I Stopped Waiting and Started Loving novel Chapter 70

Jasper's eyes widened in horror, staring at Bonnie as if she had lost her mind.

Forty percent!?

The world's leading ophthalmologists wouldn't even guarantee ten percent.

His boss's eye condition was a childhood affliction. After dragging on for so many years, it was considered a lost cause.

And she dared to claim forty percent?

Naturally, Quentin didn't take her seriously either. His voice plunged below freezing. "Bonnie, anyone can boast. But if you try to play games with me, you won't be able to afford the consequences."

"I'm not boasting, and I don't play games."

Bonnie took a step forward, meeting his gaze. "But I have one condition."

"While I am treating you, I expect complete trust. You must give me one hundred percent truthful feedback about your physical reactions."

She hated patients who lied.

False feedback derailed diagnoses and completely sabotaged the direction of a treatment.

Parrish had done exactly that.

He had regained his memories long ago, yet he played dumb, making it impossible for her to know how many of his headaches, insomnia bouts, and memory lapses were real.

She refused to deal with another patient like that!

"I won't charge you a consultation fee. But if my treatment yields results, I want permission to include your symptoms and recovery process in my complex case studies ledger. I'll redact all identifying information, of course."

It was the task her grandfather had assigned her before he passed.

'Bonnie, for our traditions to survive, you have to tackle the diseases no one else can cure. Don't worry about ruining your reputation. The more you see, the more you heal, the brighter the flame burns.'

He had challenged her to collect a hundred successful complex case studies before she turned fifty.

So far, she had eight.

And she had healed every single one of them under the radar, often paying for their medicine out of her own pocket.

There were solitary seniors in nursing homes and laborers who couldn't afford a hospital bill. Not only did she work for free, she frequently drained her part-time wages to buy their herbs.

But to her, getting the case on paper made it all worth it.

Quentin studied her, a flicker of deep intrigue surfacing in his dark eyes.

"I know the rules of medicine. I'll pay your fees and expenses down to the last cent."

His voice was a low rumble. "But the prerequisite is that you actually prove your worth."

Bonnie nodded immediately. "As long as you cooperate, I will give it my all."

Silence fell over the study for a few seconds.

Three years?

She had only hoped to secure a roof over her head for twelve months. He was offering three times that.

But three years was infinitely better.

It meant three solid years of guaranteed income and a safe haven.

Without a second thought, she crossed out 'one' and scribbled 'three'.

She signed her name and offered the paper and pen to Quentin with both hands.

He took them and carelessly scrawled his signature across the bottom.

His handwriting was bold, sharp, and aggressive.

Bonnie folded the paper like it was a winning lottery ticket and tucked it into her pocket.

With this, she finally had a real place at Riverstone Heights.

She let out a long breath and turned to leave the study.

"Wait."

Quentin's voice stopped her. "Do you have Parrish York's medical records?"