Ste was quiet for a few seconds, then nodded gently.


    "I am."


    "A very practical young woman." Old Mr. Wyatt pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose. "I''m not a benevolent doctor with a parental heart. I''m a man who enjoys a good story. My criteria for practicing medicine are different from others. If their reasons for seeking my help can move me, I agree to treat them.


    "As a result, I''ve seen many patients in my life and met many people who have pleaded for my help. I''ve seen my fair share of cases like yours, with deep-seated grudges. However, many people are unwilling to ept a gesture of goodwill from someone they once hated. They would rather never be cured than forgive the other person."


    Ste''s expression was calm. "There''s no need to punish myself for an enemy''s mistake."


    Old Mr. Wyatt asked, "If your hand is healed, will you still hate him?"


    "No," Ste said.


    Old Mr. Wyatt didn''t ask why. Instead, a look of appreciation appeared in his eyes. "A clever girl... It seems the considerable price that boy paid for you wasn''t in vain." Ste''s eyes flickered slightly, but she refrained from asking what he meant.


    Old Mr. Wyatt didn''t seem to mind. He filled out some notes on the diagnosis form, nced at the test reports again, and then said to Ste, "I need to make some preparations, so the surgery will be scheduled for next Monday. Is that alright with you, youngdy?"


    "That''s fine with me," Ste said.


    "Good," Old Mr. Wyatt said. "Then it''s settled for now."


    Ste stood up. "Old Mr. Wyatt, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be going."


    Old Mr. Wyatt grunted in acknowledgment without looking up.


    Just as Ste was about to leave, Old Mr. Wyatt suddenly called out to her.


    "That young man who came with you today, is he your boyfriend?"


    Ste paused. "Yes."


    Old Mr. Wyatt said, "He carries a heavy aura of violence."


    With that, he said no more and lowered his head to continue studying the medical records.


    Seeing that Old Mr. Wyatt had nothing more to say, Ste pushed the door open and left.


    Not long after Ste was gone, Old Mr. Wyatt looked toward a corner of the room. "She''s gone. You cane out now."


    A few secondster, a tall, imposing figure emerged from behind a screen.


    The handsome man''s face was still very pale, clearly indicating he was


    injured. He let out a soft cough


    badlyle


    and said in a low voice Thank you for being willing to help me, Old Mr. Wyatt."


    Old Mr. Wyatt looked at him and


    sighed. "The one thing you can''t buy in this world is a second chance.


    When I was young, I was just liet


    you. Imade a mistake, and there was no turning back. Fortunately, you''re luckier than I was. At least you trave a chance to make amends. You heard her just now. She won''t hate you anymore."


    Leonard let out a lowugh. "Between her forgetting me and hating me, I''d rather


    she hated me."


    Old Mr. Wyatt gave him a


    meaningful look. "I saw that young man who came with her today. His ruthlessness is even greater than yours was when you first came to me. Once you start down a path of violence, it''s hard to turn back. Your options willonly get narrower until you''re driven to an extreme. But he''s luckier than you. After he met that little girl, she managed to pull him back a bit. However, I can see that his heart is now shrouded in bloodlust and hostility. Without some kind of setback, I''m afraid it will be very difficult for him to turn back. They have a long road ahead of them if they want a happy ending."


    Hearing this, Leonard didn''t show any joy at the thought that he might have a


    chance. He was only worried that Ste might get hurt.


    Old Mr. Wyatt seemed to read his mind. "What? If the girl gets hurt, are you nning


    to kidnap her or something?"