Chapter 92 — Looking Forward to a Surprise
By the afternoon, Rayne Clinic was no longer fronted by an empty desk.
In its place sat—
A graceful, gentle woman whose smile seemed to soften the air itself:
Helen Wick.
At first, she was a little flustered.
Unfamiliar with procedures.
Unsure about patient flow.
Occasionally confused by Ethan's casually tossed-out "medical terms."
But that only lasted twenty minutes.
After that—
It was like a switch flipped.
Smile. Nod. Register. Arrange.
Everything flowed naturally, politely, effortlessly.
Patients who walked in tense or impatient—
Left calmer, their emotions quietly smoothed over by her soft voice.
By the afternoon, Ethan barely had to worry about anything besides actual treatment.
Helen handled everything.
No delays.
No confusion.
Not a single New York auntie yelling about unfair lines.
What truly surprised Ethan, though—
Was her reaction to Max's cupcakes.
The moment Helen took her first bite—
She froze.
Eyes widening slightly.
"…This is really good."
"Right?!" Ethan immediately lit up.
"I've been saying—thirty a day isn't enough. I should ask her to send more."
Helen smiled softly.
"I like baking too. John and I both enjoy desserts."
Ethan nodded with certainty.
"Then you and Max are definitely going to be friends."
"She likes any woman who compliments her cupcakes."
———
The afternoon rush gradually faded.
Helen finished organizing the last file and let out a long breath.
Not exhaustion—
But something else.
A sense of being needed.
Ethan walked over.
"How was your first day?"
Helen looked up, her eyes bright.
"I haven't felt this… fulfilled in a long time."
"Seeing patients actually get help…"
"It's more meaningful than I expected."
Ethan smiled.
"Glad to have you here."
"I'm already starting to feel like I can't do without you."
It was already six.
Helen picked up her coat, preparing to leave.
Ethan asked casually,
"Where are you staying right now?"
"The Continental," she replied softly.
Ethan paused.
"…You've been staying there this whole time?"
She nodded.
"Everyone there is very polite."
Polite?
That's because they know your husband can take on a hundred people alone.
Ethan kept that thought to himself.
"Tell you what," he said after a moment.
"I can clear out the upstairs lounge."
"If you don't feel like staying at the hotel, you can stay here sometimes."
"John can drop by anytime too—and you'll save some… uh, gold coins."
Helen blinked, slightly surprised.
"Is that okay?"
"Of course."
"It's not big, but it's… relatively safe."
She nodded gently, a calm smile forming.
"Thank you, Ethan."
———
After Helen left, the clinic grew quiet again.
Ethan turned off the lights, tidied up, ready to call it a day.
Then he suddenly remembered—
Max.
That morning, she'd been genuinely shaken by John Wick.
And honestly—
Anyone would be.
A man lying outside your clinic, covered in blood, looking like he might die any second—
That wasn't exactly normal New York citizen behavior.
She hadn't even dared step inside.
Just peeked in from a distance—
Like crossing the threshold might drag her straight into a sequel of a gang war.
So—
Ethan decided to stop by the Williamsburg Diner.
———
Inside the diner—
Caroline had just finished taking orders from two very well-dressed customers at table two.
She rushed into the kitchen.
"Max! Guess what?"
"You're pregnant?"
Caroline rolled her eyes.
"Basic biology, please. You need sex to get pregnant."
"Fine," Max shrugged.
"Then you're pregnant… with a dream?"
Caroline ignored her.
"Steve and Mike are going out of town! They just offered me $600 to house-sit for two days and take care of their dog!"
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Why would anyone pay you $600 to take care of a dog?"
"Do they not know you can't even take care of Chestnut?"
"Because they want their dog properly cared for!"
"So… rich guys treating their dog like a child," Max muttered.
Caroline smacked her lightly.
"Max! Stop saying that!"
Max shrugged.
"If they're not, I won't say it."
Caroline beamed.
"It's basically a paid vacation in a luxury apartment!"
"And I really want to get as far away from this dump as possible."
"Where do they live?" Max asked.
"Four blocks away."
Max deadpanned:
"Enjoy your vacation."
"While you're living it up four blocks away, I'll be at home—having my own kind of fun."
Caroline frowned.
"Are you kidding? I'm not leaving you behind!"
"We'll split the money—it'll cover the shifts we miss!"
Max shook her head.
"Thanks, but I'm not the type to take time off just to have fun."
Caroline crossed her arms, mimicking her:
"'Hi, I'm Max. I don't enjoy luxury apartments—I prefer staying in a sweatshop, working while humming happily!'"
She leaned in.
"When's the last time you actually took a break?"
Max thought for three seconds.
"…Never."
"Unless you count that summer I hid under the balcony to avoid my mom's boyfriend."
Caroline sighed dramatically.
"Max, we need to get out of here!"
"This isn't just a vacation—it's a chance to escape the restaurant, the exhaustion, the poverty—everything!"
Max exhaled.
"…Fine. Fine."
"I'm in. Consider it me accompanying you."
Right then—
The door opened.
Ethan walked in.
Caroline's eyes lit up.
"Wow, if you'd shown up three seconds earlier, I'd be going alone. Today is my lucky day!"
Max rolled her eyes, grabbed a menu, and walked over.
"Well, well—if it isn't my favorite man today."
Ethan raised a brow.
"…Because I love your cupcakes?"
Max smirked.
"No."
"Because your tips are just like you—honest and generous."
Caroline leaned over the counter.
"Max just agreed to help two gay guys take care of their pet. Two days, $600."
"I take the job, she pets the cat."
Ethan blinked.
"…When did you two start a pet-sitting business?"