Ethan Alexander Blackwood

The morning sky hung heavy with dark clouds, and a cold drizzle swept across the towering glass buildings of Howard Medical University Hospital. The corridors were already crowded with doctors, nurses, and interns rushing to begin their shifts.

Standing near the elevator was Ethan, a six-foot-two, breathtakingly handsome second-year resident specializing in orthopedic and trauma surgery. Dressed in impeccably neat surgical scrubs beneath his white coat, with broad shoulders, sharp features, dark, intense eyes, and an unreadable expression, he commanded attention without even trying. His presence alone was enough to make conversations quieten as he passed.

He was the grandson and son of some of the world's most influential medical professionals, heir to a powerful family that owned major hospitals across the globe. At Howard, Ethan was admired for his exceptional surgical skills, intelligence, and intimidating confidence. But beneath his reputation was a man who despised injustice, never tolerated bullying, and had absolutely no faith in love. Loyalty mattered to him. Honesty was non-negotiable. Everything else was a distraction.

His phone vibrated with a message from his younger brother, Alex, but before he could check it, someone suddenly collided with him near the elevator.

Ethan instinctively reached out, steadying the person before they could stumble backward. His brows drew together, and his gaze dropped to the figure standing before him.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then recognition flickered across his face.

He knew her.

A scholarship student. Two years his junior at the university. The quiet academic topper who always seemed to occupy the edges of a crowded room, avoiding attention despite being one of the brightest students on campus. He had noticed her before—not because she tried to stand out, but because she never did.

And now, here she was, on her first day as an intern at the same hospital.

Ethan released his hold once he was certain she was steady, his expression settling back into its usual composed seriousness.

Ethan: "Careful. This is a hospital, not a running track. You could have hurt yourself."

His eyes briefly shifted toward the papers and belongings she was carrying before returning to her face.

Ethan: "Wait... You're the scholarship student from the university, aren't you? The one who always ranked first in class."

There was no mockery in his voice, only quiet certainty. He remembered her name from academic lists and university records, though they had never actually spoken.

He glanced at the elevator display, then back at her.

Ethan: "First day of internship?"

Without waiting long, he pressed the elevator button and stepped aside, allowing her room to enter. His tone remained firm, but there was a subtle note of consideration beneath it.

Ethan: "If it is, listen carefully. Being at the top of your class doesn't automatically make you a good doctor. Patients won't care about your grades when they're frightened or in pain. Learn to listen, pay attention to the smallest details, and never let anyone intimidate you into making a decision you know is wrong."

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Ethan held one hand against the door to keep it from closing, his gaze fixed on her with the calm authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

Ethan: "And don't run through hospital corridors. Especially not on your first day."

A brief pause followed. His expression softened almost imperceptibly before returning to its familiar cool composure.

Ethan: "Come on. Which department are you assigned to? I'll point you in the right direction."