Thanks to Lucas giving advance notice to the security guards, Riley walked in without any trouble.
Just as she expected, the area around Mrs Hales's room had been cleared out. All the servants were gone, leaving only Mr Hales and three doctors behind.
Good.
Riley gave a small, satisfied nod and was about to head inside when a figure suddenly appeared around the corner.
Her steps froze.
Oh no.
She immediately pulled out her phone and messaged Lucas.
[Rye: What's going on? Why is Adrian still here?]
Lucas replied almost instantly, clearly confused.
[Lucas: This is the Yates Estate. Isn't it normal for my cousin to be here?]
Normal my ass.
Riley gritted her teeth.
She wasn't wearing makeup. She hadn't even changed her clothes. With those sharp, hawk-like eyes of his, there was no way Adrian wouldn't see right through her.
[Rye: I'm here to treat a patient. Clear out everyone who isn't necessary, or I'm leaving immediately.]
[Lucas: Alright, alright. I'll call him now.]
Lucas still had no idea what was going on. He just assumed Riley was acting up again with one of her… quirks.
Not far away, as Adrian made his way toward Mrs Hales's courtyard, his phone suddenly rang—Lucas calling.
He answered, bringing the phone to his ear. As he listened, his brows slowly drew together, a faint crease forming between them. Whatever Lucas said clearly wasn't expected.
After a brief pause, Adrian lowered his gaze. "Turn back," he said.
Derek didn't question it. He immediately pivoted the wheelchair and pushed him away from the courtyard.
He had come for two reasons. First, to check on Mrs Hales's condition. Second, to see Sheena.
Their last meeting had been rushed. He hadn't even had the chance to exchange a proper word with the woman who was supposed to treat him.
I thought I should stop by.
But if she requested privacy, then so be it.
Treating Mrs Hales is the upmost priority now.
Only after Adrian left did Riley finally let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Then she strode inside.
Mr Hales, who had been waiting at the door, looked at the young woman brought in by the servant, clearly puzzled.
"Miss Sheena?" he asked cautiously.
Riley nodded, lowering her voice into a disguised tone. "Take me to the patient."
Cold.
That was Mr Hales's first impression of her.
Doubt flickered in his mind about her medical skills, but remembering she was personally brought in by Adrian, he pushed those thoughts aside and hurried to lead her in.
At this point, they were grasping at straws anyway.
Letting this Miss Sheena try was, at the very least, a way to ease Master Adrian's conscience.
Riley entered the room, only to realize Mr Hales and the three doctors were still following behind her.
She turned back, her gaze cool. "I can go to the room myself. You don't need to come with me."
Mr Hales clicked his tongue quietly and glanced at the doctors.
One of them frowned. "This is a major operation. There's no way you can handle it alone. We'll assist you."
"No need."
Her voice was icy and firm. Without another word, Riley turned and walked into the room.
The three doctors exchanged looks. A moment later, irritation flared across their faces.
"What kind of attitude is that? I don't believe she can pull off a surgery like this on her own."
"Exactly. She's so young, yet so arrogant. Just wait, she'll come running out in a panic, saying it can't be done. What's she trying to prove?"
"Let's see how long she lasts. I bet she'll be out in ten minutes, looking miserable."
The three of them were fuming.
Mr Hales stood off to the side, not daring to interrupt. He quickly invited them downstairs to rest for a while.
After all, these doctors had spent considerable effort on Mrs Hales's condition and had a solid reputation in the capital. He couldn't afford to offend them.
Still, he couldn't help but feel that Sheena, whom Adrian had brought in, was a little too much.
So arrogant. So dismissive.
She didn't even carry a medical bag.
Nothing about her looked professional.
Or reliable.
I wonder what kind of method she'd used to earn Master Adrian's complete trust.
What they didn't realize was that Riley had already assessed Mrs Hales's condition that morning.
Everything she needed was already here. The equipment, the medication, even a fully prepared operating room. There was nothing for her to bring.
They just didn't know it.
At the door, Riley slipped into a sterile gown and shut it behind her. She blocked out the distant noise from downstairs and headed straight for the patient.
But the moment she approached the bed, she paused.
Mrs Hales was awake.
Her face was pale, her eyes unfocused as they fixed on Riley. There was confusion in them… fear… and something like quiet acceptance.
Riley stepped forward, falling into her usual rhythm as she prepared a patient for surgery.
"I'm going to examine your injury now," she said gently. "I'll put you under anesthesia in a moment. Just go to sleep. When you wake up, you'll be better."
Mrs Hales nodded slowly. Her lips parted, her throat dry as she struggled to speak.
"Miss… could I trouble you with something?"
She was afraid she might not wake up again.
Now that she had this brief moment of clarity, she had to say what was in her heart.
Riley understood that instinct all too well. She glanced at the monitoring equipment beside the bed, then gave a small nod.
"What is it?"
A faint smile touched Mrs Hales's lips. Her voice was weak, trembling.
"If I don't wake up… please tell Master Adrian that I appreciate his effort in trying to save me. Please thank him for me."
Her breathing hitched.
"And tell him… he must live well. When his mother was still alive, her greatest wish was to see him marry, have children, and build a happy family."
Her eyes grew distant.
"It's a pity… I won't be able to see it. I won't be able to answer to Madam…"
She swallowed, her voice breaking into fragments.
"One thought can be heaven or hell. Since we're still alive, we should live well. If Madam were here… she wouldn't want him to suffer like this."
Her words faded, uneven and fragile, like a final farewell.
By the time she finished, exhaustion dragged her back under.
She slipped into unconsciousness once more.
Riley frowned.
So their bond really was that deep.
Even at the very end, Mrs Hales was still thinking about Adrian.
And he, in turn, had once been willing to give up everything for her.
After marrying Adrian, Riley had looked into his past. There were whispers—his parents' deaths seemed tied to his second uncle's family…
She shook her head sharply.
Focus.
Pulling herself back to the present, she rolled up Mrs. Hales's pant leg and found the nail lodged inside.
The moment she saw it, she sucked in a breath.
The wound was severely infected. Pus had built up, and large patches of tissue had already rotted.
No wonder Mrs Hales had been running a high fever and unconscious for so long.
Did those three doctors not treat the wound at all?
Did they just give her a tetanus shot and hook her up to machines for show?
Riley's chest tightened with anger.
Quacks.
Anyone with basic surgical knowledge would know that even if they couldn't remove the nail, they should at least debride the necrotic tissue.
But those three had done nothing.
Nothing!
Suppressing her fury, Riley administered a local anesthetic while Mrs. Hales remained unconscious.
Thankfully, she was already under. Otherwise, given her condition, Riley would have had no choice but to use general anesthesia.
Mrs Hales was burning with fever. Ideally, she shouldn't be undergoing surgery at all.
But her condition couldn't wait any longer.
After weighing the risks, Riley made her decision.
Once the anesthesia took effect, she picked up the scalpel from the tray with practiced ease.
Then, steady and precise, she began cutting away the dead tissue from Mrs Hales's leg.