Chapter 14

Cyrus seemed to anticipate Cecilia's reaction, as only he and his master could perform this surgery. He chuckled, saying, "As long as you acknowledge me as your mentor, I can teach you gradually. As a traditional medicine doctor, you should know that medical skill isn't just about secret recipes. It requires long-term cultivation." Cecilia exploded, "You? My mentor? I knew you'd never change. Even trying to mess with me now. Drop the act about this business." "I'm not lying to you. How about this? When your hospital receives such patients, I'll perform the surgery in the future, and you can watch. Or if someday Innerzen Medical Center comes back under my control, you can send patients there for treatment," Cyrus suggested. "Do you have the ability to take back Innerzen Medical Center in the first place? You're just one of Rachel's lackeys," Cecilia retorted and left. Even Zoey, who was washing dishes, shook her head in disbelief. Coming from a long lineage of medical practitioners and having been a high-achieving student herself, Cecilia wouldn't possibly accept Cyrus as her mentor. Cyrus remained the same, using charm and manipulation, just wanting to get close to her friend. "Do you remember what you did before?" Zoey asked coldly. Without Zoey's reminder, Cyrus would not have remembered the acts of the previous Cyrus, as it wasn't his own doing. Now, he facepalmed as a stampede of a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. This reckless behavior of his seemed to have pitfalls at every turn. He had indeed been reckless just now. In the past, the other Cyrus had done something incredibly embarrassing. He had secretly added Cecilia as a friend, sent messages to disturb her, and even insisted on gifting her a Lamborghini. Cecilia had captured all the screenshots and showed them to Zoey. Cyrus hadn't cared. He believed he could win over any woman with money and intentionally did it to show Zoey that if she didn't let him sleep with her, then he would sleep with her best friend. He had only stopped when his family wealth ran out. "The surgical process I described earlier was true. I said I'd teach her to attract more patients to my clinic. Don't overthink it," Cyrus explained. "Whatever. Do you think you're a match for Rachel? Once you lose something, you might never win it back," Zoey said, not hiding her disdain. "Don't worry about the business. They will definitely want precious herbs like Dragon White Herbs," Cyrus assured. "Do as you please," Zoey replied coldly. She had indeed given up on Cyrus. But what pained her was that just when she saw a glimmer of hope, it was extinguished by a bucket of cold water. Cyrus knew that explanations were futile at this point. The heart of a woman like Zoey was prone to being overly sensitive, especially one that had been hurt so profoundly. But he wasn't in a hurry. There were still plenty of opportunities. He would undoubtedly gain more favor if he could make her father stand up again at the banquet. "I'm going to pick Mira up from school." After saying that, he rode his electric bike to the kindergarten, inserted a SIM card into his phone, and sent a text message. "I have a friend named Cyrus, doing business in the herbal market in Jorsproburgh. Send two Dragon White Herb by air freight to him. Establish a business relationship with him, and supply according to the standards of our previous cooperation." "Grand Doctor, are you still alive?" The other side asked urgently. Receiving such a message titled "The Grand Doctor" was shocking to anyone. "I can't reveal information for now. Just do as I said." "Alright, it will be delivered within three days!" Dana led Mira to the kindergarten gate, smiling and displaying an incredibly positive attitude. "Mira, are you hungry? The teacher has prepared some fruits for you." When Dana finished speaking, Mira's class teacher came over with a fruit platter and squatted down to feed her. Mira had never experienced such treatment before and felt a bit embarrassed. "Wow, unbelievable," a parent exclaimed in shock. Amidst the parents' astonishment, there was also envy. Who wouldn't want their child to receive such care? How did someone from the Johnson family, known for being wasteful, gain such prestige? He had just slapped the principal's nephew, causing him to cry, yet not only did he not get expelled, but he also received such an honor. Everyone knew Dana was extremely wealthy, unshaken even during the Johnson family's peak. When Cyrus appeared, all eyes were on him, filled with envy and jealousy. However, Dana walked over with a beaming smile, whispering, "Mr. Johnson, are you satisfied?" "That's fine. My daughter has a delicate constitution. She indeed needs such care," Cyrus replied. "Of course, you can rest assured. In the future, no one will dare to bully Mira at school." "Good, you won't need to close down your kindergarten then." "Thank you, thank you. Please take your time." Dana bowed again and watched him leave. Mira felt exceptionally happy, chatting all the way. Her happiness didn't come from the melon slices in her mouth but from her dad picking her up from school for the first time. Mira was the only one who held no resentment towards Cyrus. Regardless of how cold and ruthless he had been in the past, she unconditionally loved her father, hoping he could reciprocate her affection. Unfortunately, the old Cyrus didn't realize her value and even considered her a burden. Seeing her daughter become more lively and cheerful, Zoey's mood improved slightly. As long as Cyrus gave their daughter warmth, she would be thankful. Cyrus performed acupuncture on Mira again at night, followed by a half-hour massage. Even when she fell asleep, her small hand remained in his large one, reluctant to let go. "Will you accompany Mira tonight? I'll sleep on the outdoor lounge chair," Zoey said. This meant she no longer wanted to share a bed with Cyrus, especially with their daughter present. "It's cold outside; I'll go later. In ancient times, leukemia was also known as 'blood disease.' When prepared using a unique method, the Dragon White Herb grown in frigid regions, is remarkably effective for her condition," Cyrus explained. "So, you're suggesting our daughter stops chemotherapy, and you'll take over the treatment?" Zoey asked. "Yes, chemotherapy can no longer cure her. Her treatment has been delayed too long. I'll have to treat her every day. Perhaps within three years, she can fully recover," Cyrus stated. "She can fully recover?" Zoey's pretty little mouth couldn't close due to astonishment. How could such a terminal illness be completely cured? "Yes, don't worry. I won't harm Mira," Cyrus assured. Zoey was already questioning her life choices because of him. After being stunned for a while, she said, "If you can cure Mira, I'll give you my virginity. But after that, I want a divorce. I just hope that you will take good care of her after our divorce is finalized." "If it's given for a reason like that, I don't want it." Cyrus prepared to go outside to sleep, holding the blanket. This attitude surprised Zoey once again. Would Cyrus really reject her offer of intimacy if she willingly offered? "Are you really going to my dad's 60th birthday celebration?" She asked tentatively in a hushed tone. "60th birthday? How could I, as an honored son-in-law, not attend? Tomorrow, I'll take care of the shop. You should go buy yourself a nice outfit. Don't embarrass yourself in front of your stepmother and siblings. The generous gift I'll give your dad will awe all the relatives and friends there, redeeming the grievances and indignity you've suffered in the past." Zoey lay in bed, unable to sleep the whole night. Since her dad became paralyzed, she had only seen him once. Her stepmother didn't allow further visits. They could only exchange a few words through video calls. Right now, she only had this one relative in the world who cared for her; claiming she didn't care would be a lie. The next day, as Zoey was about to get up, she smelled a delightful aroma. When she came out, she found that Cyrus had actually cooked egg spaghetti for her and Mira. This not only shocked her but made her question life itself. While feeding Mira spaghetti, she whispered, "How much money do you think I should spend on clothes?" Cyrus had earned this money, so she had to seek his approval to avoid him getting angry and banging her head against the wall in a rage. "Your father's 60th birthday celebration is a grand event, especially as they're announcing the heir to the family business. So, just spend the remaining 190 thousand dollars. Get a nice outfit for Mira, too. We can't let you embarrass yourself again." "Spend the entire 190 thousand dollars?" Zoey exclaimed, thinking she must have misheard. In her big beautiful eyes, there was even a hint of apprehension. Just the weekend before last, Cyrus had slapped her in front of Mira over a measly 1200 dollars, causing her to fall to the ground. She originally planned to spend only a couple of thousand on clothes just to avoid embarrassment and steer clear of her stepmother's family. She even thought about asking Cyrus for permission to spend a little over 10 thousand to buy her dad an imported smart wheelchair as a gift. But even for that, she worried Cyrus would disagree and get angry. Never did she imagine that he would be so generous.