Chapter 6: You Are a Liar
The moment he saw Jared emerge, William was filled with delight and ran to him.
โYouโre finally here, young man. This way, please.โ
Holding Jaredโs hand, William sighed with relief.
โMr. Sullivan, since I promised, I had to come.โ
Jared knew William had been worried he wouldn't arrive. Feeling embarrassed, William could only smile awkwardly. โAfter you, young man.โ
William's servility made everyone in the hotel wonder who Jared was.
When Josephine saw Jared's proud demeanor contrasted with her father's subservience, she fumed. โWhatโs wrong with you? My father waited for you at the door for half an hour! Didn't you notice his deteriorating condition? Do you even know how to heal someone?โ
Josephine had resented Jared from the start, but she'd given him the benefit of the doubt after he seemed to improve William's condition. However, when William's cheeks paled again, she suspected Jared was a con artist, out to cheat them.
โJosephine, stop it and apologize!โ William barked sternly.
โNo way. Heโs barely a man! How can he be a miracle doctor? Heโs a con artist!โ
Glaring at Jared, she believed he was preventing William from seeing a doctor.
Josephine's refusal infuriated William, causing him to struggle for breath.
Cough! Cough!
He was about to speak when a fit of intense coughing seized him.
โDad!โ
Josephine rushed to support him, but recoiled in fright at the sight of black blood.
Jared frowned. William's injury was worse than heโd thought; he was surprised he'd survived this long.
โQuick, take your dad to a room,โ Jared ordered the panicked Josephine.
She remained motionless, distrustful of Jared.
Frowning at her inaction, Jared snapped, โDo you want to watch him die?โ
Shaken, Josephine quickly helped William to a private room.
Inside, Jared checked William's pulse, his expression turning grim.
While Jared treated William, a bespectacled man in a white coat barged in.
โDr. Watson, quickly! My father just vomited blood!โ
Josephine felt a surge of hope.
โWhat? Let me see.โ
Dr. Jonathan quickly opened his bag.
โMove away.โ
Josephine shoved Jared aside, supporting William. โDr. Watson, my father's life is in your hands! Please save him!โ
William was near unconsciousness, his breathing labored.
โDonโt worry, Ms. Sullivan. I will do my best.โ
Jonathan took William's pulse, his frown deepening. Josephine, noticing his expression, remained silent.
โMs. Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan's damaged lung is the cause of his illness. It's chronic and requires slow treatment. However, someone forcefully overstimulated his immune system. While seemingly effective initially, it worsened his condition. He's in a precarious situation. Before I arrived, who treated him?โ Jonathan explained gravely.
Josephine, furious, glared at Jared. His treatment, as the doctor described, had initially helped, but ultimately harmed William.
โYou con man! If anything happens to my father, Iโll never forgive you!โ she roared.
She would have attacked Jared if not for supporting William.
โHow can you call me a con man? Did I cheat you? Without me, your father would be dead! You're ridiculous!โ Jared retorted, angered by her accusations and her nastiness.
โYouโฆโ
Despite her anger, Josephine knew saving her father was the priority.
โDr. Watson, please, find a wayโฆ pleaseโฆโ She was close to tears.
Jonathan took a black pill from his bag and gave it to William, then began acupuncture.
โThat won't save him; it will harm him,โ Jared commented, observing Jonathan's technique. Jonathan frowned.
โWhat do you mean? Are you doubting me? You know acupuncture?โ
Acupuncture was part of traditional medicine. Unlike modern medicine, mastering it took eight to ten years, sometimes even longer. Considering Jared looked around twenty, Jonathan doubted he could be a master, even if he'd started learning in infancy.
(The final promotional sentence has been removed as it is irrelevant to the text itself.)