Chapter 3: I Am Tianyang's Apprentice

Y City, the FitzGerald Family.

In the grand living room of a luxurious Chinese-style villa, people were seated all around. At the very center, an elderly man with slightly gray hair sat, his face pale with an unnatural tinge of bluish-purple, looking exhausted and weak as he leaned against the sofa. Surrounding him was a circle of younger family members, all dressed in opulent and elegant attire.

Beside him sat a woman in a dark purple dress, adorned with jewels, sipping tea from a delicate cup. After taking a small sip, she placed the cup down and spoke in a voice that wasn't too loud or too soft: "Old Chu, this Doctor Bevis Jeremiah really has a high opinion of himself. He agreed to be here at 9:30, but it's already 9:25 and there's no sign of him. I think he's stood us up."

"Say less and wait patiently."

Horace FitzGerald, the head of the Chu family, said weakly, then lifted his wrist to check his watch and instructed the butler standing nearby, "Webb Beard, go to the door and wait. If Doctor Bevis Jeremiah arrives, bring him in immediately."

"Yes, Mr. Chu..."

Before Webb Beard could finish, the doorbell rang. He quickly said, "Mr. Chu, it might be Doctor Bevis Jeremiah. I'll go check."

Within half a minute, two distinct sets of footsteps approached, and everyone in the living room turned their gaze toward the door.

Leading the way was Butler Webb Beard, followed by a stunningly beautiful and graceful young woman.

She wore a sky-blue shirt dress paired with matching high heels, a custom-made backpack resembling a medical kit slung over her left shoulder, and a white and blue handbag in her right hand. Her face was expressionless, exuding a cold and distant aura, making her seem difficult to approach.

Gabrielle McCarthy followed the butler into the living room, her clear and spirited eyes quickly scanning the room, taking in the faces and expressions of everyone present. Her beautiful phoenix-like eyes lingered for 0.1 seconds on a man sitting on the far left, who exuded elegance and nobility.

This man...

Gabrielle McCarthy, guided by her woman's intuition, felt a sense of familiarity about him, but couldn't quite place it. She then shifted her gaze to Horace FitzGerald, who was seated in the main position.

Horace FitzGerald met her gaze and was about to speak when the lady beside him asked first, "Are you Doctor Bevis Jeremiah?"

"I am not."

Her voice, crisp and clear like a spring, answered.

"If you're not Doctor Bevis Jeremiah, then who are you? What are you doing at the Chu family? Who are you here to see?" The lady, Mrs. Chu, fired off three questions, her face unreasonably darkening.

Gabrielle McCarthy's phoenix-like eyes glanced at her, her indifferent gaze shifting to the lady. Judging by her seating, Gabrielle McCarthy guessed she was the matriarch of the Chu family. In a calm tone, she replied, "I am Gabrielle McCarthy, Doctor Bevis Jeremiah's apprentice. My master had an emergency and couldn't come to Y City, so he sent me to the Chu family to treat a patient named Horace FitzGerald."

With that, she took out her phone from her handbag and showed them the credentials forwarded by her master, then unceremoniously took a seat.

After the maid brought tea, she accepted it gracefully, thanked her, and began to sip slowly.

While the elderly couple, Horace FitzGerald and his wife, were examining the credentials on the phone, the other young people in the living room were all staring at her. Most of the men openly scrutinized her, while the women, driven by jealousy, collectively displayed subtle envy and disdain.

The Chu family was well-known in Y City's upper social circles, and the people present often attended various social events, having seen many beautiful and elegant women, including top actresses and rising stars in the entertainment industry.

But this sudden appearance of Doctor Bevis Jeremiah's apprentice surpassed them all. In terms of looks and poise, she outshone them, and her manner of drinking tea was no less refined than any high-born lady. As they observed her, various thoughts raced through their minds.

After reviewing the credentials, Horace FitzGerald handed the phone back to her, his tired eyes sizing her up. He didn't fully trust this young woman, who was barely in her early twenties, and said bluntly, "I believe you are Doctor Bevis Jeremiah's apprentice, but I don't trust your medical skills."

Gabrielle McCarthy decisively put down her teacup, picked up her phone, and said straightforwardly, "My master never charges a deposit in advance. We have no financial disputes with the Chu family. Since you don't trust me, I won't force the issue or explain further. This appointment is canceled. Thank you for the tea, goodbye!"

With that, Gabrielle McCarthy rose elegantly, picked up her medical bag, and walked out.

She hadn't taken more than three steps when the woman beside Horace FitzGerald called out, "Wait a moment."

Gabrielle McCarthy stopped and turned to look at her, her voice flat and emotionless: "Madam, what else is there?"

"Your master, Doctor Bevis Jeremiah, made an appointment with us but sent you instead. Don't you owe us an explanation?" Mrs. Chu, Gloria Arabella, questioned with a hint of accusation.

Hearing this, Gabrielle McCarthy's lips curved into a smile, though it held no warmth, only a touch of amusement: "Mrs. Chu, when the Chu family invited my master, surely you inquired about his reputation."

Gloria Arabella's face stiffened. Of course, she had inquired. The rumors about Bevis Jeremiah were not flattering, but it was universally acknowledged that his medical skills were exceptional.

As for his personality, it was well-known that he was eccentric and moody, with a sharp and sarcastic tongue. He treated everyone based on his mood, regardless of their status or power, and it was common for him to stand people up.

Seeing that she didn't respond, Gabrielle McCarthy smiled as usual, her tone casual: "If the Chu family wants an explanation, please feel free to contact my master. I have no interest in getting involved."

Her flawless beauty, even in simple attire, shone through, and her lazy, nonchalant demeanor stirred jealousy in several of the young women present.

One of them, a beautifully dressed woman in a red dress, stood up abruptly, mirroring Mrs. Chu's attitude.

"A crude country doctor without a medical license, acting so arrogantly just because of some medical skills. Do you really think my father's illness can only be treated by you?"

Gabrielle McCarthy didn't care to know her name and was unfazed by her harsh words. She looked at her indifferently and shrugged, "Then the Chu family should find someone else."

"Who needs you anyway?"

The woman in the red dress was Melissa Arabella, Horace FitzGerald's daughter, who took her mother's surname. Spoiled since childhood, she was impulsive, vain, and extremely jealous. She envied Gabrielle McCarthy's beauty at first sight and wished she would leave immediately.

Gabrielle McCarthy remained indifferent to her attitude and turned to leave. But the noble-looking man sitting on the left sofa spoke up, "Please wait a moment."

His use of the word "please" conveyed respect and politeness.

His voice was distinctive, slightly hoarse yet rich and resonant, like the sound of a cello.

Despite his casual posture on the sofa, his presence was formidable, exuding an innate elegance and nobility. His black, tailored suit accentuated his tall, lean, and almost ascetic figure.

His handsome features, as if carved by a master sculptor, were sharp and defined. His slightly narrow eyes, though seemingly cold, hid intelligence and sharpness.