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Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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After the studio started raking in profits, Mandy and her crew decided to take things up a notch. They snagged a prime storefront location to expand their business and moved into a spacious three–bedroom apartment. Mandy bunked with Emma, while Simon and Fiona each claimed their own room.
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When Mandy landed her dream job at Westbay Hospital, she was assigned a dorm room. But it mostly sat empty. Unless she was buried in overtime, she always made it back home, no matter how late. She just couldn’t resist the pull of Emma’s smile.
One night, after a cozy dinner together, Mandy gave Emma a warm bath and then settled in for their usual routine: storytime to help Emma drift off to sleep.
Once Emma was sound asleep, Mandy finally checked her phone. A message from Yaxley, Mr. Lancaster’s assistant, popped up: [Hey Dr. Jones, I need your address so I can pick you up tomorrow.]
Mandy’s mind raced. She had to tread carefully. She was Dr. Mandy Jones, an ER doctor saving lives. And she was also Penny, a vintage designer weaving dreams into fabric. Keeping these two worlds separate was a delicate balancing act.
After a moment of hesitation, she replied: [Just pick me up at the hospital.]
Yaxley responded: [Sounds good. I’ll meet you at the entrance of Westbay Hospital at 9 AM sharp.]
The next morning, as the first light of dawn crept through the curtains, Mandy gently shook Emma awake. It was 7:20 AM. She helped Emma wash up, changed her clothes, and tied her hair into a neat braid.
Then, they hopped onto Mandy’s bike and headed to the kindergarten. The entrance was already bustling with parents and kids, all eager to start their day.
Mandy parked her bike and lifted Emma off. “You know the drill, honey. Listen to your teacher and don’t get into any fights, okay?” she said with a smile.
Emma rolled her eyes playfully. “Mom, you say that every single day. Can’t you come up with something new?” she replied, tugging at Mandy’s sleeve.
Mandy was at a loss for words.
Emma leaned in and gave Mandy a quick kiss on the cheek. “Be careful on the bike, bye!” she said, already running toward the kindergarten door. Just before she disappeared inside, she turned around and waved with a big smile.
Mandy waved back and watched Emma leave, feeling a warmth in her heart.
As she got back on her bike, she couldn’t help but overhear two women chatting nearby.
“I went to pay the condo fees the other day and found out they’re just renters. They’re not even from around here. They’re from Taventhorn,” one of them whispered, casting a sideways glance at Mandy.
“Taventhorn? You know how many crimes there are from people from there. Just last week, someone from Taventhorn robbed a house in our complex. They haven’t caught the thief. I wonder if it has anything to do with that family,” the other woman chimed in.
“I’ve been thinking the same thing. She looks all put–together, but who knows what she’s really like. We can’t let people like that ruin the safety and reputation of our neighborhood. I’m going to talk to the property management right away,” the first woman declared.
“Count me in. And let’s get Wendy and Amy to join us. Oh, and we should keep our kids away from theirs,” the second woman added, nodding in agreement.
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Mandy’s grip tightened on the bike handlebars as she listened. A wave of anger surged through her.
She knew they were talking about her. Just because she was from Taventhorn didn’t mean she was a criminal or a bad person. And being a tenant didn’t make her any less deserving of respect.
Thirty minutes later. Mandy pulled up to the hospital, her earlier anger now a distant memory. As she approached the entrance, a gleaming luxury car caught her eye. She quickly parked her bike and hopped into Yaxley’s car for the short ride to Tobias’s place at Phoenix Villa.
During the drive, Mandy closed her eyes, trying to gather her composure for the acupuncture session. She only opened them when the car smoothly came to a stop.
As Mandy stepped into the grand hall, her eyes immediately fell on Tobias, who was standing alone in the living room, engrossed in his iPad by the floor–to–ceiling windows.
The sight of him brought back the awkwardness of the private restaurant scene from the night before, making her heart
race.
She leaned in and whispered to Yaxley, “Is his friend not here?”
“Barry had some urgent business today,” Yaxley replied with a casual shrug.
Not here? Mandy’s mind spun. That meant she and Tobias would be alone together. The thought made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. But there was no turning back now. She had to steel herself and face it head–on.
“Nelson, Dr. Jones is here,” Yaxley announced, breaking Tobias’s concentration on the live news on his iPad. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the air seemed to crackle with tension.
Tobias was always imposing, but today he seemed like a predator, ready to pounce at any moment.
Mandy felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She wanted to tell him that she’d keep his secrets, that she wouldn’t breathe a word about his wife’s affair or the child involved. But the words stuck in her throat.
“Good morning, Mr. Lancaster,” Mandy greeted him, her voice steadier than she felt.
“Have you had breakfast, Dr. Jones?” Tobias’s deep voice rumbled, his eyes piercing hers.
Mandy nodded, recalling the quick bfast she’d grabbed on the way to the hospital. “Yes, I did. Thank you for asking.”
The room was thick with tension, and Mandy could feel the weight of Tobias Lancaster’s gaze on her. He didn’t speak, just watched her intently, as if trying to read her mind. She could almost hear the silence screaming.
“Mr. Lancaster, what’s on your mind?” Mandy finally broke the silence, her voice calm despite the unease she felt.
Tobias seemed to hesitate, his eyes flickering with something she couldn’t quite read. “About yesterday…” he began, but Mandy quickly cut him off.
“After you left yesterday, I went home and got some much–needed rest,” she said, her words smooth and deliberate. “I wanted to be fully prepared for today’s acupuncture session.”
Mandy knew exactly what Tobias was thinking the moment he mentioned “yesterday.” It was the elephant in the room, the awkward situation they both wanted to avoid. The last thing either of them needed was for that scandalous rumor to spread.
Tobias wanted to remind her to keep quiet, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it outright. He didn’t realize how well Mandy understood the situation.
Tobias dropped the subject, shifting gears. “Dr. Jones, how exactly are you planning to conduct the acupuncture?” he asked..
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As Mandy rostered the wing in bed, di siste gray will fisungewear
For Tobias who had never exposed such a private side to any woman there was a flicker of onesse But he kept it well
hidden
Boat few htandy, there swan no awkwaninru at all in her eyes olderpire his arrikingly handsome features, Touvias was fist antiser prates
Mandy quickly pulled out a medical kit from her bag and took out a set of silver acupuncture needles. As the sterilized her Panide and the needles with alcohol she instrumed Yatley, Roll up his pants above the knees
anley followed her directions, and by the time he was done, Mandy had finished disinfecting She moved to Tobias really to begin
Just then. Tobias spoke up, Dr. Jones”
Mandy glanced at him, and he simply said, “Thank you.”
Mandy nodded briefly. She pressed gently on his leg, searching for the acupuncture points. Her eyes narrowed, and her demeanor shifted, becoming more focused. Before either Tobias or Yaxley could react, she had already inserted a silver needle into Tobias’s leg.
Holding the needle, Mandy twisted it gently and asked, “Do you feel anything?”
Tobias focused intently for a moment and then shook his head.
Mandy continued, inserting a few more needles, each time asking Tobias if he felt anything. But he felt nothing.
Though Mandy remained quiet, Tobias could tell that things were not going well.
After finishing the acupuncture on Tobias’s legs, Mandy turned to Yaxley and asked him to help take off Tobias’s shirt.
As the shirt came off, it was clear that Tobias had an incredible physique–one that looked impressive even with clothes on. His muscles were well–defined, and he had the kind of body that turned heads.
But Mandy had no time to admire it. She focused on applying needles to his abdomen, chest, and arms, but still, his legs remained unresponsive.
Tobias had been bracing himself for this outcome, but when it actually happened, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment. He’d been holding out hope this time.
Sensing Mandy’s hesitation, he spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. “Dr. Jones, just tell me what you think.”
“We don’t know the results yet,” Mandy replied, her brow furrowed in concentration. Sweat glistened on her forehead. The technique she was using required intense focus and left her feeling drained.
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Chapter 8
his tone neutral.
Mandy glanced at his fitted white shirt and black pants. “You’ll need to change into something more comfortable,” she said. “Something loose. Then just lie down on the bed.”
“In a moment,” Tobias replied, his voice curt. He turned and left with Yaxley, leaving Mandy alone.
As the door closed behind him, Mandy took a deep breath, feeling the tension slowly ebb away. She could finally clear her mind, push aside the lingering discomfort, and focus on what mattered.
Moments later, Yaxley led Mandy to a room on the second floor. The space was expansive, easily over a hundred square feet, with decor that matched the downstairs.
As Mandy entered, she saw Tobias lying on a massive bed, dressed in loose gray silk loungewear.
For Tobias, who had never exposed such a private side to any woman, there was a flicker of unease. But he kept it well hidden.
But for Mandy, there was no awkwardness at all. In her eyes, despite his strikingly handsome features, Tobias was just another patient.
Mandy quickly pulled out a medical kit from her bag and took out a set of silver acupuncture needles. As she sterilized her hands and the needles with alcohol, she instructed Yaxley, “Roll up his pants above the knees.”
Yaxley followed her directions, and by the time he was done, Mandy had finished disinfecting. She moved to Tobias, ready to begin.
Just then, Tobias spoke up, “Dr. Jones.”
Mandy glanced at him, and he simply said, “Thank you.”
Mandy nodded briefly. She pressed gently on his leg, searching for the acupuncture points. Her eyes narrowed, and her demeanor shifted, becoming more focused. Before either Tobias or Yaxley could react, she had already inserted a silver needle into Tobias’s leg.
Holding the needle, Mandy twisted it gently and asked, “Do you feel anything?”
Tobias focused intently for a moment and then shook his head.
Mandy continued, inserting a few more needles, each time asking Tobias if he felt anything. But he felt nothing.
Though Mandy remained quiet, Tobias could tell that things were not going well.
After finishing the acupuncture on Tobias’s legs, Mandy turned to Yaxley and asked him to help take off Tobias’s shirt.
As the shirt came off, it was clear that Tobias had an incredible physique–one that looked impressive even with clothes on. His muscles were well–defined, and he had the kind of body that turned heads.
But Mandy had no time to admire it. She focused on applying needles to his abdomen, chest, and arms, but still, his legs remained unresponsive.
Tobias had been bracing himself for this outcome, but when it actually happened, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment. He’d been holding out hope this time.
Sensing Mandy’s hesitation, he spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. “Dr. Jones, just tell me what you think.”
“We don’t know the results yet,” Mandy replied, her brow furrowed in concentration. Sweat glistened on her forehead. The technique she was using required intense focus and left her feeling drained.
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Chapter 8
Tobias frowned, “What do you mean?”
“I’m not done yet. I need to work on your head next. This part is tricky. You need to stay perfectly still. One wrong move and it could be disastrous,” Mandy said, calm and composed.
Tobias didn’t see any point in going on. He sighed, “No need. Thanks for everything you’ve done for me. Yaxley, see Dr. Jones off… uh…”
Mandy ignored him and quickly inserted a needle into a precise spot on his head.
The moment the needle made contact, Tobias felt a sharp pain and let out a groan. His legs twitched violently, and for the first time in three years, he felt a sensation in them. It was a strange, almost overwhelming feeling.
Before he could process it, Yaxley’s voice broke the silence. “Oh no, did you see that? Your legs just moved!”
Tobias’s heart raced. He rarely let his emotions show; his job demanded that he keep a tight rein on them.
But at this moment, even though his face remained as composed as ever, there was a flicker of excitement in his eyes. He wanted to get up and see for himself.
Mandy, sensing his sudden surge of emotion, quickly removed the needle.
Tobias Lancaster’s legs were weak, and every time he tried to get up, he had to grab the bed rail for support. This time was no different, but in his haste, he lost his balance and tumbled off the bed.
Mandy Jiang was standing right beside him and instinctively reached out to help. But instead of catching him, she ended up pinned beneath him on the floor.
This all triggered a flood of buried memories for Mandy. She felt a wave of panic as the nightmare came rushing back.
“Get off me!” Mandy shouted, shoving him off with all her strength.
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