Chapter 27
Brad’s voice carried loudly, and everyone present heard him clearly.
Though he spoke those words, the resentment burning in his eyes was effortlessly caught by Sally.
At this point, the doctor couldn’t argue anymore. His earlier hesitation vanished, replaced by a firm resolve. “Alright, then,” he said. “I’ll wait another ten minutes and see how it goes.”
Sally curled her cold lips into a sharp smile. There was a saying that couldn’t be more true: In front of money, everything else becomes worthless.
She stepped aside, lowering her gaze to check her phone, silently counting down the time.
Eight minutes left. Almost there.
Jaxon took a call midway, and Sally’s eyes followed his retreating figure. Memories of recent events flashed through her mind. Her encounters with him seemed to be increasing…
And yet she had no idea that Brad, sitting at the corridor’s edge, had been watching her all along. Of course, he also knew she was watching Jaxon.
Brad clenched his hand briefly. Just as he was about to stand, Lena suddenly grabbed his wrist. “Brad.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel a little dizzy.” Lena held his arm.
“What happened?” Brad asked, concern filling his voice. “You were fine just a moment ago.”
“I don’t know…” said Lena. “I just suddenly felt unwell.”
Her soft voice caught Sally’s attention. When she glanced back, the first thing she saw was Brad’s hand gently resting on Lena’s.
“Can you hang in there?” she heard Brad lowering his voice to soothe Lena. “Do you need me to take you to see a doctor now?”
“Let’s wait until after we visit Grandpa,” Lena replied. “I can still manage…”
“Alright.”
Brad gently rubbed her back like a devoted husband comforting his wife.
”
‘This scene didn’t go unnoticed–not just by Sally, but also by the doctor standing nearby. He glanced at them, then at Sally, suddenly unsure who the real wife was.
Sally quickly turned away, putting distance between herself and them. Out of sight, out of mind.
The eight minutes were up. Sally opened the hospital room door right on time, followed by three others.
Jaxon, who had been on the phone at the end of the corridor, noticed the time. He looked back just as they entered the room, hastily ending his call and walking toward the ward.
As Sally entered, Howard, perhaps awakened by the door opening, stirred.
“Don’t move, Grandpa. I’m going to take out the needles…” Sally quickly approached, helping him stay still.
“Sure,” Howard gave her a warm smile. “Sally, I feel much better now. My chest isn’t so tight anymore.”
“Sounds good.” Sally grinned and began carefully removing the needles. By the time the last needle was out, Jaxon returned to the door, and Brad was being impatient.
“Doctor, please take a look at my grandpa,” he heard Brad urged.
“Alright.”
Jaxon stopped in his tracks, waiting for the examination. The atmosphere inside suddenly grew tense. But Sally remained
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10:24 AM
Chapter 27
15
calm, quietly gathering her things.
The doctor quickly took out his equipment to check. Then, he turned to Sally, eyes widened with surprise. “He really is improving… Mrs. Zale, your medical skills are truly remarkable…”
Sally only responded with a faint smile and nodded to both Howard and the doctor.
“Doctor, are you sure Grandpa is alright?” Brad’s eyes flickered with astonishment.
In his mind, Sally’s medical skills were nothing more than amateurish at best. Grandpa’s condition was serious enough that even specialists wouldn’t dare to perform acupuncture—yet she handled it so easily?
When did she get so good? He couldn’t believe it.
“Doctor, please be thorough. If anything happens after Mrs. Zale leaves, it won’t be easy to explain.” Lena’s voice grew firmer as she saw Sally about to leave.
“He’s definitely much better. From what I know, only the legendary acupuncturist Skya can do this in such a short time,” the doctor looked at Sally in amazement, admiration clear in his eyes. “May I ask what relation Mrs. Zale has with Skya?”
At that moment, all eyes turned to Sally. And Sally, who had been about to leave, suddenly hesitated.
Skya. That was her childhood nickname–given by her grandfather, the only one who ever called her that.
Since he passed away, Sally had kept his teaching close to heart: healing the sick was a doctor’s duty–not for money, not for fame, but for the wellbeing of ordinary people.
She had been secretly using that name to help people quietly for over ten years. Only Abigail and her senior apprentice, Finn, truly knew her identity.
Finn was Grandpa’s only official disciple, but he had kept a low profile for many years, so the rumor spread that Sally was the sole disciple.
In truth, she only learned from Grandpa; he passed down all his skills to her but never formally called her a disciple.
“If Sally doesn’t want to say, don’t pressure her.” Seeing Sally remain silent, Howard stepped in to smooth things over.
Sally let out a sigh in relief. “I don’t know the doctor you mentioned, and I have no connection with her,” she answered. “Since Grandpa is better, I’ll take my leave. If Grandpa needs anything, you can contact me anytime.”
As her voice faded, Lena’s face showed a barely concealed sneer.
She had always thought Sally was just a housewife–a crystal carver with only basic medical skills and nothing else. How could she possibly know a renowned acupuncturist?
“Take care, Sally.” Howard’s gentle smile followed her as she left.
Brad watched her retreating figure, his eyes full of surprise. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this woman was hiding something from him…
As footsteps approached, Jaxon, standing by the door, turned slightly and leaned against the wall. Sally was leaving from the opposite direction, unaware he was still there.
He stared after her with a shadow flickering in his eyes. Pondering for a second, he pulled out his phone and dialed Caleb.
“Mr. Zale, did you call me?” Caleb answered the call quickly.
Jaxon fixed his gaze on Sally until she disappeared into the elevator. Only then did he look away, bringing the phone to his car. “Dig into Sally, everything,” he commanded. “I want her full background, from childhood to now. Leave no stone unturned.”
“You mean Mrs. Zale?” the voice on the line was surprised. “But she’s your nephew’s wife… Why do you want me to investigate
her?”
