Chapter 39: Will Wonders Never Cease?

"What? Lily, are you going to resign?"

Tracy's eyes widened in disbelief.

When Lily first arrived at Feazer Medical Clinic, her medical foundation was weak—clearly the kind of girl who hadn't taken her studies seriously in school. She had applied to many hospitals before, only to be rejected each time.

Back then, Tracy had asked her if she wanted to start learning again. Lily had said yes, expressing deep regret for how she'd wasted her college years. She had confessed that, given the chance, she would never squander her time again.

Tracy admired that attitude. The clinic was short-staffed at the time, so she had brought Lily on board.

Over the following year, Tracy took on the dual role of mentor and friend. Whenever Lily ran into difficulties, Tracy guided her with patience and care, helping her grow into a competent doctor capable of diagnosing patients independently.

Though they never formally acknowledged a teacher-student relationship, in truth, that was exactly what they had.

Tracy could have asked Lily to help with her shifts without pay. But instead, she offered her double her usual salary—a clear sign of generosity and trust.

Yet, despite all this, Lily had now decided to resign.

"Lily," Tracy asked, voice heavy with emotion, "Have I not been good to you?"

"No, Miss Linch. You've been incredibly kind…"

"Then why resign?" Tracy's voice trembled.

"It's just that… I've decided to go to graduate school," Lily admitted, her voice growing softer. "You know how competitive it is to get into a good hospital these days. Without an advanced degree, it's hard to break in. And honestly, I don't want to stay in a small clinic for the rest of my life."

She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Tracy's eyes.

Tracy stood stunned.

She couldn't argue with Lily's reasoning. Holding her back would mean standing in the way of her future.

Tracy had always been soft-hearted. Though disappointment weighed heavily on her chest, she managed a nod and said gently, "It's a good thing to have such ambition. I hope you find happiness. Come see me for this month's salary."

"Thank you, Miss Linch."

After Lily took her pay and left, Tracy collapsed into a chair, utterly drained. It felt like all her energy had been sucked away.

There were only three doctors at Feazer Medical Clinic. With two gone now, things were going from bad to worse.

And without the renowned influence of Doctor Lynn to draw patients, the clinic's future looked bleak.

John, watching his sister's exhausted expression, couldn't bear it any longer. "Sis, don't be so down. They'll regret leaving. Besides… you still have me, right?"

Tracy rolled her eyes at him and gave a bitter smile. "You don't even have a medical certificate. How are you supposed to comfort me?"

"If I wanted a certificate, I could get one anytime," John said with a grin.

"You just love to brag."

After a moment of silence, Tracy's expression turned serious. "John… do you really want to be a doctor?"

John thought she was asking if he wanted to work at the clinic and nodded sincerely.

He didn't mind. Running a company never interested him. Alice's bar wasn't his thing either. If anything had caught his attention lately, it was the Feazer Medical Clinic and his sister's dedication to it.

Helping her expand the clinic actually sounded like a worthwhile goal.

But what he didn't realize was that Tracy had a different plan forming in her mind.

The next day, Feazer Medical Clinic didn't open its doors. Tracy had gone somewhere she really didn't want to go—New York Hospital.

The day before, when she'd asked John about becoming a doctor, it wasn't just a casual question. She had been thinking about finding him a real job in a hospital, somewhere he could build a future.

Even Tracy had begun to lose faith in the clinic's survival.

She knew John was skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, and the best place for someone like him was New York Hospital.

But today, she wasn't just going there to help. She was going to apologize.

Unfortunately, when she arrived, she found out that it was Chris White's birthday—the son of the department director. Everyone had gone to the Hundred Flavors Restaurant for a birthday dinner.

So she picked up a gift and headed over.

Standing outside the private dining room, Tracy heard laughter and clinking glasses. Her nerves tightened.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and knocked on the door.

As soon as she stepped in, the room went silent. Eyes widened. Then, after a tense pause, a sharp, mocking voice cut through the stillness.

"Well, if it isn't the beautiful Miss Linch. Shouldn't you be off with your rich, handsome boyfriend instead of showing up here?"

The speaker was a woman in flashy makeup and designer clothes—Ada Brown, the same woman Tracy had encountered in the rain yesterday.

"I… I came to give Mr. White a birthday gift," Tracy said, voice slightly hesitant.

"A birthday gift for Mr. White?" someone echoed incredulously.

Everyone stared at the box in her hands. Their expressions turned a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

Back when Chris had chased after Tracy relentlessly, she barely gave him the time of day. And now, here she was, offering him a gift?

Unbelievable.

Ada's face twisted into a smirk. "So, I guess your pretty boy can't satisfy you, huh? Missing the good old days when Mr. White treated you like a queen?"

She hadn't forgotten the humiliation of being splashed with mud yesterday, thanks to John. Now, with Tracy alone in this room, she was seizing the moment to retaliate.

Though Tracy found her words disgusting, she calmly replied, "John is my brother."

Just then, a young man with a sullen face rose from his seat.

Chris White.

Son of the department director. Department of Acupuncture, New York Hospital.

"If you've got something to say, just say it," Chris said coldly. "I don't believe for a second that you came here just to wish me happy birthday."

Tracy took a small step forward and bowed her head slightly. "Mr. White, I… I was wrong before. I shouldn't have treated you so coldly."

"Please," Chris interrupted, lifting a hand with faux humility. "You flatter me, Miss Linch. You didn't do anything wrong. It's all on me. I should never have tossed aside my dignity to pursue you."

Though his tone sounded aloof, deep down, Chris was brimming with satisfaction.

Finally.

After everything, she'd come back to him.

Look at her now—apologizing, presenting a gift, swallowing her pride. She must have realized he was the one who truly cared.

Let her grovel a little. Maybe, just maybe, I'll forgive her.