He appeared calm, but the blush betrayed his shyness. Amused by this rare reaction, Chloe blushed herself and took a step back. Once Lincoln Bright had been carried into the treatment room by Halliton Waylon, she whispered, “Who is he?”
“A patient who’s been paralyzed for ten years and is undergoing bee therapy here,” Sophia replied, raising an eyebrow. “What’s the matter? Interested in him?”
“Of course not!” Chloe denied it quickly, pouting. “I was just curious. He’s good-looking and seems nice, so I asked.”
Sophia gave her a long look. Chloe’s style had recently changed—she was now wearing pink and softer outfits, a stark contrast to her former punk-rock look with short hair and edgy clothes. After not seeing her for two months, Chloe’s hair had grown longer, and her new style gave her a gentler appearance.
“You’ve changed your style?”
“I had to! I’m playing the obedient daughter at home. If I don’t, my family will threaten to cut off my allowance! How can I survive without their support? I’m not as capable as you or Chloe!”
Sophia laughed. A while later, Lincoln Bright was carried back out, and he kept his head down as he politely said goodbye.
Watching his retreating figure, Chloe sighed. “Poor guy. Paralyzed for ten years—how has he managed to get through that?”
Sophia nodded. “His condition wasn’t caused overnight. He must have endured a lot before he became paralyzed.”
“And his recovery won’t be easy. Even I can’t guarantee complete success,” she added.
Chloe fell silent, lost in thought.
—
The next day, Sophia and Livinus had planned to go out for a meal.
They hadn’t visited Liam’s restaurant in a while, so they decided to go there together during lunch.
“Well, well! Look who it is! What an honor!” Liam greeted them with a wide grin.
Livinus snorted, not even bothering to acknowledge him.
Sophia laughed. “Long time no see.”
“Dr. Sophia, you’re as great as ever. Unlike some people who forget their friends the moment they get married. It’s impossible to make plans with this guy now. All I hear is ‘I’m busy’ or ‘I need to go home to my wife!’ Can you believe that?”
Sophia froze, surprised by Liam’s words. She had never heard Livinus say such things. In fact, he’d never even referred to her as his wife before. Yet hearing it now made her inexplicably happy.
“Did he really say that?” she asked softly.
“Of course! What? He’s never said anything like that to you?”
Sophia shook her head, and the two exchanged knowing smiles.
Meanwhile, Livinus sat there sipping tea, his expression unreadable, as if he had no idea what they were talking about.
Liam laughed even harder.
As they left the restaurant, Sophia’s phone rang. It was Barbara.
“Sophia, a friend of mine is hosting a party. I’ve invited our dorm mates, too, so we won’t feel out of place. You should come! It’ll be fun!”
Before Sophia could respond, Barbara added, “Come on! You need to meet people and have a normal social life. You can’t just bury yourself in the clinic all the time. How will that work?”
Sophia thought for a moment. She did need a break. With so many patients, her work felt endless.
“All right. It’s been a while since I’ve seen everyone.”
“That’s the spirit! Love you! Remember to dress up and steal the show!”
Sophia chuckled. The party was the next day, and fortunately, she had plenty of clothes at home. While staying at Livinus’s place, he had bought her many outfits, any of which would be perfect for the occasion.
She wasn’t keen on visiting a beauty salon, so she simply applied her skincare products, put on some makeup, and chose accessories to match. As she slipped on her heels, she realized she didn’t have any necklaces or earrings. Though she wasn’t one to care about dressing up, going to a party without jewelry seemed too plain.
In the end, she took out the diamond ring Livinus had given her and wore it.
When she picked up Barbara, her friend immediately noticed.
“Is that the diamond ring Mr. Scott gave you?”
“Yes,” Sophia replied casually.
“Oh my gosh! It looks so expensive! Mr. Scott is generous with you!” Barbara exclaimed.
“You’re exaggerating!” Sophia chuckled.
“Exaggerating? Do you think this is nothing? A diamond ring worth tens of millions, given without asking for anything in return? That’s not just generosity; it’s almost heroic!” Barbara exclaimed, nearly singing praises to Livinus.
Sophia laughed softly. “If he hears that, he’ll definitely be amused.”
“I’m just speaking the truth! Sophia, you have to understand—at our age, most people are struggling with work and housing. Many can’t even afford a house with a loan, yet your boyfriend casually gives you a ring worth tens of millions. That’s a whole different level! Honestly, Scott always treats you with such sincerity; you really need to cherish him!”
Sophia smiled but didn’t reply. It wasn’t just about cherishing someone; some things were beyond her control. She preferred to let things flow naturally.
—
Sophia had expected the party to be a small gathering. To her surprise, it turned out to be a grand banquet. The venue was a high-ceilinged hall with dazzling lights, filled with elegantly dressed guests and even a few celebrities. In contrast, Sophia’s outfit was understated and simple.
