Stanley gazed upon the couple standing across from him. With an ominous glint across his eyes, he commented, “Natalie, I’m relieved to see how well you and Shane are doing.”

“Thank you.” Natalie beamed. “Stanley,” she added. “What are you doing here?”

“Here’s what happened. “I’ve accepted a request to perform surgery on a member of the royal family. I am here tonight at this party as his guest,” Stanley explained, with a smile that displayed his teeth. “It’s such a coincidence running into you here, Nat.”

Natalie’s mouth hung open in amazement. “Surgery? Stanley, does that mean that your treatment has finished?”

“Hey, what treatment? Dr. Quinn isn’t even sick! That wasn’t an illness!” Annie retorted coldly, apparently displeased at Natalie’s remark.

Shane gazed at Annie with his eyes narrowed into slits. “If mental disorders are not classified as being illnesses, pray tell me what is it that you would consider an illness?”

“I…” Annie stammered. It was not only Shane’s status that had frightened her, but his assertiveness as well.

Not daring to attempt to refute a statement as bold as that, she lapsed into a sulky silence.

“That’s enough, Annie.” Shane pulled Annie’s arm as she trotted back to his side obediently. “Mr. Thompson is right. I am indeed ill.”

Natalie did the same. She squeezed Shane arm to hush him.

 

However, she was secretly delighted that Shane had leaped to her rescue at Annie’s attempt to belittle her.

down before speaking again. “My treatment had ended half a month ago. I’ve been declared fit to return to my

 

had been concluded some time ago,

answered. “I will only return after I’m done with

pursed his lips

“Mr. Thompson, are you not looking forward to my return?” he queried with a

“Yes,” Shane replied bluntly.

unfaltering. “Could you be worried

darkened. The atmosphere between the four was thick with tension. “Even so,” he

his dominance

did not struggle. Instead, she leaned against

yet, she was not

reasoned. “Why would you treat me with such hostility, Mr. Thompson? I’ve changed, and I’m not who I used to be.

expect me to believe that?” Shane

let go as Stanley

can do to convince you if you choose not to believe me. If you’ll excuse

genuine and warmer than the one toward Shane. “Nat, I’ve got to

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