Natalie looked at the boy lying unconscious in the hospital bed. His face was covered in scrapes, and he was so young. "Herbert, how old is your brother?"


    "He just turned neen," Herbert exined, his voice trembling slightly. "The kid''s obsessed with motorcycles. He was racing his biggest rival today when the other guy clipped him. His legs are shattered, and he almost didn''t make it. Please, Natalie, you have to help me." He was frantic, hating his own limitations as a doctor. "He''s my aunt''s only son. If he''s crippled for life, what will she do?"


    Seeing he was on the verge of tears, Natalie patted his shoulder reassuringly. "I can do the surgery, but I don''t have privileges at this hospital. We''ll have to transfer him to the one where I''m on staff. We''ll operate first, then see how he recovers."


    She and Herbert were close; there was no way she wouldn''t help him.


    Herbert''s face lit up with relief. "Natalie, thank you so much. Look, these are his scans. I was already trying to get him transferred here, since they specialize in orthopedics. Running into you is a miracle."


    Natalie took the X-ray films and studied them. After a minute, she said, "It''s severe. The first step is surgery, but since he''s your brother, I''ll give him my full attention. With any luck, he might be able to walk again in two years."


    "But he''ll never be able to ride a motorcycle again."


    "Hmph! That reckless kid is lucky if I let him drive a car after this," Herbert fumed. "I told him a thousand times that riding like that was dangerous, that he could get himself killed. But for the thrill, for that burst of speed, he acted like his life meant nothing. Now that he''s crippled, maybe he''ll finally feel some regret."


    Natalie shook her head with a small smile. "Herbert, we ride motorcycles too. Do you really think someone who loves that feeling can just give it up?"


    Herbert fell silent. He sighed heavily.


    "Let''s just get him through this first," he said, exhausted. "Saving his life, saving his legs... I''ve done all I can."


    It was only then that Natalie remembered to ask, "Herbert, when did you get back in the country?"


    A handsome smile returned to his face. "Just three days ago, Natalie. I was actually nning to call you today. What a coincidence to run into you at the hospital."


    as n


    Herbert was overjoyed. He was a tall, well-built man with a straight back that gave him a refined air. His handsome face, lit by a smile as bright as the sun, and his clear, Warm eyes made him seem incredibly approachable.


    "Alright then," Natalie said with a smile. "Let''s get him transferred to QHA Hospital."


    "Perfect. Natalie, thank you!" Herbert immediately went to handle the transfer paperwork.


    As Natalie turned to leave, Wendy called out to her.


    "Natalie."


    Natalie turned, her expression impassive as she faced a tear-streaked Wendy, whose lips were trembling. "Yes?"


    Wendy nced toward the hospital room across the hall. "Natalie, you''re a doctor?"


    "I know a thing or two," Natalie replied curtly.


    Jerome, inside the room, had heard everything. Wendy looked back at him, then pleaded with Natalie, "He''s still my son. I know if I send him abroad, he won''t survive. Please, I''m No


    begging you save derom ease, I''m


    matter how much she hated him, how much she resented him, he was still the child she had given birth to. Her earlier words had just been spoken in anger.


    Natalie''s rejection was cold as ice. "I wouldn''t dare. If I cure him, the people who hurt him won''t let me off the hook. If I fail, who knows what you''ll do to me. You and your family have framed me eighty six times remember every single one, and that''s not even counting the recent incidents. So please, find another specialist."


    Jerome''s fate was his own to bear.


    Wendy was stunned. She... she remembered all of it? In all these years, what


    kind of mother had she been?