34"Camila, please," Amelia began, her voice laced with a plea, "give him a chance. Grandfather's situation is dire, and if sir French can offer any hope—"Camila cut her off, her arms still firmly crossed, her stance unyielding. "Hope? From him?" She scoffed, her disbelief hanging heavy in the air. "Fine. If he's as miraculous as you claim, let's see him diagnose something. Anything." Her eyes, fierce and challenging, locked onto Darien's.Camilla was certainly younger than Amelia, but she has a formidable presence.Darien, although slightly taken aback by the sudden challenge, nodded slowly. "Alright. If that's what it takes to earn your trust."Camila smirked, a mix of arrogance and curiosity painting her features. "This should be good. Go on then, 'Doctor' French. Impress me."Darien stepped closer, the room's tension palpable. He could feel the eyes of everyone present boring into him, skepticism, and a hint of desperation mingling in the air. He reached out, his hand hovering mo
35Darien sighed, the weight of centuries of skepticism and misunderstanding pressing down on him in that moment. "I know how it sounds. But you saw the improvement in your grandfather's condition. Isn't that what truly matters?"Amelia bit her lip, her mind racing. The doubt was there, but so was the undeniable evidence of her grandfather's eased suffering. She glanced at Camila, whose face was a tumult of confusion and defiance, then back at Darien. "But why didn't you tell us sooner? About... this Qi healing?"Darien's gaze softened, and he gently withdrew his hands from the old man. "Because not everyone is ready to believe. And sometimes, disbelief can hinder the healing process more than help."Camila scoffed, rolling her eyes in a clear display of frustration and disbelief. "So, what now? This... Qi healing is supposed to cure him completely?"Darien shook his head, a solemn expression overtaking his features. "No, Camila. While I've managed to ease his discomfort and improve h
36In the tense atmosphere that had engulfed the room, Camila’s eyes flitted nervously between Amelia and Dr. Peregrine. She swallowed hard, her voice a mere whisper as she leaned closer to her sister. “Amelia, maybe... maybe we should listen. What if... what if something goes wrong?”Amelia, her jaw set and fists clenched so tight her knuckles were white, shot Camila a look of disbelief. “How can you say that now? After everything, we’ve seen?” Despite her defiant words, a sliver of doubt began to creep into her heart.The doctors surrounding them, sensing Amelia’s hesitance, chimed in, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of concern and professional insistence. “It’s for the best...” “Please reconsider...” “We’re here to help...”Amelia felt the weight of their words, each one like a blow to her resolve. She wavered, torn between her faith in Darien’s unconventional methods and the tangible authority of the medical professionals before her.Just then, Dr. Peregrine, sensing the s
37The room fell silent, the only sounds the soft beeps of the medical equipment and Camila's quiet sobs. Dr. Peregrine, his cheek reddening from the impact, simply stared at Amelia, his expression a mix of shock and indignation.Without another word, Amelia turned away from him, fishing her phone out of her pocket with trembling hands. She dialed Darien’s number, her heartbeat loud in her ears."Sir French, you have to come back," she said urgently into the phone, her voice breaking. "It's Grandpa... they say... they say he doesn't have much time."On the other end of the line, Darien's voice was a soothing balm, calm and steady. "I’m on my way, miss Fairchild. Just hold on. I’ll do everything I can."Hanging up, Amelia felt a flicker of hope amidst the storm of her emotions. She turned to look at her sister, Camila, who was watching her with wide, tear-streaked eyes. Amelia reached out, her hand shaking, and took Camila’s in her own, squeezing gently.Camila returned the squeeze, he
38Amelia's hand struck Dr. Peregrine's face for the second time, her anger at his stubbornness and pettiness boiling over. The sharp slap echoed through the corridor, a sound that seemed to freeze everyone in place."Enough!" Amelia's voice was a fierce whisper, her eyes blazing. Dr. Peregrine, holding his cheek, looked at her in disbelief, his own anger flaring."You dare?" he began, his voice rising in pitch."I've had enough of your childish games!" Amelia cut him off, her chest heaving with emotion. "This is about my grandpa's life, not your ego!"The other doctors and nurses, who had gathered at a distance, watched in shock, their expressions ranging from disbelief to concern. They whispered among themselves, none daring to intervene.Darien watched the exchange with a furrowed brow, clearly weighing his next move. Camila, beside Amelia, clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled with a mix of admiration for her sister's courage and fear of the consequ
39Inside, the air seemed to thicken with anticipation. Amelia and Camila held their breaths, their eyes locked on their grandfather, watching for any sign of improvement. Amelia's faith in Darien never wavered, but the weight of the medical staff's skepticism was a heavy shadow in the back of her mind.Camila, despite her initial reluctance, now found herself hoping beyond hope that Darien's unconventional methods would prove successful. She glanced at the medical staff gathered outside, their faces a mix of curiosity and disdain, and felt a surge of defiance. She wanted Darien to succeed, not just for her grandfather's sake, but to prove them all wrong.Darien's body was starting to show signs of strain from the poison and the effort of the treatment. Sweat trickled down his forehead, his hands trembled slightly, yet he pressed on with unwavering focus. His face was pale, but his eyes burned with determination."Please," Amelia whispered, more to herself than to Darien, "let this wo
40"Grandpa!" Amelia and Camilla exclaimed in chorus, then ran to their grandfather's bedside. They couldn't believe their eyes, it seemed so unreal.As the grandfather's eyes fluttered open, a collective gasp filled the room. Even Darien, accustomed to the extraordinary, allowed a small, satisfied smile to grace his lips. The medical staff, pressed against the glass and peering in from the doorway, were a tableau of disbelief and awe.Dr. Peregrine, the chief physician, stood frozen, his eyes wide, his medical arrogance dissolving into thin air. His colleague, Dr. Reynolds, was beside him, both of them pressed close to the window, the frost of their breath fogging up the glass as they witnessed the unthinkable."Did... did that just happen?" Dr. Peregrine muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, his skepticism crumbling.Dr. Reynolds, still clutching the window frame, nodded, his eyebrows knitted together in astonishment. "It... it appears so," he replied, his voice laced with dis
41Miranda, a young nurse who had been quietly observing from the back, stepped forward, her laughter joining the chorus. "I never thought I'd see the day when Dr. Peregrine would run from a jar of spiders!" she exclaimed between fits of giggles.Darien, leaning against a wall for support, shook his head in amusement. "It seems there are more ways to heal than just medicine. Sometimes, a good laugh is the best cure."Amelia, her heart lighter than it had been in days, nodded in agreement. "You've given us so much more than just healing, sir French. You've brought us together, shown us the power of keeping an open mind, and yes, given us a good laugh."It was nothing, really, miss Fairchild." He said.Amelia, still basking in the glow of her grandfather's miraculous recovery, turned her attention to ensuring Darien's comfort. "I'll have my driver ready to take you home," she said, already moving towards her phone. A few swift touches later, she confirmed, "The car will be ready shortly