Chapter 9

No one welcomed her arrival—they were all trying to push her away.

Wendy found it laughable. Her cold, sharp eyes swept across Lilian, Jessica, and Harry's faces before she yanked her arm out of Stanley's grip.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she said, "Fine, I'll leave."

'Remember this—it was you who told me to go!'

With that, Wendy turned and walked away.

Soon after, she came back. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she asked, "Mr. Hawk, do you know why I came to the naturopathy center today?"

Stanley's gaze fell on her flawless, porcelain-like face, her soft peach fuzz catching the light, making her beauty even more striking.

Stanley's expression was cold, and it was clear he didn't care. His voice was harsh and distant. "Wendy, this is getting annoying."

Wendy stepped forward with a dazzling smile.

"I'm here to help you find a naturopath." She pulled a small card out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Here, this is for you."

Stanley looked down at the slightly yellowed card, which looked like something someone might slip through a door crack.

The card read, "Traditional Naturopath – Specializing in ED, premature ejaculation, infertility, and helping you rediscover your manhood. Contact: 138XXXX8888."

Stanley's usually stoic face cracked ever so slightly.

Wendy slipped the card into his suit pocket. "Jessica has a problem. Mr. Hawk, don't you as well? You both should really get yourselves checked out."

She turned and walked away without waiting for a response.

Stanley's hand, hanging by his side, clenched into a fist. This woman always managed to push his buttons.

Jessica broke the silence. "Stanley, let it go. Wendy isn't worth our time."

Lilian nodded. "Right. Why isn't Dr. Ceylan here yet?"

Everyone grew tense at the mention of Dr. Ceylan, who was Jessica's last hope.

Stanley glanced at his watch. The appointment time had passed, but Dr. Ceylan hadn't arrived.

Just then, a nurse walked in. "Mr. Hawk."

Jessica, Harry, and Lilian perked up. "Is Dr. Ceylan here?"

The nurse addressed Stanley. "Dr. Ceylan arrived earlier but has already left."

'What?'

Stanley looked down the hallway but didn't see anyone—only Wendy disappearing around a corner.

Stanley frowned. "I didn't see Dr. Ceylan."

The nurse explained, "Dr. Ceylan came, but decided not to stay."

"Why?" Jessica, Harry, and Lilian's expressions changed instantly. "Why would Dr. Ceylan leave without helping Jessica?"

The nurse apologized, "I'm sorry, but Dr. Ceylan refused to treat Miss Jessica."

Jessica's face went pale. Dr. Ceylan wouldn't treat her? Why?

Their earlier hope was doused like a bucket of cold water. Everyone was stunned.

Jessica lost it. "Why won't Dr. Ceylan treat me? Why?"

Harry and Lilian immediately comforted her. "Jessica, don't get upset. We'll figure something out and bring Dr. Ceylan back. You'll be okay!"

Stanley's sharp features hardened. He stared down the empty hallway, his aura radiating danger.

Outside the hospital, someone called out, "Wendy."

Wendy paused and turned around slowly. It was Lilian, who had followed her out.

Lilian approached her. "Wendy, this is for you."

Wendy glanced down—it was a check for 20,000 dollars.

"Wendy, Mr. Hawk doesn't love you. Stop clinging to him and give him back to your sister. Why can't you let her have him? Just divorce him and take this money to start fresh in the countryside," Lilian said.

Wendy found it absurd. If she hadn't secretly done a DNA test on Lilian and Jessica, she might have believed Jessica was Lilian's biological daughter. Yet, that wasn't the case.

Lilian was only Jessica's stepmother. However, Lilian adored Jessica and not Wendy, her actual daughter.

Wendy knew Lilian was obsessed with Harry, which explained her bias.

Wendy's gaze was calm as she looked at Lilian. She smiled faintly. "So, being Mrs. Hawk is only worth this much to you? Or is that all I'm worth in your eyes?"

Lilian froze, then hurriedly said, "Wendy, I'm your mother, and I'm doing this for your good. You don't belong here…"

'Mother?'

The word sounded foreign, and Wendy laughed softly.

"You already sent me to the countryside once, and now you want to do it again. You really are a great mother!"

Wendy didn't look at Lilian again. She stepped into a taxi and left.

Inside, she sat quietly in the back seat. She retrieved a candy from her bag, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.

The cab driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. She wore a simple dress, exuding an air of elegance and composure that commanded respect. On closer look, her skin was so pale it seemed translucent, and her figure under the dress looked fragile, as if a gust of wind could knock her over.

The driver, who had a daughter around the same age, smiled kindly. "Young lady, you really like sweets, huh?"

Wendy turned her head slightly, the breeze outside blowing her hair across her face. She smiled softly. "Yeah, a little sweetness makes the bitterness easier to bear."

-

Lilian stood frozen, watching Wendy's taxi leave.

Just then, someone approached. "Mrs. Crone."

Lilian turned to see Ted Whalen, the head of the naturopathy center.

Lilian immediately approached him. "Dr. Whalen, you have so many connections. Can you help us get Dr. Ceylan to treat Jessica?"

Dr. Whalen smiled. "Mrs. Crone, I know Dr. Ceylan personally. I can make the introduction."

Lilian's face lit up. "Really? Thank you so much, Dr. Whalen."

Dr. Whalen's gaze shifted to where Wendy had disappeared. A sly smile tugged at his lips. "Mrs. Crone, was that your daughter who came back from the countryside? She's stunning. For a second, I thought I'd seen an angel."

Lilian's expression turned cold, her earlier excitement fading into icy indifference.