Mason’s mocking smirk only grew wider as he looked Lucas up and down, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. “So this is the guy, huh, Sam? The best you could do to fend off Isaac?”Lucas remained calm, his arm around Samantha, but his gaze sharpened. “If respect for your sister isn’t enough reason for you, Mason, I can keep standing here all day. Or would you rather I show you why I’m here?”Samantha tensed, sensing her brother’s agitation, and quickly pinched Lucas’s arm, her face flushing as she forced a bashful smile. “Lucas… enough.”The sight of her softened expression only seemed to enrage Mason further. His face twisted in frustration, and without warning, he drew a pistol, aiming it squarely at Lucas.“Back off, now,” Mason warned, his voice a low growl. “You don’t get to waltz in here and act like you belong.”Samantha’s reaction was instant; she slapped Mason hard across the face, her voice ringing out. “Apologize, Mason. Now. This is my husband, and you will respect hi
At the Ward family estate, Clifford Bailey, an esteemed practitioner of traditional medicine, listened intently as Ryan recounted the events of that morning. Each detail, from Lucas’s rapid assessment of Eric Ward’s condition to his application of acupressure, left Clifford visibly impressed.“So, he applied pressure to specific acupoints to restart your heart?” Clifford murmured, his eyes widening in admiration. “That technique requires precision, timing, and… an instinct few possess. I’ve seen it attempted, but I’ve never seen it succeed like this.”Gabriela, Eric’s wife, exchanged a look of disbelief with her grandson, Ethan. “A ‘genius doctor’?” she repeated, still stunned.Clifford nodded. “If what you say is true, Lucas Williams has an extraordinary gift. Few people with that level of skill remain unknown.”Ethan lowered his gaze, feeling a pang of regret. “I… offered him my business card, but he turned it down,” he admitted. “I didn’t realize he was… someone so remarkable.”Cli
Lucas leaned back in his seat, eyeing Samantha with calm intensity. “So, I take it that Adam’s son survived the poison attack yesterday? And now, because of that, he’s grateful to you, and you got the deal.” Samantha’s brow arched, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive. “You catch on quickly. Yes, the boy survived, and I got the cooperation I needed.” Her voice held a note of irritation, and she folded her arms. “I didn’t bring you here to question my business decisions.” Lucas met her gaze evenly. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have involved me in the first place if you didn’t want questions.” Samantha bristled, unaccustomed to such straightforwardness. Most men she interacted with would do anything to please her. Lucas’s unbending attitude was both infuriating and… intriguing. She gave him a pointed look. “Remember, you may have helped, but that doesn’t mean you can say whatever you please.” A faint smile crossed his face. “Likewise, Ms.
Lucas stood outside the Cottage, checking his watch when he heard a familiar, mocking voice behind him.“Well, well, look who’s slumming it at a place he can’t afford,” Ashley sneered, her tone laced with satisfaction. Dressed provocatively, she looked him up and down, her eyes filled with contempt. Tom Brooks, her wealthy husband, stood beside her with a smug smirk, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist.Lucas sighed, his patience thinning. “Ashley, I’m here for a meeting. It has nothing to do with you.”She scoffed, folding her arms. “Oh, please. Don’t tell me you’ve actually managed to raise money for Ella’s treatment. I thought you’d come crawling, begging for help.”Tom chuckled, pulling Ashley closer and pressing a kiss to her cheek, a deliberate display meant to taunt Lucas. “Looks like you’re still a ‘poor bastard,’ Lucas. Hard to believe you thought you could keep up.”Lucas clenched his jaw, refusing to be baited. This is about Ella, he reminded himself, not them.As
Ethan’s heart raced as he held his grandfather, Eric Ward, who lay motionless on the ground. Desperation clawed at him as he slipped a quick-acting heart pill into Eric’s mouth, praying it would help.“Come on, Grandpa… breathe,” he whispered, his voice trembling.But Eric remained unresponsive, his face pale, his pulse gone. Panic flared in Ethan’s eyes as he turned to the vendor, his grief morphing into rage. Grabbing the vendor by the collar, he shouted, “What did you put in those dough sticks? You killed him!”The vendor, eyes wide with terror, stammered, “I swear, sir, it’s just regular dough! I used good oil and flour—nothing else, I promise!”At that moment, Lucas, who had been watching the chaos unfold, stepped forward. Despite his earlier annoyance with the vendor, he couldn’t let an innocent man take the blame. “He’s telling the truth,” Lucas said firmly. “Your grandfather’s health was already compromised. The fried food didn’t help, but it wasn’t poison.”Ethan turned his a
Lucas scanned the morning market, taking in the bustling crowd and the tempting aromas filling the air. He quickly found his way to a popular fried dough stand, greeted by the familiar smell of fresh, hot dough sticks sizzling in the fryer.“I’ll take ten orders,” Lucas said, handing cash to the vendor.The vendor, an older man with a skeptical look, raised an eyebrow. “Ten orders? You sure about that?”“Positive,” Lucas replied, his stomach already rumbling. “I’ll pay upfront.”As he waited for his order, a small group approached the stand. An elderly man, pale and frail but with a lively gleam in his eye, led the group. Beside him was a handsome young man with an air of impatience, a stern-looking middle-aged man, and a little girl, who looked no older than seven, clutching the elderly man’s hand.“Grandpa, maybe skip the fried dough,” the young man urged, glancing worriedly at the elderly man. “Greasy food isn’t good for you.”The elderly man waved him off with a laugh. “A few stic
The hospital room was silent, the only sound the steady, rhythmic beeping of Liam’s heart monitor. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the small boy, who, just moments ago, had been fighting for his life. Now, his breathing was calm, and his cheeks had regained a hint of color.Adam Ellis sat beside his son, holding Liam’s hand, his relief palpable. “I… I can’t believe it. He was right. Lucas was right all along.” His voice trembled with a mix of gratitude and lingering fear.Dr. Luca Atkinson, who had been at a complete loss moments earlier, cleared his throat, recovering from his shock. He pointed to a thermos on the nearby table. “That… looks like snake soup. And if the cafeteria served white radishes with it, they might’ve caused a toxic reaction. Snake soup and radishes together can create dangerous compounds.”Adam’s face went pale. “I brought the soup myself. I thought it would… help him gain strength.” Guilt washed over him as he realized that his carelessness had nearly cost Liam h
The tension in Liam’s hospital room was suffocating, and Lucas’s voice cut through it like a knife. “This isn’t just leukemia, Mr. Elliott. Your son has been poisoned.”The accusation hung in the air, met by a stunned silence before exploding into anger. Dr. Luca Atkinson’s face twisted in disbelief and fury. “How dare you?” he spat. “Are you suggesting this hospital poisoned a child? This is preposterous!”Adam Ellis, torn between desperation and indignation, glared at Lucas. “You walk in here and start throwing wild accusations? Do you even know who you’re talking to?” His voice rose, echoing off the sterile white walls. “You’re a nobody—a dog, taking advantage of Ms. Lewis’s generosity. And now you’re making baseless claims against a respected doctor?”Lucas held up his hands, calm but unyielding. “I’m not attacking anyone. I believe the poisoning was unintentional. It’s possible that a combination of certain foods reacted negatively, creating a toxin that’s worsened his condition.
Outside the hospital room, Lucas took a deep breath, glancing at Samantha Lewis. “Thank you… for everything in there. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help.”Samantha crossed her arms, offering him a half-smile. “Don’t mention it. After all, you’re kind of mine now.” Her tone was light, but her gaze held a hint of something unreadable.Lucas felt a mixture of awkwardness and amusement. “Yours, huh? Well, that’s… unexpected.”She chuckled, shaking her head. “Relax. I meant it as a joke… mostly.” She quickly changed the subject, her expression turning thoughtful. “I have to ask—do you know anything about medicine? What happened with Ella… it was nothing short of miraculous.”Lucas hesitated, unsure how to explain. “I know a little… but nothing like what you’re thinking.” He glanced at his hand, remembering the warmth that had surged from him to Ella.Samantha’s gaze sharpened. “Interesting.” She looked at him intently, her mind clearly turning over an idea. “I may have a w