"Well, you can try. Even if everything is out in the open, I'll get off scot free. That's why I have you," the woman taunted. She was always cloaked in darkness. Even if things went south, Dorothy would take the blame.

  Dorothy bit her lower lip, saying nothing more. She had no other choice but to follow the woman's orders. After all, the woman had her career in her hands.

  At Renxin Hospital, Tom was in the rehabilitation room with Patricia. Though he turned her down when she had asked him to be her doctor, he'd help her out as much as he could.

  "Let's do it again," Tom encouraged. It was the dead of winter, but their faces were covered with sweat.

  "Damn it! This isn't helping," Patricia complained, breathlessly. She was totally discouraged, unwilling to move anymore. It was hard work, it was painful, and in her mind it was useless.

  "You've only practiced for a couple weeks. It's no secret it's slow. Do you know how long it takes for other people to walk again? Don't give up just like that, okay?" Tom said. He would get angry every time Patricia wanted to give up. But he was not angry at her, but at himself, for he thought he was good for nothing. People called him the genius doctor, but he could do nothing to fix her leg. So the hard work began.

  "I can't even move if I don't hold the railings," Patricia said, exhausted. She didn't think she was making a fuss over nothing. She was exhausted, for she had been grinding awa

  ght.

  "Why apologize? You make me feel like a spoiled woman," Patricia said with a frown. She really couldn't figure out why she had fallen for him in the first place. Tom was so dull and inarticulate. Why couldn't she see that before?

  "Never mind. I have patients I need to see. I'll drop by when I'm done," said Tom. He knew it would take a long time for him to figure out what Patricia was thinking, but he didn't have time for it now. He hoped that she would be a little bit more rational when he got off work.

  Patricia watched his receding figure and felt sad and dejected. Cool as she was, she was sensitive and fragile in love. Was it right for her to continue this? After all, she had already forgotten him. Would it be better if they broke up? But when she was thinking of leaving Tom once and for all, her heart began to ache, as if a sharp knife had been plunged into it. She shook off the thought and concentrated on how to improve their relationship.