CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 92: COME TO MY OFFICE WITH ME

Just past noon, the sunlight outside the window was blazing.

Jean Ellison sat on the chair beside the bed, watching Susan Kingston slowly open her eyes.

After waking, Susan Kingston’s gaze was somewhat unfocused. She blinked, and her eyes gradually concentrated on Jean Ellison’s face.

A faint smile appeared on her dry lips.

"Claire..." she started in a hoarse voice, with a touch of drowsiness and undeniable dependence, "How long have you been here? Why didn’t you wake Mom up?"

Jean’s heart tightened slightly.

Susan had recognized her again, but seemed to have regressed to an earlier time.

She leaned over, picked up the cup from the nightstand, inserted the straw, and brought it to Susan’s lips: "Not long, would you like some water?"

Susan drank a few sips of water from her hand, then gently pushed the cup away.

Her gaze fell on the light blue uniform of the nursing home she was wearing, and her brow immediately furrowed with disgust. She pinched the coarse fabric with her fingers, her tone becoming dissatisfied and aggrieved.

"What rags have they dressed me in again? The fabric is scratchy, and the color is ugly as hell. Have the maids at home been slacking off again, not sending my clothes out for a proper ironing?"

Jean pressed her lips tightly, unsure how to respond.

Susan didn’t stop, she lifted the thin blanket, looked over herself, getting more displeased as she looked.

"And where are my jewelry? My usual set of pearl necklaces and jade earrings, and that diamond bracelet, why aren’t they on me?"

She looked up at Jean, her eyes carrying blame and a trace of barely noticeable panic.

"Am I just lying here in such a shabby state? If those ladies see me like this, where would I hide my face? Who knows how the maids at home will mock me behind my back!"

As she spoke, she grew more agitated, her breathing became rapid, and she tightly grasped Jean’s wrist, her nails digging into her, causing some pain.

"Claire, go, go home now and bring me those new silk qipaos in my dressing room, and the jewelry in the safe, and my Himalayan leather platinum bag, quickly, I can’t be seen like this."

Jean’s wrist was in pain from being grabbed, and looking at her mother’s eager and earnest expression, her throat felt blocked by something.

Should she tell her the truth?

Tell her the Caldwell family had long gone bankrupt, the villa sold, the maids scattered, and those elegant clothes and jewels had long changed hands?

Watching her mother’s fragile clarity at this moment, Jean couldn’t bear to shock her with the harsh reality.

As she hesitated and struggled, the door to the room was gently knocked, then pushed open.

A man dressed in a pristine white coat walked in.

He was quite tall, and the white coat on him didn’t look bulky at all, but accentuated his straight shoulders and slender figure.

Underneath he wore a simple light blue shirt and dark trousers, his feet clad in clean white soft-soled shoes.

In his hand, he held an electronic medical chart, his fingers long and well-defined.

"Aunt Kingston, awake?"

He spoke with a warm and clear voice, carrying the reassuring tone unique to doctors.

"How are you feeling? Did you have a good nap?"

His gaze quickly swept over the room, falling onto Susan Kingston’s hand tightly grasping Jean’s, and the embarrassed expression on Jean’s face.

Lastly, he briefly exchanged a glance with Jean, giving a slight nod as a form of greeting.

Susan’s attention was drawn to him, but she obviously didn’t recognize this doctor, instinctively loosened her grip on Jean’s hand, her eyes showing wariness.

"Who are you?"

"I’m your attending doctor."

Simon Sterling stepped forward, naturally and calmly, standing at the foot of the bed without getting too close, maintaining a comfortable distance for the patient.

He glanced at the medicine box and cup on the nightstand, then his gaze returned warmly to Susan Kingston.

"Attending doctor?"

Susan scrutinized him, her brow still twitched.

"It’s you..."

She finally remembered, recalling that this young male doctor often appeared in her room.

"Yes, I’m free today, so I came to check on you."

Simon Sterling calmly explained, flipping through the medical chart in his hand, his voice still gentle.

"I seemed to hear outside that you wanted some new clothes and jewelry?"

Susan Kingston, as if finding someone to bring justice, immediately complained: "Doctor Sterling, look at what I’m wearing. This fabric, this style, how can I be seen like this? And my daughter came, yet she didn’t bring me anything decent."

As she spoke, she glanced at Jean with some resentment.

Simon Sterling nodded seriously, indicating he was listening.

He closed the medical chart, casually putting his hands into the pockets of the white coat, his posture relaxed yet attentive.

"Hmm, I understand."

Susan Kingston’s tone softened as he showed understanding.

"Exactly. Doctor Sterling, can you talk to my daughter? Ask her to quickly go back and bring my things here. I really can’t be seen like this."

Simon Sterling did not respond immediately, he looked at Jean, who was also looking at him, her eyes complicated, carrying a trace of silent plea and helplessness.

Simon Sterling’s gaze was calm, winking slightly at her, indicating he would take care of it.

Then he turned back to Susan Kingston, his tone becoming more solemn.

"Aunt Kingston, rest assured, your daughter will bring you the clothes and jewelry."

Susan Kingston’s eyes lit up.

Simon Sterling continued slowly: "But, your most important task now is to cooperate with our treatment and recover your health."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice somewhat.

"Only when you are healthy and full of energy, dressed in those beautiful clothes, adorned with precious jewelry, will you look your best, right?"

Guided by him, Susan Kingston subconsciously nodded.

"So," Simon Sterling stood up straight, his tone light and reassuring, "As long as you eat well, take your medication on time, and cooperate with our rehabilitation training, I promise, your daughter,"

He glanced at Jean, "Will definitely buy you anything you want, the latest fashion, the jewelry that best suits your temperament, and the bags you like, nothing will be missing."

His words carried a strange persuasiveness, as if those things were not illusory fantasies, but tangible rewards just waiting patiently.

The anxiety and discontent on Susan Kingston’s face gradually dissipated, replaced by an anticipation soothed by the promise.

She even gently tidied the front of her hospital gown, as if she already envisioned herself in elegant attire.

"Doctor Sterling, is what you say true?"

"Of course." Simon Sterling smiled slightly, his smile clean and convincing, "I’m your attending doctor, why would I lie to you? But you must cooperate with the treatment, okay?"

Susan Kingston thought for a moment and finally nodded slowly: "Okay... I’ll cooperate, you must keep your word."

"Yes, I keep my word."

Simon Sterling affirmed confidently.

He picked up the medical chart, noted something on it, and then said, "Let’s take your temperature and blood pressure now."

This time, Susan Kingston did not resist, which was unusual for her.

She cooperatively allowed Simon Sterling to operate the instruments. Her mood was noticeably calmer, no longer fixated on clothes and jewelry, even beginning to ask what was for dinner, seemingly ready to cooperate with the treatment.

Jean stood by, watching Simon Sterling professionally and patiently examine her mother, guiding her with calm and warm words, her heart mixed with emotions.

She was grateful for his intervention, yet felt a pang of sorrow for the peace built on a promise not grounded in reality.

After taking the blood pressure, Simon Sterling reminded Susan Kingston of a few dietary precautions, his tone always gentle and patient.

Susan Kingston agreed to everything, behaving unusually obediently.

After handling this, Simon Sterling turned to Jean, formally saying, "Miss Ellison, regarding Aunt Kingston’s next treatment plan, there are some details that need to be discussed with the family. Could you please come to the office with me?"

Jean glanced at her temporarily quiet mother, nodding: "Okay."

She softly said to Susan Kingston, "Mom, I’m stepping out for a bit, I’ll be right back."