Adrian could still tell the difference between sleep and a coma. He shut the door gently behind him, then turned to Celeste. “How much longer?”

She glanced at her phone. “Fifteen minutes.”

Without another word, Adrian walked to the end of the corridor and sat down in silence. But before the quiet could settle, Alaric’s attending physician appeared. “Mr. Wernford. You’re here too,” the doctor said, nodding politely at Adrian.

Adrian returned the nod with a calm, deep-toned, “Yes.” On the other side of the hallway, Damien tugged Lucy to sit beside him. His posture made it clear he was waiting to watch a scene unfold.

The doctor moved toward the ward, but before he could open the door, Celeste stepped in front of him. “You can’t go in.”

The doctor frowned. “Miss, I’m Mr. Wrenford Senior’s attending physician. I need to examine him. Please don’t obstruct my work.”

“He’s resting. Come back in fifteen minutes,” she replied evenly. Celeste knew this was delicate. She’d practiced traditional medicine for years and understood the risks of unauthorized treatment in a hospital setting. If the doctor found out she’d performed acupuncture, he’d raise hell—not just for her, but for the hospital. She wasn’t worried about the results—only the trouble it might cause.

The doctor’s face tightened. “And you are? Mr. Wrenford Senior’s condition is critical. He needs constant monitoring. If you keep interfering, I’ll have to call Security.” He reached for his phone, but a sharp, mocking voice cut in.

“She performed acupuncture on Grandpa without permission.”

The doctor froze and turned sharply to Damien before looking back at Celeste, stunned. “Who exactly are you? How could you perform acupuncture on a patient without a doctor’s permission?”

“I’m still technically his…” Celeste raised a hand and pointed to Damien, “…wife.”

The doctor’s previously aggressive attitude faded after learning she was a member of the Wrenford family. Still, his tone remained stern. “Mrs. Wrenford, this isn’t something a traditional medicine practitioner should interfere with. Even our top specialists haven’t dared touch the case. How could you act on your own?”

“Because every minute we wait increases the risk,” Celeste said quietly. Her eyes were calm but unwavering. “I did what I…”

The doctor looked to… “Even so, if something goes wrong…”

“You’ll listen to her.” The deep, commanding voice silenced all.

The doctor stammered. “Mr. Wrenford…”

“She said fifteen minutes. Let her finish. You can check him after that. If anything happens, I’ll take full responsibility.”

Celeste stared at Adrian, stunned. His words sounded impartial, but he was clearly standing on her side.

The doctor hesitated. “But I had to…”

“What’s there to hesitate about?” a cold voice chimed in—Damien again, his tone laced with scorn. “Uncle Adrian has spoken.”