Chapter 223 Mr. Hamilton, Be Gentle
Andrew froze for a moment.
Olivia heard footsteps and looked up. The moment she saw Andrew, her mind went blank.
She quickly put down the clothes, her ears already flushed red. "Mr. Hamilton?"
Andrew snapped back to reality and casually looked away, asking calmly, "When did you wake up?"
Olivia felt extremely awkward, her cheeks burning as she said, "Just... just now. I saw no one was in the room, so I..."
She really couldn't bring herself to continue.
Andrew nodded slightly and explained, "I just stepped out to take a phone call. Are you feeling unwell? Does your injury hurt?"
Olivia's eyes avoided his gaze. She kept her head down and said, "Not really, it's just that when I got up, it hurt, so I wanted to check on it."
Andrew nodded, understanding, and told her simply, "The doctor said you took quite a fall, but fortunately no bones were injured. Just take your medication on time going forward."
"Okay." Olivia nodded.
She had actually already examined it herself and knew it wasn't serious.
Not wanting to dwell on this awkward situation, Olivia changed the subject, her tone somewhat apologetic. "I'm sorry, did I cause you trouble this time? You're still at the hospital at this hour. Where's Evelyn?"
"No need to be so formal." Andrew didn't think it was any trouble.
He told Olivia, "She and Benjamin went home first. I had nothing else to do, so I stayed to watch over you. It's no trouble at all."
Then he asked, "You were unconscious for a long time. Are you hungry? You just broke your fever, you need to eat something now to regain your strength."
Until he mentioned it, Olivia hadn't noticed.
As soon as he brought it up, her stomach growled twice.
Andrew didn't need to wait for her answer. He immediately ordered someone to buy some food.
The bodyguard was efficient. In less than ten minutes, he returned with a steaming bowl of nutritious porridge.
Olivia carefully began eating.
When she was almost finished, Andrew finally brought up Bianca's situation and the encounter with the Johnsons at the hospital tonight.
The moment Olivia heard this, she frowned and immediately asked, "Did they give you trouble? Did they do anything to Bianca?"
Her anxious, worried expression made Andrew chuckle softly.
He said, "Do you think anyone could give me trouble?"
Olivia realized he was right.
Andrew was so capable, with a background that was beyond reach, unattainable.
In Emerald City, who could possibly bully him?
She breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I was just afraid they'd say something unpleasant and offend you."
Andrew watched the changes in her expression, seeing the concern and protectiveness for him in her eyes. His heart softened.
He handed her a tissue to wipe her mouth and said gently, "People who don't matter won't catch my attention.
Don't worry. I'm telling you this mainly to ask how you want to handle Bianca's situation."
After finishing her meal, Olivia set the bowl on the table and looked at the little one sleeping beside her.
The soft, chubby little face wore an innocent, well-behaved expression.
If one could forget the hurt, wouldn't that be a blessing?
There was no reason why all the painful things should be borne by her and her daughter.
Olivia quickly made her decision.
She said sincerely to Andrew, "I want Bianca to be well. As long as she's happy, that's enough."
Her choice was about what Andrew had expected. He nodded. "I understand."
After they finished talking, Andrew wanted Olivia to rest more, but Olivia couldn't fall asleep.
"What's wrong?" Seeing her motionless for a while, Andrew asked curiously.
Olivia hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "I want to wash up before sleeping."
"Wash up?" Andrew didn't quite approve. He said, "You're not well right now. It's best not to."
But Olivia said, "I've been sweating, and I feel sticky and uncomfortable. I can't sleep without washing up."
Although her clothes had been changed, her body had still sweated a lot during the fever.
"I want to wipe myself down and change clothes. You don't need to worry about me, I can manage on my own."
Andrew was still worried. After hesitating for two seconds, he said, "How about I find a nurse for you?"
"No need." Without thinking, Olivia refused his kind offer. "It's late now, let's not trouble the nurses. I'm fine. Generally after a fever breaks, it won't come back. Don't worry, I'm a doctor myself. Don't you trust me?"
Putting it that way, Andrew believed her and didn't try to stop her anymore. "Alright then, go ahead. I'll wait outside. Call me if you need anything."
At this point, his voice paused, then he handed Olivia a tube of ointment. "For your lower back, if it's convenient, you can apply some medicine."
Olivia looked at the ointment and didn't refuse. "Okay, thank you Mr. Hamilton."
After taking it, she went in with the ointment.
After a quick wash, she faced the mirror and began rubbing her lower back.
However, the injured spot was positioned toward the back and also higher up. At this angle, Olivia could apply the medicine with either hand, but trying to massage it was extremely difficult.
She struggled for a long time, and broke out in another layer of sweat after just washing up.
After all that effort without success, Olivia simply gave up and decided to leave it.
After all, it was just a minor external injury. Even without medicine, it would heal eventually.
Just then, the bathroom door was suddenly knocked on, and Andrew's voice came through. "Are you alright?"
He had been waiting outside for quite a while without seeing Olivia come out. Worried she might have fainted, he finally couldn't help asking.
Olivia was startled by his voice, then quickly responded, "I'm fine, I'm good."
Looking at the ointment in her hand, Olivia put it away again, then pulled down her clothes and came out.
Seeing she was truly fine, Andrew relaxed and then asked, "Did you apply the medicine? The doctor said your injury needs to be massaged to heal faster."
Hearing this, Olivia felt somewhat embarrassed. She told the truth, "I applied it, but I couldn't reach to massage it. But it's okay, it'll heal eventually anyway."
Andrew obviously realized her predicament and said, "I'll go find a nurse to help you. When you hit it, you might have pulled a muscle. It looked a bit swollen earlier. If you don't massage it, it might hurt for several days."
Olivia felt even more embarrassed.
He could tell from just that one glance?
Andrew naturally didn't linger on this topic. He went out naturally and told David outside to find a nurse.
David took the order, but returned shortly without bringing a nurse.
"Mr. Hamilton, the nurse was called away. An elderly patient had an emergency, and with the night shift being short-staffed, they can't spare anyone right now."
Olivia heard this from inside and thought, even God doesn't want her to apply the medicine.
When Andrew came back in, she immediately told him, "I'm really fine. If necessary, I can apply the medicine after daybreak."
Andrew hesitated, but ultimately said nothing. "Alright, we'll do as you say."
Then he urged Olivia to rest.
Olivia didn't refuse, but the injury was real. When she lay down, it still pulled at the wound.
That sharp pain made her break out in cold sweat.
Andrew noticed her expression was off. After hesitating for a few seconds, as if making some decision, he spoke up. "Let me help you."
Olivia's expression froze for a moment, then she quickly shook her head and refused. "No need, really no need..."
She had already troubled him enough. How could she have the nerve to ask him to apply medicine for her?
Andrew looked completely straightforward and upright as he told her, "I remember that when doctors face patients, they don't distinguish between male and female."
"Huh?" Olivia didn't know how to respond.
That was true, but...
Andrew continued, "When I face people with psychological issues, I generally don't look at whether they're male or female either. I only focus on treatment and guidance based on their symptoms."
Olivia was stunned and didn't quite understand.
Andrew said calmly, "Right now, I can temporarily act as a doctor. Although I'm only a psychologist, I might be more experienced than you in treating bruises and injuries. Pull up your clothes."
After speaking, he methodically squeezed the ointment onto his palm and slowly warmed it up.
Olivia found herself going along with his reasoning, actually finding some logic in what he said.
Moreover, the man's expression was so calm and focused, making her feel like she was overthinking things.
That's right, Andrew was upright and noble, a perfect gentleman. How could he possibly have any improper thoughts?
So she also tried to appear composed, slightly lifting the hem of her clothes to expose a small section of her lower back.
Andrew's eyes didn't wander.
He leaned forward slightly, covering the injured area on Olivia's waist with his warm palm.
Olivia faced away from him. When she felt his touch on the injury, her whole body shuddered from the pain.
Andrew's movement paused, and he asked calmly, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Olivia wanted to act tough, but then felt that being stubborn was pointless, so she nodded and admitted, "Yes... a little..."
Though she said this, she wasn't so calm inside.
Because she still couldn't stay composed.
The man's presence was too strong.
His warm palm gripping her waist was so hot it made her heart race out of control.
Olivia could only lie on the pillow, burying her head under her arm to hide her discomfort.
Andrew seemed unaware, though his eyes darkened slightly.
But that was all.
He didn't do anything beyond treating the injury and applying medicine.
He wouldn't and didn't want to take advantage of Olivia at a time like this, so he just gently massaged the bruised area.
Olivia's bit of shyness and embarrassment was soon overwhelmed by the soreness and pain from the injury, making her gasp in cold air.
It really hurt.
Tears were about to burst out.
She said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Hamilton, be... be gentler..."
Andrew naturally felt her discomfort and softly comforted her, saying, "I'm afraid I can't be gentle. The pressure needs to be heavier now to work out the bruise, so it will heal faster later."
Olivia of course knew that bruises should be treated this way.
But it really hurt.
Fine, to avoid suffering for several more days, she'd endure it!
Olivia convinced herself internally, then bit her lip and bore it!