Chapter 120 With Me Here, It Will Get Better
Philip's happiness was infectious even through the phone, and Arabella didn't realize he was already convinced Alexander would help him—that's why he was so thrilled. She thought he just wanted to work hard and break free from the Reed family's control on his own, so she was happy for him too. "So I'll tell Alex?"
Philip said eagerly, "Yes, tell him right now, immediately! Tell him I'm extremely, incredibly, absolutely willing. I'm endlessly grateful for his kindness, and in the future..."
He paused. "Well, in the future I'll do everything I can to help him too. Just pass along my exact words."
Arabella nodded in agreement. If Alexander helped him and he succeeded later, helping Alexander back would be the right thing to do. She didn't think anything more of it.
After hanging up, she relayed Philip's words exactly to Alexander. Alexander's lips curved in a slight smile, his Adam's apple bobbing as he looked at her deeply. "Alright."
Arabella thought for a moment. "Maybe after everything's settled on his end, I'll have him take you out for dinner."
She felt a bit embarrassed. It had just been something she'd mentioned casually, but she hadn't expected him to actually be able to help—and to choose to help her without hesitation. She was used to life being full of disappointments and regrets being the norm, but it seemed like after meeting him... he'd helped her avoid one disappointment after another.
This feeling was hard to describe. It just made her realize that compared to this, her previous feelings for Anthony had been incredibly shallow.
He gave her a profound and solid life experience.
Arabella quietly pushed down the ripples in her heart and smiled at Alexander. "Sometimes I feel like you're a superman."
This was obviously a joke—superman could have whatever he wanted, but Alexander was just an ordinary person. Even if he could help, it was ultimately limited.
Unexpectedly, after hearing Arabella's words, Alexander smiled meaningfully. "Wait here a second."
He turned and went into the bedroom.
After a moment, he came out with a business card and handed it to her, smiling. "If you saw this, would you think I'd become a god?"
Arabella took it curiously. Looking at the name and phone number on the card, she didn't recognize them, but seeing the titles—"International Medical Organization Director," "International Orthopedic Association Leader," "Neurological Authority Surgeon"—an incredible possibility formed in her mind.
But she didn't dare believe it. She looked at him carefully. "This is..."
Alexander's expression was calm. "After visiting your father last time, I asked people to look for doctors who treat paralysis. Later a friend recommended this Dr. Adrian Kessler. He's world-renowned in neurology and orthopedics and has cured several cases like your father's. So I thought, why not try? Maybe it could work."
Arabella stared at him in shock.
Someone of this caliber in international medicine—forget ordinary people like him, even families like the Watsons couldn't easily access such connections. Some people in this world existed behind walls that ordinary folks couldn't breach. When regular people got sick and wanted to find top doctors, it wasn't just about money.
Or rather, both money and connections were essential.
But Alexander was just an ordinary person. How had he gotten contact information for such a medical bigshot? Had he somehow sold insurance to hospitals?
For the first time, she questioned his identity. Was he really just a regular person?
"Does your family... have background in this area?" Arabella asked tentatively.
Alexander had known that helping her father find a doctor would definitely raise her suspicions. Other things could be explained away, but this doctor's status was too high—not something someone of his supposed level could contact.
But he'd prepared his story long ago. "Remember Frank? He went to an international medical forum abroad last month and happened to meet this Dr. Kessler. Dr. Kessler was impressed with him and gave him his contact info. It just so happens Dr. Kessler is in Majestic City right now providing guidance at the hospital. When I heard about it, I had Frank ask him, and surprisingly he agreed."
Arabella could hardly believe it. "He just agreed that easily?"
This was a medical giant—would he really do such a favor for a stranger so casually?
Alexander coughed, his expression unchanged. "Doctors have compassionate hearts."
Arabella thought about it and figured that made sense. What doctor didn't have a heart for healing and saving people? Maybe this bigshot was as kind as Alexander.
With that thought, she stopped dwelling on it and sincerely thanked him. "Alex, thank you."
She'd only brought Alexander home to deal with her family, never expecting him to pay attention to her father's legs, much less use his connections to contact such an amazing doctor.
The year her father first became disabled, she'd searched for many doctors—in Majestic City, Seaside City, and other major cities. She'd sought out all the top-ranked doctors, but the results were all the same: no hope for recovery.
Anthony had helped her a lot back then too. Without his arrangements, she wouldn't have been able to see most of those doctors.
So she'd given up on the fantasy of a cure and had accepted her fate these past two years.
But she was still grateful for Alexander's help. Even though it was just a contact number and didn't necessarily mean they could actually get the doctor to come, Alexander's kindness still made her incredibly grateful.
However, what she didn't expect was Alexander's next words: "Dr. Kessler is only in Majestic City for a week, with four days spent providing guidance at the hospital. I scheduled a consultation for this Saturday—ask your father if that works for him."
Arabella had been relatively calm, but hearing this, she couldn't help but tear up. "You're saying you already booked me an appointment...?"
Alexander nodded. Seeing her eyes redden, he quickly grabbed a tissue and handed it to her. "Frank helped ask, and Dr. Kessler agreed to set aside half a day this Saturday..."
Before he could finish, Arabella was already crying steadily. His usually steady voice carried a hint of flustered panic. "Don't cry... what's wrong... is the timing not good? If it doesn't work, we can schedule another time. Please don't cry."
He frantically helped wipe her tears, his heart clenching painfully. Ever since returning to the country and finding her, he'd sworn he'd never let her cry again in this lifetime. He wanted to settle the score with everyone who'd made her cry before, but he never expected that now he'd become the one making her cry.
He was still reviewing what he'd done wrong when Arabella suddenly hugged him, burying her face in his shoulder and sobbing uncontrollably.
She was crying so intensely that Alexander didn't even know what to do. The woman's small body was pressed against him, and his hand lifted behind her back, frozen in midair for a long moment before he couldn't help but gently place it on her back.
She was so fragile, crying like a broken-hearted child in his arms. Alexander was so flustered he didn't know what to do, finally just gently patting her back and comforting her over and over. "Don't cry, it's okay, it's okay, I'm here..."
Arabella cried for a long time. When she finished, she felt foolish for being so emotional. She'd never been treated with such genuine kindness, especially after that marriage. The warmth Alexander gave was particularly moving.
The reason she'd lost control was actually because of what he'd said—that he'd scheduled a consultation with her father for Saturday and asked if the timing was convenient for her father.
She remembered that first year of marriage when she'd used her status as the Watson family daughter-in-law to search for famous doctors in every way possible. But back then, Anthony wouldn't give her money, Jennifer constantly made cutting remarks, and she survived in the cracks, making herself humble and pitiful for that initial gratitude toward Anthony.
Looking back now, all that suffering was self-inflicted and not worth pitying herself over. But she'd grown the hardest armor, only to meet Alexander who was so good to her.
She really didn't know what to do anymore.
Seeing her finally calm down, Alexander helped her sit in a chair, wiped her tears clean, and gently asked, "What's really wrong?"
Arabella hadn't felt embarrassed while crying, but now that she'd stopped, she felt self-conscious, her ears turning slightly red. "Nothing, I just felt really moved."
Alexander was stunned. "This is what I should do. This little thing is just... just asking for a few favors. It's not even troublesome—you don't need to feel burdened."
His heart ached. He'd thought he'd offended her somehow, making her cry like that, but it turned out to be such a trivial matter that moved her. What kind of life had she lived before?
In the long three years after her parents' accident, had she struggled through everything this carefully and anxiously? How much coldness had she endured, how many difficulties had she faced?
Thinking this, his chest felt blocked with something, stuffy and faintly painful.
Arabella didn't speak. Alexander boldly pulled her into his arms, comforting her. "It's okay, all of that is in the past. From now on, with me by your side, everything will get better."
These words made Arabella's heart tremble.
She was sitting while he stood, and as they embraced, she was perfectly positioned against his waist. The clean scent of the man was reassuring, his arms strong, his chest broad, giving her endless security.
If a man said these words to a woman, they would be the most beautiful and sweet words of love in the world.
But she understood in her heart that he helped and comforted her because he was kind and good. His words were just from a friend's perspective, without any other meaning mixed in.
She was the one adding personal feelings to this friendship.
Like being doused with cold water, Arabella quickly sobered up. She gently pushed him away, stepped back a bit, and said gratefully, "No matter what, I have to thank you for helping my dad find a doctor. Alex, I won't say anything else, but I'll remember all your help in my heart. If you ever need anything from me in the future, I absolutely won't refuse."
Alexander hadn't had time to miss the softness that suddenly disappeared from his arms before her words left him stunned for a moment. Having been in high positions for so long, he rarely had moments like this where he didn't know what to say, or even whether to cry or laugh.
He'd worked hard for most of a year, only to earn a "thank you" from her.
What did he need her to do? What he wanted was her as a person.
Endless emotions finally turned into a helpless sigh. He could only comfort himself that there was still a long road ahead.
He had to persist. Anyway, she couldn't run away now—it was just a matter of spending a few more years slowly wearing her down.
He could wait.
Both harboring their own thoughts and feeling somewhat guilty, after a while Arabella said, "Let me go call my dad first."
Alexander glanced at the time and suggested, "How about we go over there now?"
It was only six o'clock—a good time to visit.
Arabella agreed. She'd originally wanted to bring Becky, but unexpectedly Becky refused, saying thoughtfully, "Ms. Bourbon, I'll stay home and do homework."
Arabella knew she was very diligent, so she didn't insist. She told her to cook some noodles if she got hungry, then left with Alexander.
They drove to Percy's place. After parking, Alexander magically produced large and small gift packages from the trunk. Arabella stared in amazement. "You..."
Alexander explained, "Didn't I get my paycheck yesterday? The company gave some additional benefits that I can't use, so I brought them along."
"You could have taken them to Chloe," Arabella scolded. "Chloe cares about you so much—you should think of her too."
Alexander touched his nose and went along with it. "I know, I saved a separate set for her too."
Only then did Arabella feel reassured and helped him carry the gift boxes upstairs.
Several neighborhood ladies were chatting downstairs. Seeing Arabella return with a man and gifts, they all showed meaningful looks and asked warmly, "Arabella, is this your husband?"
Ever since hearing them gossip about her behind her back last time, Arabella had no feelings for them anymore. She smiled and answered briefly, then took Alexander upstairs.
Those ladies looked at Alexander, then at his car, discussing among themselves. "This guy looks pretty good, but his car isn't much—way worse than that Watson big shot."
"Well of course. She's divorced after all, and got kicked out too. Who knows if she has some hidden problems—what kind of good man could she hook?"
"Look how good-looking that guy is—you never know what he does for a living. Some men are pretty boys, and some sell their bodies!"
"Well, that's new!"
Arabella had no idea about these discussions. Even if she had known, she would have just laughed it off.
Those irrelevant people weren't even worth getting angry over. Why bother?
When they knocked on the door, Marilyn, Percy, and Daniel were having dinner. Seeing Arabella return with Alexander, Percy was very happy and quickly said, "Marilyn, get some utensils and have them sit down to eat with us."
Marilyn said irritably, "Did you cook this food? What are you organizing? They probably already ate before coming. You don't need to be so unnecessarily enthusiastic!"
Daniel, who'd been silent, stood up and went to the kitchen to get two sets of bowls and chopsticks, setting them out and bringing over chairs. He glanced at Arabella, not wanting to greet her, just saying, "Sit."
Marilyn was furious and glared at Arabella. "What are you standing around for? Didn't you see Daniel already set everything up? Do you want me to personally serve you?"
Arabella was long used to her attitude. Ever since her father married Marilyn, she felt like an outsider every time she came back. Marilyn wouldn't even manage one meal for her.