?Chapter 1129:


    An excited gasp escaped the middle-aged woman. “Look! The boy’sing around!”


    Katy stood frozen, disbelief in on her face. “This isn’t possible…” She didn’t even finish before the boy blinked awake, eyes wide. Gasps rippled through the crowd, each onlooker stunned by what they witnessed.


    “He actually woke up!”


    “Miss, that was incredible! Just a few quick injections and he opened his eyes!”


    Composed, Elena fixed Katy with a pointed stare. “Well? You made a promise. Are you going to kneel, or are you backing out now?”


    A sh of anxiety crossed Katy’s features. “Sure, he’s awake, but look at him—he hasn’t spoken at all! Maybe your treatment left him unable to talk!”


    Admitting her own mistakes was unthinkable for Katy. In a ce like this, right outside the royal court with nobles passing by, confessing she was a quack would ruin herpletely. She clung to the boy’s silence as herst defense, praying for an escape from the humiliating wager.


    A murmur swept through the onlookers. “Howe he hasn’t said a word yet? Could it be true—maybe he was rendered mute?”


    At Katy’s words, Elena offered only a derisive smirk. “So now that he’s conscious, you’re thinking of backing out of your bet with this im, huh?”


    Katy let out a mockingugh. “Your treatment must have struck him mute. And you still have the nerve to call yourself a doctor? I’ll wait and see what his parents have to say about this mess.”


    But before anyone could respond, the boy’s voice, quiet yet clear, rang out. “Who says I can’t talk?”


    His words, though faint, carried a weight that demanded attention, and his expression was surprisinglyposed for someone his age.


    All of Katy’s earlier confidence vanished as she stood there, stunned. “You—” She had just dered him mute, only to have him speak right in front of everyone.


    The middle-aged woman could hardly believe it. “So the child’s all right. Does this mean the youngdy is a better doctor than the chief physician from Gleyross Hospital?”


    A gruff voice rose from the crowd as an elderly man frowned at Katy and weighed in. “A deal’s a deal. You promised you’d kneel and admit you’re a quack if you lost.”


    ???????????? с??αρ???????? g??????????????﹒?????


    Katy’s pride refused to let her give in. There was no chance she would kneel in public like this. Anger red in her eyes as she snapped, “You’re nothing but rabble. With your shabby manners, none of you deserves my treatment. And you dream of making me kneel? Never in a million years!”


    No sooner had she spun on her heel to escape than a sh of silver streaked through the air, a needle striking her knee with surgical precision.


    “Ah!” A sharp cry burst from Katy as her legs gave out and she crashed down, forced to her knees in front of the stunned crowd.


    Terror widened Katy’s eyes as she turned to Elena. “What did you do to me?” A sensation like cold iron seized her knee, anchoring her to the ground and making it impossible to stand.


    Unruffled, Elena answered, “I’m simply making sure you keep your promise.”


    A ripple of satisfaction spread through the crowd. Instead of helping patients, this Gleyross doctor had strutted about with empty pride, and now she was finally being put in her ce.


    Elena slung her bag over her shoulder, intent on heading out, but the little boy reached for her hand and caught her attention. He managed to stand, his expression grave and sincere, far more mature than his peers. “You saved my life. Would you minding home with me? I want to thank you properly.”


    .


    .


    .