Mary sat in front of the operating table, gently and delicately stitching up a turkey that had been cut several times.
Ethan Rayne was repairing the flickering surgical lamp.
The light flickered on and off, as if someone were breathing.
After finishing the stitches, Mary examined her work, took off her gloves, and suddenly asked, "Ethan, do you know why I'm here?"
"Because you like me."
Read Taiwanese novels, super awesome
"Stop messing around."
"Because you are optimistic about the future of the clinic and joined early. Once our clinic goes public, you can lie back and make a fortune."
"..." Mary couldn't even be bothered to reply this time, just squinting her eyes and looking at Ethan Rayne as if he were crazy.
"Alright, alright." Ethan Rayne raised his hands in surrender. He thought seriously for a moment: "Because I saved you and helped you get revenge?"
"That's only part of the reason."
"Then perhaps it's because we trust each other."
Mary fell silent, involuntarily recalling their first meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Miss Mason, the records show you have an overdue payment."
Mary's tone was stiff: "I know. I called last Friday and deposited $40 into the account."
"The documents here state that you did make a payment on Friday." The customer service representative's voice was polite but devoid of warmth, "But $40 is generally not enough..."
Mary frowned, her voice tinged with anxiety and suppressed anger: "No one told me my service would be shut off when I called last Friday. They didn't say anything."
"They clearly made a mistake," the customer service rep said calmly. "We usually don't do this. I will reactivate your service without a reconnection fee. When will you be able to make your next payment?"
"Uh..." Mary gripped the phone tightly, "About... two weeks, maybe, I can deposit some money... How much do I need to pay to keep my service on?"
The customer service rep flipped through the documents, her voice still calm: "You are three months overdue. $364 should be enough."
"Okay, um..." Mary's throat felt dry as she forced out a question, "And what's the minimum I can pay?"
"$364." The call disconnected, the sound as abrupt as a door slamming shut.
Mary stared at the darkened call interface on the screen, her knuckles white.
Back home, the only sound in the quiet house was the low hum of the refrigerator compressor.
Mary opened the refrigerator door and glanced at the empty shelves, which held only a bottle of expired milk and half a bag of salad dressing.
She sighed, sat on the edge of the bed, and scrolled through job websites. Every listing mentioned "experience required," "full-time needed," and "bring resume to interview." Her fingers scrolled faster and faster.
She made a call.
"That's because my phone service was shut off," Mary explained, slightly embarrassed.
An aged and gentle voice came from the other end of the line: "What? Your service was shut off? When did that happen?"
"This afternoon, I guess? But it's fine now, it's all sorted out."
"I still have some money," the voice on the phone said, laced with concern. "I'll go to the bank tomorrow to withdraw it."
"No need, Grandma." Mary quickly interrupted, her eyes drifting toward the computer screen. She noticed a job posting pop up—
"$1000, NO SEX (No special services) - Cash Payment."
She clicked on it, and a sentence flashed on the page:
"A booming gentlemen's club is seeking attractive women to provide sensual massage and private dance services.
NO SEX REQUIRED! (No special services needed)
Weekly wages up to $1000, plus tips!"
Mary stared at the text, her heart tightening slightly. She took a breath and spoke to her Grandma on the phone again:
"Seriously, don't worry, I don't need it, Grandma. I contacted the bank, the phone company made a mistake, so everything is fine."
"Alright." Grandma sighed, her tone gentle. "No one bullying you at school, are they? No one trying to steal your boyfriend?"
Mary gave a wry smile: "I don't have a boyfriend. And dating is impossible in medical school."
"I watched a TV show," Grandma's voice suddenly lowered, as if telling an "educational story." "There was a girl who wanted to be a prostitute, and when her friend found out, she made up a story so others would think her friend was the prostitute. Young people nowadays, they strip off their clothes at the drop of a hat, with no shame at all."
Mary smiled helplessly: "That's just TV, Grandma. No one would watch if they didn't film it like that."
"Things like that would never happen in Budapest," Grandma said seriously. "They have a dedicated street there where women stand..."
"Mhm..." Mary listened to the call while staring at the screen, clicking the "Reply" button and typing quickly:
"I am very interested in the job posting you placed on Aexcea.
Where should I go for the interview?"
She pressed the send key, let out a long breath, and closed the phone.
In the evening, Mary stood in front of the building adorned with neon lights. The sign at the entrance swayed gently in the wind, and the mixed scent of alcohol and perfume assaulted her nose.
After asking around, Mary finally found the bar owner, Billy Burke.
"What is this?" Billy Burke asked, looking at the piece of paper in Mary's hand.
Mary stepped forward and handed over the document: "My resume. I wasn't sure if you needed it."
Billy Burke looked her up and down: "You don't need a resume to apply here, but—perfect, I can learn a little secret about you too."
He flipped through the paper: "High education level, huh? Planning to become a doctor?"
"A Surgeon."
"A Surgeon?" Billy Burke raised an eyebrow. "Is your medical skill high?"
Mary: "Very high. I'm also very short on money, I need to earn some, so..."
Billy Burke said meaningfully: "I like your honesty."
He put down the resume, leaned against the bar, and tapped the counter with his fingertips: "Alright, Mary, now we move on to a somewhat awkward topic."
"You're not fat, are you?"
Mary straightened her back: "No. A poor student who can barely afford to eat."
Billy Burke: "If you don't mind, please let me see."
Mary hesitated for a moment, but then unbuttoned her trench coat, revealing the black lingerie she had deliberately chosen: "Is this alright?"
"Perfectly fine." He looked around and nodded slightly.
"That's good." Mary replied softly.
"Walk a couple of steps." Billy Burke stared at the line of her legs. "Walk sexily."
She took a deep breath and forced herself to walk a few steps.
Billy Burke clapped softly: "Not bad. Give me a massage, come on."
Mary was stunned: "Now?"
"Of course."
Mary stepped forward and just placed her hands on him.
"Not through the jacket."
Mary bit her lip and did as Billy Burke instructed.
"Use some force, Mary."
"Okay." She responded softly, her movements awkward.
Billy Burke squinted, feeling her hands move back and forth across his shoulders.
Sudden, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and a very strong, long-haired man quickly walked in.
"Something's happened!"
Billy Burke turned his head and instructed Mary: "Don't stop."
Then he said to the newcomer: "Lance, can't you see I'm conducting an interview?"
Lance: "Blake is injured."
Billy Burke: "Take him to the hospital!"
Lance: "We can't go to the hospital."
Billy Burke slammed his fist on the table. "Damn it!"
He jumped up, told Mary, "Wait here!" and rushed out.
Mary rubbed her palms, standing rooted to the spot, feeling somewhat lost.
Just a moment later, Billy Burke rushed back in, his tone urgent: "Mary, how far are you from being a Surgeon?"
"There's still some distance," Mary replied hesitantly. "I still need to intern at a hospital, but I've already learned most of the knowledge..."
A spark flashed in Billy Burke's eyes: "Do you want to earn $5,000?"
The two walked toward the dim basement.
Mary asked as she walked: "What do you want me to do?"
Billy Burke lowered his voice: "Don't ask anything. Once it's done, I'll give you five thousand dollars, and you won't have to take off your clothes."
Mary hesitated for a moment: "What do you want me to do?"
"So many questions? Forget it then!" Billy Burke waved his hand impatiently and turned to leave.
Mary suddenly stopped Billy Burke: "As long as you give me five thousand dollars, I'll do anything tonight."
Billy Burke turned back and glanced at Mary: "Follow me."
The two entered a room in the basement. It was very dim inside, containing several gang members and a person covered in blood lying on a table.
Billy Burke said: "We don't want him to die. We've already drugged him. Just operate."
Mary froze, looking at the blood-soaked person on the table, unsure what to do.
Billy Burke paused, then added with a cold laugh: "Even though I'm not a doctor, I know you need to hurry."
Mary snapped back to reality and realized the problem immediately—the bar's basement was dimly lit and the air was murky. On the table were only a few bottles of beer, some towels, and a bare light bulb swinging.
"Here? You want me to operate here?"
She frowned. "I need a clean environment. At the very least, I need instruments and anesthesia."
Billy Burke's expression stiffened as he looked down at the bloodied gang member on the floor.
The man's chest was pierced by a bullet, and blood was gushing out. The air smelled of sweat, alcohol, and rust.
"What do we do? He's dying!"
Another gang member shouted in panic.
Billy Burke squinted, about to curse, when someone nearby suddenly interjected: "I remember a new clinic opened nearby, around the corner on Seventh Avenue."
"A clinic?" Billy Burke turned to look at the person.
"Yes, it hasn't been open long. It seems a young doctor opened it. Someone went there; they take cash and the doctor doesn't ask any questions."
Billy Burke gritted his teeth and looked at Mary, whose hands were covered in blood.
"Take her, go together. Hurry!"
"But—"
"Hurry up! If we delay any longer, he'll be going to heaven tonight!"
Mary took a deep breath. Her heart was racing, but her gaze was calm.
"I hope he doesn't die on the way."