The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 44

"Mom, actually—"

A sharp ringing from her phone cut Nora off mid-sentence.

"Is that someone from the precinct?"

Grace frowned and urged Nora to answer the phone.

Nora didn't hesitate. She nodded and quickly answered.

"Nora!"

Her assistant Julia's panicked voice came through the line. "Something's happened at the precinct! When are you coming back?"

Nora's heart sank.

Hearing the commotion in the background, she didn't have time to say much, just threw out an "I'm on my way back" before hanging up.

She stood up and took a few steps toward the door before remembering where she was. She turned back to her mother, her face full of apology. "I'm sorry, Mom, I..."

Grace smiled and shook her head. "I'm fine, dear. You go ahead and get to work. Don't worry about me."

A glimmer of moisture appeared in Nora's eyes, but in the end, she just nodded firmly and turned to leave.

Grace watched her daughter's back disappear through the doorway, her gaze slowly falling on the oxygen tube above her head.

After staring at it for a long while, Grace sighed, her voice scattering softly into the air—

"It seems there's no escaping it after all..."

***

When Nora arrived at the precinct, she learned there was trouble in the forensics department.

The family of the deceased, Elias, refused to believe he had committed suicide and claimed there was a problem with the medical examiner's report.

When Nora burst into the forensics department, it was in a state of chaos.

"Which medical examiner performed my son's autopsy? She must have been bribed! Believe me, I'll sue all of you! My son was a top student at a prestigious university! His father and I worked day and night to support his education. He just told us he was in a relationship. How could he possibly commit suicide!"

"Are you people in league with the murderer? Did you take their money to frame my son? You're all so vicious!"

The woman was presumably Elias's mother, and the others were likely relatives she had brought with her.

The group glared at Nora menacingly. Mrs. Morel was the first to speak. "Who are you?"

Nora said, "I'm the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on your son. My name is Nora."

"You're the bitch who did my cousin's autopsy?"

A tall man roared and charged at Nora without warning.

Nora's gaze hardened.. Just as she was about to step back to avoid the man's attack, a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist.

A powerful force pulled at her waist, and before Nora could react, the hand yanked her back several feet.

"Scared stiff? Don't you know how to dodge?"

A man's voice, cold yet tinged with concern, came from above her. Before Nora could process it, he shielded her, pulling her firmly against his chest to protect her from the scuffle.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."