Chapter 37

Jolene put down her things, went back to her room, and quickly took a shower before changing into clean clothes. Finally, she knocked on Steven's door. "Come in." "Mr. Welsh, I'm here to give you your acupuncture treatment," she said, her voice hoarse. She looked visibly exhausted. Steven's gaze stayed fixed on her as she began to administer acupuncture to his legs, just as she usually did. Her once delicate, fair hands were now dry and red, standing out starkly against her pale skin. She looked completely drained. "The needles will be removed in half an hour." Jolene packed away the medicine kit and sat down nearby to wait. Steven remained silent. He watched Jolene's head bob until she eventually closed her eyes and fell asleep against the rocking chair. He retrieved a hand cream from the drawer and maneuvered his wheelchair closer. He squeezed the cool cream into his palm and gently massaged it into her hands. He suspected that Jolene must have faced some hardships at the hospital. But she was a resilient woman, and she wouldn't come home and complain. In the past, she never had anyone to confide in about her troubles. Half an hour passed, and she still hadn't woken up. Not wanting to disturb her, Steven carefully removed the needles himself. A little while later, Rita came upstairs with a tray of food. She tiptoed into the room and asked softly, "Is Mrs. Welsh asleep?" "Yes." Rita said sympathetically, "She must be exhausted. Why does she need to be an intern?" Steven knew that Jolene wanted to earn her degree and even stay on at City Hospital. In a year, she could follow the normal process and obtain her medical license. But the truth was, she didn't need to work so hard. If only Gabriel were willing to acknowledge her as his apprentice. But perhaps Gabriel wasn't ready to reveal his whereabouts yet. "Rita, go to City Hospital tomorrow and find out if she's being deliberately mistreated." "Yes, sir. I'll leave the food here for Mrs. Welsh to eat when she wakes up." Steven nodded slightly. After Rita left, he gently lifted Jolene and placed her on the bed. She was in a deep sleep, not waking up even as he moved her. … The following day, Jolene was awakened by the growling of her stomach. She felt refreshed after a good night's sleep. But as she opened her eyes, something felt off. The warmth of another body was beside her. Slowly turning her head, she found herself staring directly into Steven's handsome face. It was much closer than she expected. She gasped softly. As though sensing her movement, Steven shifted his arm slightly. Jolene quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep, though her heart was pounding wildly. "If you keep sleeping, you'll be late for work," Steven murmured in a sexy, husky morning voice. Realizing she couldn't keep up the act, Jolene opened her eyes and calmly greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Welsh." "Do you ever have memory lapses when you sleep?" he asked lazily, leaning back against the bed, his question clearly loaded with meaning. Blushing, Jolene whispered, "No, I don't. I'll go freshen up now." Behind her, Steven chuckled in amusement. Jolene nearly tripped over her own feet, and her face was flushed all the way to her neck. … "Mr. Welsh, Mrs. Welsh! Breakfast is ready!" Rita's cheerful voice called out, and the dining table was laid out with a spread of nutritious dishes. The two of them arrived a little late. Rita smiled and asked, "Mrs. Welsh, did you enjoy the lunchbox I packed yesterday? I made you another one today." Jolene forced a stiff smile and lied, "It was delicious." "That's good to hear." Rita then packed some expensive fruits into a container. "Take these to share with your colleagues." "Okay." Steven noticed Jolene's unease. As she was about to leave after breakfast, he called out, "Jolene, after work tonight..." "Yes?" Jolene looked at him, puzzled. "Never mind, it's nothing," he said, leaving her in suspense.