Olivia's anxious look made it difficult for the doctor to tell her the truth.
Booth hurried forward and asked, "Doctor, how is she? Just let us know."
"Her throat can be healed, but health care here is not promising. You'd better take her to have an
operation abroad. Besides, the kid she brought are always pushing us out of his world. Autism is really
hard to treat. It requires the help of his family, but his family can't help, now being like this. So I think
what's the most important thing now is to cure the adult. The child would have to wait."
Hearing that, Olivia said anxiously, "The child is only four years old. If he really becomes autistic, it will
destroy him. He used to be very lively."
"But nothing we can do about it. You know, Miss Olivia, this is just a small town, not a big city, so...."
"I see. Doctor, please give them medicine. My family will help her get the surgery."
Booth's words stunned Olivia.
"Our family will?"
Booth put his arms round Olivia's shoulders and smiled, "Olivia, our family can do lots of things, really.
Don't take yourself for an outsider. I told you. Your benefactor is mine, and your friend is also mine.
Since she was kind to you back then, our family will not leave her now. Listen to me, treat her back
trauma now. As for her throat, I'll ask Dad to call in experts from abroad."
"Really?"
A glimmer of hope appeared in Olivia's eyes.
"Sure. Don't worry. Leave it to me. I don't object to you staying here to take care of her, but you need to
eat now."
Booth handed the food box to Olivia.
Olivia did not refuse. As long as Nicole could be cured, she could do anything.
Olivia devoured her dinner but she seemed to not enjoy it at all. Booth smiled and said in a satisfied
tone, "If you need nutritional soup or something else, call me at any time and I'll ask the housekeeper
to have someone to cook it."
Olivia nodded.
"Do you remember my phone number?" Booth asked.
"I have it in my phone."
Olivia didn't remember Booth's number but he had stored it in her phone directory.
Booth replied smilingly, "Alright. I'll be leaving now and ask Dad to look for an expert. Don't be too tired.
If you need help, I'll find a nurse to take care of her at night."
"Oh, no need. I want to be with her alone."
Olivia didn't know what Nicole had gone through. She really only wanted to be with Nicole now.
Back then, after seeing Nicole's injuries, Olivia thought of going to Gabrielle for help, but if she did,
Blair would know about it and then Samuel would also know about it. Once Samuel knew about it, he
would surely come to see Nicole. However, Olivia didn't want Nicole to be with Samuel anymore.
Olivia brought Nicole back to the ward with the doctor. Joseph also came over. When he saw Olivia, he
did not reject her. It really made her happy.
"Joseph, what do you want to eat? Look, this is for you."
Olivia had left Joseph the roasted pork knuckle and now she handed it to him.
Joseph took a look at it and raised it to Nicole's lips, hoping that Nicole would eat it.
It broke Olivia's heart when she saw this.
She whispered, "Joseph, be good. Your mommy hasn't woken up yet, so she can't eat it now."
Hearing that, Joseph immediately put the pork knuckle back where it was and covered it with
something. It seemed like he wanted to keep it warm.
Olivia looked at him and asked, "You want to wait for Nicole to wake up and then give it to her, right?"
Joseph nodded.
Olivia felt really bad.
"Your mommy can't eat this. She's injured and sick, so she can only eat light food. Good boy, eat it.
When your mommy wakes up, I'll find someone to cook for her. Don't worry. I'm here, and I'll protect
you and your mommy."
Olivia gave the pork knuckle to Joseph again.
This time, Joseph only paused for a moment before picking up the pork knuckle and gobbling it up.
Olivia sent someone to buy a set of clothes for Joseph to change into, and also prepared clothes for
Nicole, but the doctor didn't allow Nicole to get changed.
Nicole did not know how long she had been asleep. When she opened her eyes again, she saw the
white ceiling and smelt the strange medicinal smell.
She knew that she was saved.
"Nicole, are you awake?"
Olivia hurried forward and asked.
Nicole looked at Olivia's face and her worried eyes, feeling unspeakably sad.
Nicole didn't respond, so Olivia asked in an anxious voice, "You've become stupid or lost your memory
after suffering from a high fever?"
It got really busy in Olivia's head. Nicole patted the back of Olivia's hand, indicating that she was okay.
Olivia couldn't help but shed tears when she looked at Nicole.
"Tell me, did Samuel hurt you like this? Did he? If he did, I will definitely kill him."
Olivia's excitement reminded Nicole of what had happened to her.
Olivia had seen the injuries on her body, right?
What should she say?
Nicole had mixed feelings as she shook her head.
"OK, forget it for now. I didn't tell you anyone that you're here. If you want to see Samuel, I'll call Jacob.
If you don't want to see him, stay with me. I'll protect you. I can assure you that even Jacob won't be
able to find you here."
Nicole was so relieved when she heard what Olivia said.
She shook her head, and Olivia got it right away.
"You don't want to see Samuel?"
Nicole closed her eyes and nodded.
Olivia hugged Nicole, feeling sorry for her, and said, "Could you stop paying for this relationship? Five
years ago, you were caught in a big fire and I was extremely worried about you. But now you're hurt
again. Nicole, do you know you've made me stop believing in love?"
Nicole felt a little upset at her words.
How did she know that her love life would be so difficult?
Nicole hugged Olivia tightly. She really didn't know what to say after losing her voice.
At this point, Booth pushed open the door and walked in.
"Olivia, the housekeeper has prepared porridge. She said that you could ask your friend eat some. Oh,
you're awake? Hi!"
Booth greeted Nicole cheerfully.
Nicole looked at Olivia in confusion.
Olivia explained, "I forgot to tell you about it. I found my family. He's my younger brother. His name is
Booth. Booth, this is my best friend, Nicole."
"Hello!"
Booth held out her right hand towards Nicole.
His hand was white and thin, very similar to Samuel's.
She still remembered Samuel holding out his hand like this when she was at school. She remembered
it so vividly, as if it were yesterday.
When Olivia noticed that Nicole was in a daze, she nudged her with her arm and said, "Nicole, my
brother is talking to you."
Nicole gave Booth an apologetic smile and shook hands with him.
Nicole's smile dazzled Booth and then he quickly recovered from his surprise.
"Don't worry. My father said that he knows a very famous expert from abroad. He has already called
him. In a few days, he will come to Land City to examine your throat. Perhaps you'll have the chance to
speak again."
Nicole's eyes were dim as she heard that. She then looked at Olivia with her questioning eyes.
Olivia nodded, "Yes, I know it. Although I don't know what happened to you or what happened to you
and Samuel, I just want to cure your throat now. I can't stand you becoming a mute! How sweet your
voice was! How can you lose your voice just like this?"
Nicole touched her throat and opened her mouth with a grin. In the end, she was still silent.
No one would like to be a mute.
"Alright. Don't say anything. You can rest and recuperate here. You got me. You used to protect me,
and now let me protect you and Joseph, okay?"
Nicole nodded with a smile.
She was happy that Olivia had found her family, but she was also sad when she thought of the
inconvenience she made for Olivia. Now, she was really unable to live by herself, not to mention living
with Joseph.
"Help me find a sign language teacher. I need to express myself clearly with his help," Nicole wrote to
Olivia after thinking for a while.
"Alright. I'll help you."
Olivia nodded and asked Nicole to have a good rest. After that, she left the ward.
Booth noticed that Olivia's expression was a little strange. He followed her out of the ward and saw her
squatting in the corridor outside with her mouth covered, crying bitterly.
He had never seen Olivia cry like this before, so he couldn't help but take a glance at Nicole.
Nicole closed her eyes in pain while Joseph sat by her quietly.
Booth felt sympathetic towards Nicole.
He came to Olivia and patted her shoulder. "Olivia, it will pass. Don't worry. I'm here."
"Yeah!"
Olivia cried and nodded.
Olivia paid a sign language teacher to teach Nicole, who studied sign language with the teacher's help
during the day and looked for a job on the Internet at night.
Olivia knew that Nicole did not want to be a burden to her, but Nicole was really too weak to work.
Booth told Nicole that she could go to his company to work as his secretary when she recovered, but
Nicole declined.
What could a mute like her do in the company?
To sign with others every day?
Nicole found a job of drawing designs on the Internet.
She was an automobile designer. She was born with a keen insight into design and she had her own
unique ideas about designing.
This job was to design a piece of jewelry with unique style. The pay was very high, but it required an
interview.
When Nicole saw the word 'interview', she hesitated.
Would the employer turned her down if he knew she was a mute?
She had to earn a living for Joseph and herself.
Even though Olivia could help them, after this lesson, Nicole really didn't want to pin her hopes on
anyone else.
She attempted to depend on herself and fight hard for Joseph's future and hers, though she was a
mute now.
If she gave up this design task, she wouldn't be able to earn a living. How on earth could she make
herself accepted by the employer even if he knew she was a mute?
Nicole sank into a reverie.
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