"This is a herbal bath." Ann Vaughn replied casually after hearing Kressiel’s self-questioning.
She walked to the edge of the bathtub and evenly applied the freshly blended extract to Kressiel’s face, asking offhandedly, "Are you squeamish about blood?"
Kressiel was a bit puzzled by her sudden question but answered honestly, "No, I’m not. Why?" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ No(ᴠ)ᴇlFire.nᴇt
"I’m going to let some blood out later. If you can’t handle it, I can knock you out first before we proceed."
Ann Vaughn wasn’t trying to scare Kressiel. After applying the extract, she picked up her needle pouch and steadily inserted the Golden Needle into several vital acupuncture points on her back.
She didn’t immediately remove the Golden Needle but instead took Kressiel’s hand and pricked her fingertip.
Thick, dark blood soon flowed from her fingertip, dripping onto the floor beside the bathtub.
Kressiel made a pained face, "Actually... it hurts a bit."
"It proves you’re still alive." Ann Vaughn replied amidst her task, pressing slightly on the acupuncture points on Kressiel’s arm to force the stagnant blood to gather in one spot.
Kressiel realized Ann wasn’t one for comforting words, so she snorted lightly, "You’re not very likable !"
"As long as my baby likes me. Any other questions?"
This woman is so cold-hearted and cruel, yet flaunting her love!
Kressiel sulkily closed her mouth.
The amount of stagnant blood being expelled kept increasing, and the burn-red scars on Kressiel’s face and body began to fade significantly—no longer as inflamed as before.
Kressiel felt the changes in her body most acutely.
It was as if the heavy stones pressing on her limbs and torso were being washed away, leaving every pore relaxed and making her want to sleep.
The burning sensation in her usual burnt areas was also alleviated, no longer as dry and painfully scorching.
Kressiel could hardly believe it; this was the result of the Chinese medicine practice she had never trusted!
It was too miraculous!
Ann Vaughn glanced down, noticing the blood from Kressiel’s fingertips had turned bright red, and then removed the Golden Needles from her back, assisting her to stop the blood flow.
"The stagnant blood is mostly expelled now. After a couple of doses, you’ll need to nourish for a while to completely eliminate it."
Ann Vaughn straightened up, casually wiping the sweat from her face, "You can start drinking the medicine the day after tomorrow."
"Can’t I drink it now?"
Ann Vaughn packed the Golden Needles away, not even lifting her eye as she answered, "You drank alcohol today; it will take about two days for the alcohol to be metabolized in your body. During medication, no alcohol, no smoking, and avoid spicy food."
Hearing this, Kressiel sheepishly shrugged, "I understand..."
Thinking about wasting two precious days, Kressiel wished she could vomit out all the alcohol she drank.
"This bottle contains the extract; you can apply it to the scars after bathing." Ann Vaughn placed the bottled extract on the washstand, saying lightly, "Scar removal ointment requires time to prepare; come to the medical pavilion in three days to pick it up."
Scar removal ointment?!
Kressiel’s eyes lit up. She had tried countless scar removal products over the past two years, with little effect, and had long lost hope.
But if it’s Ann Vaughn’s scar ointment, it’s a different story.
"You’ve promised, I’ll wait for you!" Kressiel turned her head eagerly toward Ann Vaughn.
Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but smile, her lips softly curved like a gentle breeze.
Only now did Kressiel realize, the radiant eyes wrapped in sunshine and beauty held warmth, laughter, and earnestness.
Not the disgust and disdain she had imagined.
Nor pity or sympathy.
It was no different than how she looked at ordinary people.
Yet it was the gaze Kressiel had been seeking but never received.
After Ann Vaughn left, Kressiel soaked for twenty minutes as instructed before coming out.
"Miss, there’s a call for you." Norn’s voice came from outside the door.
"Leave the phone on the table and go out!" Kressiel hurried back to the bathroom after saying that.
Once Norn placed the phone down and exited, Kressiel stepped forward to pick up the phone, raising her eyebrows in surprise at the caller ID.
"Brother Warren?" Kressiel clamped the phone against her ear, unconsciously lowering her voice.
Who knows what was said on the other side, Kressiel’s expression suddenly changed, and her fingers holding the towel tightened.
"No, I haven’t seen her yet. Why are you suddenly asking me about her? I’m not familiar with her... Okay, if I do meet her, I’ll pass your message on. You can trust me!"
The call lasted just under two minutes.
Yet after hanging up, Kressiel felt her back soaked in cold sweat.
Her visit to S Country was a secret. How did Brother Warren find out?
The probing in his words earlier, does it mean he already knows she met Ann Vaughn, or is he just guessing she’d be unable to resist meeting Ann?
Either way, it unsettled Kressiel.
If this call had come a little earlier, Kressiel might have told him everything she knew.
But as the words reached her mouth, Kressiel suddenly remembered the data about Ann Vaughn, that she’s married and has a three-and-a-half-year-old son.
And what Ann Vaughn just said to her in the bathroom...
So, as if on a whim, Kressiel didn’t tell Warren the truth.
"It’s about someone else’s privacy, after all. Even if it’s Brother Warren, I can’t say..." Kressiel muttered to herself, holding her chest.
Ann Vaughn unknowingly missed out on this twist of fate and went straight back to 8 after leaving the hotel.
Cyrus Hawthorne was still at the company, so dinner was just Ann Vaughn and Kenny, while Bella Hawthorne’s portion was sent directly to her room.
"Young Madam, Madam asked me to tell you, she hopes you can find time to visit her at the hospital." Uncle Dexter walked into the dining room and spoke to Ann Vaughn helplessly.
It was his refined version of an otherwise commanding message.
If he were to speak precisely in Laura Quinn’s manner, he could never utter it, so he softened the tone.
"Uncle Dexter, you don’t have to relay messages for her anymore. If she’s sincere about seeing me, why didn’t she call me directly instead of asking you to pass it on?" Ann Vaughn’s pretty face remained calm.
Her final show of mercy towards Laura Quinn was limited to those medicinal meals.
"I understand." Uncle Dexter sighed, nodded, and left.
As little dumpling gulped down his milk, he noticed his mommy’s unhappiness and set down the cup, asking Ann Vaughn sweetly.
"Mommy, do you know the difference between you and a star?"