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Chapter 104: Don’t Move The Mind That Shouldn’t Be Moved
The door to the hospital room was closed again, and Mark turned his gaze towards Mae, his expression slightly softened. “Are you satisfied now?”
Mae shrugged casually, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. “Not bad.”
Without wasting any time, Mae took out a pack of silver needles from her bag and addressed Jennifer, her tone businesslike. “Starting from now, I’ll be administering the acupuncture to you every >ther week, along with prescribed internal medication. During this period, I hope that you will cooperate with me in following the treatment plan.”
Jennifer remained silent, her thoughts more occupied with Mark’s reaction towards Mae. She couldn’t ignore how indulgent he had been just now, tolerating Mae’s audacious behavior without even a hint of displeasure. It was as if he held Mae in high regard, even when she told his mother to keep quiet and had acted quite impudently towards him. He didn’t darken his face the entire time, and in the end, he only resorted to calling her a “bastard“.
It may sound like something like a lecture, yet she clearly heard these comments in her favor.
As Jennifer contemplated this, her heart raced with a growing sense of panic. The fear that Mark might be snatched away by Mae in front of her presence intensified. She didn’t even want to consider the possibility that Mark might have developed feelings for Mae again without realizing it.
If Mark rekindled his connection with Mae, what would have become of her efforts over the past years? Would everything she had worked for crumble to dust?
Jennifer’s thoughts raced, her heart beating rapidly and she found herself unable to pay full attention to Mae’s words.
Noticing Jennifer’s lack of response, Mae’s brows furrowed, and her tone became more serious. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Jennifer snapped back to reality, her gaze meeting Mae’s cold stare. A hint of resentment flashed in her eyes, but she managed to put on a warm smile as she replied, “Yes, I understand. Thank you, Mae.”
“Hmm…” Mae responded with a casual acknowledgment, then pulled out the silver needles from the pack. She swiftly and skillfully applied the needles to Jennifer’s acupoints, her movements efficient and practiced without a hint of hesitation.
Jennifer was surprised by Mae’s proficiency. She had initially doubted Mae’s medical skills, thinking that she had somehow fooled Mark. But seeing Mae’s ease and precision as she inserted the needles without causing her any pain, Jennifer couldn’t deny her expertise in this field.
As Mae worked, Jennifer’s thoughts wandered back to the video that had trended online–a video showcasing the hands of the “Divine Doctor.”
Although the video did not reveal the face of the doctor and only caught the hands of the doctor, those hands…are the same hands as Mae’s.
Jennifer’s mind raced with disbelief. Could it be that the renowned “Divine Doctor” was actually Mae?
She stared at Mae for quite a while, struggling to accept the possibility that someone she had always considered a bumbling fool was the skilled doctor everyone was raving about.
Mae continued working, seemingly unfazed by Jennifer’s internal turmoil. After she finished placing all the needles, Jennifer finally managed to push her shock aside and mustered the courage to ask, “Mae, is the mysterious and beautiful “Divine Doctor” everyone is talking about on the Internet really you?”
Mae didn’t bother to look up from her task, her response casual. “Yep.”
Jennifer’s face went pale. She couldn’t fathom that Mae, whom she had always regarded as an inept actress and a queen of bad movies, could be the celebrated Divine Doctor on the Internet. This revelation shook her confidence and made her doubt her own perception.
For the longest time, Jennifer had carried the belief that she was more intelligent than Mae, better versed in social interactions, possessed superior emotional intelligence, and overall, was a better person than Mae. However, ever since Mae reappeared, Jennifer found herself constantly restrained in Mae’s presence. Every situation involving Mae left her feeling awkward and passive.
Mae, on the other hand, exuded an air of indifference. Even when Jennifer informed her that she was being hailed as a life–saving doctor by many, Mae’s expression didn’t exhibit a hint of conceit.
Now that Mark came to know of Mae’s remarkable skills, would Mark find himself impressed by her abilities? Would this lead him to hold onto her even tighter in his heart and not let her go?
Frustration and unwillingness welled up within Jennifer, but she couldn’t express it openly. Reluctantly, she managed a forced smile and muttered, “Well, you’re good.”
Mae’s lips curled into a faint smile. She raised her hand to glance at the time and spoke to both Mark and Jennifer. “We need to wait for about half an hour. I’ll step outside and return when the time is up.”
Feeling quite uncomfortable in this situation, Mae recognized that she was essentially an outsider in this room. With that, she turned and left the room.
Jennifer didn’t wait for Mae to usher her out; she was eager to avoid her presence. Mae’s unexpected skills had not only shaken her confidence but also amplified her insecurities. She remained silent, her expression revealing a mixture of frustration and envy.
As Mae stepped out of the hospital room, Jennifer noticed that Mark didn’t follow her lead to leave. A small spark of hope ignited within her.
Perhaps Mark intended to stay and console her, given that he hadn’t visited her since her accident.
With Mae gone and Rebecca out of the picture, it was just the two of them in the room. Jennifer seized this opportunity, determined to elicit Mark’s sympathy and protectiveness.
Her face, pale and without makeup, carried a deliberate sense of fragility, enhanced by her wounded appearance. She hoped to invoke his pity and create a sense of vulnerability that might stir his
emotions.
Jennifer raised her face slightly, exposing her delicate neck and casting her gaze at Mark, her tone laced with vulnerability. “Mark…”
But before she could continue, Mark interrupted her, his voice icy, and his expression remained stoic all throughout. “This is the last time I’m warning you, don’t do anything that would harm that child.”
Jennifer’s smile froze on her lips, and her heart sank.
She had anticipated Mark’s concern for their unborn child, but she had also hoped he would extend some emotional support to her. The stark reality was that Mark’s words were devoid of warmth, and
his warning felt more like a rebuke than a comforting reassurance.
Despite understanding that Mark’s primary concern was the child, Jennifer had still held onto a sliver of hope that he might express at least an ounce of concern for her.
However, Mark’s cold and distant reaction shattered that glimmer of hope. It resembled the previous occasion when she was accused of being a mistress – she was well aware of how humiliating her circumstances were, yet Mark exhibited no consideration for her feelings. He allowed the PR department to release a clarifying statement, seemingly for the sole purpose of supporting Mae Lee.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her wounded heart became more apparent. She stared at Mark, her voice trembling with a mixture of pain and disappointment. “Mark, do you only care about this child? Do I… Do I not even deserve just a shred of concern from you?”
Jennifer had hoped that her vulnerability would prompt Mark to soften his demeanor, as he had done on previous occasions. However, his response surprised her once again. Mark’s brows furrowed, and his gaze sharpened, giving off an icy and stern aura.
“Jennifer, I don’t know what my mother might have told you or what promises she’s made, but you need to understand your place and stop entertaining thoughts that shouldn’t be in your head.”
Mark’s tone was serious, his words carrying a stern warning. He wasn’t blind to Jennifer’s actions over the past years, particularly her recent attempts to manipulate the situation to her advantage. He had extended more care to her due to her pregnancy and his sense of responsibility, but he had no intention of entertaining any romantic notions beyond that.
“Any advantages you’re gaining now are linked to the child you’re carrying. You’d do well not to jeopardize the well–being of that child. And remember this: whatever I can give you, I can just as easily take back.“
