There were only eight days left. When the due time arrived, everything would be over. Mandy embraced herself in her heart. She reassured her soul that at that time, everything would be fine.
"Well, Mand. I trust you with all my heart and soul! Don't worry about this. I'll talk to your mother. After I talk to her, you can come home to have dinner with us in a couple of days. Your mother could not eat well or sleep well these last few days because of this. She cares about you very much," Stanley comforted Mandy gently. Mandy's father, Stanley, could not resist his daughter being so greatly disconcerted.
Hearing this, tears of guilt welled up in Mandy's eyes. She realized in this very moment that in this brutal world it's only her parents who loved her unreservedly. During these days, when she was living in Nathan's house, Mandy felt profoundly grieved for her parents. She lied to them and miserably failed to live up to their expectations of being an honest daughter. However, she had no other choice but to make a deal with Nathan to save her father. Undoubtedly, this deal was like the forbidden fruit in Eden, threatening yet alluring to her. She could not foresee her future with Nathan. Indeed, it's more appropriate to say she had not imagined that she would ever have a future with Nathan.
"Okay, I understand! Thank you, Father. It's late now. I'm going now. I'll come to see you again, some other day. Take care, goodbye!" Mandy was reluctant to leave her father, but she had to bid him farewell now. Mandy put her bag over her shoulder, stood up from the sofa, and curved her lips to give a forced smile to her father.
"Okay, drive carefully," responded Stanley.
With mixed feelings, Mandy walked out of the Zhou Group. She always knew that her father was the only support she had in her entire life. As a matter of fact, who else could have her back more than her dad? She was well aware of why her mother was so annoyed with her. The mere reason for such frustration was that Madeline had great expectations for her. Mandy was horrified that she had displeased her family's faith in her. She had never thought in her wildest dreams that one day, she would let her parents down.
After Mandy departed from the Zhou Group, she decided not to go back to the hospital straightaway. Alternatively, she went to Luke's residence.
Noting the address, Mandy arrived at a very luxurious yet ancient castle. On either side of the castle, there stood exuberant Chinese parasol trees. Mandy mused in her mind, 'Luke's life is so exorbitant.' She was awestruck with the glamour of the castle and kept on wondering about how luxurious the rooms in the castle were.
"May I ask whom you are looking for?" A polite voice pierced through her ears waking her up from her reverie. Mandy instantly pulled herself out from her fantasies as soon as she heard that voice. She saw a maid came out to receive her. The maid greeted her and led her into the castle.
"Oh, I'm the private doctor of Mr. Shi. My name is Mandy. Please tell your master that I am here," replied Mandy in a delicate voice. She passed a subtle and gracious smile to the maid. Mandy's smile was both tender and attractive, all at the same time.
"Oh, it's you. Mr. Shi had already told me that his private doctor would come to meet him someday. But to my amazement, I did not expect that his private doctor would be young in age, and so elegant. Please follow me!" The young maid responded in bewilderment, yet she was flattered because few guests talked to her so politely like Mandy. Needless to say, the aura of Mandy was indeed charismatic. The maid felt the pinch with Mandy right away, so she talked about the decorations and the style of the castle to her while they were walking to Luke's room.
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