Chapter 89: We Are Willing to Pay
Beatrice hadn’t expected the medicine to be so expensive, and for a moment, she was uncertain what to do. Her hesitation was mainly due to having been deceived by Amber once before, and Tina’s reputation wasn’t very good either. She was afraid of being tricked again.
Mrs. Fanning, on the other hand, showed almost no hesitation as she said, “We are willing to pay for the medication. I think that’s only right. Amber didn’t charge a penny, but almost killed my granddaughter. You charge money, but Shonna’s complexion has improved significantly, so we are willing to pay.”
She trusted Grandma Lehman, believing that anyone could deceive her, but Grandma Lehman would not, and therefore, she trusted Tina.
Moreover, it was clear to see that Tina’s healing methods were different from those of the hospital doctors. Most importantly, Dr. Lyon had failed to recognize the problem with the prescription, whereas Tina had spotted it at a glance.
Such insight could not be faked without real skill.
As for the high fees, she found them reasonable. Aside from the consultation fee of half a million, the rest were medication costs.
Compared to normal hospital fees, half a million for consultation was indeed expensive, but if Tina dared to ask for that amount, it indicated her confidence in her medical skills.
The expensive medication suggested it was of high quality. She knew there were many rare and costly medicinal herbs, so she felt that if this money could cure Shonna’s illness and heal her face, it was worth it.
Tina nodded and said, “Alright, wait another ten minutes. After I remove the needles, you can pay. I will come to do acupuncture each day for the next three days. The pills need to be taken on an empty stomach at six in the morning. Keep her diet light and make sure her room is well-ventilated.”
Tina paused, then added, “The medicine prescribed by Amber previously should not be consumed anymore. If you don’t listen and something happens, I will not be responsible, nor will I continue the treatment.”
Beatrice agreed quickly, “Don’t worry, that medicine almost killed Shonna, I will not let her take it again.”
Tina hummed in acknowledgment and fell silent.
Ten minutes later, Tina removed the needles.
Shonna woke up, and seeing a stranger in the room, she panicked, curling up in the corner of the bed, burying her head, refusing to let Tina see her.
Beatrice climbed onto the bed and hugged Shonna, crying, “Shonna, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I didn’t check properly last time and trusted Amber, letting you suffer. But don’t worry, this Miss Reed is a very good doctor. She is the one who saved you from death’s door, and she can also cure your face.”
“Mom, I don’t want to be treated anymore, I don’t want it,” Shonna shook her head, but didn’t lift her face, afraid of others seeing it.
“Shonna, don’t be like this, it breaks my heart…” Beatrice cried louder, “I want you to live a normal life, to be well. I worry when you’re like this.”
“Mom, please, I’m begging you, don’t force me anymore, I really don’t want to be treated.” Shonna also cried, “If you force me, then let me die!”
“How could I let you die? You are my life!”
Mother and daughter clung to each other in agony, and no one else could get a word in.
Tina looked at Shonna and said to Beatrice, “Mrs. Woodham, let me speak with Miss Woodham for a moment.”
“This…” Beatrice hesitated, remembering the disdainful look Amber had given Shonna.
After this incident, Shonna had become even more insecure. If Tina were to hurt her feelings too, she feared she might lose the courage to live.
“Just let Miss Reed speak,” Mrs. Fanning interjected. “Since we chose Miss Reed to treat her, we must trust her.”
Through brief interactions, Mrs. Fanning realized that Tina and Amber were not the same. The Fanning family had not been doing well these past few years, and Amber had always looked down on them, showing great disdain especially towards Shonna.
But since Tina had arrived, although her face showed little expression, she had not shown any sign of disdain.
For some reason, she just trusted Tina.
“Alright then,” Beatrice said, seeing Mrs. Fanning insist, and stepped aside.
Tina stood at the head of Shonna’s bed and spoke calmly, “Miss Woodham, if a person stays in the darkness for too long, they will never see the light. The world is not as dark as you imagine. You could try, just once, to lift your head and look at the sky outside.”
Shonna did notreact, nor did she lift her head.
Unperturbed, Tina continued, “What is ugly is not your face, but people’s hearts. Do you want to watch those who maliciously insult you continue to do so in the sunlight? Stand up. Even if your face can’t be completely healed, if you have enough confidence, no one will dare to mock you.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Shonna finally showed some reaction. After a moment of silence, she said, “I have no confidence left. My academic achievements used to be my pride, but I’ve been out of school for too long now. With my face ruined, I can’t find any confidence anymore.”
“Confidence comes from within yourself, not from others. Hiding away is the choice of the weak,” Tina’s voice remained devoid of any emotional fluctuations.
She wasn’t a patient person.
The fact that she was saying so much today was because it reminded her of her past self.
For some reason, in Ensford, she often became sentimental and was more willing to let out that bit of scarce kindness from her heart.
She felt she had changed.
What had influenced her?
Perhaps it was Hugo and Jennie; they had gradually softened the coldness within her.
Seeing that Shonna fell silent again, Tina said, “I dislike treating the weak, and I dislike treating those who choose to be weak. Consider it, and if you’re willing to undergo treatment, then stand up, and from this moment, walk in the sunlight. If not, I’ll leave right now.”
With that, Tina stopped speaking and waited for Shonna’s response.
After about five minutes, Shonna finally lifted her head and looked at Tina, but was momentarily stunned by her beauty.
In her panic earlier, she hadn’t really looked at Tina. Now, seeing her clearly, she thought not only was Tina beautiful, but she also radiated light.
It was a light that pierced through the darkness, a light that offered hope for life.
After a few seconds, Shonna asked, “Can you really heal me? Miss Amber had promised the same…”
“I can’t promise anything, I can only do my best,” Tina replied. Although she was confident in her ability to heal Shonna, she never made promises she wasn’t certain she could keep.
Giving people hope and then leading them to despair was the cruelest thing to do.
After thinking it over, Shonna said, “I accept the treatment.”
Tina was different from Amber; she hadn’t shown any disgust towards her.
The eyes do not lie.
“Good,” Tina nodded. “Starting today, I take responsibility for your illness. My name is Tina. Please remember, until your illness is cured, only I will treat you. You don’t have to regard me as your doctor; you can think of me as a friend. Any changes in your condition must be reported to me immediately.”
Shonna suddenly smiled, “Okay, I’ve got it.”
For some reason, she found Tina’s words comforting.
She thought that Tina could certainly cure her face.
And Tina was willing to be her friend, the first person since her disfigurement who was willing to do so.
Being Tina’s friend must be a happy thing, right?