No matter how masterful Sarah Sullivan's medical skills are, she never knew that even a person in a vegetative state could get jealous.
So Sarah just treats Anthony Varley as a one-way sounding board, talking about her situation with William Shaw all by herself.
"William Shaw was never my boyfriend, it's always been him deluding himself."
"I'm not saying this to explain myself to you; I have nothing to explain. What I have done, I never deny it, but what I haven't done, I won't be forced to admit."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with a woman having dated before marriage; the virgin complex is even more ridiculous. If I had had a romantic experience before, I wouldn't hide it. But the truth is, I never dated William Shaw, nor have I dated anyone."
"But I did indeed have a child, though I don't know who the father is, but I'm certain it has nothing to do with William Shaw."
"The child's situation is complicated, and for now, I don't have anything to say to you about it. Speaking of William Shaw, when I met him, he was a mute..."
...
Many wealthy families are filled with cruel internal power struggles, and the Shaw Family is no different.
William Shaw's side of the family were the losers in the power struggle.
The whole family was forced to leave Huston and flee to a remote small town for refuge.
That's when Sarah Sullivan met William Shaw.
The weak young man, who was scorned by his family for being mute, ridiculed by those around him.
Sarah Sullivan saw that he wasn't born mute but was poisoned by someone.
Seeing him as pitiful, she secretly cured William Shaw so that he could speak again.
But Sarah isn't one for taking credit, so the Shaw Family still doesn't know that William Shaw can talk thanks entirely to Sarah Sullivan.
Sarah never paid much attention to it; she saved many people, not just William Shaw.
She wasn't bothered by the gratitude of the Shaw Family.
William Shaw always saw Sarah Sullivan as a country girl he met in the countryside.
Yet even if he didn't know Sarah was his benefactor, he deeply fell in love with her.
Because Sarah Sullivan was too beautiful.
The kind of beauty no man could resist.
So dazzling, so brilliant, so striking.
Thus, William Shaw began to madly pursue Sarah Sullivan.
He sent Sarah flowers every day.
Set up heart-shaped candles at her doorstep, sang love songs, wrote love letters, recited love poems, folded a thousand paper cranes, gifted 999 roses.
To the point where Sarah was quite annoyed.
At first, she would throw away the love letters William wrote, but later she couldn't even bother to do that and just let him carry on.
The paper cranes and love letters piled up in a sack, left to be sold for money to Ms Claymore, who collected recyclables.
Thus, William Shaw assumed Sarah had accepted his courtship.
Then, the power struggle in the Shaw Family began once more.
This time, William Shaw's side became the victors.
William Shaw could return to Huston.
Before leaving, he made a grand declaration to Sarah Sullivan, urging her to find him in Huston, promising he would make her the happiest woman in the world.
Sarah merely listened; she didn't take him seriously.
There was no cellphone signal in the mountains, so initially, William Shaw insisted on writing to Sarah weekly.
His longest letter had over 20,000 words, citing over 30 poems.
From Arthur Gold, Dylan Yeats, Henry Hayes, Pushkin Cooper, Tagore, Shellry to Li Shangyin, Li Qingzhao, Li Yu, NaLan Xingde.
No famous poet, Eastern or Western, was spared.
Sarah never replied to any.
The letters were too long; she couldn't be bothered to read or write.
Later, William Shaw's letters diminished gradually, and Sarah didn't think much of it.
Eventually, Sarah arrived in Huston.
William Shaw visited the Sullivan Family several times in search of her but ended up getting acquainted with Nora Sullivan.
From Nora, he learned about Sarah's past of having a child out of wedlock.
He then made a huge fuss, as if he'd been deceived in love by Sarah.
Thus, Sarah was "dumped," gaining a self-absorbed "ex-boyfriend."
...
Sarah finished recounting her story with William Shaw.
She usually is a person who doesn't like to talk much.
Because many people are quite foolish; dealing with them is a waste of time and energy.
But Sarah now feels that talking to a person in a vegetative state is not bad.
At least, they don't argue with you.
After speaking, Sarah stands up to freshen up.
And the man lying on the bed, silent, had loosened his tightly clenched fist.
There seemed to be a faint hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
...
The next day, as planned, Sarah Sullivan needs to go to River Road's "Skillful Hand Hall" to collect the ordered medicinal herbs.
Before leaving, Sarah saw Dominic Varley in the courtyard, sketching the rockery with a drawing board.
Now Sarah knows the special status of Little Bun, and due to his non-verbal nature — although at the age for kindergarten — he receives one-on-one private lessons at home.
With the Varley's affluence, the tutors for Brightan are undoubtedly top-notch.
"Brightan, come to my place for dinner tonight," Sarah spoke to Little Bun.
Little Bun, with eyes like gemstones, looked at Sarah somewhat puzzled.
"This isn't a discussion; it's an order. We won't meet by chance."
Sarah threw down a line and left.
Little Bun nodded vigorously and continued drawing.
Sarah had naturally examined Little Bun as well, concluding his silence wasn't due to a physiological issue nor was he poisoned like William Shaw.
It's just the child's choice not to speak.
It's a mechanism of self-protection.
So Sarah wouldn't force him.
...
The car horn chirped near Sarah's ears, she turned to see Florence Varley sheepishly getting out from a pink Rolls-Royce Phantom by the roadside.
"Sally, where are you going? I'll drive you."
"No need."
"Now, now, why be so formal with your aunt? Last night I didn't clear things up, but now I've realized no one reads books these days. We've got more high-tech stuff."
Florence Varley triumphantly pulled out a small box from the car.
Inside were DVDs with covers that were unsightly.
"I had these specially airlifted from Japan and America. Play them for my nephew tonight; they're much more stimulating visually and audibly. I'll bring them to your place tonight…"
Florence Varley kept chattering.
"Brightan is dining at my place tonight; are you sure you want to send these over?"
One sentence left Florence Varley speechless.
Sarah was quite satisfied; Little Bun was indeed very useful.
Seeing Little Bun, Sarah reaffirmed a plan she had long made.
After the contract marriage with Anthony Varley ends, even if she never marries, she would still have a child of her own.
To make up for past regrets.
As for how a woman has a child on her own?
That's not an issue; one can go to a fertility center for IVF.
Apparently, a lot of men donate sperm there.
Should she ask Anthony Varley to donate some?
He's so handsome after all.
She can pay for it, right?
The more Sarah considered it, the more feasible it seemed, thus strengthening her resolve to cure Anthony Varley.
So that he would owe her a favor.
Making it awkward for him to refuse when asked to donate sperm.