Chapter 0009
She had a problem, and I would work to solve it. That was all this needed to be.
Then I could take my money and disappear.
The longer the silence went on, the more agitated Sheila seemed to be.
With a pouty, lilting voice, she asked, “Dr. A? You aren’t talking at all. Do you dislike me? You read the recent rumors, is that it? I swear, I’m not really the kind of woman who steps into other people’s marriages…
Your personal life is not my concem,” I said. “I’m merely focusing on the exam.”
“I prefer when people talk to me,” she replied.
Thummed in acknowledgement of her words but did not give her what she wanted.
Her perfect wilting flower façade cracked for a moment, her lips twisting into a displeased snarl, but she quickly covered it up with a sad sort of smile.
“Surely we can be friends, Dr. A.”
“You are my patient. I am your Healer. We do not need to be friends.”
Fortunately, shortly after that, I finished the examination. Stepping back, I told her, “I’ve finished. You are free to leave. I will notify you when the results are available.”
I turned away from her to insert her information into her chart. As I was writing things down, I heard her change back into her day clothes behind me. When I finished writing and prepared to leave, she was fully dressed.
She walked with me to the door.
“I meant what I said,” Sheila spoke. “And it’s the truth. I don’t step into marriages. This entire ordeal is all Arta’s fault. The newspaper is totally right.”
“She’s jealous of me, you see. She’s just a poor little housewife who only knows how to do chores. She acts against me all the time, and… Dr. A, are you listening?”
With my anger spiking, I pulled open the door before I could snap or otherwise reveal myself
Lucian tumed to look at us from the other side of the doorway.
Sheila spotted him, and suddenly perked as if she’d just thought of something.
Looking at me, she asked, “Dr. A. Do you have a lover? Lucian knows many people. I am sure I can get him to give you an introduction to a good man…”
“That’s enough, Sheila,” Lucian said. “We need to get back”
Sheila looked like she wanted to say more, but still reluctantly obeyed Lucian’s words, giving a tiny shrug.
“Goodbye, Dr. A,” she said. “We look forward to your results.” Without waiting for my reply, she turned and started walking toward the stairwell.
Lucian lingered behind, staying at my side. As he studied muy face, I wondered what I looked like to him. With my eyes, nose, and cheekbones covered, I knew my identity was secret. Yet still he looked, like he was trying to piece together my face behind the mask
I was grateful for my near–odorless scent and my darkened hair for helping to spell the illusion around me. Lucian might puzzle over who I was, but he would never be able to discover the truth on his own of that, I was
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Chapter 0009
certain
After a moment, he let his gaze drop.
“Thank you, Dr. A. Sincerely. For taking on this case.”
I didn’t reply. What could I have said?
Lucian, accepting my silence, turned toward the stairs to follow after Shelia
“Sir,” I said suddenly, stopping him.
He glanced behind him, looking at me once more.
I almost lost my nerve, but my own hurt drove me forward, forcing a question to my lips.
One that perhaps I should have left buried.
“I presume that with your Alpha senses you heard through the door the things Sheila had to say.” Calmly, I asked,
‘Do you also think so little of your wife?”
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