Fiona was frozen in ce as if struck by a bolt of lightning. "What?" Walter didn''t say much but gave Brian a look. Brian quickly pulled out a check and handed it to Fiona. "You''ve worked hard for me. This is a 30 million dor reward for you. Before Fiona could react, Walter had left.


    Shakira furrowed her brow tightly. This oue was something she hadn''t anticipated at all. Howe even Matthew was unable to handle it?


    When she stepped out, a Maybach was outside waiting for her. Shakira lowered her gaze and window, "Mr. Lopez, I want to stay and chat with Matthew,"


    to Walter through the car


    Walter turned his eyes to her, staring at her defiant face, and seeing right through her intentions. "There''s no need to bother. Matthew anymore. Maybe my legs are just destined to be this way?" Shakira pressed her lips together, not speaking, as she locked eyes with him. Walter sighed and said, "Matthew is not easy to get along with, and there are always people around protecting lim. You...


    Shakira replied. "I know, and it''s fine. I''ll just wait outside for a bit. If he really doesn''t want to see me, I will head back on my


    own."


    "Suit yourself. He didn''t say anything more, instructing Brian to leave a car for her.N?velDrama.Org content.


    Shakira stood there, watching the convoy drive away from the neighborhood before turning back. She didn''t go through the main entrance but took a long detour through a small side gate leading straight to the path connecting the study to the back garden Matthew was still sitting in the same spot, leisurely sipping coffee. Shakira effortlessly climbed over the waist-high fence as if it were nothing, and plopped herself down on the chair opposite Matthew.


    When she came. Matthew wasn''t surprised at all and even poured her a cup of coffee. Shakira drank it all in one go, to which Matthew chuckled. "You cheeky girl, you need to sip coffee slowly to enjoy its taste."


    Shakira gave him a sideways nce. "With the quality of coffee you have here, can it ever be bad?" Matthew paused in his pouring, realizing she was right. He looked up with a proud little huff.


    With a sigh, Shakira rubbed her temples. "What''s really going on with his legs?"


    Matthew answered, "Didn''t he say himself-there''s nothing I can do to cure it?"


    "What''s the specific reason, and which part is irreversible?" Shakira asked, with her voice deepening.


    Matthew waved his hand dismissively, not answering directly. Instead, he said, "You''re a talented student. If you can''t heal him, what can I do? Silly girl, you asked me to help, and here I am. But don''t assume that means I have a solution to his injury." Matthew added, "Don''t think too highly of me. Many times, things aren''t as simple as they seem to be


    Shakira lowered her eyes slightly, with her longshes quivering gently and casting shadows beneath them, revealing her disappointment. Seeing her like this, Matthew sighed silently.


    He intended tofort his dear disciple, but to his surprise, Shakira suddenly jumped up, casually greeted him, and vaulted over the fence, leaving without a backward nce.


    Matthew was speechless.


    You rebellious kid,forting was pointless


    The study door was slightly ajar, leaving a narrow gap. Fiona covered her mouth, with her eyes widening in shock-Matthew" was the shabby-looking old man she had seen with Shakira on the street food alley that day.


    No wonder no one could find Lonely Bird, and no wonderst time she confidently exposed the fake Matthew... No wonder a humble maid had the nerve to boldly treat Walter''s legs and even had Walter dismiss the medical team she had arranged for him, and rely only on her. Shakira was Matthew''s disciple, and she was actually Lonely Bird They had nned it all along, but they still decided to mess with her, making her lower herself like a nanny and serve Matthew here for such a long time.


    In the end, she was the one who got tricked. Fiona clutched the check tightly, and her eyes were filled with red veins gradually turning bloodshot.


    Thirty million dors? So what? She had poured her heart and soul into him, bing known as the devoted ''puppy'' of Crescentville''s high society, and making a fool of herself.


    All for Shakira, Walter just wanted to get rid of her like this? No way.


    Fiona thought, ''Shakira, you dare to mess with me? I''ll make sure you pay for that''


    Walter finished handlingpany matters and returned to the small vi, almost at midnight. He gently pushed open the door, and a small light in the outer hall cast a warm, dim glow.


    He instinctively nced at the bed, noticing a human-shaped lump under the nket, which reassured him as towards the bathroom.


    moved


    After finishing his wash, he turned off the light and was about to get onto the bed using his wheelchair for support, when suddenly a pair of hands wrapped around his chest from behind, startling him.


    But soon, with movements familiar from countless times, he naturally followed Shakira''s guidance andy down on the bed.


    Shakira also slipped back under the nket, and curled towards him, with her bright eyes sparkling and fixated on him in the darkness.


    Walter was lying there, feeling as though Shakira''s gaze could almost pierce through him. Finally, he sighed and turned his head to meet her eyes.


    Walter''s eyes were darker than the night outside. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Why are you up sote? What''s on your mind?"


    Shakira blurted out. "I''m thinking about how to cure your legs. Her eyes looked straight into his, and he let his guard down, feeling a warm flutter in his chest.


    Walter''s hands instinctively tightened under the covers. "What if it''s my fate that I''ll never stand again: Can


    that?"


    you ept h Shakira hadn''t expected him to respond like that, froze for a moment, and then shook her head. "No matter what happens.


    Walter is still Walter


    She paused and then said, "But it shouldn''t be like this. Your legs should be able to heal. So what exactly is the problem?" had a faint suspicion that Walter and Matthew were keeping something from her. She


    Seeing her look so confused, Walter turned his gaze away and said coolly, "Maybe this is just the way it is."


    "No, I won''t give up. I''ll keep doing acupuncture, and keep treating you until you get better. Shakira was confident in her judgment


    Walter had already closed his eyes, and Shakira didn''t bother to check if he agreed or not. Regardless, once she made up her mind, there was no turning back.


    After the weekend, Shakira arrived at school and could clearly feel that the way people looked at her had changed. There


    was envy, admiration, and also quite a bit of jealousy and disdain.


    As soon as Shakira entered the ssroom, several ssmates gathered around her. "Shakira, you''re way too humble. You''re such an amazing pianist that even professional pianists write articles praising your talent." If we had known you were this talented, we would''ve had you represent the ss at the school celebration. Yvette, who only won a small prize in the city, yed poor"