Liesa cleared her throat and smoothly changed what she had planned to say.
"Mr. Romano, it looks like you forgot to dry your hair," Liesa said casually.
Angus glanced at her with cool indifference.
Then Angus's eyes shifted to the TV behind her. His gaze narrowed slightly.
"What are you doing?" Angus asked.
"Watching TV," Liesa answered immediately.
"I've liked these programs for a long time," Liesa added seriously.
"They're not related to my major, but I believe character comes before skill. Watching the world and learning about kindness and integrity helps improve my moral standards," Liesa continued earnestly.
"That way I can serve my patients better."
Angus stared at Liesa in silence for a long moment.
Finally, Angus spoke.
"Pointless effort," Angus said flatly. "It won't help."
Liesa blinked. She thought,
Confused, Liesa turned her head toward the TV.
Her expression froze.
The news had already ended.
Now a sausage commercial filled the screen.
A glamorous woman smiled brightly as she bit into a sausage. Her expression looked exaggeratedly satisfied.
A flashy slogan appeared across the screen.
"Bigger. Thicker. Juicier. One is all it takes to fill you up."
The whole thing looked… deeply questionable.
Two minutes ago, Liesa had confidently claimed she loved watching programs like this.
She had even said it improved her character.
Liesa slowly turned her head back. Her smile became painfully stiff.
"If I said it was a public affairs program a moment ago," Liesa asked weakly, "would you believe me?"
"No," Angus replied without hesitation.
Angus glanced at the wheelchair nearby. Instead of using it, he reached for a cane leaning against the wall.
Leaning on the cane, Angus walked slowly toward the bed.
His right foot dragged slightly with every step.
Even so, Angus's back remained straight. His posture stayed calm and elegant.
Liesa watched Angus's back and let out a quiet sigh.
She thought,
Liesa rubbed her temple lightly. She thought,
After calming down, Liesa turned around again. Angus was already sitting in a chair beside the bed, reading.
His hair was still dripping wet. The only thing he wore was the towel around his waist.
Just looking at him made Liesa feel cold. "Mr. Romano, would you like me to get the hair dryer?" Liesa asked again.
Angus didn't respond.
Angus simply lowered his gaze and continued reading a German book in the original text.
Liesa hesitated for a moment.
Then she grabbed the hair dryer and walked over.
It wasn't that Liesa wanted to meddle. Angus's pride was simply too strong. He couldn't tolerate even the smallest flaw in himself.
His injured leg had already tortured him enough.
She thought,
Angus stayed focused on the book and barely noticed the soft movement beside him.
When a thick towel was suddenly draped over his shoulders, Angus finally looked up. His expression was blank.
Liesa quickly flashed him a bright smile. "Please keep reading," Liesa said gently. "I'll help you dry your hair."
Angus didn't respond.
To Liesa, that silence counted as permission.
Liesa switched on the hair dryer. One hand held the dryer while the other moved through Angus's hair, gently separating the strands so they would dry faster.
The dryer hummed softly. It wasn't loud enough to disturb his reading.
Angus didn't object, so Liesa continued working.
After a while, though, Liesa's focus began to drift.
Her eyes slowly lost focus. Even her hands started to slow.
The past few days had been exhausting.
Angus never cooperated during rehab, and every session drained Liesa's energy.
At this hour, Liesa was usually already in bed. Instead, tonight she had traveled all the way to the Romano family mansion.
Liesa quietly stifled a yawn. Her fingers lazily combed through Angus's hair as she kept drying it.
Angus stared at the same page of his book.
He hadn't turned a page in quite a while.
Liesa's fingers were warm. They moved slowly across his scalp. The sensation should have been pleasant.
But her movements were gradually slowing. They lingered longer than necessary.
The atmosphere in the room slowly became… ambiguous.
Angus's eyes darkened slightly.
He thought,
Angus's gaze shifted slightly.
He thought,
Without expression, Angus closed the book.
He thought,
The moment Liesa saw Angus set the book down, her attention snapped back.
Liesa quickly checked his hair.
"It's dry now, Mr. Romano," Liesa said, immediately switching off the dryer.
Angus glanced at her but didn't speak. That single look made Liesa pause awkwardly.
Originally, Liesa had planned to say she would sleep on the sofa.
But something in Angus's gaze told her he didn't want to hear that.
Liesa thought for a moment. Then she decided to start a conversation.
"Mr. Romano… are you still in a bad mood?" Liesa asked gently.
Angus didn't respond.
Liesa remained undeterred. "Is it because of Mr. Grayson?" Liesa continued. "About moving the grave?"
"Fishing for information?" Angus asked coldly, glancing at her.
His instincts were sharp. Of course Liesa had been fishing. How else could she figure out what might actually cheer him up?
Liesa simply smiled.
"Mr. Romano, does it matter what I say?" Liesa asked lightly. "You'll assume I have an ulterior motive anyway, won't you?"
A mocking smile touched Angus's lips. Angus didn't answer. But the expression already said everything.
Liesa's smile didn't waver.
"In that case, I won't say much more," Liesa said calmly. "But I should clarify something."
Liesa met Angus's eyes.
"The only ulterior motive I have… is toward you, Mr. Romano," Liesa said lightly.
"Everything else honestly doesn't interest me."
Liesa tilted her head slightly. "I hope you'll clear up that misunderstanding soon."