Chapter 48 Besides, Henry observed that among the Sherman family, Cheryl was the only truly sensible one. 87%粉 Olivia was just settling into bed after her nightly milk when the phone rang. Andrew's name flashed on the screen "This better be life-or-death," she growled into the phone. On the other end, Andrew asked in a teasing tone, "Were you asleep?" "Is that a problem?" Olivia rubbed her forehead and sighed. "What do you want?" Andrew's voice became serious. "Are you free tomorrow? I need to make an appointment." After a moment's hesitation, Olivia agreed. "Alright. Next time, just send a text." "A phone call is more formal," Andrew replied, his voice taking on a suggestive tone. "Good night, Ms. Summers." Andrew stood by the window after hanging up, his gaze lingering on the phone number. The storm in his eyes gradually cleared, leaving them calm and bright. Jenny muffled a laugh behind the couch. 'My brother wasn't the fool people claimed. He even remembered to say proper goodnights,' she thought Olivia was still dreaming when Sean came charging in the next morning, a piece of bread dangling from his mouth as he shook her awake. Blinking sleep from her eyes, Olivia slowly sat up, her mind still foggy with dreams. With his mouth full of bread, Sean waved his arms excitedly. "Patient... outside... treatment." Olivia's slight frown deepened when she checked the time and saw it was barely eight in the morning. She wasn't expecting such an unusually early visitor. "Early start," Olivia remarked, pulling on a coat as she stepped outside. She yawned and nodded toward the inner room. "Bed's in there." Ethan surveyed the herb-cluttered yard. The cramped but well-organized space spoke of modest means, Andrey nodded obediently. "Alright then." Ethan stopped in his tracks when he entered the room. The simple wooden bed had only a thin blanket, though the space was adequately heated and carried a faint herbal aroma. The entire setup looked completely unprofessional. Swallowing hard, Ethan turned to his boss with concern. "Perhaps we should find a different clinic?" He knew Andrew's delicate health might not withstand such basic conditions. "It's humble, I know." Olivia entered with her acupuncture kit, tying up her hair as she spoke. "Feel free to leave, but the payment stays with me." Once money reached Olivia's hands, there was absolutely no getting it back. "Mr. Shea, what do you think?" Ethan began hesitantly. Andrew had always been particular about his surroundings, demanding pristine cleanliness and keeping even Ethan at arm's length. The idea of receiving treatment in this makeshift clinic made Ethan worry both about keeping his job and whether Olivia would live to see tomorrow. "Your choice-lie down or sit up," Olivia said, focusing on sterilizing the long needle rather than looking at them 1/3 Chapter 48 She normally used proper treatment rooms, but after Andrew had disturbed her twice, this minor inconvenience seemed appropriate paybart Noticing his hesitation, Olivia gave him an amused look. It's just sitting, not stripping. No need to be nervous" Ethan braced for his boss's reaction to such boldness, but to his surprise, Andrew just smiled and started unbuttoning his cost. Olivia finally glanced at him. "What are you doing?" "Following my doctor's orders," Andrew replied, his eyes flickering as he took a deep breath. She moved closer, guiding him down with a hand on his. "You're being awfully obedient." His fingers tensed slightly at her touch. When their eyes met, his gaze had darkened. "Good patients live longer," he murmured. Ethan felt a chill run down his spine as he realized he was intruding on something private. Without another thought, he turned and hurried from the room. Olivia's sharp eyes studied Andrew carefully. "Your assistant appears to be frightened of me." Andrew's eyes crinkled with quiet amusement. "No, he's frightened of me." Olivia's skilled fingers began massaging Andrew's temples. "Just relax," she said in her professional tone. "This is a standard acupuncture treatment." She then picked up a medium-length needle and inserted it near his heart, following the placement with gentle palm pressure. The room's warmth made the coolness of Olivia's fingers even more noticeable when they touched Andrew's skin, causing him to tense slightly. They fell into a comfortable silence, with only the sound of their breathing filling the quiet space. Andrew became aware of an unexpected dryness in his throat and adjusted his position slightly. "Keep still," Olivia reminded him calmly. Andrew swallowed hard, his attention completely focused on Olivia. As she worked, each accidental brush of her fingers against his skin made him increasingly aware of her presence. The acupuncture session lasted about forty minutes. Andrew couldn't understand his own reaction-every time Olivia's fingers lightly touched him during the treatment, he had to consciously stop himself from grabbing her hand. "That's enough for today," Olivia said while putting away her needles. She noticed Andrew's flushed face and added, "Is the room too warm for you?" The tips of Andrew's ears turned pink. He coughed lightly and looked away before mumbling, "Maybe a little." "I've treated your heart rhythm issues today. I'll write you an herbal prescription. Take it for ten days for best results." Olivia tossed him a mint candy. "This will help cool you down. And you should really get more sleep." A faint blush colored Andrew's pale cheeks as he nodded. She wasn't wrong-he had stayed up far too late the night before. "Your health is already compromised. Stop making/t worse by not sleeping," she added. As Ethan eavesdropped outside, he nearly complimented Olivia's thoughtfulness before her sharp words stopped him cold. He couldn't shake the worry that his boss might actually harm her in a fit of anger. When the treatment ended, they gathered in the yard for a simple breakfast Grace had prepared-an assortment of side dishes, a pot of nourishing oatmeal, and some toast. Olivia intercepted Andrew's hand as he reached for a piece of toast. "You need to eat lightly after acupuncture," she explained firmly. "Just half a bowl of oatmeal for now." 2/3 07:20 Tue, 2 Sept A Chapter 45 Andrew nodded obediently and ate only the small portion she recommended 8487% I finally dawned on Ethan that Olivia was providing legitimate medical treatment, not just using therapy as an excuse to flirt with his boas After the meal, Olivia handed Ethan a dietary instruction sheet. "Prepare these for your boss once daily when you return," she instructed Ethan looked surprised. "No medicine today?" That didn't make sense to him his boss had depended on daily medication ever since he was a toddler. Olivia stretched lazily, rolling her neck. "He doesn't need it," she said. "Proper nutrition works better than pills. We only use medication as a last reson." Besides, Andrew's condition went much deeper than what surface-level medication could address. Nodding in understanding, Ethan quickly put the sheet away. He noticed how his boss always ate heartily at Olivia's place, leaving with noticeably better color in his cheeks. 'Mr. Winston Shea would be absolutely delighted to see this improvement, he thought. AD Freelance photographer Violet Beck is forced into an engagement with CEO Roy Payne. He is everything her wild heart rebels against: proper, predictable, and painfully kind. But love has a way of devel...