?Chapter 1678:
As Katelyn stepped into the room, a fleeting emotion rippled across the woman’s otherwise serene features. Her lips curved into a gentle smile as she gazed at Katelyn. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Those two simple words told Katelyn everything—the surgery had been sessful. The woman’s turbulent emotions had vanished, reced by a tranquil calm.
Katelyn approached the bed and inspected the IV drip on the back of the woman’s hand. Satisfied there were noplications, she spoke softly. “Ma’am, how are you feeling now? If anything feels ufortable, please tell me right away.”
The woman’s face no longer held its former innocence, now touched by a shadow of sorrow. Fine lines crinkled at the corners of her eyes as she shook her head gently. “I’m fine now,” she replied. “Thank you for taking care of me during this time.”
Despite her previous frenzied state, the woman remembered this period with striking rity. Gratitude filled her heart knowing Katelyn had cured her illness.
Katelyn smiled warmly. “It’s nothing, as long as you’re well.” She hesitated briefly before continuing, “Ma’am, I’ve been wondering… who are you?”
She had nned to wait until the woman had recovered more fully before delving into such matters. But with so many urgent issues demanding her attention, Katelyn needed answers immediately. That way, nothing would be unnecessarilyplicated.
The woman’s smile slowly faded as she met Katelyn’s gaze. A soft sigh escaped her lips. “If possible, I don’t want to pursue the past, nor recall it. Can I have a new beginning?”
Katelyn paused. The woman clearly wished to keep her past hidden. Yet Katelyn couldn’t shake the peculiar feeling in her heart—an inexplicable desire to be close to this woman that had driven her to save her and cure her illness.
Though desperately curious, Katelyn knew she must respect the woman’s wishes. More importantly, now that the woman had regained her sanity, Katelyn had no right to force her to reveal anything about her past. It wasn’t her ce to demand such answers.
Despite the disappointment tugging at her heart, Katelyn nodded in eptance. “Okay, I understand. Please focus on your recovery for now. I have some matters requiring my attention, so I’ll take my leave. Remember though, if anything happens—even the smallest concern—don’t hesitate to call for me at any hour.”
Though the woman had moved through recent days in a fog of confusion, her memory retained enough rity to recognize the mounting demands on Katelyn’s time.
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Not wishing to be another burden, she offered a gentle nod and replied softly, “Okay, you go ahead.”
Katelyn fell silent, words unnecessary between them. She stood and made her way out of the small house, pausing at the threshold to take in the garden stretching before her eyes.
Drawing a deep breath, she filled her lungs with the delicate perfume of blooming flowers, yet the sweet fragrance couldn’t lighten the heaviness settling in her chest.
She had anticipated that the woman’s awakening would finally unravel the mysteries that had haunted her thoughts, but reality proved otherwise—the woman had chosen to leave her past buried beneathyers of silence.
There was nothing Katelyn could do to prate that barrier. She was at a loss.
Meanwhile, Alfy had been forcibly removed from Yata and herded onto a ship along with the other women and children. With eyes bound by blindfolds, she had no way to determine their location. All she knew was that everyone had been crowded aboard the ship.
Throughout the hold, women and childreny sprawled across the floor, their violent retching echoing in the confined space. The air hung heavy with a putrid stench mingled with the briny scent of the ocean.
Every sensation assaulted Alfy’s senses, leaving her deeply disturbed, yet all she could do was huddle in the farthest corner of the cabin, desperate to avoid contact with anything that might add to her difort.
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