Chapter 32

“Of course,” Edison replied, looking at me intently with a faintly mocking glint in his eyes. “Joshua, every hospital uses a different system. The test results from your previous hospital won’t transfer over automatically.”

I pressed my lips together, remaining silent. So Sophia still didn’t believe me. She suspected I was faking my illness. Bringing me to this hospital was her way of confirming whether I truly had cancer. Did it never occur to her that if my illness wasn’t real, the doctors at the other hospital wouldn’t have worked so hard to save me?

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and turned to meet her gaze. “Sophia, do you think I’m lying to you?” Her actions had already answered my question, but I still wanted to hear her say it herself for some reason.

Frowning slightly, she denied it firmly. “No, I’m not doubting you. I just think the medical team at the other hospital isn’t professional enough. This hospital specializes in cancer treatments and can provide better, more targeted care to help you recover faster.”

My hands clenched tightly at my sides as I stayed silent. At this point, I didn’t know whether or not to believe her.

Edison stepped in like a mediator, trying to smooth things over for her. “Joshua, don’t be so sensitive. Sophia arranged this transfer for your benefit. Otherwise, with her busy schedule, she didn’t need to find you a better hospital. Isn’t that right?”

I turned my deep, probing gaze to Sophia. “I’ve never lied to you.” Whether it was about Edison’s death or my illness, I had never lied to her. After saying this, I walked straight into the hospital. Sophia furrowed her brows and quickly followed me. Behind us, Edison gestured subtly to a nearby nurse before catching up.

Unbeknownst to me, everyone in this private hospital—the doctors, director, and even the nurses—had already been bribed by Edison. They had been waiting for this day to pull me into their trap. I followed a nurse to start my medical tests, oblivious to their hidden motives. My body was already in ruins, and my illness wasn’t fake. If she wanted to investigate further, so be it.

Three hours later, I sat wearily on a bench in the hospital corridor, watching Sophia and Edison enter the specialist’s office. Inside, Edison handed the doctor a stack of results with a serious expression. “Doctor, what’s the patient’s condition?” After asking that, he discreetly exchanged glances with the doctor, who gave a subtle nod. The doctor reviewed the test results and images on the computer, his brows furrowing as he analyzed the data. Sophia’s heart tightened at the sight, and she asked anxiously, “Is he treatable?”

The doctor replied, “The patient’s gastrointestinal bleeding is quite severe. His diet must be carefully managed going forward. No more alcohol or irritating foods.” Setting down the test results, he looked up at them. “Are you planning for him to stay in the hospital for recovery, or will he continue with medication?” Sophia froze, stunned, and asked again in disbelief, “You’re saying it’s gastrointestinal bleeding? Not cancer?”

The doctor nodded seriously and pointed to the shadow visible on the computer scan. “The shadow in his stomach indicates significant bleeding, but it’s within a manageable range. A full recovery is achievable with proper treatment or consistent medication.” She followed his gesture, staring at the screen, her pupils trembling with shock.