Chapter 57: The Wound Underneath

Raphael’s collar was suddenly pulled from behind.

"Ah—!"

His body jerked backward, and he barely managed to keep his balance before turning around.

Evan stood behind him, one hand still gripping the back of his collar, his expression colder than the hospital corridor had any right to feel. "What did you say?"

Raphael blinked. Then his eyes shifted toward Lumi before back to Evan.

"Well..." He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I’m just giving her an option."

Evan’s eyes narrowed. "An option?"

"I mean..." Raphael cleared his throat. "She shouldn’t be stuck with Number One, who looks like a rotten shellfish all her life, right?"

Lumi blinked hard, her eyes darting anxiously toward Evan’s expression.

"My question is..." Evan’s voice became dangerously calm. "How do you know about my proposal?"

Raphael paused.

Evan’s gaze sharpened, "I proposed to her less than ten minutes ago."

Raphael shrugged his shoulders.

"Well... it seems like the nurses already knew about it too, right?" He turned his head toward the nurses standing nearby and smiled brightly.

The nurses immediately stiffened. Their faces turned pale as they realized their conversation had been overheard.

One of them lowered her head. Another quietly took half a step backward.

Raphael pointed at them, "They were talking about your proposal before I even said anything."

Evan’s expression didn’t change. But the temperature around him seemed to drop several degrees.

The nurses exchanged nervous glances.

"I-I’m sorry, Young Master Caesar... We didn’t mean to gossip... and we actually didn’t know about your proposal. We only heard it from the doctor’s discussion..."

Evan released Raphael’s collar and turned his attention toward them. "What exactly did you hear?"

The nurses immediately fell silent.

Raphael, however, looked far too entertained.

"Oh, come on. Tell him." He gestured toward them. "You were very enthusiastic about discussing his love life a minute ago."

"Raphael," Evan warned. "Shut up."

Raphael immediately closed his mouth. For approximately three seconds.

Then he leaned toward Lumi and whispered, "He’s really scary when he’s embarrassed."

"I heard that." Evan stepped forward.

Raphael, who noticed Evan heading toward the nurses, instantly grabbed his arm.

"Woah, woah! Rules number..."

He paused, rolling his eyes as he tried to remember all those ridiculous Sentinel rules he had barely memorized enough to pass the Sentinel test.

"Ah, whatever. Just calm down. I’m still recovering from you attacking me last time."

Evan slowly turned his head toward him. "I’m not stupid like you."

"Excuse me—"

But Evan was already standing in front of the nurses.

The nurses immediately straightened.

Evan looked at them calmly, although the slight narrowing of his eyes made them visibly nervous.

"Shouldn’t you be keeping your professionalism above everything else?" he asked. "Since this concerns a patient’s personal information, shouldn’t it remain confidential?"

The nurses exchanged nervous glances.

"Yes, Young Master Caesar..."

"Then why did I hear about my own private consultation from a conversation in the hallway?"

Neither nurse dared to answer immediately.

Evan folded his arms.

"I’m not asking you to explain the doctor’s recommendation. That is between the doctor and his patient."

His gaze shifted briefly toward Lumi before returning to them.

"But discussing my medical condition, my Fated Guide, and a personal decision I made with other staff members is another matter."

"We’re sorry," one of the nurses quickly said. "We didn’t mean any harm. We were only talking because we were concerned about your condition."

"I understand." Evan’s tone wasn’t harsh anymore, but it remained firm. "Then next time, be concerned somewhere private."

Raphael covered his mouth, clearly trying not to laugh.

Evan then turned and ignored him completely.

"Let’s go..." He reached for Lumi’s hand, his fingers gently wrapping around hers. "You can be discharged today."

Lumi blinked. "Really?"

"The doctor agreed."

Her eyes immediately brightened, but the thought of leaving the hospital wasn’t the only thing on her mind anymore.

She looked down at their joined hands. "Then... where are we going?"

"Home."

The simple answer made her heart flutter.

’Home...’

But before she could say anything, Raphael suddenly walked beside them.

"Just wanted to remind you of something, Evan..." His expression suddenly turned serious, completely different from his mischievous behaviour earlier.

Evan glanced at him. "What?"

"The Committee is already breathing down your neck."

Evan’s expression remained calm. "I know."

"Two Rampage incidents within such a short period, one of them happening during your own Fated Bonding Ceremony and the other inside a Dungeon." Raphael lowered his voice. "They’re already questioning whether you’re still fit to operate without restrictions."

Lumi’s steps slowed slightly.

Evan, however, didn’t seem surprised.

"They’ve been questioning me for years. Especially your father, who is too eager to put his son at the top, I guess..."

Raphael let out a short laugh.

"Yeah. That’s definitely my father."

He didn’t sound offended. If anything, there was a strange familiarity in his voice, as though Marcus Valen’s intentions were something he had already seen coming from miles away.

"But don’t worry about me." Raphael glanced at Evan. "If I want to beat you, I’ll do it myself. I just wanted to remind you that... with such power comes a great responsibility."

Evan only managed to frown at him when Raphael suddenly covered his mouth dramatically, "Did I just say something that sounded wise?"

Evan stared at him.

Lumi blinked.

Raphael’s eyes widened as though he had just discovered something terrifying. "Wait... I think I might have accidentally grown up."

"You haven’t," Evan replied immediately. "Get lost."

With that, he gently led Lumi back into the room and closed the door behind them.

Lumi turned toward the door, then looked back at Evan. "Is his personality always like that? I mean..."

"Crazy?"

Lumi immediately shook her head and waved her hands in denial. "No, I didn’t mean that... I mean, he kind of looks playful, mischievous, and, you know... funny."

Evan raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t believe everything you see on the outside." He walked back toward her, his expression becoming more serious. "He’s more dangerous than me even when he isn’t in a Rampage."

Lumi blinked. "Really?"

"Really." Evan stopped in front of her. "And Lumi..." He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. "You need to know something."

Lumi looked up at him.

"Sometimes, everything someone shows on the outside is only there to cover the wound underneath."

Her expression slowly changed. She glanced toward the closed door.

Raphael’s ridiculous smile suddenly came to mind, along with the way he had joked about everything, even when talking about his father and his rivalry with Evan.

"His wound...?"

Evan didn’t answer immediately. He simply looked at the door for a moment.

"Never mind. Let me help pack your things up."