Chapter 40: Without Reason

Bella stiffened, the urge to cry overwhelming her. If there had been a justifiable reason, she would have followed Dominic without hesitation, even if it meant forfeiting her place beside him. But there was no reason—none at all. She took a deep breath, smiled at him, and said, "No, I won't."

Dominic frowned, looked at her for a moment, and then left. The urge to chase after him was intense, but she fought it back, her vision blurring with tears.

She didn't leave until his car was long gone, a profound sense of loss filling her heart. She couldn't understand why he would ask her to go with him, especially after loathing her for so many years. Why offer her false hope? She was too afraid to take another step forward, fearing a return to the endless pit of despair.

At the hospital, her mind replayed Dominic's request. The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. Suddenly, she noticed a figure peering in from the doorway. "Are you here to see a doctor?" she asked.

The man nodded timidly but didn't enter. Bella sighed. "If you're here to see a doctor, come in."

He shuffled into the consultation room, accompanied by a terrible odor—a mix of sweat, body odor, and something foul. Bella wrinkled her nose and silently put on a mask. The man took two steps back, seemingly self-conscious of the smell.

She assessed him. He appeared to be in his twenties. His clothes were worn, faded, and dirty, almost impossible to identify their original color. His hair was long and unkempt, his visible skin grimy, as if he hadn't showered in days. He was, however, better dressed than a typical homeless person.

Most striking was an open wound on his bare foot, oozing pus and blood; it was clearly too painful to wear a shoe. Bella walked over and motioned for him to sit. "How did you hurt your foot?" she asked, frowning. He darted his eyes around nervously, like a frightened child.

Realizing he was mentally impaired, she checked his wound out of a sense of duty. It was superficial, not a skin disease. After cleaning and bandaging it, she breathed a sigh of relief. "You're good to go. Pay the bill and be careful with your foot. Keep it clean." He remained seated, eyes glued to her, watching surreptitiously. She quickly realized he had no money.

"Forget it," she said. "I'll pay. Now go home."

She went to the sink, washing her hands twice with disinfectant. The stench of the wound lingered. When she turned, the man had left. A moment later, an elderly woman entered. "What's that awful smell?"

Bella felt embarrassed. Cleanliness was paramount in her profession.

Finally alone, she poured herself water and went to the window. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the man from earlier. He was standing below her consultation room, gazing up at her.

Bella jumped, spilling her water. She quickly wiped it up and looked back. He remained motionless, like a statue. His stare made her feel uneasy, so she closed the window and returned to her desk.

As the afternoon progressed and her workload increased, the incident faded from her mind.

Chapter 41: Pervert