"The toxin in his body caused this," Alexander said. "He appears normal on the surface, but the damage could be long-lasting." In other words, Cameron's body was depleting its stored energy—fat, muscle, and blood—and he would die once completely depleted. Lily had explained this to Alexander, though her rushed explanation had been somewhat haphazard. Despite this, Alexander's sharp mind grasped the core of her message.
While not an expert in herbal medicine, he understood its fundamental principles.
"Then what should we do?" Anastasia's voice was alarmed. She clutched his sleeve, her emotions barely contained. "Please save my father! I can't let anything happen to him!" Tears welled in her eyes.
Her mother had died young, leaving her father to raise her. Though he hadn't been constantly present, she knew he loved her. She'd once resented his absences, but later realized the sacrifices he'd made to provide for her. Supporting her while making a living had been difficult, and he'd never mistreated her beyond a lack of companionship.
Before she could repay him, this had happened. If anything happened to him, she would regret it forever.
"Don't worry. I'm here to fix this." Alexander gently disengaged her grip, maintaining a slight distance. He wasn't comfortable with close physical contact with women, except for Lily. Even unintentional touches made him uneasy.
"Right, right, let's go see my father now!" Anastasia composed herself, nodding rapidly before running upstairs to the bedroom.
Alexander followed, entering a room that felt stuffy despite the light. Anastasia had drawn the curtains, casting a depressing pall over the space. The oppressive atmosphere centered on the unconscious man lying on the bed.
Alexander approached, studying the once strong and imposing figure. Cameron's cheeks were sunken, his eyes closed, his brow furrowed. His breathing was labored and rapid. "Alex..." Anastasia looked at him anxiously over her shoulder.
"Help your father take this pill," Alexander said, producing a small box. He opened it, revealing three brown pills.
"Okay!" Anastasia readily accepted the box. "One pill, or all three at once?"
"Just one. There are three pills—one for each day. Your father should take one daily." Alexander relayed Lily's instructions.
Anastasia nodded and took a pill, then sat by the bed. Leaning forward, a new problem occurred to her. "But Father can't eat anything. I've tried feeding him porridge, but he won't swallow."
She'd even considered an IV drip to prevent further dehydration. She pondered this, then attempted to feed him the pill. Pinching his cheeks to open his mouth, she tried to insert the pill, but he wouldn't swallow it, no matter how hard she tried.