Natalie gave him her phone number.


    Natalieughed. "Herbert, shouldn''t we help strangers? I''ve helped lots of people, andn is just one of them. I just happened to run into him when he was kneeling in front of a doctor..."


    "Don''t call him a ''kid.'' He''s eighteen, and you''re twenty-three. You''re still a kid in my eyes," Herbert interrupted with a chuckle.


    "You really know how to call in a favor. Do you have any idea how much that procedure costs overseas? You couldn''t get it done for less than a million and a half, but the results are truly excellent."


    "His grandmother''s constitution is pretty good. After this treatment, as long as there''s no recurrence, she should be able to live out the rest of her life peacefully."


    Natalie smiled gently,pletely confident in his surgical skills. "Herbert, our hospital has all the equipment. It''ll just take a bit of your time. I won''t say more. With you performing the surgery, I have nothing to worry about."


    "Mm! Your confidence affirms my abilities. I''ll be the best Chief of Surgery ever. But I have to say, that kid is quite handsome. You''re always joking about filling up your ''harem'', and you don''t have a single man in it yet. Have you taken a liking to him?"


    "Herbert, please. That was just a joke. Are you going to tease me about it for the rest of my life?" Natalie was exasperated.


    Herbert burst outughing. "Wasn''t it your grandfather who was constantly trying to find you handsome men? I saw a news report a while back that he''d found you ten male models."


    "Yes, and all ten of them are now models for mypany. But someone took pictures and started rumors that I''m promiscuous. Ugh, I just want to take a hammer and smash their disgusting heads in. Natalie thought of Jared. That little brat wouldn''t be so arrogant for much longer.


    "You''re just too kind. That''s why they keep taking advantage of you." Herbert knew what she''d been through and felt for her.


    But he also knew she had moved past it now. No need to pity her; she''d been on a rampagetely.


    Natalie paused. Those were the exact words the Scotts would say to her every time Joanna pretended to let her off the hook.


    It turned out that only those who truly loved you would offer you unconditional eptance.


    She took a deep breath. "Herbert, I''m going to head home and rest. Please put your all into the surgery. Ian is a very devoted grandson."


    "I know, I know, I can see that. Go get some rest. You''re so pale you look like a ghost. You need to take better care of yourself."


    As Herbert was about to leave, he suddenly said, "Oh! I got the seafood you sent. It was absolutely delicious."


    Natalie replied, "I caught it myself. Of course it was good."


    Herbert looked like he wanted to say


    something more, and Natalie knew


    exactly what it was. She smiled. "Herbert, don''t even ask. I''m not taking you diving. You can''t swim to save your life; you''d just slow me down."


    Herbert pouted. He wanted to go free-diving too, but as soon as he got in the water, his only instinct was to scramble back to the surface. He never dared to swim down.


    "Hey, it''s not my fault I''m scared, is


    it? I have my annual leaveing up in the summer. Take me with you then saw those videos of you, swimming freely in the ocean, and I was so jealous I couldn''t sleep."