Chapter 169: That's Not Something You Should Worry About

Lost in thought, Bella gently applied ointment to Dominic's wound, her movements slow. Her soft fingertips massaged the skin around the injury with such care that she didn't notice Dominic watching her intently.

Finally, he spoke. "Dr. Jones," he said, "your technique isn't very professional. It's easily misinterpreted."

Bella jerked her hand back. He'd been pointedly calling her "Dr. Jones" since their bath, and it was irritating her.

Packing up the first-aid kit, she sighed. "All done. You should rest. More sleep will help you heal. I'll be going now."

Still teasing, Dominic said, "Not staying to 'attend to your patient'?"

Bella practically fled the room. He might be weak, but his words were surprisingly persistent.

The past few days felt like a return to her hectic old schedule, juggling multiple jobs. Caring for Dominic was more exhausting than her hospital shifts. She barely had time to see friends, like Lia.

A couple of days later, Bella saw an article on her phone about Amber's upcoming wedding. The article was mostly a public announcement—a way to solidify alliances and maximize benefits through marriage.

Amber's engagement meant the Yates family crisis was averted, the key being the man she was marrying. Clearly, Amber was rushing into this marriage to save the family, sacrificing herself to keep it afloat. Bella wondered: if Amber hadn't saved Dominic, would this have happened? It was obvious that in their two and a half years together, Amber had truly fallen for him.

The engagement was public knowledge, so Dominic surely knew. Yet, he hadn't mentioned it. Bella kept an eye on him throughout the day. Other than working in his study and occasionally flipping through a magazine, he did little. His calm was almost unnatural.

Over dinner, she tentatively asked, "Did you see the news? Amber's getting married."

Dominic barely reacted, giving a nonchalant hum without looking up. Bella felt he was pretending to be unaffected. After all, he and Amber had been together for over two years.

Even if their relationship was based on mutual benefit, it was hard to believe there were no feelings involved. Besides, Amber was being forced into this marriage because she saved him—even if the Yates family had brought it upon themselves.

With a sniff, she asked quietly, "Who is she marrying?"

Dominic glanced at her. "The son of the man I killed," he replied. "It's the only way the Yates family can prove it's not a conspiracy."

Bella was stunned. "Then will they let you go?"

He remained calm. "That's not something you should worry about. Just focus on your dinner."

Bella didn't press further, but every time she saw Pudding (presumably a pet or person's name), she thought of Amber. As much as she disliked her, she felt sorry for Amber.

These powerful families treated marriage as a bargaining chip—the Yates family did, and the Sawyer family did too. Would Dominic think the same way? Would he marry a woman of equal status, someone who could benefit the Miller Group?

The next day, Bella was seeing patients when an unexpected visitor arrived—Simon. It had been a while, and her emotions had settled. She greeted him coolly. "What seems to be the problem?"

Simon placed his registration slip before her, his smile strained. He looked worn down, aged. "I had to register just to see you. Just a moment of your time. I won't take long."

I removed the extraneous numbered section breaks and the inappropriate advertising text. I also made some minor stylistic changes for better flow and clarity.