Female Novel
Chapter 121
Veronique could not help but chuckle.
“I suppose you already have a plan since you knew what they are after. What do you want me to do,Bay?”
Bailey narrowed her eyes as she picked at her nails, thinking silently for a few minutes. “Vero, do youthink I should reveal myself?”
Veronique frowned.
“Bay, are you still thinking about what happened that time?”
Bailey looked out of the window at the bustling streets in the night city littered with colorful lights, andsorrow and regret clouded her eyes.
She remained silent for a long, long while until she spoke again in a hoarse and dry voice. “I can neverforget what happened, Vero. It has left a permanent mark on my life. The operating table is a trigger forme. I will never overcome this fear if I can't walk out of this trauma. I won't be able to hold a scalpelagain my whole life. It's life and death we're talking about. I don't think I will ever get over it.”
“But it was not your fault,” Veronique urged, holding her hand. “That child was so badly injured when hecame in. There was no way you could have saved him, Bay!”
Glints of tears shone and spread in Bailey's eyes until her eyes were moist. Behind her tears wereemotions she concealed so securely that no one would ever understand.
“But he was Shannon's son, Vero. He was the only hope of her life, and she entrusted him to me. I toldher I would do everything I could to save him, but I didn't do that in the end. I didn't bring him back toher. I'm the one who pushed her down the bottomless pit of misery!”
Bailey covered her face in guilt, and tears seeped through her slender, fair fingers.
Veronique stood up, went over to her, and pulled her into her arms.
“Bay, it was not your fault. There were a lot of blood clots in his venous sinuses when you operated onhim. We all know that was a lost cause, but you still insisted on the operation. That was already thebest you could do for him.”
Bailey broke into a smile, shaking her head. “I know in my head that it was impossible to bring himback, but my heart doesn't feel that way. I don't think I can ever put this behind me. Eugene saw me ashis own mother. He would always follow me around, shouting 'Mommy Bay,' but what did I do for him? Icouldn't even keep him alive.”
When she pulled her hands away from her face to show Veronique, they were wet with tears. “Icarefully cut the blood vessels because I knew there were blood clots. I was so careful, but bleedingstill happened in the end. His blood was all over my body, hands, and face. Can you imagine that,Vero? You're seeing this pair of clean hands, but they were stained with Eugene's blood.”
“Stop it, Bay,” Veronique pleaded, her arms squeezing around Bailey. “It's all in the past. We will justleave it where it is even if you can't get over it. You can stay away from the operating table for as longas possible. Just stop thinking about it, Bay. Stop.”
Bailey lay in her arms like a stiff log. She was a strong woman, but at that moment, she badly needed a
friend's shoulder to cry on.
“I can't even bring myself to contact Shannon over the years. I'm afraid she'll blame me; I'm afraid tolook into her lifeless eyes. They pierce through my heart like a knife.”
Veronique looked away and swallowed back her tears. “Let's not talk about this anymore, shall we?”she asked with a soothing voice and rigid smile. “Get some good sleep tonight. You'll still be the samestrong Bailey I know tomorrow. I won't force you to do anything you don't want.”
Bailey got up from her embrace and looked into her eyes with a sad smile. “They can't force me to doanything even if they find out who I am. I already cut the veins on my wrist three years ago. I can't evenhold a scalpel now.”
“Bay!” Veronique stared at her in utter disbelief, her body quivering violently.
She suddenly recalled something and grabbed Bailey's right hand before touching her wrist. Her facepaled in horror.
There's really a scar! This will not affect her daily life significantly, but there's no way she can ever do acomplex surgery again.
“Bailey Jefferson, how could you do this to yourself?” Veronique fumed.
She was infuriated learning the truth. Her eyes showed rebuke, pain, and pity as she glared at Bailey,but the latter smiled lightly.
“Don't worry about it. I can still do everything as usual. I even designed a beautiful gown for Caridee.That's enough to show that I can do everything as usual except holding a scalpel.”
Veronique stared at her as she felt her whole body drained of strength. She would have fallen to theground if her hands were not on the table.
Why did she even do that? This is a massive loss to the whole medical sector. She was such a talentedsurgeon!
Veronique sighed in resignation. “It's too late for me to say anything, isn't it? You're the one goingthrough this, so I can't say I understand your struggles. As for the Luther family, I won't tell them aboutAnonymous, so you don't have to worry.”
Bailey patted her shoulder and smiled. “I don't mind letting them know if they keep pressuring you.They probably won't even believe you if you tell them anything.”
Veronique shook her head. “I still won't tell them anything. I don't want them to disturb your peacefullife. I wanted to ask for your help when I came, but not anymore. What you said was the last straw forme. I'd rather you start a new life instead of dwelling in the past.”
Bailey pointed at the opposite seat with her chin and smiled. “Let's talk about something else. Whathave you been up to these few years?” novelbin
When morning came the next day, Simon made a trip to Shelbert Condominium.
He had no intention of going over after Bailey and the children messed with him, but because Gleninsisted that Simon bring them to the Luther residence, he had no choice but to go over himself.
He knew it was a critical moment for the family, so he did not defy the old man's wishes. Disobeyinghim would only make him angry, so Simon just did as he was told.
Zayron came to open the door in his pajamas, and he frowned the moment he saw Simon. “Aren't youafraid that my mommy will let the dog loose again to bite your member?”