Chapter 2: A Miraculous Recovery
1240 Words
Early the next morning, at the entrance of Echo Ridge General Hospital in Silverpine City, Darius Blackwood finally made an appearance, riding on a battered electric scooter.
After dismounting, he was surprised to see Aurora Hartwell, who had obviously been waiting there for quite some time.
"Sorry, I got held up on the way."
"Darius, you really have some nerve, showing up half an hour late!"
Aurora Hartwell frowned, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction as she looked at Darius dismounting.
"If this were my company, you'd be the first person I'd fire for lack of punctuality!"
"I was preparing something for your grandfather's treatment on my way here," Darius explained with a calm demeanor.
"You know how to treat illnesses?"
Hearing Darius's explanation, Aurora was momentarily stunned, a flicker of joy crossing her face, "Do you have a medical license?"
"No, but that doesn't stop me from treating illnesses."
A medical license?
As the heir to the Needle King, how could he possibly need such a thing!
"Eh, let's just go up and avoid any reckless talk."
The joy on Aurora's face instantly turned to deep disappointment.
"If my uncle's family hears about this, there'll be no end to their criticisms!"
...
VIP ward at Echo Ridge General Hospital.
When Darius followed Aurora into the room, he found that quite a few people had already gathered.
Aurora's uncle, Alexander Hartwell's family, and her parents were all there.
In the center of the room, an unconscious elderly man lay on the bed, his body frail and his face pale, surrounded by various tubes, a mere shadow of his former self.
This man was Frederick Hartwell, the patriarch of the Hartwell family!
Ever since Frederick was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, his health had rapidly deteriorated.
Within less than a year, he had fallen into a coma, his life hanging by a thread supported only by machines.
Over the years, the Hartwell family had sought out all the renowned medical experts in Silverpine City, but none could cure the patriarch.
As Aurora appeared, a doctor with a grim expression approached.
"Miss Hartwell, your grandfather's condition has worsened again. I doubt he'll last more than three days."
"It's best to prepare yourselves."
With that, he sighed deeply and left the ward.
The doctor's words cast a pall over the room, and Aurora's face turned deathly pale, as if she couldn't bear such a heavy blow, trembling all over.
She turned sharply to her uncle, Alexander Hartwell, her voice filled with indignation.
"You all wanted me to bring happiness to grandfather by getting married, didn't you? I did, and has it made any difference to him?"
Alexander Hartwell, who had been the first to suggest Aurora find a husband to bring happiness to her grandfather, was taken aback.
On one hand, he hadn't expected the patriarch's condition to worsen so quickly; on the other, he was stunned by Aurora's decisive actions.
However, he soon retorted sarcastically.
"I never imagined someone with your looks could find a husband."
He glanced at Darius's shabby attire, his eyes filled with disdain.
"Young man, what do you do for a living?"
Darius answered honestly, "I've just been released from prison and currently don't have a job."
The room erupted into chaos!
"What? A convict?"
Alexander Hartwell was taken aback, his eyes filled with mockery as he looked at Aurora.
The so-called marriage to bring happiness was just an excuse Alexander Hartwell had concocted to diminish Aurora's standing within the family.
But he never imagined Aurora would degrade herself to this extent.
"I asked you to bring happiness, and you bring home a convict? Are you trying to doom the old man?"
Alexander Hartwell's face was filled with mockery, pointing at Aurora as if scolding a criminal.
Gregory Hartwell, Aurora's father, was so angered his face turned ashen, his blood pressure skyrocketing.
As Aurora's father, if not for Alexander's overbearing nature, he would never have agreed to use his daughter's future in such a way, let alone with a convict!
If word got out, the entire Hartwell family would become a laughingstock.
"This is absurd! Aurora Hartwell, go and file for divorce immediately!"
"And you, young man, I don't care what sweet nothings you've whispered to our Aurora, get out now, or you'll regret it!"
Aurora could bear her uncle's mockery, but when her father also failed to stand by her side, her emotions immediately collapsed.
"With the way I look now, who else do you expect me to find?"
Aurora's eyes reddened with grievance, tears finally falling.
Since her disfigurement, all of Silverpine City had treated her as a joke, everyone avoiding her as if she were a plague.
Even her own family was no exception!
Only Darius Blackwood, after seeing her face, showed not the slightest hint of disdain.
"Darius is not a bad person. At least, he doesn't judge by appearances like those other men!"
Hearing Aurora Hartwell speak up for him, a smile emerged on Darius's face.
He suddenly spoke up, "Your grandfather's illness isn't terminal. It can be treated."
With that said, Darius flicked his arm, and several silver needles appeared in his palm.
He precisely targeted several acupoints on Frederick Hartwell's lower abdomen with his left hand's index and middle fingers.
Then, with both hands, he manipulated the needles, inserting them from the patriarch's abdomen to his chest in a smooth, flowing series of movements.
"What the hell are you doing!"
Once Alexander Hartwell realized what Darius was doing, he snapped back to reality, his face a mixture of horror and anger.
He hurriedly tried to grab Darius's arm, attempting to stop him from continuing.
"You're not even a doctor, yet you dare to treat the patriarch!?"
"Life is at stake here; this is no joking matter!"
With a simple sidestep, Darius avoided Alexander Hartwell's attempts to interfere.
He turned around, his expression calm.
"In Silverpine City right now, only I can treat the patriarch's illness."
"If I don't intervene, he will surely die within a day!"
"Oh, please, what an act! If I didn't know you are a convict, I might have actually believed you!"
Oliver Hartwell, Alexander Hartwell's wife, was full of mockery, clearly thinking Darius was boasting: "Look at the man you've chosen, Aurora Hartwell. What foolishness he's committing!"
"Is this supposed to be healing? It's downright murder!"
Aurora's heart sank.
To boast and show off, Darius was completely disregarding her grandfather's life!
"Darius! How dare you act so rashly!"
"What if something goes wrong? Can you take responsibility?!"
The rest of the Hartwell family also showed their displeasure.
In their eyes, Darius was nothing more than a worthless son-in-law brought in to bring happiness, ignorant of how to truly heal or save lives.
But at that moment, Alexander Hartwell, who had been thrown to the ground, suddenly cried out in surprise.
"His... his fingers moved!"
"What?!"
Aurora was startled and quickly looked over.
Right before her eyes, Frederick Hartwell's fingers moved again!
"How is this possible?!"
All the Hartwells were stunned.
Although the patriarch's movement was minimal, it was completely unexpected!
The patriarch had been motionless, lying there for years!
Yet now, after just a few needle insertions by Darius, he showed a response!
Alexander Hartwell looked at Darius, his expression filled with astonishment, "Young man, can you really perform acupuncture?"
Darius remained calm, replying, "I truly can heal."
"But indeed, I do not have a medical license."
- Writer
