68 Chapter 68 – The Charlatan’s Deceit and a Desperate Summons
I found myself staring at the silver needles arranged neatly in the wooden case, their polished surfaces catching the light. Despite the Shepherd family’s dismissal, something told me I might need them soon.
“Eamon,” I said, closing the case with a soft click, “I need you to purchase more silver needles. The highest quality available.”
Eamon looked at me curiously. “More needles? But the Shepherds already made their
choice.”
“Sometimes people need to learn the hard way before they’re ready to accept help,” I replied, unable to shake the image of Mrs. Shepherd’s pale face from my mind. “When they do, we should be prepared.”
Eamon nodded, understanding dawning on his face. “You think they’ll call us back.”
“I know they will,” I said quietly. “I just hope it won’t be too late.”
At the Shepherd residence, tension filled the air as Maxim Huxley lounged comfortably in an armchair, sipping tea while Leopold paced anxiously around the room. The grandfather clock ticked loudly in the corner, each second intensifying the atmosphere.
“Mr. Shepherd, you really should sit down,” Huxley remarked casually. “Your pacing won’t make the medicine work any faster.”
Leopold stopped, his hands trembling slightly. “You’re certain this will help Eleanor? That… that other man seemed very confident in his diagnosis.”
Huxley waved his hand dismissively. “Knight? That charlatan? My dear Leopold, you made the right choice trusting actual medical science rather than some mystical
nonsense.”
Jonah Shepherd leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Father, I still think we should have called the hospital.”
68 Chapter 68 – The Charlatan’s Deceit and a Desperate Summons
“The hospital couldn’t help her before, Leopold snapped. “Why would now be any
different?”
Huxley set his teacup down with a clink. “Before we continue further, Mr. Shepherd, there is the matter of my fee. As I mentioned earlier, this particular treatment is quite… specialized.” His lips curled into a thin smile. “Given the emergency nature of your
condition, I’m afraid I must insist on an additional one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars.”
Leopold’s face flushed. “That’s outrageous! We already agreed on a price!”
“The circumstances have changed,” Huxley replied coolly. “I’ve had to expedite treatment and use medication I was reserving for another patient.”
“This is extortion!” Leopold hissed.
Huxley simply shrugged and began gathering his things. “If you feel that way, perhaps I should leave. Though I wonder how your dear wife will fare without my expertise.”
A tense silence fell over the room. Leopold’s jaw clenched tight, the muscles working beneath his skin as he fought for control.
“Fine,” he finally spat out. “Jonah, transfer the money to Dr. Huxley’s account.”
Jonah looked like he wanted to protest but moved to comply after seeing the desperation in his father’s eyes. With visible reluctance, he pulled out his phone and made the transfer.
“Excellent,” Huxley said, his tone noticeably brightening. “Now let’s check on our patient, shall we?”
They moved upstairs to Mrs. Shepherd’s bedroom. She lay still against the white pillows, her breathing shallow and labored. Her complexion had taken on a grayish tint that made my stomach clench when I’d seen her earlier.
“She looks worse,” Jonah observed anxiously.
“A temporary
side effect,” Huxley assured them, though his eyes darted nervously around the room. “The medication is working to restore her glucose balance. Sometimes patients appear/to decline slightly before they improve.”
Leopold hovered by his wife’s bedside, gently stroking her hand. “How long before we see improvement?”
68 Chapter 68- The Charlatan’s Deceit and a Desperate Summons
“Half an hour at most,” Huxley promised confidently. “Then you’ll notice her color improving and her consciousness returning.”
Leopold nodded, clinging desperately to those words like a drowning man to driftwood.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll prepare the second dose,” Huxley said, retreating to a desk in the corner of the room.
Twenty minutes passed in excruciating silence. Leopold never left his wife’s side, while Jonah divided his attention between his mother and watching Huxley with undisguised suspicion.
Huxley seemed unconcerned, casually sipping more tea that a maid had brought up. He checked his watch periodically, but his confidence appeared unwavering.
“It’s been nearly half an hour,” Leopold said anxiously. “Shouldn’t we be seeing some improvement?”
“Patience, Mr. Shepherd,” Huxley replied. “Every patient responds slightly differently.”
But as they watched, Mrs. Shepherd’s breathing became more labored. A sheen of sweat broke out across her forehead despite her skin feeling cold to the touch.
“Something’s wrong,” Jonah said, moving closer to the bed. “Father, she’s getting worse!”
Leopold looked up at Huxley, panic flashing in his eyes. “What’s happening? You said she would improve!”
Huxley hurried over, his mask of confidence slipping. He checked Mrs. Shepherd’s pulse, his fingers pressing against her wrist with increasing pressure.
“This is… unexpected,” he muttered. “Perhaps we should administer the second dose earlier than—‘
He didn’t finish his sentence before Mrs. Shepherd’s body suddenly went rigid. Her back arched off the bed, and a terrible, rattling gasp escaped her lips before she collapsed back onto the mattress, completely still.
“Eleanor!” Leopold cried, gripping her shoulders. “Eleanor, can you hear me?”
Jonah pushed past Huxley to check his mother’s pulse. “She’s still alive, but her pulse
35
<
68 Chapter 68- The Charlatan’s Deceit and a Desperate Summons
is erratic.” He whirled on Huxley, fury blazing in his eyes. “What the hell did you give
her?”
Huxley backed away, his composure completely shattered. “This–this shouldn’t be happening. The medication should have-‘
“1
“You fraud!” Jonah lunged forward, grabbing Huxley by his expensive lapels and slamming him against the wall. “You’ve killed her!”
“I–I didn’t-” Huxley stammered, his face pale with fear.
“Let go of him, Jonah!” Leopold’s voice cracked through the room like a whip.
Jonah reluctantly released Huxley, who slumped against the wall, straightening his clothes with trembling hands.
“Father, this man is a charlatan! He’s made mother worse!” Jonah protested.
Leopold wasn’t listening. His gaze was fixed on his wife’s unconscious form, her breathing now so shallow it was barely perceptible. “Three hours,” he whispered. “Knight said she had three hours.”
“Father, we need to get her to a hospital immediately,” Jonah insisted.
Leopold shook his head, a new determination hardening his features. “No. Knight knew. He knew exactly what was wrong with her.” He grabbed Jonah by the shoulders, his fingers digging in with desperate strength. “Find him. Find Liam Knight and bring him here now. Tell him I’ll pay anything–anything at all—just bring him back before it’s too late.”
“But Father-”
“NOW, JONAH!” Leopold roared, his composure finally shattering completely. “Your mother is dying! Find Knight before we lose her forever!”
Jonah hesitated for just a moment before nodding and rushing out of the room.
Leopold turned back to his wife, taking her cold hand in his. “Hold on, my love,” he whispered, tears streaming down his face. “Please hold on. Help is coming.”
From the corner, Huxley began inching toward the door, clearly hoping to escape in the chaos. But Leopold’s voice stopped him cold.
68 Chapter 68- The Charlatan’s Deceit and a Desperate Summons
“Don’t you
dare move, Huxley,” he said without looking up. “When this is over, you’ll answer for what you’ve done.”
Huxley froze, trapped by his own deceit as the clock continued to tick down the precious minutes of Eleanor Shepherd’s life.
Comment 1
View All >
O
