The Emergency Room Secret Chapter 5

Back home, I sat at my computer, the USB drive clutched in my hand. Nathan's text said he was still at school and wouldn't be back for a while. I took a deep breath and inserted the drive.

Inside was a single video folder. I clicked the first file. The screen showed an elegantly furnished study. I recognized it as Nathan's office at school—he often called it his "spiritual sanctuary."

"Amy, your paper is very good." In the video, Nathan's gentle voice played. "But some parts still need improvement."

"Thank you, Professor Carter." The girl's timid voice replied. "I, I'll work harder."

"I know you work hard." Nathan's voice became more tender. "You remind me of my own daughter. Unfortunately..."

"Professor Carter has a daughter?"

"I did." He sighed. "She died when she was two. Seeing you is like seeing what she would have looked like grown up."

My fingers began to tremble. Nathan never had children. We'd been married five years, always busy with our careers. How could he fabricate such a lie?

The video continued. I saw more similar scenes. Nathan always approached female students with the posture of a caring father, especially those from poor backgrounds lacking paternal love. He'd buy them gifts, take them to dinner, listen to their troubles like a benevolent father.

Then, the nature changed.

"Professor Carter, this isn't right..." A girl's crying voice.

"Didn't you say I was like a father to you?" Nathan's voice turned cold. "Making your father happy—isn't that what a daughter should do?"

I forced down my nausea and watched video after video. Every victim had a similar experience: from being cared for to being controlled, from trust to terror.

Most terrifyingly, all these videos had been carefully edited, clearly intended for sale.

Suddenly, I saw Lily Martinez. She sat at the same desk, Nathan gently wiping away her tears.

"Lily, remember, in this city, I'm the only one who truly cares about you."

"Professor Carter..." She sobbed. "I miss home so much..."

"This is for you." Nathan handed her an exquisite box. "I picked it out especially for you."

I recognized that box—it was the same one Nathan had given me for my birthday last year. He'd said it was limited edition, only one in the entire city.

Just as I was reeling in shock, my phone suddenly vibrated frantically. It was an unknown number—I recognized it as the yellow-haired youth's phone.

"Dr. Foster!" His voice carried a sob. "Lily came to find me just now, said she wanted to tell me something. But... but before she could finish, Professor Carter found her!"

I shot to my feet. "Where are they?"

"In the alley near my place! Professor Carter forcibly dragged her into his car!"

"Call the police! Call them now!"

"No!" The youth said urgently. "We can't! He said if we call the police, Lily might not survive, and... he has leverage on Lily!"

My brain raced. "Which direction did they go?"

"Toward the east side. Professor Carter said he was taking her somewhere..."

"Stay where you are. I'll come get you right away." I pulled on my jacket while talking. "Do you know specifically where?"

"I, I only know it's a tutoring center." The youth's voice carried a sob. "Please save Lily! She's suffered enough! We've all suffered enough..."

After hanging up, my hands were still shaking. On the computer screen, Nathan's gentle smile was frozen. That smile had once made me feel warm; now it made my skin crawl.

I picked up my phone and sent Nathan a message: "Are you busy? I need to discuss something with you."

He quickly replied: "In a meeting. Talk later."

A meeting? I laughed coldly, grabbed my car keys, and rushed out the door.