?Chapter 130:


    Even though Joanna knew that Duncan only had her best interests at heart, she still felt somewhat aggrieved.


    With tears welling up in her eyes, she said, “Back when the incident urred, I intended to save that innocent child and overpower the crazy man who held the knife. But in the end, my efforts were futile, and I almost lost my life, while the crazy man chose to end his own.”


    Duncan had always been strict with his students when it came to discipline and hard work, but seeing Joanna so heartbroken, he couldn’t bring himself to be his usual harsh self.


    He softened his voice. “I’m not saying these things just to scold you. I want you to be able to protect yourself. When I heard that you were hurt badly, I felt that the training I urged you to go through hadn’t been enough. I regret not training you better.”


    Joanna choked on her sobs and replied, “It’s not like that… It’s just… it’s because I’m not skilled enough. It had nothing to do with—”


    Norah couldn’t help but nce at Duncan. Apart from being Joanna’s coach, Duncan was also a retired famous mercenary abroad. Norah realized that not only did Duncan possess a strong physique and impressive abilities, but he also seemed to care deeply about Joanna.


    Duncan sighed in resignation. “By the way, doctor, how is her condition?”


    Seizing the opportunity, Joanna quickly introduced the two of them. “Duncan, this is Dr. Norah Wilson. Norah, this is my coach.”


    “Hello, Mr. Garcia.”


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    “Hello, Wilson.”


    They exchanged a simple greeting with a light nod.


    Joanna added, “Norah was the one who saved me. She knows everything about my condition, so I’m in good hands.”


    The truth was that Joanna was feeling anxious. Duncan’s unexpected arrival had interrupted her conversation with Norah, and she was eager to hear more about what had happened during her absence. She nced at Norah, her eyes filled with urgency.


    Norah immediately picked up on Joanna’s silent plea and interjected. “Garcia, Joanna has just woken up and still needs rest. Once you’ve finished your visit, I must ask you to leave so I can examine her thoroughly.”


    Duncan didn’t question Norah’s words. “Alright, I’ll take my leave now. Joanna, I’lle back to visit when I have time. Doctor, please take good care of her. Thank you.”


    Norah subtly raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected the former mercenary, Duncan, to be so gentle in private. Initially, she thought Duncan was just visiting out of concern for Joanna. However, seeing the way he treated her, Norah sensed that Duncan had a soft spot for Joanna.


    “Joanna, tell me what kind of person Duncan is. I’m curious,” Norah said casually as she wiped away the tears from Joanna’s eyes.


    “Well, he’s a good man, but he’s really strict. I can’t afford to lose focus, even for a second, in his sses. If I get distracted, even for a moment, I’ll definitely be given extra exercises.”


    Joanna had learned this the hard way. Even with her exhausted body, she had to go through daily training without exception. Duncan was a responsible coach.


    “Anyway, forget about that for now. You know what I’ve been dying to hear,” Joanna said, shing a smile.


    Facing Joanna, whose expression was eager for gossip, Norah could only smile helplessly. “You’re so impatient. While you were away, a lot happened…”


    At that moment, with only the two of them in the room, Norah finally had the chance to share her recent events with Joanna.


    Taking a deep breath, Norah began telling Joanna everything that had happened, from the time she left the mour Club and got injured, to Kason being rescued.


    As Joanna listened, her expression shifted between confusion, anger, and joy. “All of that happened while I was gone? I missed all of it! Why do I have to hear the stories after the fact? I should have been there by your side!”


    Joanna sighed and stared straight into Norah’s eyes. “How do you really feel about Mr. Scott?”


    Earlier, when they were at the bar, Joanna had advised Norah to be cautious about her love life. However, when they met again, Norah admitted that she had already slept with Sean.


    “Well, based on my experiences, men are unreliable. In fact, I don’t even want a man again.”


    “Not the time being. I’m fresh from a divorce with a bastard,” Norah said with an indifferent attitude, as if it wasn’t a big deal. “I just ended a failed rtionship, so even though Mr. Scott might seem like a choice, he’s as unimportant to me as you are.”


    Joanna was so moved that tears instantly streamed down her cheeks. “Norah, you’re important to me too!”


    “Besides,” Norah continued, “If I were to reallye to like someone, I would first spend a lot of time getting to know him, rather than rushing into a rtionship without truly understanding his nature.”


    “Fine. But between Mr. Scott and Mr. Hayes… who do you like more?”


    When Joanna asked this question, Sean happened to be standing at the doorway of the ward. He stopped in his tracks, quietly listening to the conversation unfold.


    “To be honest, only Sean has captivated my heart. I may be fond of Kason, but fondness and liking someone are not the same thing.”


    “Come on. I think you’re overthinking it, and that’s why you can’t distinguish who you truly like. Let me put it like this: if Mr. Scott and Mr. Hayes both fell into the water, who would you want to save?”


    “That’s a no-brainer.”


    “Both can swim, they don’t need me to save them.”


    “You know what I mean. It’s hypothetical.”


    “And I’m saying that they are both my friends. If both need saving, then why would I only choose one?”


    Seeing that Norah’s attitude had be serious, Joanna dared not continue joking around. “Alright, I see.”


    Finally, Joanna changed the subject. “You’ve sessfully divorced Derek and even took two-thirds of the entire Carter family’s property. He must be livid. After this, I wonder if Madeline is still willing to be with that bastard.”


    Previously, the Carter family’s wealth was on par, if not slightly below, that of the Powell family. But after losing so much of their property to Norah, the Carter family was now nowhere near the wealth of the Powell family.


    “I don’t really care. Their rtionship has nothing to do with me,” Norah said with a shrug.


    “Anyway, I really didn’t expect that Kathy and Madeline would dare to harm you with the gang’s involvement. Are you just going to let them off like this?”


    Hearing this, Norah rubbed her temples wearily and said, “There are just too many things going ontely. I haven’t had time to deal with them.”


    Joanna sighed deeply and remarked absentmindedly, “I wish I hadn’t been injured and could have been there by your side.”


    At that moment, Bryson returned with dinner for Joanna. As he spotted Sean and Phillip at the doorway of Joanna’s ward, he approached and asked, “Mr. Scott, Phillip, are you waiting for something? Why haven’t you gone in to see Joanna?”


    Sean cleared his throat but didn’t say anything. Lowering his head, he showed an indifferent expression and brushed past Bryson as he left.


    Phillip took a few steps forward and said in a low voice, “Mr. Andrews, please keep Mr. Scott’s visit confidential. Thank you.”


    Bryson furrowed his brows, not sure what had just happened.


    Seeing Bryson enter the ward, Norah stood up and said, “Alright, now you know everything you wanted to know. I won’t stay too long so you can rest properly. I’lle see you again tomorrow.”


    Joanna was reluctant to see Norah leave. However, she felt she had heard too much and needed some time to digest all the information. Suddenly, she felt a dull ache from her wound and furrowed her brows, enduring the pain.


    “Remember, I’lle see you tomorrow. Don’t forget, okay?” Norah said.


    “Did I ever break a promise to you? I always keep my word,” Norah replied, smiling.


    Then, Norah turned to Bryson and said, “Hey, take good care of Joanna for me.”


    “I will,” Bryson nodded.


    Although Bryson didn’t have a clue about what had happened between Sean and Norah, his close friendship with Norah made him share something with her after some thought. “By the way, on my way back here, I saw Mr. Scott and Phillip standing at the door of the ward. They left as soon as I approached them.”


    Joanna and Norah exchanged a nce and asked at the same time, “They were here just now?”


    “Yeah.”


    Norah’s mouth hung open, unsure of how much Sean had heard while she was chatting with Joanna. She felt a little worried since she had shared so much.


    “Alright, I’m leaving now,” Norah said, preparing to go.


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