The rickety sedan coughed and sputtered its way through the glittering streets of the upper districts like a dying horse trying to keep up with thoroughbreds.

Chrome gripped the loose steering wheel with aching knuckles as the engine rattled violently like one more shake would crumble the entire vehicle apart.

In summary, this car was a doomsday machine.

When they finally rolled to a stop before the Royal Care Hospital, Chrome sighed with relief.

"Made it..."

Lana bounced excitedly in her seat.

"See? My car’s reliable!"

Chrome gave her a flat look.

"Reliable isn’t the word I’d use."

The hospital before them was a towering beauty of glass and whiteness, easily one of the most expensive medical facilities in the entire region. Chrome read somewhere that a single night in this place cost more than most people made in a year.

Only the elite came here... CEOs, politicians, celebrities.

Chrome took Lana’s hand as they walked through the automatic glass doors. The lobby was vast and pretty, with crystal chandeliers and soft classical music playing through hidden speakers.

Almost immediately, Chrome spotted a group of nurses escorting a familiar face... some pop star whose face was plastered on every billboard in Dragon Ridge City. A few feet away, a well-known politician was being wheeled toward a private elevator, surrounded by security.

Lana’s grip on his arm tightened as she pressed closer to him.

"There are so many important people here..."

She lowered her voice to a whisper as her brown eyes darted nervously around the lobby.

"I feel so out of place..."

Chrome smiled softly, looking down at her. She was hugging his arm like a clingy cat and her delicate fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his sleeve. The sight made his heart beat in a way he hadn’t expected.

In his past life, he’d spent years climbing the corporate ladder, dealing with backstabbing colleagues and soul-crushing bosses.

He’d never had anything like this... someone who looked at him like he was her entire world.

’What did I ever do to deserve this? Besides giving an old lady a dollar or two on my way to work...’

He shook his head with a quiet chuckle.

No point in questioning this blessing.

"Come on."

He said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Let’s get that tooth fixed."

They headed up the escalator and got swarmed by a group of nurses the second they reached the top floor.

"Oh my goodness, you must be Lana Slot!"

One of them exclaimed, totally ignoring Chrome.

"Such a lovely young woman!"

"We received your call yesterday! So brave of you to take charge of your dental health!"

Chrome opened his mouth to speak. "Actually, I—"

One of the nurses held up a polite hand to cut him off without even looking at him.

"One moment, sir. The lady is speaking."

Another nurse gestured dismissively at Chrome like he was a piece of furniture.

"Miss Slot, we’ve prepared everything for your VIP examination. The consultation will be roughly $15,000 and your implant will—"

Lana’s cheeks turned red as she pointed at Chrome.

"Oh, actually, my boyfriend is paying! He insisted!"

The nurses’ expressions shifted slightly. Their gazes finally landed on Chrome, looking him up and down with barely concealed judgment. He wore luxury clothes then there was his girlfriend that wore the usual corporate attire you’d see on any run-of-the-mill secretary.

The head nurse stepped forward.

A tall, sharp-featured woman with graceful cheekbones and a name tag reading Nurse Helena Durance.

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him.

"I see."

Nurse Helena had quite a flat voice.

"Well then. Miss Slot, if you’ll come with us, we’ll begin your consultation immediately."

Lana was still attached to Chrome’s arm, and she happily tried to pull him along.

"Come on, babe—"

Nurse Helena pressed a hand firmly against Chrome’s chest to stop him in his tracks.

"Wait. You’re not needed for this part."

Both Chrome and Lana protested at once.

"What do you mean he’s not needed?" Lana demanded.

"She’s my girlfriend!" Chrome added, frowning.

Nurse Helena’s expression didn’t soften.

"Miss Slot must undergo the consultation alone. We have protocols. When she’s finished, we’ll release her back to you. Is that acceptable?"

Chrome was boiling with anger, but before he could say anything, Lana reached up on her toes and gently cupped his face with her small hands.

"Hey."

Her brown eyes never failed to look like diamonds.

"It’s okay. I’ll be done soon, and then we can get out of here. They’re just being careful."

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then fired the nurses a pointed glare.

"But we’re never coming back here."

With that, she marched off with the other nurses and left Chrome standing there with Nurse Helena.

"Wait downstairs."

The head nurse ordered him then left.

...

The hours crawled by.

Chrome sat in a waiting chair, scrolling through his phone mindlessly. He could feel Nurse Helena’s eyes on him from across the room... she’d stationed herself near a column, watching him like he was a criminal waiting to make a move.

Chrome just shook his head.

’Unfortunate... she’s actually quite pretty.’

It was true. Despite her sharp personality, Nurse Helena had a striking face with high cheekbones and full lips. Her nurse’s uniform did little to hide the generous curves of her figure... a full chest and hips that filled out the white fabric in a way that made several male patients do double-takes as they passed.

Pity she’s such a bitch.

Chrome returned his attention to his phone, trying to ignore her staring. After a while, she pulled out her phone and made a call, her voice low enough that he couldn’t make out the words.

A few more hours passed before Nurse Helena finally approached him again.

"Your girlfriend’s procedure is complete."

She sounded so stiff.

"The implant was successful. Total cost is $15,000. I’ll escort you to the payment station, then you can see her."

Chrome smiled and rose to his feet. "Lead the way."

As he followed her through the halls, he couldn’t help but notice the way her hips swayed in that tight uniform. Even the most unpleasant women in this world were still stunning to look at.

They stopped at a small payment desk, and Nurse Helena turned to face him.

"Make the payment, if you even can. If not, perhaps you should call your mother or your girlfriend to come bail you out. I understand financial struggles are common for men in your—"

"Let me stop you right there."

Chrome gave her a firm stare.

This boldness, the pretty nurse was shocked by it.

Chrome stepped closer with narrowed eyes.

"I can see exactly why you’re a nurse and not a doctor. It’s because you simply can’t shut up for one second. You talk and talk and talk without actually listening to anyone around you."

He watched as the color drained from her face.

"Whatever hatred you have for men, I really hope you don’t pass it on to your male patients. It’s not my fault you’re unhappy and unmarried, so maybe take a step back and focus on your actual job instead of judging people based on appearances."

Nurse Helena’s eyes suddenly went red-rimmed.

Her lower lip trembled slightly.

Chrome looked away, feeling guilty.

He rubbed his chin awkwardly.

’Damn. Maybe I went too far...’

The women here were horrible didn’t mean their emotions weren’t like glass. That much was obvious from his stream with that odd Olivia Hilton woman.

Around them, other hospital staff had stopped to watch the scene as they whispered.

"That was brutal..."

"How dare he make fun of a woman being unmarried? In this day and age!"

"Handsome men are always so cruel..."

Nurse Helena took a shaky breath to compose herself.

"Just make the payment. And leave."

Chrome nodded silently.

’All of a sudden I’m the jerk... GREAT.’

He pulled out his phone and transferred the $15,000.

[Ding! You’ve spent $30,000!]

’Damn system and its stupid rules...’

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for humbling that arrogant nurse! The system almost wants to break protocol and give you a bonus reward!]

Chrome stared at the panel with a deadpan face.

"Do you just hate women or something?"

The system remained silent.

Shaking his head, Chrome returned to the lobby.

And there, by the main entrance, he spotted Lana.

She was crouched down in front of a small child in a wheelchair... a little boy with a bald head and tired eyes. Lana was making silly monster faces at him, wiggling her fingers and going "Raaahhh!"

The child made a wide, toothless grin as he giggled.

Chrome’s heart melted at the sight.

He started walking toward them, making the same monster gestures with his hands—

And then he noticed the couple nearby staring at him like he’d grown a second head. Chrome immediately dropped his hands and cleared his throat awkwardly as he felt heat creep up his neck.

’It’s only cute when a woman does it, huh? Figures.’

He walked over, and Lana spotted him. She sprang to her feet with a delighted giggle and immediately flashed her teeth at him.

"Look!" she said, pointing at her mouth. "All fixed!"

Chrome leaned in and studied her new tooth.

He stroked his chin, frowning.

"Hmm. I don’t see a difference."

"What?!" Lana’s eyes went wide. "Look closer!"

She leaned in, tapping her tooth with her finger.

Chrome just shrugged.

"I still don’t see it."

"Mou! Chrome, stop pretending!"

Lana pouted and hit his chest with her small fist.

Chrome grinned.

"Well, the only way to be sure is..."

He tapped his own lips.

Lana’s cheeks flushed. "What?"

"Kiss me. To be sure."

She giggled, stepping closer.

"Okay, but no tongue, alright? The doctor said I can’t stress it for at least two days."

"I don’t use too much tongue anyway." Chrome said.

Lana raised a brow. "You fo sho use too much tongue."

"I do not!"

"You definitely do—"

"Just kiss me, woman."

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

Mwah! A soft, gentle kiss on the lips.

When they pulled apart, Lana reached up and ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Good boy~"

Chrome pulled her into his body, wrapping his arms around her as they walked out of the hospital together.

Behind them, Nurse Helena watched from the crowd. Her face was pale and her hands trembled slightly as she pulled out her phone and made a call.

"Detective Farnsworth? There’s a strange man abusing his wife at the Royal Care Hospital."

She gripped the phone tightly.

"I need you to come immediately."