Alicia froze for a second, then gave a crooked smile. “Doctor Johnson, don’t tell me you’re starting to feel sorry for me,” she said.


    Harvey hadn’t expected her to toss that line out so casually. He chuckled, shaking his head.


    “No, not pity. I’m just amazed. How do you put up with so much?”


    Alicia tilted her head, pretending to think before answering, “Guess I’m part punching bag.”


    Harvey blinked, then burst outughing. “You really are something else,” he said. “No wonder Charles…”


    He cut himself short, recalling that Charles hadn’t exactly confessed his feelings to Alicia yet.


    “Hm?” Alicia’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “What was that?”


    Harvey cleared his throat, quickly steering the topic elsewhere.


    “I mean, why do you trust me so easily?” he asked. “What if I really was the kind of doctor Adam described? And what if I messed with your treatment just to teach him a lesson? You’d be the one to suffer.”


    “Oh,” Alicia threw the question back at him with a calm smile. “But would you?”


    Harvey stared at her for a beat, then broke into anotherugh. “No. I wouldn’t. That’s why you can trust me.”


    “Then thank you,” Alicia smiled back. “Are you here for the usual checkup?”


    “That’s right,” Harvey nodded. He ran her through a round of routine questions, then turned to the nurse with a few quick instructions before continuing with Alicia.


    “I’ll switch up your meds and put you on IV’s for two more days, he instructed. “After that, you can go home. But you’ll still need plenty of rest.”


    Alicia nodded. “Got it.”


    Just then, Brooke returned with a fruit basket. Alicia’s eyes lit up the moment she spotted the cherries in her hands. Her whole face brightened like amp.


    “Wow, cherries! They look so good,” Alicia cheered. “I haven’t had them in forever.”


    Harvey paused at the doorway. Her delighted voice made him turn his head. Alicia was reaching eagerly for the fruit, her in face glowing under the light. She looked genuinely happy-over something so small.


    ‘What a good girl, thought Harvey. After everything she’s been through, she can stillugh like this… so innocent and so pure.


    Harvey lingered for a few seconds longer at the door, then finally walked away.


    “Take it slow, Miss Lawrence,” back in the ward, Brooke handed Alicia a napkin. “You’ve got to chew carefully


    now, and don’t overdo it.”


    She studied Alicia closely, watching her face for any flicker of difort or irritation. But nothing.


    Brooke frowned. This felt strange to her. As a caretaker, reading people’s moods was supposed to be second nature-especially with demanding clients.


    It was survival 101 in this line of work. And she prided herself on being a master at it. But she couldn’t read Alicia at all. Her expression stayed calm and measured, and her emotions were tucked away. To Brooke, Alicia was more like someone who’d learned to hide too much.


    Finally, Brooke couldn’t help but blurt out, “Miss Lawrence, Doctor Lawrence didn’t bully you, did he?”


    “No. Why?” Alicia shook her head with a soft smile, plucking a cherry from the basket. She held it out to Brooke. “Here, have some cherries.”


    Brooke quickly waved her hands. She knew those cherries were imported, and Mr. Quinn had them sent over. They were way too expensive for her.


    Meanwhile, Adam had just walked into Room 602, where Tiffany was staying. The moment she saw him, Tiffany’s face lit up with excitement, and Maria smiled warmly too.


    “Tiffany, start packing up. We’re moving you over there,” said Maria, then she turned to Adam. “By the way, make sure the room Alicia stayed in gets properly disinfected. And everything she touched-sheets, quilts, pillowcases-throw it all out and rece it.”


    The rest of the Lawrence family nodded in agreement. Hugh patted Adam on the shoulder.


    “Good job this time,” he said. “All right, you can go. We’ll take care of Tiffany.”


    Adam nced around at his family. Not one of them asked what illness Alicia had, or how serious it was. All they cared about was swapping Tiffany into her room.


    He finally understood what Alicia had been trying to tell him before.


    Drawing in a deep breath, Adam said firmly, “No one’s moving. The room stays as it is.”


    Everyone turned to stare at him. But Adam’s gaze locked on Maria. “Mom, when Alicia lived at our house, did you ever give her any pocket money?”


    Maria hadn’t expected that question. She frowned, then answered matter-of-factly, “No. She lived with us- room and board covered. What would she need pocket money for?”


    Adam’s voice shook as he shot back, “But the rest of us all get it. A few thousands a month. Every month.”


    “She’ not like you,” Maria didn’t even blink. “You’re my real children.”


    Adam’s lips trembled. It was like his whole worldview had shattered. “So you never saw Alicia as your daughter, did you?”


    Maria’s tone turned sharp. “She’s not my blood. Why should I treat her like one? I gave her food, clothes, a roof over her head. That’s more than enough.”


    “Food and clothes?” Adam’s voice was bitter. “Did you ever invite her to the dinner table? Did she ever eat what you ate? Did she really get enough food, enough warmth?”


    Maria opened her mouth but no words came out. Truth was, they’d never called Alicia to meals. She couldn’t even recall what Alicia usually ate. But Alicia had survived twelve years under their roof-so Maria thought she must have eaten something.


    Before she could defend herself, Adam pressed on. “If you never saw her as family, then why take her in the first ce?”


    Maria faltered, unable to answer. Archie tugged at Adam’s sleeve.


    “Adam, what’s wrong with you?” asked Archie. “Did Alicia fill your head with something? I knew she’s nothing but trouble. Always stirring up drama. I’ll go deal with her right now.”


    Archie rolled up his sleeves and made for the door, but Adam yanked him back with such force that Archie stumbled and hit the floor.


    “What’s wrong with you?” Clutching his arm, Archie snapped. “Dad and Mom asked you to get Tiffany a room, but instead youe back throwing a fit?” <fn2c44> Readplete version only at FιndＮovel</fn2c44>


    Andrew chimed in, “Exactly. What did Alicia say to you? Brainwashed you already?”


    Aaron also frowned. “Adam, seriously. What’s your matter? Apologize to Mom now.”


    Adam didn’t move. His eyes swept over all of them. “Did any of you ever care if Alicia had enough to eat? Enough to wear?” he demanded. “She’s sick right now-has anyone asked what she has, or how bad it is?”


    His voice rose with every word. “For twelve years, she regarded you as her brothers, gave you gifts, and not one of you truly cared about her. Don’t you selfish people see it?”