From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 97: Chapter 97

On the other hand, Paisley paid no attention to his thoughts or expressions. Her focus was entirely on his leg. This was the first time she had ever encountered such a severe cold condition in the limbs of a young, strong man.
"How did your leg end up like this?" Paisley asked without looking up, inserting a third needle into his calf.
This time, there was a faint prick of pain, different from the deep, bone-seeping ache and cold he usually experienced during flare-ups. It felt like an ant bite—real, brief, and oddly comforting.
"A few years ago, I got chilled and froze my leg," he said lightly.
As he spoke, he watched the woman crouched before him, her brows furrowed in concentration, and unexpectedly felt a strange sense of trust.
Paisley frowned even more. She didn't believe a single word he said. For such a severe cold condition, it wasn't just a matter of getting "chilled."
This level of damage could only result from prolonged exposure to extremely harsh, icy conditions, or from being immersed in icy water for extended periods.
Of course, there was also the possibility of an underlying health issue contributing to his condition. But confirming that would require a more detailed examination, and there was no reason for her to take on such a task for a stranger she had just met.
After finishing with his right leg, Paisley naturally lifted his other leg. As she rolled up his pant leg, a long scar, about the thickness of a pinky finger, running from the knee down the calf, came into view.
Paisley's eyes widened slightly. "You've been injured, too?"
No wonder earlier, after falling, the man had kept clutching his knee. And now, it was clear this leg was in much worse condition than the other.
"You've been hurt?" Paisley looked up at the man, locking eyes with his deep, unreadable gaze.
The pain on his face had eased significantly, and a fine layer of sweat glistened on his forehead. "Yeah, I had a small injury years ago."
Paisley didn't press further. She wasn't in the habit of prying into others' private matters. Her earlier question had slipped out in surprise. The man seemed to be about her age, yet carried an air of weariness and experience far beyond his years.
Once both legs were treated, Paisley stood up, stomping her slightly numb feet. "Your condition is pretty severe. You need to stay still for forty minutes."
She was now completely certain that her car hadn't hit him, and his fall and injuries weren't caused by her driving. Relieved, she thought, 'At least this man couldn't accuse her of being responsible.'
"Thank you," the man said, nodding slightly, his demeanor calm and composed.
At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard gate. Along with the urgent ringing of the doorbell came loud, rough shouting. "Max! Max! Are you in there? Say something, Max!"
Frowning, Paisley glanced toward the gate. Holding Serena, Maria approached with a worried expression. "Paisy, who are those people outside?"
"Don't worry, they're probably my men," the man said calmly.
Paisley wasn't particularly scared. After all, this was a lawful society, and she had no grudge against this man. She didn't think his people would harm her.
Still, to be cautious, she told Maria to take Serena back to the house. Only then did she open the gate.
Outside stood several men in suits, holding umbrellas. From their posture and demeanor, Paisley could tell at a glance that they were professionally trained.
When the gate opened, the man at the front stepped in first, followed closely by the others.
As they were about to enter the house, the man on the sofa spoke up. "Leo, come in alone. The rest of you wait outside."
He then turned to Paisley with an apologetic look. "Sorry, I hope they didn't scare you. They're just overly worried about me."
The man called Leo tossed his umbrella aside and quickly approached the man on the sofa. "Max, are you alright?" It was clear that he was really nervous.
On the sofa, Max shook his head. "I'm fine. This lady helped me and even treated my leg."
Leo looked down and saw several silver needles on Max's leg. His face immediately changed. "Max, how could you let a stranger treat you? So many famous doctors couldn't fix your leg, and she's just a woman—what could she possibly know?"
Then, he glared at Paisley. "Who sent you to harm Max?"
When he had searched for Max using park surveillance, he saw this woman driving into Max and then taking him, unable to move, back to her home. He didn't even want to imagine what might have happened if he had arrived a little later.
Paisley was speechless.
"Leo, stop being rude," Max interrupted.
Leo clearly didn't accept this and continued glaring at Paisley as if she were his enemy. At that moment, Paisley was too tired to argue with him. She had just been soaked in the rain, and her wet clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin.
With so many men suddenly appearing in her house, she felt uneasy. Without saying anything, she walked over to Max and, disregarding all medical protocols, started pulling the silver needles out of his leg one by one.
She pulled hard, and in some spots, blood spurted out after the needles were removed.
"What are you doing?" Leo shouted angrily, but since she was a woman and he had already been warned, he could only clench his fists and glare at her.
After removing all the needles, Paisley turned to Max. "Alright, you can leave now."
Normally, given the severity of his leg condition, he should have rested for forty minutes after the treatment. But Paisley had no patience to let him stay another minute in her house.
Max understood the situation and realized it was inconvenient for them to stay. He tried to stand up and leave. Leo quickly moved to help him, but to everyone's surprise, he stood up on his own.
Leo was stunned and could hardly believe what he saw. In the past, whenever Max's leg acted up, the pain was so intense that he couldn't even get up or move.
Max himself was equally shocked. When the needles were in, he had felt warmth spreading through his body, like the blood in his leg was boiling. Although there was still some dull pain, it no longer restricted his movement.
He looked at Paisley in astonishment. "How can I thank you, miss? Can I pay you?"
"Forget it, no need," Paisley said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just take your people and leave as soon as possible."
It had been pure coincidence that she encountered him today. Worried she might have hit him, she had treated him. She had no intention of involving herself further.
Realizing how rude he had been earlier, Leo awkwardly bowed deeply to Paisley. "I'm sorry. I was wrong before. Please forgive me." He didn't expect Paisley could actually treat Max.
Paisley didn't feel the need to forgive him. After today, she and this man wouldn't cross paths again.
"I can't completely cure your leg, just alleviate the pain for now. It'll relapse later, so you need to take care of it," she said.
Max nodded politely, not looking too disappointed. He knew his leg's condition well. Every relapse felt like thousands of ants gnawing at his bones. Now, simply being able to move was already a huge relief.
"I live next door and will be in Harrowfell for a while. If you need help, feel free to come by," he said.
Paisley hadn't expected this man to be the owner of the villa next door, the one from Montera.
Finally, Max and his group left Paisley's villa.
Maria watched them leave and said uneasily, "Paisy, I don't know why, but they don't seem like good people to me."
Paisley didn't know what to make of them either. "Let's just mind our own business and stay away from them in the future."
Maria nodded, though she was a bit disappointed. With these big men as neighbors, it seemed she wouldn't have anyone to chat with.
The next day was Millie's birthday party at Serena's kindergarten. Paisley took Serena to a garden-style restaurant at the address Vivian had given her.
A hostess dressed inhanfuled them through winding corridors and into the main hall.
The hall was spacious, with a design featuring garden rocks, small bridges, and flowing water. Serena clearly loved the place, looking around with excitement.
Paisley thought about taking Serena and Maria to Nexa to see the famous gardens there.
Millie's birthday party was in an indoor pavilion at the south corner of the hall. A wooden long table sat in the middle, with a stream running through its center. Fish swam in the water, and beautiful dishes floated gracefully along the current.
Paisley was pleasantly surprised. She hadn't expected Vivian to have such exquisite taste.
Paisley and Serena arrived at the time Vivian suggested, but when they got there, the party had already started for a while. All the parents and children had already chosen their seats, and only the two seats at the very end, in the corner, were left.
Paisley didn't think too much about it, taking Serena by the hand and walking to the last main seat, where Millie and her mom were sitting.
Serena personally handed the gift to Millie, speaking in a sweet, babyish voice, "This is for you, happy birthday."
It was Serena's first time giving a birthday gift to someone else, and since she had picked it out herself, she was both excited and eager to see Millie's reaction when she opened it.