Love's Prescription: The Small-Town Girl Is An Extraordinary Healer

By the time March rolled around, Shoildon was buzzing with one jaw-dropping news after another.

Word spread first that Isaac Bennett-the eldest son of the city's wealthiest and most influential family-had been in a devastating car crash, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Another shock followed quickly: the prestigious Bennett family had chosen to bind themselves to the newly risen Willis family through marriage.

The biggest stir came from the pairing itself-the groom, none other than the now-disabled Isaac, and the bride, the Willis family's eldest daughter, a young woman raised far from the city's refinement in an isolated rural backwater.

Miles away from the glittering skyline, Verena Willis, the name on everyone's lips, remained in Trisas, the rural place she'd always known.

The chime of an incoming message broke the silence of the modest living room where she sat.

One glance at the screen showed a message from her assistant.

The text read, "Evelyn, I've got a patient with an extremely rare case. They've been waiting for you for six months. When can you come take a look?"

The screen dimmed as Verena pressed the power button, her delicate fingers lingering over the device. In her clear eyes, sorrow flickered.

Around the world, people knew her as Evelyn Rowe-the miracle-working healer-but fame meant nothing when she couldn't save the person she loved most. Her grandmother had slipped away the moment she picked up her scalpel, unable to wait any longer.

From behind her came the muffled edge of her parents' voices, their quarrel leaking through the thin walls of the house.

"Laura, have you no sense of timing? My mother's barely in the ground, and you're already talking about leaving!"

"Alec, the company is drowning in unfinished business, and Kaia's eighteenth birthday party is right around the corner. Tell me, which is more important-a pile of work and a major family celebration, or a dead person? Besides, we need Verena back in the city so she can learn proper manners. If she acts like some country hick girl after joining the Bennett family, it'll be the Willis name everyone laughs at!"

"Stop calling her a country hick girl. She's your daughter!"

"If she weren't my daughter, do you think I'd bother making the trip to fetch her?"

Verena stifled a small laugh as their bickering went on.

The two people arguing in the room were not strangers but her own parents, Alec Willis and Laura Willis.

Once, they had been ordinary employees, clawing their way up inch by inch until success finally came.

Back in those early years of scraping by, they had no time for a child, so her grandmother, Shawna Willis, had taken her in when she was only a month old.

Even with their hectic schedules, her parents had still managed to think of her now and then, sending word or a token of affection when they could.

The change in their priorities began the moment their business took off and they launched their own company. At seven years old, Verena gained a younger sister, Kaia Willis, and from that day forward, her parents' interest in her began to fade. As the Willis fortune grew, they slid seamlessly into the ranks of high society.

Laura would call from time to time, but her conversations were never about Verena's schooling or health. Instead, she would go on about Kaia, the younger sister she called the family's lucky charm, as if Laura's only mission was to brag about the child who supposedly brought them prosperity.

When Kaia turned three, her parents came back to Trisas for a visit.

Alec spoke of moving her and Shawna to Shoildon, yet Verena caught the stiffness in Laura's smile. Later, whatever Laura whispered to Alec was enough to make him drop the idea altogether.

Not long after returning to Shoildon, Laura became pregnant again and gave birth to a son. From that point on, all of their attention went to Kaia and the boy. Money arrived regularly, but they themselves stayed away for fifteen years.

If Shawna hadn't passed away, Verena was certain her parents would have gone on ignoring them entirely.

...

Only after the funeral rites were done did Verena agree to travel to Shoildon with them.

They spoke warmly, as though eager to have her close, but she understood what was really at play. After all, it was easy enough to learn the news in Shoildon with a quick search online.

Laura broke the silence as they neared the Shoildon residence.

"Verena, keep in mind-if anyone asks about your education, you tell them you graduated from Acorith College of Medicine with a master's degree and that you're about to start your internship..."

In her mind, Laura had never pictured Verena as anything more than a small-town clinic doctor. Trisas, after all, was nothing but a secluded mountain town in her eyes.

Since Verena had never attended college-or so she believed-Laura assumed she'd only picked up a few simple skills from the local medics.

The few comments she'd overheard from Shawna about Verena studying medicine had been enough for her to settle on that assumption.

Acorith's medicine program was ranked first in the country, and Laura had no qualms about using its name to prop up her own image. Heaven forbid anyone discover that her eldest daughter's practice was in some rural backwater. That, she thought, would be humiliating.

Verena sneered at Laura's vanity, knowing Laura had never cared to truly understand her.

Ironically, just last month, Acorith College of Medicine had invited Verena herself to deliver a lecture to its students.

In all her life, Laura had never once asked about her education. Once, Verena missed two of the exams due to illness, resulting in low scores. When Laura later learned her scores were low, she had concluded her daughter was unfit for higher learning.

Even when Shawna tried to tell them the good news of Verena's admission to a top-tier university, both parents brushed it aside, mentioning work matters before abruptly ending the call.

After that, Verena and Shawna stopped trying to share anything meaningful with them.

Verena looked Laura in the eye and said evenly, "I never studied at Acorith College of Medicine."

The bluntness made Laura's lips press together. In her eyes, Verena's refusal to play along wasn't strength-it was stubbornness.

Of course she knew Verena had never been a student there; that was the whole point of telling her to lie. Compared to Kaia, who might not match Verena's beauty but had achievements to show for herself, Verena was nothing but an embarrassment.

Before she could scold her, Alec's pointed cough from the front seat forced her to bite back the words.

Letting the matter drop, Laura shifted her focus with a softened tone, the indulgence in it clear.

"Anyway, your sister's used to being spoiled. Try not to provoke her, alright? She gets upset easily and refuses to eat when she's in a mood."

Verena couldn't help finding it all a little ridiculous. Almost eighteen and still carrying herself like a pampered child, Kaia was the very picture of being spoiled.

Their exchange ended as the car rolled to a stop in front of a lavish villa that all but flaunted its wealth.

Verena stepped out first, taking in the grand facade.

From the entrance, a girl in a cute T-shirt and short skirt came dashing toward them-Kaia, in all her youthful eagerness.

"Dad, Mom, you're finally back!" Kaia's voice rang out, bright and eager.

The brightness dimmed when her gaze landed on Verena. Her eyes lingered, scanning Verena from head to toe.

Clad in a plain cream hoodie and pale yellow pants with clean white sneakers, Verena's look was ordinary at first glance. Yet her delicate features, flawless skin, and calm, distant aura gave her a beauty that couldn't be ignored. Nothing about her spoke of years spent in some remote countryside.

Kaia knew exactly who she was looking at-her full-blood sister-but the two had never shared a home.

Life in Shoildon had made Kaia the untouchable little princess of the Willis family, the jewel in their parents' eyes. This sudden reappearance of an elder sister left her with a subtle, uneasy knot in her chest.

"Oh, Kaia, honestly. How can you come outside wearing so little? Aren't you freezing?"

Laura's eyes went straight to the thin fabric Kaia wore before she quickly slipped off her own coat and draped it over her.

With a giggle, Kaia leaned against her mother. "Ha-ha, Mom, it's really not cold at all."

It was a scene warm enough to melt the chill from the air-but Verena had never been part of such moments.

Laughing together, Kaia and Laura headed inside, leaving Verena standing where she was, as though her arrival had already been forgotten.

As she walked, Kaia's eyes found Verena for a brief moment, casting a lingering, unreadable look over her shoulder.

At the sight of his younger daughter, Alec's expression softened, and he turned to bridge the gap.

"That's your sister, Kaia. She's done very well for herself. Scored high marks on her college entrance exams and already secured her spot at Acorith College of Medicine..."

Alec paused as something seemed to click in his mind. He remembered a conversation from years ago with his mother, when she casually mentioned that Verena had never taken any college entrance exam.

A long, weary breath escaped him. "You'd be so much better off if you were more like Kaia."

Verena didn't even bother dignifying that with a reply. The comment was absurd enough to amuse her. They could recall every tiny quirk Kaia had, yet when it came to something as important as her education, no one had cared to ask. They simply assumed she fell short in comparison.

...

The Willis family home felt like foreign ground to Verena. It was strange to think this place was meant to be hers, yet she was stepping inside for the very first time.

Laura guided her down the hall toward a bedroom, her voice tinged with concern, and offered a reassuring smile. "If there's anything here that doesn't suit you, just tell me, alright?"

Verena kept her tone even. "Thanks, Mom."

"Sweetheart, you don't have to be so polite. I am your mother."

When Laura lingered in the doorway instead of leaving, Verena asked, "Was there something else?"

Laura and Alec had spent years clawing their way into high society, seizing their break the moment it appeared. Still, they were newcomers, and many in those circles saw them as outsiders. The Bennett family, on the other hand, was a dynasty-wealthy, well-connected, and deeply rooted in prestige.

So when the Bennett family suggested a marriage alliance, Laura wasn't about to refuse. She could already picture the benefits, envisioning all the doors it would open.

But Isaac's accident had left him permanently disabled, and Laura couldn't imagine giving her precious younger daughter to him. That was when she decided to bring her eldest home.

For a brief moment, staring into Verena's calm, unflinching gaze, Laura felt the sting of guilt. She hadn't been there to raise her, and there was no real bond between them. The guilt was genuine, but the detachment was stronger.

Even so, she told herself this was an opportunity for Verena. A girl from a small, remote place, who had struggled in school and now worked as a doctor in a quiet town like Trisas, could only benefit from marrying into the Bennett family. Disabled or not, Isaac represented wealth, comfort, and security.

"You need to get some rest for now, Verena. There's someone I want you to meet later tonight, and I'll be the one taking you."

Laura didn't say who, but Verena didn't need to ask. It would be Isaac. She had already read about his accident online. The thought made her want to laugh and shake her head all at once. Expecting anything different from these parents had been foolish. Children who grew up feeling like afterthoughts learned to carry both bitterness and resignation.

"Alright." Verena gave a simple nod, though her agreement had nothing to do with Laura. She had come to Shoildon with only one purpose in mind-Isaac. A quiet thought crossed her mind, wondering what state he might be in now.

Laura's lips curved slightly when she saw no resistance. "Good. Get some rest, then. I'll leave you be."

Just as she was about to head out, she turned to Verena and said, "When you see him tonight, if anyone asks about your schooling, tell them you graduated from Acorith College of Medicine with a master's degree. Don't worry about them finding out otherwise-I'll take care of it."

Once the door clicked shut, Verena stretched out on the bed. Raising her right hand, she noticed the faint tremor in her fingers.

Six days had passed since she failed to save Shawna on the operating table. The scalpel had slipped, and her right hand hadn't stopped shaking since. For a surgeon, such trembling was the surest path to ruin.

Her mind churned with thoughts until sleep crept in, pulling her into an unsettling dream.

In another room, Kaia lounged across the sofa, her phone lighting up with group chat messages. Everyone wanted to know-was her sister beautiful?

The question soured Kaia's mood. Calling Verena pretty felt like an understatement. Even in simple clothes, she had the kind of beauty that caught and held the eye. Her complexion was smooth, unblemished, almost too refined for someone who had spent years in a remote backwater. Next to her, Kaia felt like the girl-next-door-sweet and harmless, but lacking genuine allure.

The questions kept coming, so Kaia finally typed back. "She's alright, not ugly."

She knew the answer was a blatant lie, yet the words had slipped out on instinct.

By now, everyone in Shoildon had heard whispers about the upcoming marriage between the Bennett family and the Willis family.

The city's wealthy young people were curious about the woman Isaac-once a man of unmatched promise-was set to marry.

Seeing Kaia's lukewarm reply, the group went quiet. Not ugly... It was the kind of phrase that hinted the woman was plain at best. Poor Isaac, they thought.

Among those reading was Bobby Bennett, Isaac's younger brother.

A sharp curse left his lips before he turned toward his mother, Danica Bennett.

"Mom, I get that my brother's legs aren't in the best shape... but does that mean you have to set him up with someone who can't do anything? Kaia says her sister's not exactly attractive."

The comment struck Danica with a dull ache. Like any mother, she wanted her son to have a worthy match.

Still, Isaac's condition went far beyond his injured legs. Certain aspects of his health as a man had been permanently damaged. As the matriarch of the Bennetts, she couldn't let whispers about the family spiral out of control. The safest route was to choose a bride who posed no threat-Verena Willis, the eldest daughter of that family.

"This is my decision, and you have no say in it," she said, masking her emotions with a cool tone.

Bobby's jaw tightened in anger.

Unmoved, Danica turned away and started up the staircase, uninterested in soothing his temper.

A message from Laura had just arrived, asking her to set up a meeting between Verena and Isaac that evening.

Stepping into Isaac's dimly lit room, she crossed to the window without pause and yanked open the curtains.

Harsh daylight spilled across the floor, driving away the gloom.

Isaac was stretched out on the bed, his eyes shadowed but unblinking, his face as sharply defined as ever.

Knowing he was awake, Danica spoke plainly. "You'll be meeting a girl tonight. And you will marry her."

"If that's the plan, why waste time with a meeting? Just register the marriage and be done with it," Isaac answered, his voice flat.

A mixture of compassion and unspoken indignation churned in Danica's chest. No one outside the family knew that the accident had taken not just Isaac's health, but also her husband's life. With her son in this state, she dared not announce her husband's death, fearing it would shake the company's stability.

"Don't fight me on this. It's only polite to meet her first."

When she left the room, the shadows seemed to close in around Isaac again. Pain and self-disgust clouded his eyes. In his mind, his father's death was a burden he would always bear.

By the time dusk settled in, Verena was woken by a few knocks on the door before it opened. It was Kaia.

With a tone that wavered between forced cheer and thinly veiled condescension, Kaia said, "Verena, you're about to marry into the Bennett family. Congratulations. They're the top family in Shoildon."

Years of studying abroad had sharpened Verena's instincts, and Kaia's insincerity was as plain as day.

One look was enough to know Kaia disliked her.

In silence, Verena continued folding her quilt, patiently waiting to hear the rest of what Kaia had to say.

As Verena stayed silent, Kaia added, "The Bennett family might have a good name, but Isaac is already crippled. People say that when a man's legs are paralyzed, his sexual function is often affected too. I honestly don't want you marrying into that family."

While her words sounded concerned, Kaia's real hope was that Verena wouldn't become part of the Bennett family. Even with Isaac's health problems, he was still someone Kaia had once cared for. And if Verena married him, her life would undoubtedly turn out better than Kaia's.

Verena understood exactly what Kaia was trying to do, so she spoke plainly. "If you don't like me, that's fine. You don't have to pretend you're worried because..."

Verena stopped mid-sentence when she caught the flicker of surprise in Kaia's eyes, and then continued as if it meant nothing, "The feeling's mutual. I don't like you either."

That blunt truth left Kaia momentarily speechless. She hadn't imagined Verena would tear away her false concern so openly.

It was only after Verena had stepped out of the room that Kaia found her voice again. She stamped her foot in anger and snapped, "Who do you think you are? So arrogant! You're nothing but a country bumpkin from a backward place."

Verena had only reached the doorway. Hearing the insult, she turned back, remained just outside, and faced Kaia. "Your parents are from that same backward place. Should I let them know you think everyone from there is a bumpkin?"

The words left Kaia frozen in place. Verena's sharp, unyielding stare made her feel as though every hidden thought had been uncovered.

Her dislike for Verena deepened. This time, though, she didn't argue back and stormed off in a huff.

Kaia had just descended the staircase when Laura appeared before Verena.

A shadow darkened Laura's expression.

Verena could guess the reason. Kaia must have run to her, claiming she'd been bullied by her older sister.

"What did you say to Kaia?" Laura asked, her tone sharp and accusing, as though she had already taken Kaia's side. It was clear she hadn't considered there might be another side to the story.

Such blind judgment was something Verena found hard to tolerate.

With a faint, mocking smile, she asked, "And what did she tell you?"

"I'm the one asking you!" Laura retorted.

Her temper spiked at Verena's question in return, certain that growing up in a rural backwater had stripped her eldest daughter of proper manners.

"She called me a country bumpkin, so I reminded her that if that's true, then you and Dad would be bumpkins too, because you both grew up in the same place."

"Ridiculous! Kaia would never say something so disrespectful." Laura's fury deepened. "It's bad enough you angered your sister, but now you're making up lies? You've got some nerve, Verena."

The whole thing struck Verena as absurd. Laura pressed her for an answer, yet refused to believe her when she gave it. Was Laura only interested in hearing what matched her own opinion?

Verena wasn't the type to back down and had a way of provoking people further. Laura's refusal to believe her made her say, "If you've already decided I'm lying, then so be it. You believe Kaia no matter what. But you won't ever get an apology out of me. If I'm such a problem, I'll just go back to the countryside and let Kaia marry Isaac herself."

She knew exactly what Laura was aiming for and used it to shut her down.

"You!" Laura was genuinely provoked, but she held her temper in check, reminding herself of the real reason she had brought Verena to Shoildon.

She couldn't make sense of how different her daughters had turned out. Kaia was accomplished and sweet-tongued, always winning her over. Verena, in contrast, was unremarkable, stubborn, and dishonest. Years apart had made her feel like a stranger.

"Get your things together. You're coming with me to the meeting. And change your clothes. I'll have one of the servants bring you an outfit."

Verena's decision to come to Shoildon had nothing to do with her unfairly biased parents. The moment she saw the news, she had recognized Isaac.

She didn't care about dressing up to see him. So when she came downstairs, she wore exactly what she had on before.

Laura, waiting at the bottom of the stairs, looked visibly unhappy. "Why didn't you change?"

"I don't feel like it," Verena said in an unhurried tone.

"You..." Laura could only glare, her patience wearing thin.

It dawned on her that Verena was not as submissive or easy to control as she had assumed.

Still, her priority at the moment was securing the marriage arrangement with Isaac.

"Alright, fine. If you won't change, then let's just go..."

...

Over in the chat group of the wealthy young people, Bobby kept directing questions at Kaia.

"Kaia, what kind of work does your sister do?"

Even though they shared the same group, Kaia usually had little reason to speak with Bobby.

Her thoughts raced the moment she saw him reach out to her first.

Not wanting Bobby to feel overlooked, she replied quickly, "My mom told me she works as a doctor in a small town."

Bobby's brows drew together slightly. A doctor? If that was true, then at least she might be able to care for his brother. Thinking along those lines, he grudgingly accepted the idea of Verena being unattractive.

Kaia knew her mother had planned to spread the claim that Verena was a master's graduate from Acorith College of Medicine.

Kaia had poured years of effort into getting into Acorith College of Medicine and earning people's admiration, so the thought of Verena reaping such recognition without working for it irritated her.

With a hint of mischief in mind, Kaia put on an air of casualness and added, "But she never attended university. She probably just picked up a little from the local doctors."

"What? She never even went to university?" Bobby's surprise was obvious.

The title of "doctor" now felt suspicious to him.

Irritation welled up in Bobby. Isaac had graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in the world. It was bad enough to marry someone plain-looking, but to have her be undereducated as well...

Unable to keep it in any longer, Bobby sent a message to Isaac. "Please, don't marry Verena Willis. She's not good enough for you. Her sister said she never even went to college. Looks aside, she doesn't have much education."

Isaac was seated in a private room at Spice Restaurant, already waiting.

The setting there was elegant and calming.

Neither Isaac nor Danica, however, had the mood to enjoy the view beyond the window.

For Danica, this meeting was purely a business arrangement.

For Isaac, it was nothing more than a reminder of his own shortcomings.

When his phone chimed, Isaac glanced at the message from Bobby. His striking features stayed impassive.

Danica caught sight of Bobby's message as well.

She shut her eyes for a brief moment before saying, "Isaac, please don't resent me. I have no other option."

In her mind, the only way to stop the damaging rumors about him was for him to marry and quietly adopt a child, passing it off as his own.

Isaac's lips curved in a faint, bitter smile. Resentment was a luxury he couldn't claim. In his eyes, he was the reason his mother had lost her husband.

Even so, Isaac sent Bobby a reply. "Watch your tone."

Bobby's temper flared when he read it. In a moment like this, Isaac was still telling him to be polite. Did Isaac even understand the real issue?

At that time, Verena and Laura reached Spice Restaurant.

Verena was tall and wearing flat shoes; Laura, teetering in high heels, had to hurry to match her pace.