At midnight, Nina Wynn developed a low-grade fever—a sign of infection.
Caleb Rhodes’s expression grew even more grim. He didn’t say another word, but his glacial stare was enough to terrify the entire departnt’s staff.
Between three and four in the morning, a world-renowned orthopedic specialist attending a dical conference in Shenton was rushed to Elysian City.
Only then could the surgery proceed.
After the extrely complex and delicate surgery, the specialist inford Caleb Rhodes that the finger had been saved, but they couldn’t rule out the possibility of permanent disability.
In fact, the probability of permanent damage was extrely high. It was almost certain Nina Wynn’s little finger would never be as nimble as it was before.
Upon hearing this, Caleb’s gaze turned even darker, and he grew more silent.
He stood on the terrace outside for as long as Nina slept after her surgery, chain-smoking frighteningly.
When Nina finally woke up, Warner Zimrman went to inform him and saw the terrace floor littered with cigarette butts.
Warner Zimrman paused for a mont before saying in a low voice, "Third Lord Master, Miss Wynn is awake. Would you like to go in and see her?"
Caleb didn’t go to see Nina imdiately. He went back to change his clothes and then personally entered the kitchen to make her favorite osmanthus sweet soup.
Caleb almost never set foot in the kitchen. His presence there scared the maids so badly they thought they were about to lose their jobs.
When he arrived at the hospital, he stood at the door for a long ti, not entering until the soup had almost gone cold.
Upon entering, he saw Nina was already awake, sitting up against the headboard with a bandaged hand, her face pale.
She seed to have no reaction to his arrival, her eyes remaining fixed on the TV show playing on her tablet.
Though it had only been one night, Caleb felt she had lost so weight.
The little bit of flesh she had finally managed to gain on her face seed to have vanished overnight, making her chin look sharper.
Before Caleb could speak, she moved her tablet aside, took the small bowl he offered, and whispered, "Thank you, Caleb."
Her left hand was the one injured, so her right hand was still usable.
Caleb held the small bowl while she used her own hand to hold the spoon, eating every last bit, one spoonful at a ti.
It seed yesterday’s events had drained all her energy. She was famished now, and her usual picky eating habits had completely disappeared.
After she finished the soup, Caleb cut up so fruit for her.
Normally, Nina didn’t eat much fruit, but this ti she finished it all.
She was unbelievably obedient, as if she would dutifully eat whatever he gave her.
Caleb noticed a slight bulge where her stomach was and frowned. He took back the small dessert he had just handed her. "No more. Don’t you know when you’re full?"
After putting the dessert aside, he cradled her injured, gauze-wrapped hand, looking at it for a long ti with an unreadable, obscure expression in his eyes.
Nina remained perfectly still, letting him study her hand.
After a long while, Caleb released her hand and asked softly, "Does it hurt?"
Nina gave a faint smile and said quietly, "I forgot. It probably doesn’t hurt that much."
She rarely smiled. When she did, she looked very naive, and the way her eyes curved made her seem innocent, as if what happened was just a trivial matter not worth ntioning.
A pang of pain shot through Caleb’s heart. A dark glint flashed in his eyes, but his tone remained light. "Why didn’t you call then? Did you not know to call for help?"
Nina lowered her gaze, her long lashes fluttering and casting a shadow over her eyes, hiding her expression.
She spoke in a small, innocent-sounding voice, "I don’t know. I just fainted then. I forgot."
As if afraid he would get angry, she added, "I’ll definitely rember to call for help next ti."
She said it very quietly, as if it were an insignificant matter, but it was precisely this attitude that deeply stung Caleb.
He felt his heart ache with sharp, rhythmic pangs, but his expression remained cold and somber.
He looked at her and asked coolly, "Were you unconscious the whole ti?"
Nina glanced out the window, as if seriously pondering the question. "I don’t really rember. Maybe soone ca in at so point."
She turned her head to look at Caleb. "Was it you who ca to see , Caleb?"
Her gaze was light, her pupils dark, bright, and very innocent.
Caleb looked at her, his tone cold. "Rosalind Lowell ca in. You bit her."
A strange look flashed in Nina’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
She lowered her head and said softly, "It’s all my fault. I really don’t rember. I might have been numb then. I don’t really rember who ca in, and I don’t rember biting anyone."
She looked at Caleb, seemingly aware she had made a terrible mistake. "How is Miss Lowell? Is it serious? Caleb, I really didn’t an to. I don’t know why I bit her. I don’t rember anything..."
Watching her, Caleb felt his heart grow heavier.
He stroked her hair and said in a low voice, "The doctor said it’s nothing."
Nina’s dark eyes continued to gaze at him. "Did you take her to the doctor, Caleb? Was it serious?"
Caleb grunted in affirmation. "I did. The doctor said it was fine and gave her a tetanus shot."
Nina chuckled softly again. "As long as she’s okay."
’The precious Miss Lowell gets bitten by and has to get a tetanus shot. anwhile I, a lowly weed, have my finger broken, get locked up for a day, and then she brutally stomps on that very sa broken finger.’
’What a contrast.’
’Fate is truly unfair.’
She lowered her gaze and asked softly, "Caleb, are you going to marry Miss Lowell?"
Caleb’s hand paused. A heavy, profound aning flashed in his eyes as his fingers glided across her delicate cheek. "Are you that concerned about my relationship with her?"
Nina tilted her head back, her expression innocent. "Then, after you and Miss Lowell get married, can I marry soone else too?"
The air suddenly turned cold.
The chill in the depths of Caleb’s eyes was unmistakable. "Nina, don’t provoke with words like that."
Nina said softly, "I wouldn’t dare. If you’re really going to marry Miss Lowell, I’ll wish you both well."
Caleb didn’t speak. After a long pause, he said, "My business with her is none of your concern. You’re in no position to ddle."
’He had no marriage contract with Rosalind, nor had he ever promised to marry her. He would wait a little longer, until things cald down, and then he’d issue a press release to clarify the matter.’
’But in the anti, Nina would probably have to suffer a few days of injustice.’
He gently caressed Nina’s face and said in a low, heavy voice, "Does Nina want to get married?"
Nina didn’t answer. She lowered her head and only looked up after a long ti. "Caleb, am I going to be disabled from now on?"
As she spoke, she chuckled softly again, as if trying to defuse the tension. "During the surgery, I vaguely heard that my hand might not heal properly. But it doesn’t matter. It’s just my little finger. I can still draw without it, and I can still live a normal life."
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