Chapter 154: Just Get Ready to Be Discharged

After Holly Vance walked out, Shirley Vance immediately looked at Sarah Sullivan and asked, "Mom, what’s going on? Is Amanda really not Dad’s child?"

Sarah Sullivan stroked her chin. "Since your father said so, there’s a ninety percent chance she isn’t."

’Otherwise, who would call their own child a bastard? Even if he hated her, there are plenty of other insults he could use. Calling her a bastard... doesn’t that mean he was cuckolded? That’s the one thing men can’t stand. They’d say anything but that.’

Unless Amanda really wasn’t his child. Then it would all make sense.

"I remember now," Sarah Sullivan said suddenly, her eyes glinting with certainty. "Vivian Sullivan gave birth to Amanda prematurely—two months before her due date. But I secretly went to see Amanda back then, and she didn’t look like a preemie at all."

She had given birth herself, so she could tell the difference between a premature baby and a full-term one.

Amanda hadn’t spent a single day in an incubator. She was perfectly healthy, without any of the weakness typical of a premature baby.

At the time, she had just assumed Holly Vance and Vivian Sullivan had conceived the child before they were married. She thought the premature birth story was just a cover-up for them having a physical relationship beforehand. She had even been a little surprised; social attitudes weren’t that conservative back then. Getting pregnant before marriage wasn’t a huge deal, so there was no need for a cover-up.

’So, that’s what it was.’

’He wasn’t trying to hide a premarital pregnancy at all. He was clearly trying to hide the fact that he’d been cuckolded!’

’Good. Just great.’

’The great Miss Sullivan of the esteemed Sullivan Family, and she turns out to be that kind of person. Messing around with some other man... Heh. Someone like her, what right did she have to look down on me?’

At this thought, a strange sense of glee and vindication washed over Sarah Sullivan.

Even if she was the other woman, the child she gave birth to was undeniably Holly Vance’s. Unlike Vivian, who had been fooling around with who knows who.

"Mom, who do you think Amanda’s real father is?"

"Who knows? Probably some lowlife thug. If he was anyone decent, would she have needed to marry your father? Maybe she doesn’t even know herself. Heh. And here I thought the great Miss Sullivan was some pure, untouchable saint. Turns out she’s just another dirty woman."

She curled her lip in disdain, recalling the first time she had seen Vivian Sullivan. Gentle and poised, with an extraordinary air about her, dressed in designer couture—clearly a child from a wealthy family.

And then there was her, dressed shabbily in clothes bought from a street stall. To this day, she still remembered the feeling of inadequacy. Even if she hated to admit it, she knew in her heart that they were worlds apart.

But now, even if she herself wasn’t some flawless, white cloud, Vivian Sullivan was just dirty mud on the ground, same as her. What was there to be so noble about?

’Oh, Vivian Sullivan, Vivian Sullivan. So this is the kind of person you really were. I really overestimated you.’

Seeing her mother’s expression, Shirley Vance couldn’t help but laugh triumphantly as well.

’If that’s the case, how could Amanda be any better than me?’

’She’s just a little bastard. What’s she got to be so arrogant about?’

Heh.

「The consultation room.」

Amanda Vance was taking a patient’s pulse. After clearly explaining the condition and what to avoid, she wrote out a prescription.

The patient was here for a follow-up. She couldn’t help but say, "Dr. Vance, you’re amazing. I’ve been to so many places for my illness, but nothing worked. After just one dose of your medicine, I feel so much better. How can you be so skilled at such a young age? My daughter is about your age, and all she does is fool around all day."

She sounded a little exasperated as she said this, then added with envy, "Your parents must be so proud to have a wonderful daughter like you."

Amanda Vance’s hand paused. She shook her head. "My mother passed away a long time ago. As for that man..."

She shook her head again, unwilling to even call him ’Dad’.

In fact, she hadn’t called him Dad since the day her mother died.

He didn’t deserve it.

Hearing this, the patient was a little surprised. ’How could that be?’

’Dr. Vance is such a good person. It’s sad enough her mother passed away early, but for her father not to treat such a wonderful daughter well... his standards must be impossibly high.’

As she mulled this over, she felt a bit embarrassed. "Oh, I’m sorry. I have such a big mouth. Please don’t mind me, Dr. Vance."

Amanda Vance shook her head, finished writing the last ingredient, and handed the prescription to her. "Your condition is chronic, so you’ll need to take the medicine for a while longer. Don’t be afraid of the bitter taste. Take it properly, and your daughter will be able to rest a little easier."

"Okay!" The patient smiled again at the mention of her daughter.

It was clear the mother and daughter had a wonderful relationship. Even her earlier complaint held no real displeasure, only a touch of helpless exasperation.

’A child who is cherished doesn’t have to try so hard on their own.’

Amanda Vance smiled faintly and moved on to the next patient.

The final acupuncture session for Mr. Ford was tomorrow. Before leaving work, she went to check on him one last time. All his vitals looked good.

"Megan, is there anything we need to prepare for tomorrow?" Mrs. Ford asked.

Amanda Vance smiled. "Just get his things ready for discharge."

Hearing this, both Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford broke into smiles. "Alright, I won’t overthink it then. We’ll just focus on getting ready for discharge."

"Mhm," Amanda Vance nodded reassuringly. "Don’t worry. Sir has been recovering very well. Just leave everything to me tomorrow."

"Okay. I’ll leave it to you. I have absolute faith in you."

This wasn’t just empty praise; she meant it from the bottom of her heart.

She wasn’t blind. Before, her old man was barely lucid, and even when he was awake, he couldn’t speak clearly. But now? He could talk, he could walk. The results of her medical skill were plain to see.

They were so lucky to have met such an outstanding doctor.

’It’s just a shame she doesn’t want to get married again. Otherwise, it would be wonderful to snatch her up as a daughter-in-law.’

Every time she thought about this, Mrs. Ford couldn’t help but sigh with regret.

Mr. Lynch also knew about Mr. Ford’s final acupuncture session tomorrow. He was aware of the difficulty and could only imagine the miracle he was about to witness. He was itching with anticipation and had asked Amanda Vance long ago if he could observe.

Naturally, Amanda Vance wouldn’t refuse. It was such a great opportunity that even if he hadn’t asked, she would have invited him.

She had seen Mr. Lynch’s hard work during this period. He had progressed more than she’d imagined, which meant he must have been doing a lot of practicing on his own.

Amanda Vance admired hardworking people.

She briefly went over tomorrow’s plan with him. By the time they finished their discussion, it was already past nine o’clock.

Amanda Vance rubbed her neck. "Alright, let’s head home for now. Get some rest. Tomorrow’s acupuncture will require a great deal of energy."

Mr. Lynch understood this.

This was the only side effect of the Nine Revolutions Needle. It could save someone as long as they were still breathing. It was good, it was miraculous, but it was incredibly draining for the doctor.

After saying their goodbyes, Amanda Vance headed to the underground parking garage. As expected, she once again felt someone following her. The only difference was that this time, they weren’t trying to hide; they were closing in.

The footsteps were light, but Amanda Vance still heard them.

She kept walking forward, then suddenly spun around and threw a strike at the person. But her wrist was caught. Amanda Vance looked at her assailant in surprise. "President Ford?"