Love beyond the mask (Whitney) novel Chapter 512

Dr. Ryan had an air of realization. "Just a child of three, no matter how clever, soon he'll be under my control."

As Florence, supported by Myra, slowly sat up, her pale lips curved into a faint smile. "I have no doubts about your hypnotism skills. When the time comes, perform a brain surgery on him, dumb him down, and turn him into my little toy!"

Dr. Ryan didn't respond.

Truth be told, besides being exceptionally bright, Sammy was also incredibly endearing. In the initial days of confinement under Dr. Ryan's care, the boy nearly starved, yet he showed remarkable intuition and even displayed a knack for medicine that belied his young age.

Dr. Ryan had a soft spot for the intelligent, especially those who were sharp from a young age. And the kid had a way with words that charmed him. Lately, he found it harder and harder to lay a hand on him.

"Dr. Ryan, do you have any objections to my decision?" Florence noticed his brief silence and glanced at him with her doe eyes.

"None, none at all!"

Dr. Ryan quickly denied, looking away. "Everything as Ms. Sheldon wishes. I won't let the kid have an easy time. Turning him into a fool is just a matter of surgery!"

Internally, Dr. Ryan felt it was a pity.

Florence suppressed her smile, twirling a handkerchief between her fingertips, and instructed him further, "This vial of spinal fluid must be kept a secret for me. Until I decide to donate it to Natalie, no one must know of its existence!"

Dr. Ryan replied, "Understood."

Myra frowned slightly. "Ms. Sheldon, Dr. Ryan was seen at the Sheldon Mansion today. You mentioned Ludwik might have people tailing you. Could he discover Dr. Ryan?"

Florence squinted her eyes, already having a plan in mind, and chuckled. "Dr. Ryan has been affiliated with the Emperor City Hospital for years, and he used to be my go-to doctor not so long ago. Ludwik has only been in Emperor City for a short while. Even if he had ways to uncover everything, he couldn't possibly know that Dr. Ryan is now working in my lab."

Myra thought about it and agreed.

Florence reminded Dr. Ryan again, "Keep up the facade of being a hospital doctor. If anyone investigates you in the coming days, just keep your cool. And don't visit the kid these next few days."

Dr. Ryan nodded.

Florence rubbed her temples. "After extracting my spinal fluid, how long before I recover? Prescribe me some supplements, and something to promote ovulation as well. I'm planning on getting pregnant soon and can't afford to let my health drag me down."

Dr. Ryan paused, then understood why Ms. Sheldon was in such a rush to extract her spinal fluid. He quickly wrote down a prescription and left the Sheldon Mansion under Myra's cover.

Meanwhile, Florence had just lain down on her bed, feeling a bit sore from the anesthesia, when her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, her expression darkened momentarily before she answered coldly, "Hello?"

"Florence, thanks to your blessing, I've successfully returned to Emperor City."

The voice on the other end was female, tinged with amusement. "The Bartels family still remembers your favor. If there's anything you need my help with, just say the word."

Florence narrowed her eyes, sensing this woman could be trouble.

---

The next morning brought shocking news to Whitney's hospital room, waking her from her slumber.

"Whitney, yesterday afternoon, your Uncle Hugh went to the Sheldon Group. With your father incapacitated, Uncle Hugh has temporarily taken over the company's affairs. I think our grandparents made a reasonable decision. But the unexpected twist happened at this morning's shareholder meeting.