Chapter 612 Living With Awareness and Understanding
Chapter 612 Living With Awareness and Understanding
Madeline was momentarily stunned but quickly recognized Zoe. "Of course," she replied.
She asked Zoe to hand her phone to the staff downstairs and informed the front desk to allow her entry.
Oasis Law Office was gradually getting on track with the hiring of two receptionists.
Both were young and beautiful fresh graduates. They were smart, charming, and had pleasant personalities, making them very likable.
After ending the call, she turned to Leigh and informed her, "Watch your movie. I'll go check on Riley."
Leigh lazily made an "OK" gesture with her hand and didn't bother to move.
"Tsk!" Madeline tapped her head and grumbled, "Lucas should be here to witness you being a couch potato!" Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
"Sure, he should!" Leigh propped her chin lazily on her hand and looked at her friend. "This is called being laid-back! When an unattractive person is a couch potato, they're called a loser, but when an attractive person is a couch potato, they're charming!"
Flicking her hair to the back of her head, she shot Madeline a seductive look. "What do you think about me? Am I charming?"
Madeline was at a loss for words.
Lucas probably wouldn't be able to escape from this enchantress' grasp in his lifetime. Poor him!
Since Riley and Leigh lived on the same floor, Madeline quickly arrived at Riley's room.
She knocked on the door and entered the room, and as soon as she took a look at Riley's face, she couldn't help but be amazed. Dr. Leigh did live up to her name.
Two days ago, when Riley came to Oasis Law Office, her face was almost disfigured. It was covered in red bumps, some of which had even become pus-filled. It not only looked terrifying but also disgusting.
At that time, they pretended not to notice and put on a calm facade for Riley's sake. In reality, however, they were deeply affected and felt uncomfortable just by looking at her.
Now that two days had passed, the bumps on Riley's face had significantly subsided. Although there were still red marks on her skin, it wasn't as disgusting as it was when she first arrived.
Leigh possessed such miraculous medical skills that could turn a disfigured face into a normal one. Even if she was proud, others could only call her confident at most, but they couldn't accuse her of boasting.
"Hello, Miss Taylor." Riley's greeting brought Madeline back from her thoughts.
"Hi, Riley." Madeline got straight to the point as she opened the door. "Zoe is here. She said she would like to see you, so I let her come up."
Riley was slightly taken aback but quickly regained her composure. "Yes. She told me that."
"Great. I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, someone knocked on the door, prompting her to look in the direction of the sound. "That should be Zoe."
"Yeah." Riley nodded and smiled at Madeline. "Thank you, Miss Taylor."
Then, Madeline walked over to open the door.
Sure enough, it was Zoe standing outside.
"I have something else to do, so I'll leave you two alone." Madeline walked to the door and reminded Riley, "I'm going to visit Katy. Call me if you need anything."
Once Caitlin was discharged from the hospital, she also moved into the Oasis Law Office.
Even so, her body was still weak. In order to make it easier for Leigh to take care of her, Madeline arranged for her to stay next to Leigh, on the same floor.
"Sure." Riley nodded at her and thanked her again, "Thanks again, Miss Taylor."
Madeline smiled sweetly. "You're welcome."
As one of the four top stars in the entertainment industry, Derek Young was financially powerful and generous.
Since Madeline was paid to take care of Riley, she should naturally ensure the health of her patient.
After Madeline left, she even considerately closed the door for Riley and Zoe.
Zoe stood at the door, looking at Riley's red and mottled face with a complicated gaze. Words didn't seem to be able to come out of her mouth.
On the other hand, Riley remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked toward the living room. "What would you like to drink? Coffee? Juice?"
"Riley... I'm so sorry..." Zoe finally found her voice. "I didn't know she was so terrible... I didn't intend for her to hurt you either... It's true that I like Timothy, but I know that a forced relationship will never work out, and although I am in pain, I have never thought of using despicable means to snatch him away from you."
She clenched her fists and looked at Riley's back, continuing, "What I like about Timothy is his unwavering love for you despite your sickness. If he were to abandon you and choose me just because you become sick or your appearance has changed, I wouldn't like him anymore."
"I know." Riley poured a glass of juice for Zoe and handed it to her. "Even though Mr. Lynch and you haven't been very kind to me, he is still my stepfather, and we are stepsisters who don't share the same blood. Both of you haven't framed me or bullied me, and you are even willing to live under the same roof with me without complaints. You have done what you should do, and you haven't done anything wrong."
Even though Marcus didn't treat her like a biological father would, she had never starved or gotten scolded throughout the years. Hence, she was grateful to him.
Zoe, on the other hand, despite not having a close relationship with Riley, had never plotted against her, slandered her, or ostracized her like what was shown in movies.
Therefore, she was also grateful to Zoe.
"But..." Riley lowered her eyes and looked at Zoe with a serious gaze. "But after such an incident, we can't be friends anymore, let alone sisters. After the truth is revealed, I hope we can just be strangers... Of course, I know that I owe Mr. Lynch for raising me, so if he ever needs my help in the future, I will do my best to help him."
Zoe bit her lip and fell silent.
She was afraid that Riley would misunderstand and think that she had instructed Lydia to hurt her.
She definitely didn't want to bear such a big blame, so she came to explain to Riley on purpose.
Never did she expect Riley to believe her and her father. Not only did she not suspect her, but she didn't even hate her. She merely hoped they could be strangers in the future.
Be strangers? That's fine.
She had never picked on Riley, but she had never genuinely liked her either because her father was her only family, so she didn't want his love to be shared with another child.
Zoe and Riley had always been independent from each other.
While she didn't treat Riley as an enemy, she could never consider her a friend or family member.
Being strangers might be the most favorable outcome for them.
"Okay." Zoe extended her hand toward Riley. "I wish you happiness."
Riley glanced at her hand and reciprocated the gesture, shaking it with her right hand. "Likewise."
Zoe smiled, and the immense burden that had weighed on her heart for the past few days dissipated silently.
As soon as they released each other's hands, she felt a sense of relief.
This outcome couldn't have been better.
"I actually came here for another reason as well," Zoe stated. "I have a friend's sister who found herself in a distressing situation, and Dad mentioned that everyone at the Oasis Law Office will definitely be of help. Is that true?"