Chapter 48

At this moment, John felt an immense heaviness in his heart.

After searching through all his memories, he gave Selena his diagnosis: a relatively rare congenital disease—congenital insensitivity to pain.

After receiving this result, John also fully understood one thing: no matter how many dollars he left for Miss Philip, it would have no meaning for her, or for Selena, because this was a congenital disease. Even more than a hundred years later, there was no effective treatment. The only thing he could do for Selena was to teach her how to protect herself and try not to hurt herself.

Even so, Selena's future was already bleak.

Although John was just a general surgeon in his previous life, with the help of the textbooks in his mind, he could basically confirm this. And he also knew that besides the lack of pain sensation, Selena would face many more hardships throughout her life.

However, the one who would suffer even more was probably Miss Philip.

While searching through the textbooks in his mind, John also understood why old Hunter had coldly fired Miss Philip and why this suffering mother had avoided her former student. The lack of pain sensation was one of the common characteristics of another group of unfortunate people.

Leprosy, a term that struck fear into people's hearts.

People in his previous life might have been very unfamiliar with leprosy, as only a few patients still lived in remote leper villages. But in this era, leprosy was still a widespread disease worldwide, and gradually losing the sense of pain was one of its important symptoms. Old Hunter must have suspected this and fired Miss Philip without hesitation, even if there was only a very small chance, he would not allow his only heir to take this risk!

It was easy to imagine that Miss Philip would not only bear immense mental pressure but also lose her previous comfortable life economically.

"Ah..."

Looking at the mother and daughter hugging each other, John really didn't know what to say or do. He could only let out a heavy sigh in his heart.

As if hearing this sigh, Miss Philip suddenly let go of Selena, gently placed her back on the bed, and quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She then looked up at John and said, "I'm sorry, I talked too much..."

"No, no, Miss Philip, I should be the one to apologize!"

John quickly waved his hands and said with a bitter smile, "If I hadn't insisted on seeing you, I wouldn't have unintentionally intruded on your privacy... So I should be the one to apologize!"

These words came from the bottom of John's heart.

He could imagine how painful it must have been for the proud Miss Philip to reveal these secrets to her former student. Moreover, besides leaving some money, John couldn't think of anything else he could do to help these two unfortunate ladies!

This sense of helplessness made him feel even more guilty.

"Mom, I want to eat something."

At this moment, Selena, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke, saying in a childish voice to Miss Philip.

"Oh, okay, I'll prepare it right away."

Miss Philip immediately stood up, first speaking softly to her daughter, then looking at John with an apologetic expression, "I'm really sorry..."

"I'll leave right away!"

Feeling awkward, John quickly stood up as well.

However, before leaving, John hesitated for a moment and then said sincerely, "Miss Philip, it looks like Selena needs very careful care, and your current situation... I hope you will write to me if you have any difficulties, and I will do my best to help my friends, okay?"

Given Selena's condition, the money in the envelope wouldn't last them long.

"...Thank you, John."

After looking at John for a long time with a complex expression, Miss Philip finally showed a warm smile. She then bowed slightly, gracefully performing a curtsy to John...

...

"What's taking so long?"

Joshua tapped the remaining ash out of his pipe and gradually became restless.

John had been in the alley for nearly an hour, far exceeding the half-hour they had initially agreed upon. Although Joshua knew it was just a verbal agreement and the boy wouldn't strictly adhere to it, being in there for so long still made him uneasy.

After all, John was just a thirteen-year-old boy, and this was not a high-class neighborhood.

Just as Joshua was hesitating whether to leave the carriage and go in to look, he saw John and Fett walking out of the alley from a distance.

"Phew..."

Joshua finally let out a long sigh of relief.

However, as the two got closer and Joshua could clearly see John's expression, his heart immediately tightened again. Anyone could tell that the young master was not in a good state, as pale as if he had just run from Manhattan to Brooklyn!

Even after John got into the carriage, he still looked dazed.

Joshua, being considerate, did not ask any questions. Since accompanying John to this place, he had already guessed the outcome. The French governess's move from the previous location to here had not really improved her situation; she had only moved slightly away from the gang's territory. Therefore, Joshua could understand John's feelings. He thought the young boy was just having a hard time accepting the plight of his former governess and was feeling sad.

"He'll get over it in a few days."

Thinking this, Joshua gently patted John's shoulder to comfort him and nodded at Fett, saying, "Let's go back to the Hunter residence!"

"Go!"

With the driver's light command, the carriage turned around and slowly headed back the way it came.

Inside the carriage, John was as quiet as a lady.

"Clippity-clop, clippity-clop..."

The clear sound of hooves rang in his ears. John looked at the alley they were leaving, his eyes filled with a blank expression. His fists clenched and unclenched intermittently, and his lips trembled with his fluctuating emotions.

"John, what exactly happened?"

After a few minutes of the carriage ride, Joshua finally couldn't hold back and asked.

Without immediately answering his friend's question, John fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Joshua, if you had to choose between enduring pain and having no pain, which would you choose?"

"What do you mean?"

Joshua was taken aback at first, but then quickly laughed, "That's a pretty boring question. I think any normal person would choose to have no pain, right? Ha, a world without pain is what everyone aspires to, isn't it?"

"Is that so?"

Glancing at his friend with a faint look, John turned his gaze back to the direction they were leaving and murmured, "Maybe for most people, but for some, being able to feel pain is the greatest happiness..."

...

In his previous life, John had read a book written by a British researcher on leprosy. After interacting with many leprosy patients, the author expressed a viewpoint that John, as a surgeon, had never fully agreed with. In fact, he rarely had the opportunity to truly understand the meaning of these words, only occasionally hearing similar laments from his colleagues.

But today, from his former governess Miss Philip and from the little girl Selena, John finally saw clearly and truly understood these words...

Pain is a gift from God.