Gasp! When Melinda saw Shirley’s face, she furrowed her brows and gasped. “How did you get hurt so badly? You’ve really been through a lot, girl.”
Melinda was almost 40 years old, but she gave off the feeling of being in her 30s due to her well-maintained appearance. However, she was very amiable and approachable.
At her question, Shirley pressed her red lips together and didn’t know what to say. Instead, Veronica spoke up. “She was injured by accident. Miss Levine, can you see if her wound can be treated?”
She was not familiar with Melinda because Ruka was the one who introduced her to Melinda, the best plastic surgeon in Bloomstead. Usually, a case like Shirley’s could be fixed at a regular plastic surgery hospital.
Melinda was taken aback for a moment. When she turned to look at Veronica, a hint of darkness flashed in her eyes, but she saw Veronica signal her with her eyes, so she immediately nodded. ‘Yes, of course, it can be treated. But her wound is quite deep, and it cannot be treated in just one surgery.”
“R-Really? Immediately, Shirley’s face lit up as if she saw hope, and her dull face turned. radiant. Meanwhile, Skyler held onto Shirley tightly, noticing the long-lost smile on her face.
For months, she looked as if the gloom of the rainy season had enveloped her, suffocating her and leaving her breathless. But now the haze had cleared, revealing the bright sun and bringing at sudden clarity. Likewise, he felt as if the stone that had been weighing on him had fallen off, and he felt relieved.
“Did you hear that? Miss Levine said it could be treated. You just need to accept the treatment.” His words comforted Shirley.
A fleeting smile appeared on Shirley’s face, but it disappeared in an instant when Melinda asked, “You are not prone to scarring, are you?”
With just one question, Shirley’s newly built hope shattered, freezing her smile and draining the color from her face. Nervously clasping her hands together, she anxiously scraped her thumbnail against her other fingers, baring her anxious heart.
“I-I’m not sure.” She shook her head and raised her left hand, pointing to a scar near the base of her index finger. “This scar has been here for 15 years, but… it still shows. Does that count as being prone to scarring?”
For normal people, wounds would gradually fade over time, leaving behind barely visible. scars. But for scare-prone individuals, even after a long time, wounds would not fade and could even become thicker and more raised.
When Melinda saw Shirley’s finger, her expression slightly darkened, and her brow furrowed even tighter. “Your situation is still manageable.” She sensed the signal from Skyler, so she had no choice but to hide the truth. “We have seen customers with much more severe conditions than yours, but they all turned out fine in the end.”
“That’s good to hear.” Shirley breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely happy. Melinda was experienced in the business field, making her excel at observing people’s expressions. While sitting on the couch and maintaining her usual gentle demeanor, she said, “The wound on your face hasn’t fully healed yet, so come back for the treatment after it does. However, this is a gradual process, so you must not rush it.”
“I understand. Thank you, Miss Levine.” Shirley nodded and looked at Skyler with a grateful smile on her face.
At this moment, Veronica signaled to Skyler, who instantly understood and pulled Shirley away. “Let’s go look around the beauty salon. Consider it an opportunity for you to get acquainted.”
“Huh? Is that… okay?” Shirley felt it wouldn’t be right to leave Melinda behind. At her words, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Silly, Matt and Miss Levine are good friends. They have some things to discuss.” He reminded her, and only then did she smile and nod, leaving with him.
After they left, Veronica stared at Melinda with a serious look. “Miss Levine, I know that scar- prone individuals cannot be completely treated. For her case, what will be the best possible outcome for her treatment?”
