Karen shot to her feet, her voice laced with panic. "What happened to you, Lily? Why are you out here alone? Where's Dr. Gunther?"Lily grabbed her arm and said in a low voice, "We'll discuss this after we get back home, Mom."Karen wasn't that dumb; she realized that something serious had happened. She said to the wealthy ladies, "She's anemic again, so I must take her home quickly."The wealthy ladies exchanged skeptical glances. Anemia? Or was Lily perhaps one of the unfortunate ones who hadn't made the cut?Sensing their doubt, Lily crumpled dramatically into Karen's arms. "Mom, I can't breathe!" she gasped. "But don't worry, I didn't embarrass you. The consultation is over anyway."There was no way the consultation could continue after such a scene. Lily, ever the quick thinker, had effectively shut the crowd down.Less than five minutes later, the doors to the inner hall swung open, and a procession of doctors emerged. Only then did the wealthy ladies lose interest in Karen
"How many times did I tell you Aria's not your elder sister?" Karen's voice boomed, her denial more vehement than ever. "Lily, you're young and naïve. Poor people will use all sorts of tricks to get ahead. You said Aria changed? That's just her way of surviving."Lily furrowed her brow. "But she's undeniably skilled. Even Mr. York Senior showed her respect."Karen was stunned. "The Yorkschose her?"Lily bit her lip. "Well, no. She was on a team with the Lowe family. Malcolm was the one who stood out."A sneer contorted Karen's face. "So she curried favor with the Lowes. What a clever old bat. Using her connections on her deathbed, no less!"Lily fell deep in thought. "So Grandma is a skilled doctor, right?"Karen scoffed, "She caused someone's death. Even if she's skilled, her reputation is ruined. Only the Lowes would still give her the time of day."Lily lowered her head in consideration.Karen squeezed Lily's hand. "Don't worry, Lily. Even with the Lowes' help, that old woma
Shiloh's eyes widened in astonishment. "Mr. York? Why would he be seeking her out?"His question prompted several onlookers to glance back, incredulous at the notion. They found it difficult to believe that Landon would be searching for the imposter posing as a Kent.The black-clad bodyguard spoke succinctly, "We need to return something belonging to the Kent family."Upon hearing that, the bystanders quickly grasped the situation. After all, it was inconceivable that Landon would know a "knock-off" like her. Malcolm stepped forward, blocking Aria. "I'll accompany her."Malcolm had promised his grandfather to safeguard Aria and intended to uphold it. However, the bodyguard remained resolute. "I'm sorry. Mr. York specifically requested Ms. Kent's presence.""My last name isn't Kent, but I'll follow along." Aria tapped on her phone before speaking, her eyes holding a captivating allure.Aria pondered whether Landon's interest stemmed from discovering Sam's existence. Perhaps sh
Having written the message, Aria clutched the wooden box as she exited the room. Her handwriting was atrocious, seemingly indifferent to whether the recipient could comprehend it. Yet, politeness was all that mattered to her.A sudden gift from Landon sent shivers down her spine. It felt like he was onto her. Aria was determined to distance herself from him. Consequently, she couldn't help but admire the diamond-studded pen—a testament to intellectuals' wealth.Meanwhile, Landon remained oblivious to the unintended consequence of his gesture. Exhausted from hours of surveillance footage review, he entered the room just after Aria's departure. His black-clad security guard approached him."Mr. York," the bodyguard reported, "Ms. Carver only took the Whisperwind Herb."Landon's eyebrows arched upon hearing her name, finally learning it, finding it remarkably beautiful.Entering the study, Landon removed his rosary bracelet, scanning the remnants left behind. He inquired casually, "S
It was rush hour at six in the evening, with cars clogging the streets everywhere except for Clearwater Alley. However, the quiet tranquility there was broken by a group of people huddled together, their voices buzzing with gossip."Did you guys hear?""What?""A doctor from the hospital across the street got arrested!"Sarah, just returning from grocery shopping, stopped in her tracks. "Isn't that one of the Gunther family members who caused a scene here a while back? I believe that they came that time to harass Ms. Harris!""I think so too!" chimed in another neighbor. "The news said that their entire family is corrupt! They've been deceiving patients for years!""That doctor even suppressed her colleagues. Ms. Harris must've been one of them!"Sarah turned her head toward the gossiping crowd, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "Now you all see the truth, don't you? Remember how some of you used to badmouth Aria?"One of the neighbors mumbled sheepishly, "Well, Ms. Ha
Georgina's cheerful interruption cut off Aria's unspoken concerns. "Aria! Get Sam to fill some water for Sarah and the others to soak their feet."Aria naturally withdrew her hand, responding with a small smile, "Okay."Sam's issue would have to wait. There was no point in pushing it now. Besides, with enough herbs in his system, he wouldn't arouse suspicion.As night painted the alleyways with warm shadows, the aroma of food filled the air. Tonight, a genuine smile stretched across Georgina's face, the happiest she'd been in a long time. With a pair of reading glasses perched on her nose, she kneaded her neighbor's shoulder with practiced concentration. A satisfied grunt from the patient elicited a mirroring smile from Georgina. Aria, watching the exchange, raised an eyebrow. After Sarah and the others had departed, Aria spoke as she helped Georgina to her feet. "Grandma, how about we reopen Heartbound Hall?"Upon hearing that, Georgina's face froze. "Why did you suddenly brin
Georgina stood up with the help of the walking cane. "I'm still not sure about reopening Heartbound Hall."Aria's smile remained small. "There's no rush, Grandma. But the world could always use more good doctors to balance out the bad ones, wouldn't you agree?"Georgina paused, considering Aria's words. "You're right, child. Sometimes, I forget how much wiser you seem than your years."Aria decided not to push further, letting the seed of the idea take root in her grandmother's mind. After all, the emotional toll of failing a patient was a heavy burden for a kind-hearted doctor to bear.Sam understood Aria's intentions. Thus, he waited until Georgina had retired for the night before assembling a computer from what appeared to be scrap metal.The dog outside began barking, but upon Sam's gaze, it fell silent, cowering. The powerful canine tucked its tail between its legs and shrunk into a ball, whimpering softly.Sarah, who had seen Sam tinkering with the "scrap" before, had assum
Since they planned to reopen Heartbound Hall, a steady supply of herbs was crucial. Nestled on the border of two states, Southbury boasted a humid climate and dense undergrowth — a veritable treasure trove for foragers. Here, one could unearth a bounty of mushrooms, including prized wild portobello and yarrow.Sam particularly favored these two herbs, easily drawn to their scent.For the locals, the mountains provided sustenance while the river quenched their thirst.Gathering a few wild yarrows was a common practice, considered perfectly acceptable. Yet, Aria and Sam weren't content with a meager harvest. They scoured nearly half the mountain, their backpacks overflowing with herbs by the time they started their descent.On their way back, they encountered Jonathan Brooks, an early riser who prided himself on being the first to claim the day's choicest mushrooms. It was a surprise for Jonathan to encounter others even earlier than himself, especially in the dark hours of the m