When Eric and Kirk arrived at the ward, the patient's family members were already present, some in tears, while others clung to Lewis, unwilling to let go.Such situations always seemed distant and nearly impossible until they actually unfolded."Doctor, you've got to help us!" A woman grasped Lewis's hand. "He is the pillar of our family. We can't live without him!"An elderly man sighed, "Doctor, how much is the treatment fee? It must be expensive, right? We don't have much savings. If he couldn't wake up anymore, what should we do?"Lewis was overwhelmed. He had just pulled the patient back from the clutches of death, yet he couldn't fathom why they had so many questions. Shouldn't the family be grateful to him?He didn't know how to explain it to the family members. While he had pointed out that being alive was a positive outcome, what was the use if the person was in a vegetative state? What comfort did that bring to the family?But many people didn't seek spiritual comfort.
Eric knew that Winston and the other senior holistic physicians could handle such cases. The patient had ended up in this situation because of Lewis' stubbornness."Can you wake him up?" Kirk asked again, with all the family members looking at Eric.Eric nodded and replied, "I can try, but it'll take a considerable amount of time. Let's give it a shot."Kirk was overjoyed. If Eric said it was worth a try, then he must be able to help the patient. He just didn't want the family members to be overly optimistic.However, despite Kirk's reassurances, the family members were still worried.An elderly man asked, "Doctor, how much is the surgery fee? We'll prepare it right away!"To which Eric replied, "Sir, I save lives based on fateful encounters, and I don't charge any fees."For Eric, encountering someone was fate. Without encountering them, he couldn't do anything. With numerous patients, complex cases, and terminal illnesses in the world, he couldn't individually approach each on
Lewis stood still, contemplating not only Eric's medical skills but also questioning his own previous judgment. Could there be no issue with the patient, and he should have awakened by now?From his perspective, it simply did not make sense. Even modern medicine had limited success in awakening a patient from a vegetative state, relying mostly on the patient's natural recovery. How could Eric manage this? How could holistic medicine achieve such a feat? It seemed impossible.If holistic medicine possessed such miraculous medical abilities, extensive research would have already been conducted to advance medical science."Impressive as always, Hol. Johnson," Kirk commented. "I remember a few years ago when he was admitted to our hospital. Having such a figure in Salt City is a great fortune!"Kirk was genuinely impressed, not merely offering flattery. Eric's medical expertise had completely won him over.He continued. "Dr. Lewis, don't come here tomorrow. I mean it."Hearing this
Sylvia glanced at Eric's shoes and remarked, "The new shoes are ready. They'll be delivered here tomorrow morning."Upon hearing that, Eric's expression turned pained.Only after marrying Sylvia and growing closer to her did he truly grasp the extravagance of the Williams family's lifestyle. Sylvia's annual expenditure on cosmetics alone was staggering despite her sparing use of them.Over the past few years, she had also splurged on cars, spending thousands of dollars. But what truly troubled him was the exorbitant cost of clothing.The shoes Eric wore were all high-end custom-made pairs chosen by Sylvia. It took several months to craft a single pair, and their price tag was astronomical.What astounded Eric was the realization that his previous annual salary wouldn't even cover the cost of one pair of these shoes. Reflecting on this, he said, "Let's refrain from ordering such expensive shoes in the future. They're just too extravagant!"Even though he was affluent, he still fel
"Ms. Williams!" Lewis called out as he ran up from behind.Sylvia halted and frowned upon seeing Lewis. "What's the matter?"Sylvia was somewhat repelled, especially by men who had a high opinion of themselves. Besides her and Eric's family, she maintained a cold and distant demeanor toward outsiders. She didn't even wish to exchange pleasantries with unfamiliar women, let alone men."I won't be here later—"Before Lewis could finish his sentence, Sylvia interjected, "What does it have to do with me?"With that, she turned and left.Even when interacting with the Williams and Innova employees, Sylvia always kept her distance, particularly from male employees.In her view, as a married woman, she should maintain a boundary with other men. Even if Lewis was outstanding, what difference did it make? She had equally capable friends, so befriending Lewis was unnecessary.Observing Sylvia ignore him and leave, Lewis clenched his fists. Besides his slightly superior medical skills, he
Eric glanced around the room, his eyes alight with excitement, and broke into a wide grin. "Sylvia... She's pregnant!"His announcement sent shockwaves through the room, filling it with a mixture of surprise and joy.Eric was overcome with both emotions. He and Sylvia had been trying for a baby without success, their previous attempts ending in disappointment. But now, after a period of busyness and neglect, Sylvia was suddenly pregnant!Amelia was stunned by the news and took a moment to gather herself before exclaiming, "Oh my goodness! You're finally pregnant!"Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke. It had been some time since Sylvia and Eric had tied the knot, and after a miscarriage, there had been no news of another one."No... really?" Sylvia's voice trembled with disbelief. It felt too good to be true."Is it true?" Amelia's expression betrayed her doubt. "Eric, are you absolutely sure?"Eric nodded, his excitement tempered by a moment of reassurance. "Yes! She's indeed
Everyone eagerly anticipated the news, especially Amelia, who understood Sylvia's struggles with conception. Although she would have been happy with either a boy or a girl, knowing the gender would bring peace of mind."Is everyone so concerned?" Eric's smile was infectious. "It's a girl!"A collective sigh of relief swept through the room.Henry joined in, his face beaming. "That's wonderful! Girls are cute and adorable and not as mischievous as boys. I prefer granddaughters!"Amelia was quick to challenge him, saying, "If it were a boy, you'd definitely say you prefer grandsons! When Sylvester, Brook, and Connor were born, you kept praising how good boys were! Have you forgotten how unhappy you were then?"Henry felt embarrassed under Amelia's direct scrutiny. "It's been so many years. Can we not bring it up anymore? Our family has a strong genetic predisposition for sons. It'd be a shame if we didn't have Sylvia, so granddaughters are great!"His words left Amelia unable to re
"Wow!" Winston exclaimed with immediate joy. "Congratulations! Finally, your dream has come true!"He remembered the struggles Eric and Sylvia had faced trying to conceive, recalling the couple's consultation with him. The absence of children in their family had always been a regret for Winston. He believed it would have made their family complete. Now, at last, that missing piece had been filled!Winston urged, "Your wife is pregnant, so you shouldn't linger here all day. Go back early this afternoon and spend more time with her."Eric nodded eagerly.However, the overwhelming number of infected people at the stadium made leaving early impossible. The stadium's capacity was limited, and despite distributing medicine to expedite recovery among the infected, their numbers continued to rise.Speeding up their recovery would free up space to accommodate new cases.Later in the afternoon, Eric received a call from Ruth."Eric, have you noticed any suspicious individuals?""Suspicio