The doctor standing in front of her now, asking her gently, “Does it hurt?” doesn’t find it ridiculous?
What brings immense pain to her body is not the gauze being removed from her eyes at this moment, but being laid on the operating table, her belly cut open to take the baby out.
Aoife is inherently kind, kind to the point of being “like a saint.”
But even someone as “saintly” cannot forgive the accomplice who killed her own child. Aoife held back her tears, her eyes only red in a frightening way.
Stared at by her bloodshot eyes, the doctor suddenly dared not look at her. After doing this despicable thing, he had nightmares for several nights.
He knew he didn’t deserve to be a doctor, didn’t deserve to be in this hospital, but he was forced into it.
“Doctor, if a six-month-old baby is forcibly taken out of the mother’s womb, will she feel pain?” Aoife asked.
A six-month-old baby already has awareness, moving in her belly, forcibly taking out the underdeveloped fetus from the mother’s womb, like killing it alive.
The doctor paused and said with difficulty, “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” those three words again. Aoife couldn’t understand how these people could casually say these three words, knowing it was wrong but still doing it, as if no matter how big a mistake they made, a simple “I’m sorry” could make it all go away.
“Doctor, do you have a child?”
“I have a daughter, eight years old, has leukemia, needs a large sum for treatment, and needs to find a suitable bone marrow.” That’s why he would do such a despicable thing.
He knew he was wrong, he knew he shouldn’t make excuses, but it wasn’t him who wielded the knife. Even if he didn’t do it, another doctor would have taken the baby out of Aoife’s belly. The real culprit was someone who was above everyone else, how could ordinary doctors like them fight back?
Aoife listened quietly. There was nothing she didn’t understand, just a matter of “taking people’s money and resolving others’ troubles.”
She closed her eyes, a bitter smile on her lips. “Your daughter is so lucky, able to afford treatment, while my daughter can’t even see the sun.”
Aoife choked up, her voice hoarse. “I don’t accept your apology. For every time I forgive you, I am sorry for my deceased child.”
The doctor didn’t seek her forgiveness, no one could truly understand her pain. Empathy was simply watching from a distance.
Harsh as it may sound, Aoife now hated him to the extent of wanting to kill him, and it seemed justified. Afraid of Aoife getting too emotional, the doctor left after looking into her eyes.
Outside, the doctor caught a glimpse of Finn smoking at the end of the corridor and frowned deeply. He walked over and reminded, “Mr. Snearl, smoking is not allowed in the hospital, and you are supposed to take care of Miss Powell. Her eyes are just recovering and can’t withstand any stimulation…”
“Are her eyes better?”
“Yes.” The doctor nodded. “Still in the recovery process, be careful, avoid getting water in them.”
Finn extinguished the cigarette, took a few steps toward the ward and then suddenly stopped, sniffing himself, before turning and heading to the bathroom.
Sounds of water came from inside. After a while, Finn emerged, the smell of smoke completely gone from him.
The doctor stood outside the corridor, observing Finn’s actions. There were rumors that Finn had a beautiful mistress outside, and for her, he abandoned his fiancée at the engagement banquet, causing Roberts Group to lose billions overnight.
People say that the Burns family prioritizes profit over love, but Finn, for a lover, went to such lengths.
“Mr. Snearl, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say.”
Finn impatiently replied, “If you’re not sure, don’t say it.”
The doctor hesitated but expressed what he wanted to say the most, “Mr. Snearl, why are you forcefully keeping Miss Powell by your side? You two are not from the same world, the difference in status and identity is too big.”
Finn furrowed his brows. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m just curious. Everyone outside says you treat Miss Powell as just a toy, looks beautiful, and in this hospital, I’ve seen many people, even celebrities, but Miss Powell is truly the most perfect one. It makes sense to keep her by your side as a beautiful plaything.”
“But now, with Miss Powell losing her child, having a mental breakdown, eye problems, and destroying her looks, why is Mr. Snearl still keeping her around? Are you trying to save her life?”
“Miss Powell is beautiful, but there must be others who are equally beautiful. Why are you wasting your time with a withered grass?”
“Others can definitely be more beautiful than her, but there is only one Aoife in this world.” Finn lowered his gaze, hiding his emotions. “Dr. James, don’t meddle in what shouldn’t concern you. I will come for you sooner or later about the matter of the child in Aoife’s belly.”
Dr. James froze, his body cold, not daring to continue.
Everyone understood the reason; Finn didn’t need someone to steer him toward it.
Many thought he treated Aoife as a beautiful plaything, wanting to ruin her.
Months ago, Finn was indeed like that, never giving Aoife any dignity.
Dr. James’s words were obviously meant to advise him to break up with Aoife, but how could he break up with someone he had never been with? He didn’t want to let go of Aoife unilaterally; she was his, no matter how she turned out, he would hold onto her tightly for the rest of his life, even if she hated him.
By directly mentioning “for the rest of my life,” Finn’s stance was not treating Aoife like a toy anymore.
It was him who was being played with by the toy, not the other way around.
Aoife didn’t want to see Finn, closing her eyes when she heard his footsteps outside the door.
She had always been used to sleeping on her side, and now with a new scar on her face, sleep became uncomfortable, with various tubes attached to her body.
Finn didn’t want to anger her further, staying with her the whole night, then arranged for two caregivers to watch over her, never leaving her side.
Early the next day, Finn went back to the Burns residence. Old Burns was having breakfast.
In the past two years, doctors had often warned Old Burns about his failing health, urging him to be careful.
Old Burns’ health was not as robust as before, but he was stubbornly refusing to give in.
Finn entered the dining room, wearing a gloomy expression and staring at Old Burns.
Old Burns ignored him, finishing his congee and a steamed dumpling before speaking leisurely, “From your expression, I can tell you’ve already eaten.”
“Whether I’ve eaten or not, it’s none of your concern. I just want to ask, how can you sit down for this meal after killing your own great-granddaughter?”
“Are you coming to question me for the sake of a disgraceful plaything?” Old Burns questioned.
“No, I came back simply to check on you. After all, the doctors warn you repeatedly about your failing health, I suppose the blood on your hands is catching up to you…”
With a sudden movement, Old Burns lifted the bowl and smashed it towards Finn’s forehead.
Finn didn’t dodge, taking the hit. The ceramic bowl shattered as it hit the ground, leaving a gash on his head, blood dripping down, a ghastly sight.
Old Burns’ action silenced the room, no one dared to speak, not even take a breath. The dining room was eerily quiet, the house staff lowering their heads and avoiding eye contact.
“Is this how you talk to your own grandfather?” Old Burns already knew Finn treated Aoife differently, but didn’t expect him to be so deeply involved, mirroring his past behavior with Hamish.
Finn was more patient than Hamish, pretending to be obedient for years. But now, he was raising his voice in rage for a woman with nothing, tearing off the pretense and yelling at his grandparent.
Old Burns cursed him as weak. With his impaired vision, he squinted to see clearly and found Finn’s eyes filled with hostility.
“How did I tell you back then? Not to take an insignificant plaything to heart, to discard it when necessary. I said it clearly, and you agreed. Yet, you actually called off the engagement for this insignificant woman. How can I tolerate her?”
Furious, Finn erupted. The usual calm facade shattered, and he shouted at Old Burns, “She’s not a plaything, she’s Aoife, the one I love!”