Chapter 384 Missed, That's a Lifetime
Rodolfo took her to treat patients again.
This time, the patient's background was still quite impressive.
Olivia only found out when she arrived that this was the Walsh family—a literary family with an extremely strong reputation in Harmony City.
The patient they needed to treat was called Marigold Walsh.
She was a very famous contemporary writer. Any one of her books could fetch tens of millions of dollars at auction, even hundreds of millions!
And going back eighteen generations in her family, every generation had produced famous people.
In Harmony City, no one dared to underestimate such a literary family.
The family's deep heritage and vast network of connections were simply beyond reach.
Many wealthy families hoped that Marigold would take their children as students.
Olivia was slightly surprised.
But thinking about it, since she was Rodolfo's patient, it wasn't strange at all.
The patients Rodolfo took on included all kinds of big shots.
Like Tomas, Marigold was also troubled by a chronic illness.
After diagnosis, Olivia confirmed that she had asthma and also needed continuous treatment and medication.
Rodolfo completely left the treatment to her, leisurely watching from the side.
Marigold didn't question Olivia's medical skills, but seeing Rodolfo's relaxed manner, she couldn't help but complain, "You old stubborn fool, starting so early to dump everything on your student—aren't you ashamed?"
Rodolfo said matter-of-factly, "What's there to be ashamed of? My students are meant to be put to work!"
Marigold shook her head, "The older you get, the lazier you become!"
Olivia wasn't familiar with her.
But listening to their conversation, she couldn't help being curious.
From their tone, it seemed like they knew each other well?
And their relationship seemed quite unusual.
So Olivia asked, "Ms. Walsh, did you know my Mr. McCoy before?"
Marigold had a good impression of Olivia.
She looked at Olivia kindly and said, "When I was young, I was in poor health for a while. Back then, my family elders sent me to Medica Vitae Sect to recuperate.
That's when I met Rodolfo.
He was young then, but already a stubborn person. Annoying to look at, hmph!"
At this point, Marigold seemed inexplicably unhappy.
Rodolfo, thinking of the past, looked awkward and smiled bitterly.
Olivia was even more curious and couldn't help looking back and forth between them.
Finally, unable to withstand the probing gaze, Rodolfo simply stood up, coughed twice, and said, "The air here is a bit stuffy. I'll go outside for a walk."
With that, he left without looking back.
Anyone could see that his retreating figure had a hint of fleeing in defeat.
Olivia shook her head and could only continue treating Marigold.
During the treatment, Marigold noticed her expression—clearly wanting to ask but not daring to.
She chuckled and, without hesitation, told her openly, "Curious about my relationship with Rodolfo?
Actually, it's nothing much. I just liked him before and pursued him for quite a long time."
Olivia was stunned, "That happened?"
Marigold's smile was somewhat helpless, "He was engaged at the time. During my stay at Medica Vitae Sect, I noticed his junior often flirting with Lyle.
I warned him about it, but he didn't believe me.
Later, even though he knew I was right, he still firmly believed his junior would honor the engagement.
After that, my health improved and I couldn't continue staying at Medica Vitae Sect. Before leaving, I told him to come find me in Harmony City once he figured things out.
But all these years have passed, and he never came."
By the end, Marigold sighed.
Olivia was quite surprised.
She hadn't expected them to have such a past.
She couldn't help asking, "So you two never saw each other again after that?"
Marigold said, "I went to see him a few times."
But seeing each other couldn't change anything.
So eventually they stopped contacting each other.
Olivia nodded and glanced at Marigold again.
She had heard that Marigold was single.
Could it be that she had been waiting for Rodolfo all this time?
If so, her feelings ran incredibly deep.
Seeming to read Olivia's thoughts, Marigold smiled and said, "After returning from Medica Vitae Sect, I did wait for him for a few years.
But he never came.
A woman's youth is so short, and I'm not that stubborn.
When I had accumulated enough disappointment, I followed my family's arrangement and got married.
Because I didn't want outside gossip, the wedding was very simple and low-key, so not many people knew about it.
But the good times didn't last long. A few years later, my husband passed away from illness.
His health was never good, but he was a very decent person. After marriage, we always treated each other with respect.
After he passed, I had no desire to marry again, so I've stayed single."
From this, Olivia gathered that she and her husband had mutual respect but no love.
After he died, she didn't go looking for Rodolfo either.
Probably her own pride and dignity wouldn't allow her to turn back.
Olivia couldn't help thinking that if Rodolfo had come looking for her back then, the two of them might have had a chance.
Marigold was philosophical, "Forget it, no need to bring up the past. Tell me about you—how did he come to take you as a student?"
Seeing she wanted to hear, Olivia told her everything in detail.
The treatment process was boring, so chatting helped pass the time.
By the time she finished talking, the treatment was also done.
But Marigold's expression seemed distant.
After a long while, Olivia finally heard her voice, "Tell me, why has he stayed single his whole life and never married?
Is he really that unable to forget that junior of his?"
Olivia didn't know how to respond. Reason told her not to interfere in the elders' affairs.
But seeing Marigold's dejected expression, Olivia hesitated, then said, "As far as I know, Mr. McCoy wanting to marry her was more about responsibility.
He may have liked her once, but after what happened, that wore off too.
Back in Emerald City, it made quite a bit of news. You should have seen it."
Marigold's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something.
But in the end, she didn't speak.
Ask if he ever liked her?
Times had changed, and she wasn't a young girl anymore.
Some answers just didn't seem that important anymore!
Later, Olivia prepared the medicine for her and thoughtfully found some candied fruit to help get rid of the bitter taste after taking the medicine.
Marigold looked at her with increasing affection, "He's so lucky to have a student like you."
Olivia smiled back, "Actually, I should be the one saying that. I'm really lucky to have such a good teacher!"
Marigold smiled and said nothing more.
When Olivia was about to leave, she had someone bring over a pen she had prepared, along with a book.
"Olivia, I really like you. Consider these a gift for our first meeting.
Next time we meet, I'll write a book especially for you!"
Olivia couldn't refuse her kindness and thanked her, "Thank you, Ms. Walsh."
On the way back, Olivia kept thinking about her.
After getting in the car, she couldn't help asking, "Mr. McCoy, did you ever like Ms. Walsh?"
Caught off guard by the question, Rodolfo nearly choked, his face turning red, "You girl, why are you asking about this out of nowhere?"
Olivia touched her nose and said, "I chatted with her for a bit about your past.
I'm just curious!
I feel like you weren't completely indifferent to Ms. Walsh, right?
Did you really never go looking for her back then?"
Having his past romantic entanglement brought up by Olivia, Rodolfo said somewhat angrily, "Adult matters—kids shouldn't pry!"
Olivia reminded him quietly, "I'm not a kid anymore. Bianca is already four years old!"
Rodolfo glared at her irritably and said, "In my eyes, even when you're eighty, you'll still be a kid!"
Olivia stared at his embarrassed face and suddenly understood, "Oh, so you did go looking for Ms. Walsh!"
Caught in her guess, Rodolfo's expression froze, but he didn't deny it.
Olivia perked up and pressed on, "Since you went looking for her, why didn't you two end up together?
I can tell Ms. Walsh has always carried a torch for you!"
Rodolfo lowered his eyes, his expression becoming much more subdued.
After a long silence.
Finally, he said in a low voice, "When I went to find her, she already had an arranged marriage. I couldn't go and ruin her wedding.
Later, after going back, I stopped asking about her. She had her own life, and I couldn't disturb that."
Olivia hadn't expected this.
Her expression was complicated, not knowing what to say.
In that era, marriage was a heavy responsibility and a heavy burden for them.
So much so that people who liked each other could only pass by each other.
Later on, as they got older, they stopped insisting on things like spending their lives together.
But the other person always occupied an important place in their hearts.
Olivia asked curiously, "So this time, you took the initiative to bring me to treat Ms. Walsh, right?
She didn't invite you?"
Rodolfo's face reddened as he stubbornly insisted, "She invited me!"
Olivia didn't believe it.
And she realized something else!
Rodolfo did have feelings for Marigold—otherwise he wouldn't have personally come to treat her after learning she was ill.
Rarely finding such an opportunity, she started teasing Rodolfo, "Who would have thought you'd make an effort for love too. That's really something!"
"What nonsense are you talking?" Rodolfo's face turned as red as a cooked shrimp.
Olivia laughed beside him, "I'm clearly telling the truth. Why won't you let me say it?"
"Simon, stop the car!"
Rodolfo looked disgusted and, not caring that they weren't home yet, kicked her out, "Find your own way back, and take some time to reflect—stop teasing me for no reason!"
Olivia stood by the roadside, completely bewildered.
Looking helpless, she pulled out her phone and sent Andrew a straightforward message: [Got dumped on the side of the road by Mr. McCoy. Can't seem to get a cab here!]
She added a cute emoji at the end.
Andrew came to pick her up. From far away, he could see her lonely figure.
Amused, he got out of the car, pulled her in, and asked with concern, "How did you upset Mr. McCoy?"
Andrew knew how much Rodolfo usually doted on her.
Olivia shrugged and said, "He took me to treat his old flame today. I was just curious and asked a few more questions!
Who knew he'd get so embarrassed and angry!"