Chapter 3
Brianna
Actually, the teammates' anger wasn't hard to understand. Compared to other medical students interviewing, I was severely lacking in experience.
Ronaldo's football team was among the most elite in the entire state, even the nation.
After Cole became captain of Ronaldo's football team, the team's popularity reached its peak.
So they needed to keep their physical condition at its absolute best at all times.
They wouldn't allow a rookie to serve as team doctor. They had to be responsible to themselves, to their team's glory, and to their supporters.
But thank God, whatever the reason, Cole hired me, and I would definitely do this job well.
The hiring process went smoothly, and I even received advance trial period wages specially approved by Holden—just enough to cover my mother's hospital expenses for the month.
But when I rushed to the hospital room, my mother's ventilator had stopped and my father sat dejectedly to one side.
Nurses surrounded the bed.
I pushed through them to reach my mother, but was firmly grabbed by someone—the head nurse.
She was as harsh as ever:
"Brianna Hill, I've made myself perfectly clear. No money, get out."
"Our hospital has other patients who need treatment."
I held up the card in my hand before the head nurse:
"I have money!"
But somehow, despite having money, the laughter around me grew louder.
I recognized the leading intern—Kate, a third-year medical student who had also interviewed for the football team doctor position earlier.
Rumor had it she idolized Cole and had founded a Cole fan club at school.
She even obsessively controlled the school's female students, preventing them from approaching Cole.
After learning the football team was selecting a team doctor, she'd been particularly eager—unfortunately, she wasn't chosen.
Kate looked at the card in my hand with mockery:
"Come on, that money's only enough for two days of medical expenses. Better spend it on a couple good meals with your dying father."
"I have money! This covers a full month of medical expenses!"
The head nurse looked at me incredulously:
"A month? Where did you get that kind of money?"
"If I remember correctly, you just graduated high school. Did you even scrape together college tuition?"
Kate sneered coldly:
"Dirty money from selling your body, perhaps?"
"Does your mother know what you're doing? She'd be ashamed, Brianna."
"Don't say I didn't warn you—earn dirty money, and your college life won't be pleasant."
"Our medical school doesn't need filthy people like you."
Looking at Kate's sharp, bitter expression, I clenched my fists and was about to respond when Cole's voice came from behind me:
"Is the money I gave her dirty?"
Cole?
How could he be here?
Before I could react, Kate's excited screaming filled the entire hospital room.
Others from neighboring rooms joined in the screaming.
After all, Cole was incredibly famous.
"It's Cole Caesar!"
"The real person!"
Screams erupted throughout the ward, making my head throb.
Not just women, but men too—everyone went crazy over Cole's arrival.
After all, Cole was the captain of the state's star football team.
This football team had won the national college championship last year because of him.
Before Cole, this football team had never even made it onto major competition candidate lists.
Let alone represent the state in college football leagues.
It could be said that Cole's addition was the entire Ronaldo football team's luck and the whole state's pride.
So facing Cole's arrival, the scene became chaotic. The head nurse, who should have been controlling the situation, was now posing for autographs.
I tried to intervene, but the next second I was roughly shoved by surrounding men and tumbled into Cole's embrace.
His chest was incredibly solid—like hitting a wall, making my head spin.
Just as I was about to fall backward, Cole's powerful hands caught my waist and pulled me into his arms.
He lowered his head and whispered softly in my ear:
"Steady yourself."
I don't know if it was from dizziness, but his voice was so sexy it made my legs weak.
I stumbled, and Kate caught every bit of this scene.
She pushed through the crowd, separating me from Cole.
"Get away! You shabby, ill-bred thing—you don't deserve to touch Cole!"
Kate's words drew everyone's attention to me.
Their gazes were scrutinizing, wandering over me, making me deeply uncomfortable.
The head nurse stood aside dismissively:
"Kate, someone like her seeing Cole must be grabbing the opportunity to get close."
"Otherwise, with her poverty, how could she possibly encounter Cole in this lifetime!"
Cole glanced at the head nurse, then at Kate.
"Kate."
Cole's voice carried authority, instantly silencing the noisy ward.
Hearing Cole call her name, Kate's face showed uncontrollable happiness.
She stood coyly beside Cole, her face unconsciously flushing:
"Cole... I'm sorry I let such a lowly person touch you."
"It won't happen again..."
After speaking, Kate looked at me with fierce hatred.
"Why don't you get lost!"
"Don't you know Cole doesn't like people getting close to him!"
Hearing Kate's words, I instinctively stepped back, but Cole forcefully pulled me back.
Cole looked down at Kate:
"Kate, Brianna is my team doctor. I hope you'll show her some respect."
"Wha... what?"
"You didn't choose me as team doctor, but chose her?"
Kate couldn't believe her ears.
She looked at me with pure hatred and shock.
"Cole! Are you crazy!"
"Does she have that kind of experience and ability?"
"She just graduated high school!"
"I'm a third-year medical student! And president of your fan club!"
Cole looked at Kate, his eyes filled with irritation, but his tone remained as gentle as possible:
"Kate, I make my own choices."
"Cole! I can't accept this! Why! What can she do? Tell me!"
"I'm an intern at Bright Hospital! You know how hard that qualification is to get!"
Cole nodded naturally, distanced himself from Kate, then moved closer to me.
He seemed to be smelling something near me, then straightened up.
The irritation in his eyes disappeared completely, replaced by peace.
He looked at me with unwavering determination:
"Brianna is excellent."
I didn't understand how Cole, after spending so little time with me, could determine what kind of person I was.
I wanted to ask, but was interrupted by a rough male voice.
It was the teammate who had stormed out this afternoon.
Seeing me, his eyes blazed with anger.
He stood behind Kate, looking at me:
"Cole, I won't accept this rookie as team doctor!"
"Kate is clearly the most suitable choice!"
"If you insist on making this rookie our team doctor, I think our football team should just disband!"
"That's right!"
Suddenly, all of Ronaldo's football team members crowded into the hospital room.
They all stood behind Kate.
Kate looked at me with triumphant eyes—the posture of a victor.
Cole stood in front of me, his gaze determined.
"Are you certain?"
Apparently not expecting such an answer from Cole, two younger teammates shook their heads slightly.
Clearly, they just wanted to pressure Cole this way to get a more trustworthy team doctor.
After all, everyone knew Ronaldo's football team owed its current success to Cole.
To put it bluntly, Cole could take a rookie team and still make the league roster.
Without Cole, this team was nothing.
But after achieving success, some people always believed they were the ones who really turned things around—like Jess.
"Cole! I'm giving you one last chance—make Kate the team doctor! Otherwise, as vice-captain, I'm leaving right now!"
Cole looked at Jess and nodded approvingly:
"Fine, go ahead. Anyone else want to leave?"
The team was starting to get restless, and Kate's eyes were full of smug calculation.
She looked at me and mouthed:
"Serves you right!"
Just as the teammates were about to leave, Cole suddenly turned to look at me with a cold smile:
"How long are you going to hide? Team doctor? My genius?"
