want you to thoroughly investigate her background and movements over the past year. From now on, monitor her every step and track who she communicates with.]
Zhane sent the message to his most trusted aide. He could have easily turned to Hera's intel department for support, but pride wouldn't let him. This was his territory, and allowing a mole to crawl in under his watch was already an insult he couldn't stomach.
He wanted to redeem himself, prove his worth, and give Leo an explanation afterward. After all, this woman had been placed here by Leo without even knowing that he'd one day land himself in trouble and would nearly cost him his life and even his memory. Now that Leo was vulnerable, the woman seemed determined to circle him, exploiting any chance she found to get close.
Zhane's lips curved into a smile. Since everyone present was sharp enough to understand the situation without pretense, he didn't waste words.
"So, Leo," Zhane said smoothly, "you'll have to play the bait for a while… if we want to catch this mole, hmm?"
Leo's face immediately darkened as he turned to Zhane with a deadpan expression, though he said nothing. He understood the importance of the matter and that Zhane was doing this for his sake. After a moment, he gave a slight nod.
"Hm." His low hum carried his agreement.
If they failed to catch that woman, and she truly was a spy for his enemies, then she would continue leaking information. Without a proper trap, she could easily slip away and vanish.
For now, Leo's best move was to act as though they were unaware. All he needed to do anyway was maintain his usual cold, indifferent demeanor, no elaborate performance required, while Zhane conducted the investigation, tracing the female doctor's movements and setting up the trap to catch her red-handed.
This had to be done before relocating Leo and his subordinates. If they moved now, their new location might be exposed all over again, making everything they'd done meaningless.
For some reason, they could only silently thank Silvia for rushing to Leo's hospital room the moment she heard the news. If not for her, neither Zhane nor the others would have realized that Leo's whereabouts had already been compromised.
Leo could have fallen into danger again under Zhane's watch, and by the time they discovered it, it might have been far too late. Such an incident wouldn't just endanger Leo's life; it would also drag down the reputation of Zhane's family hospital.
Their patients were high-profile figures who valued security above all else. If word spread that Leo's safety had been jeopardized, trust in the hospital's ability to protect its patients, and in Zhane's own capability, would crumble, threatening not only him but his family's entire legacy.
At that moment, Zhane wasn't sure whether to be furious with himself for being too curious and allowing the female doctor into his hospital or grateful that the situation was turning in their favor, which turned into a hidden blessing in disguise.
At least this way, Leo had a chance to root out the dangerous people circling him, ones who might one day succeed in killing him if they weren't exposed and eliminated now.
Now, they could only work together toward the same goal. After sending the female doctor away, Zhane immediately contacted his aide to have her placed under surveillance.
His earlier rudeness hadn't been without purpose; he wanted to agitate and humiliate her, to provoke malice toward him and push her into making bolder moves. That way, her true intentions would become easier to track.