I Am An Illegitimate Child With A Legitimate Reason For Revenge-Chapter 45: You’re a doctor

Raymond stared at the trembling little kitten in front of him. Seriously, what can he do to make this kitten become a full fledged tigress?

Her acting was convincing but it wasn’t enough for her to just act. She had to become as vicious as her personality entailed. She had to be a complete menace even when she wasn’t acting.

How can he completely transform her into a venomous snake?

"What did he hit you with?" He repeated the question and Ariel stopped shaking but she didn’t turn around.

"There were times he used his bare hands, there were times he used his belt, not minding the fact that I could get seriously injured with the head of the belt." Her voice shook but she tried not to let it show. "There were times he used a brush, breaking it all over my body like I was a stubborn wild animal that needed to be controlled. And there were times... hic."

Raymond’s eyes squinted as he heard her sobbing. He quickly turned her around, only to find her face covered in waves of tears. The blouse in her arms was already soaked and the tears wouldn’t stop falling.

"Don’t mind the tears, Sir Raymond. It’s just because the memory of it all was..." Her words were immediately interrupted when he pulled her to himself and hugged her. Stunned, she called out to him. "Sir... Sir Raymond?"

Raymond squeezed her tight.

He had seen her cry before and he felt nothing. He had seen her cry heavily so why now? Why was he suddenly feeling like his entire body was getting torn to shreds just from seeing her cry?

Was it empathy and sympathy? No, he had learnt to forget the pain of the past and he would’ve experienced this sooner if it indeed had to do with empathy.

Was it pity then? No, he could’ve just given her a handkerchief like before.

Then, what was it? That nagging feeling in his chest, he couldn’t get it.

"Bear with it." He said. "Bear with it, Ariel. Soon enough, the ones who caused you this pain will have the chance to feel the same pain."

He tried to console her, hoping it would lighten her heart and his heart as well but instead, it made her cry more. And so, his heart felt even more burdened.

’I shouldn’t make her cry more in the future.’ He thought to himself, squeezing his eyes shut in disdain.

After Ariel finally calmed down, she realised she had not only ruined her blouse but also Raymond’s coat.

"I’m sorry, Sir Raymond. I couldn’t control my emotions again." She apologised, meticulously and calmly cleaning his coat with his own handkerchief since she didn’t carry one with her.

"Maybe I shouldn’t bring up something like this in the near future." He mumbled and she nodded.

As they waited, Ariel felt a bit cold and sneezed.

"Put it on." Raymond said.

"What?"

"Put on the coat." He rephrased and she looked at the coat in her arms. Yeah, why didn’t she think of that?

She put on the coat, and once again, they returned to the silence.

Just then, the doors opened and White appeared, looking a bit out of breath. Ariel looked at him, wondering if he ran all the way from the parking lot.

"I am here, master." White reported and to which Raymond responded,

"Hm, I can see that."

There were a few guards behind White, carrying five different styles and colors of newly customised suits.

Since White had already called that he had arrived at the country’s airport, Raymond simply told him to get a new suit for him and comfortable clothes for Ariel.

But White exaggerated the order and bought more than two custom made suits.

"This will do." Raymond said, picking one out of the five suits.

White’s gaze fell on Ariel sitting behind Raymond. She was obviously the reason why Raymond had to change clothes and looking at her slightly puffed eyes, he could tell that she cried... Again. He scowled his eyes.

"White." Raymond called and White’s eyes naturally left Ariel and landed on his master.

"Yes, master?"

"Take Ariel home." He ordered. "I’ll be stopping somewhere."

At the mention of that, White felt vexed. When did it become his job to follow Ariel around? But he did not let his vexation show, neither did he voice out his displeasure of the task.

"Yes, master."

Raymond took the clothes meant for Ariel and asked everyone to stay outside while she changed.

"I’ll be back by dinner." He told her and she nodded. He patted her head and she wondered what that was for.

Raymond left Ariel in White’s care and went to visit Steve. Yes, he went to visit his doctor.

"And to what do I owe this ’pleasant’ visit?" Steve asked.

"You’re my doctor, shouldn’t you worry about seeing me come in?" Raymond said, taking a seat in front of his desk.

"I don’t think I need to worry, seeing that you walked in with your own two feet and are currently crossing your long legs." Steve responded, smiling in a professional way.

"I need a heart scan." He said and Steve’s pen dropped from his hand.

"I’m sorry, did I hear you right? Did you just say you need a heart scan?" He asked and Raymond’s strict and unmoving gaze on him said he was right. "And why do you think you need that?"

"I’ve been feeling strange lately." He said, reaching for his chest. "It seems to hurt sometimes and other times it... feels like an inflated balloon."

Steve was a bit lost and his face, which stared straight at him without moving, nor blinking, said it all.

"You’re a doctor, you’re supposed to understand these expressions better."

"I’m sorry, I do not understand inflated balloons or whatsoever." Steve said, finally dropping his professional smile. He picked up his notepad and his fallen pen, ready to jot down. "Okay, let’s start with this... does it hurt?" Raymond nodded and he jot it down. "Then, when are the times you feel hurt?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Raymond was silent as he thought back to the instances.

"When she cries." He answered and once again, Steve looked lost. "When Ariel cried, I felt it hurt a lot. It was like I didn’t want to see her cry anymore. That never happened in the past but it suddenly started hurting a few days ago."

Steve blinked but made sure to jot it down.

"And at times it felt like an inflatable balloon?" He asked.

"She was happy. She smiled. She looked relieved. She looked satisfied." He listed, unknowing to himself that he was currently smiling.

Steve adjusted his glasses. Was he seeing properly? It couldn’t be. He took off his glasses, cleaned them with his coat and wore them again. The smile was still there.

’This can’t be what I think it is, right?’ he speculated. "And..." he gulped. "... what are your feelings towards her?" He asked further.

"Feelings?" He tilted his head, a bit confused.

"Like, how do you feel when she’s around you? What do you feel like doing when she’s close by, looking happy and all?" Steve asked and paid close attention, not wanting to miss any slight change in his expression.

Raymond still had that warm smile on as he thought about Ariel and he opened his mouth to answer.

"I want to care for her." He simply said.

But as simple as his answer was, the gravity was on another different level.