“I’ve heard Dr. Hades can be capricious, acting solely on her own will. But Katelyn, since you’re good friends, I’m sure she’ll consider your request.”
Eager to prevent any refusal, Mabel quickly added, “And you shouldn’t forget that you put Neil through this in the first place. But if he recovers, all will be forgiven.”
Katelyn had been deliberating whether to intervene with Neil’s medical issues, but Mabel’s insinuation chilled her. Mabel’s words subtly reminded Katelyn that she was expected to rectify the situation, implying that she was responsible for Neil’s condition in the first place.
Katelyn pressed her lips together, her gaze icy as she focused on Mabel.
“The reason I acted against Neil that day was because he threatened my life first. I only broke his legs, which, considering the circumstances, was merciful. Don’t try to guilt-trip me. I did nothing wrong.”
Mabel, taken aback, momentarily struggled for words. Her response was stiff.
“Let’s leave the past behind. The most important thing now is to help Neil stand again. He has always been proud, and it’s a miracle he hasn’t been completely broken by this ordeal.”
Katelyn’s expression was complex as she nodded. Mabel’s reference to Neil’s former demeanor—a blend of pride and aloofness—struck a chord. Perhaps the peculiarities often seen in geniuses explained his resilience. Even ordinary people would find it hard to adjust to a sudden disability. Yet Neil was an exception. Far from being defeated, he had become even more ruthless than before. ? find?novel.net
Katelyn then recalled a moment when she had inadvertently seen Neil’s calves. The muscle definition was striking, hardly what one would expect from someone supposedly paralyzed; muscle and nerve atrophy from inactivity would have been obvious.
A suspicion crept into Katelyn’s mind. Was there something deceptive about Neil’s condition?
She met Mabel’s hopeful gaze and nodded decisively.
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“I’ll ask Hades to take a look, but her decision to help is ultimately up to her.”
“Really?” Mabel’s expression brightened considerably, and she quickly expressed her thanks.
“Katelyn, I appreciate this immensely. As long as Neil can recover, I’ll let bygones be bygones and won’t pursue anything further.”
Katelyn offered no response to Mabel’s promise. Instead, she turned and walked away briskly, her mind preoccupied. What was truly going on with Neil’s legs? She would find out soon enough once she had the chance to examine them herself.
Unbeknownst to Katelyn, their entire conversation in the hallway had not gone unnoticed. A figure concealed in the shadows had observed everything, capturing every word and expression.
To facilitate changing back into her disguise later, Katelyn brought Hades’ mask and outfit with her and left them in the car. There were still four hours left until the auction started. During this time, she planned to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding Neil’s injury.
She believed in Neil’s disability because his knees had indeed been shattered after she shot him, and he had always appeared in a wheelchair around others ever since. The exact details of his injuries and recovery, however, were still a mystery.
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