Chapter 7
1386 Words
Daniel stared at the woman in front of him, disbelief written all over his face.
Shirley Scott, the woman he had met abroad, was a battlefield doctor. Every time he got injured, she would gently tend to his wounds.
Over time, their bond deepened into a close friendship. One day, Shirley confessed her feelings for him, but Daniel, hopelessly in love with Natalie at the time, turned her down.
After that, Shirley disappeared, and he never thought he'd see her again in Jerovania.
The truth was, Shirley hadn't known Daniel that well either.
When they first met, he was new to the battlefield, inexperienced, and constantly getting hurt.
It wasn't until after Shirley left that he began to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself.
Shirley stepped closer, crouched down, and gently took his hand. Her eyes, filled with affection and pain, searched his face.
"Daniel, I heard what happened to you. You're so foolish. You've sacrificed so much for Natalie, for her company. Why didn't you tell her the truth?"
Shirley wanted to tell Natalie everything herself, but she couldn't. Deep down, she had her own selfish reasons. If Natalie and Daniel were apart, perhaps his heart could finally belong to her.
Daniel let out a bitter laugh. "The truth? It seems like a joke now."
Shirley shook her head firmly. "No, it's not. Not to me."
Her voice softened, but her gaze stayed steady. "I know how much pain you've endured, Daniel. But you're not alone. You still have me."
Daniel reached out and gently patted Shirley's head. "You shouldn't have come here. I have nothing left to give you."
Shirley smiled gently. "I don't need anything from you. I just want to see you stand back up again."
Daniel stayed silent, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions.
Shirley continued, her voice steady. "Let the past stay where it belongs. Let's move on together."
Daniel lifted his head, meeting her sincere gaze. For the first time in a long while, he felt something stir faintly in his heart.
"Actually," Shirley said quietly, "I came here just to see you..."
A flicker of sadness crossed Shirley's face. She had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, one with no cure. Time was slipping away, and all she wanted was to see Daniel one last time.
She had tracked him down with the help of a friend, who was a hacker and told her he was in Jerovania.
The moment she found out, she dragged her frail body here without hesitation.
Shirley looked at Daniel now, her voice soft. "I never thought I'd see you again. Maybe this is the last gift God has given me."
Daniel frowned, studying her face. "Shirley, what's wrong? Something feels... off."
Shirley forced a smile. "It's nothing. Just seeing you makes me happy."
Her body trembled slightly, but she held herself steady. She had no intention of telling Daniel about her condition. If he knew, it would only break his heart.
She planned to slip quietly out of his life when the time came. But for now, she couldn't bear to see him like this—broken and defeated.
If she told Natalie the truth, she was certain Natalie would change her mind about Daniel.
After all, the Clark family's wealth, now worth billions, was entirely because of Shirley. For Daniel's sake, Shirley had secretly reached out to several wealthy foreign businessmen to help Natalie's family.
She had done it all to ensure Daniel would have a good life when he returned from the battlefield. But instead, the Clark family had turned their backs on him, cutting ties without a second thought.
Vroom, vroom, vroom.
The low rumble of engines suddenly broke the silence.
Daniel's expression darkened as the sound of cars roared closer. He quickly pulled Shirley toward a cabinet and opened the door.
"Hide in here. No matter what happens, don't come out!" he ordered.
Shirley hesitated but nodded. "Okay. Be careful!" Before Daniel could even reach the door, a loud bang shattered the quiet as it flew open, kicked in with brute force.
A group of men in black stormed in, guns drawn. At the head of the group was Brian.
"Mr. Jones? Care to explain what this is about?"
Daniel's eyes turned cold as ice. If Brian was here to cause trouble, he had no idea what kind of mistake he'd just made.
"Stop!" A firm, elderly voice broke through the tension as an old man, supported by two others, entered the room. It was Robert Scott, the head of the Scott family and the wealthiest man in Jerovania.
Robert's sharp gaze swept across the room before landing on Daniel. "Dr. Cooper, I didn't expect you to be so young. It's truly surprising."
Though his voice was frail, it carried the weight of authority that demanded attention.
Daniel's brow furrowed slightly. "Mr. Scott, I don't quite understand your dramatic entrance."
Robert let out a sigh. "Dr. Cooper, I'm here to apologize for any offense caused in the past. I've come to ask for your help."
"Mr. Scott, I've already told you. If you want my help, you'll need to give me a reason." Daniel leaned back on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. Despite sitting before two of Jerovania's most powerful men, his composure was unshaken.
Robert gestured, and one of his attendants stepped forward, holding a finely crafted box.
"Dr. Cooper, this is a token of our gratitude. If you save my granddaughter, the Scott family will reward you generously."
Daniel didn't even glance at the box. "Mr. Scott, I'm not interested in your gifts."
"Dr. Cooper, are you really this heartless?"
Robert's expression darkened, frustration flickering across his face. The air in the room grew heavy under the weight of Robert's rising anger.
He had come personally, which showed his sincerity and hope, yet Daniel's cold refusal stoked a fire within him.
"Dr. Cooper, the Scott family holds considerable influence in Jerovania. If you help us, you'll gain our protection. No one would dare challenge you."
Robert tried to show Daniel how powerful he was. His tone brimmed with confidence, as though this offer was too good to refuse.
But Daniel let out a cold laugh, his voice laced with mockery. "Mr. Scott, do you think I care about money or power? Let me make one thing clear—I only act on my own terms."
His unwavering gaze left no room for doubt. He was entirely unmoved by Robert's promises.
Robert's jaw tightened, the tension in his face betraying his inner struggle. "Then what will it take for you to help?" His voice was tinged with desperation, his helplessness evident.
Daniel crossed his arms, his posture relaxed yet commanding. "I'm in a bad mood. If I don't feel like saving someone, I won't."
Robert hesitated, his gaze flickering as if caught in an intense internal battle.
At last, he spoke, his tone low and helpless. "Dr. Cooper, to be honest, my granddaughter's illness is unlike anything we've seen. We've sought out the best doctors, but none could help her. Your medical skills are unmatched, which is why I've come to you. If it takes me begging you for help, I'll do it."
His words carried a deep sense of exhaustion, the kind that came from endless struggles and disappointment.
"You're just a small-time doctor. If you refuse to help, I'll kill you!" Before Daniel could respond, Brian suddenly snapped. He pulled out a gun, the cold barrel aimed directly at Daniel.
Shirley, who had been hiding in the cabinet, burst out in panic. Without hesitation, she rushed to stand protectively in front of Daniel.
"Mr. Jones, please stop!" she shouted.
"What?"
"Shirley?"
Everyone in the room was stunned by Shirley's sudden appearance and actions. For a moment, the entire room fell into an eerie silence.
Robert's eyes widened in disbelief. "Shirley, what are you doing here?"
Brian's hand trembled slightly, the gun still raised. "Miss Scott, what are you doing here?"
"Mr. Jones," Shirley said firmly, "don't hurt Daniel."
She turned to Daniel, her gaze steady and full of resolve.
Daniel's expression shifted as realization dawned on him.
"Shirley, the person they want me to save is you, right?" Daniel's eyes widened, disbelief etched across his face.
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