Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 37 Illnesses tended to spike in autumn and winter, and Sydney had been seeing patients for three days straight. After this stretch of nonstop appointments, the rush finally began to ease. "Dr. Wilson," said a woman in her forties as Sydney performed acupuncture, "thank you so much. Every time I ask for an extra appointment, you agree." That afternoon, the clinic had no scheduled appointments, so Sydney was treating outpatients. She inserted each needle with care while the patient, who suffered from serious kidney disease, lay on the table, expressing her gratitude.

The woman's family situation was difficult. She had lost a child in her middle age, and her husband was unreliable. Every visit meant leaving home before dawn and taking two buses and three subway transfers from the suburbs. Whether out of medical compassion or something more personal, Sydney smiled and said, "Why thank me? You pay for treatment, and it's my job to help you get better." The woman blinked back tears. "The front desk told me you give me a discount every time.

the last of the needles. After a moment, she said, "If my mother were alive, she'd be about your age." She quickly composed herself and added, "If you need anything, press the call button. I'll come back in 30 minutes to remove the

said you've been swamped," Alan said. "And you still came to visit? Aren't you tired?" "I've missed Eliana," Sydney replied, placing a basket of fruit on the table before gently taking the older woman's arm. "I promised I'd do beauty treatments for her this week." Sydney had always

grinned. "So which one are you?" "I'm the king, of course," he said with a