Seeing Claire's surprise, she quickly explained, "I wasn't digging into your personal life or anything. I just overheard some of your classmates mentioning that you had a private place off-campus."
"I figured getting treated at your place would offer a lot more privacy."
"Didn't the professor say before that acupuncture requires a completely tranquil environment? We are still out in public right now."
Claire actually didn't mind bringing someone to her apartment.
Besides, if Melanie really had some hidden agenda, this would be the perfect opportunity to flush it out.
"Alright, we'll head to my place shortly."
"Or, if you happen to have a private residence off-campus, we could go there instead."
"If you have the money, you could even book a hotel room, that way you could just fall straight to sleep after the treatment."
Claire hadn't originally planned on turning her apartment into a makeshift clinic.
But some patients truly did require a quiet, controlled environment for their treatments.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to convert one of her rooms into a proper consultation space.
It wouldn't take much remodeling—just a small treatment bed and a desk set for consultations.
Claire figured it would be an easy enough project; she could just ask Owen or her oldest brother to help her set it up when they had some downtime.
She didn't even consider asking Phil or Dane.
Those two were always swamped with work.
She still managed to see Dane regularly, but catching a glimpse of Phil was nearly impossible.
"Let's just go to your place. I'm currently staying in the dorms, and my off-campus residence isn't fully furnished yet."
Melanie was staying in the international student dormitories, which were significantly nicer than the standard ones.
She really had no practical need to buy or rent a place off-campus.
But since she had publicly claimed she planned to stay in Solenia long-term to study traditional medicine, having a permanent residence in Cabinda completely made
sense.
"Let's go then."
Claire brought Melanie back to her apartment.
The place wasn't massive, but the minimalist, elegant decor made it incredibly welcoming.
Thanks to her housekeeper, it was also spotless and perfectly organized.
"Your home feels wonderfully serene," Melanie said, finally settling on the right word.
"Thanks," Claire replied, handing her a pair of disposable slippers.
Once inside, Melanie didn't snoop around. When Claire motioned for her to sit, she sat gracefully.
Claire poured her a glass of water.
"Take a moment to relax, and then we'll get started."
Melanie nodded, taking a few small sips before looking up. "May I use your restroom?"
Claire pointed her in the right direction, and Melanie headed over.
By the time Melanie returned, Claire had already prepped the living room sofa.
"Take a look. Does lying on the sofa work for you?"
"This is perfect." Melanie could tell
just by a oking that the sofa was high end designer piece; it certainly
hadn't been cheap. Content betongs
As she laid back against the cushions, the plush comfort washed over her, making her instantly drowsy.
But the thought of her impending treatment sparked her anxiety, and her muscles
went completely rigid.
acupuncture won't
"Relax. at all.
just feel a
ache, you'll see what I mean du
FindNovel.net
Melanie offered a strained smile. "Okay."
"I've never tried Solenia's traditional therapies before, but I've heard acupuncture works miracles."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Claire didn't say anything more, simply encouraging her to breathe and let go of the tension.
The apartment smelled faintly of the soothing herbal incense Claire liked to burn.
Worried that Melanie might find the scent too strong, Claire cracked a window to let in some fresh air.
"If you get chilly, I can grab you a blanket."
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you." Melanie kept her arms glued to her sides.
"Your dress might be a bit tricky to
work around since I'll need to lift et
you to access the pressure points," gently pointed