Chapter 6: You Are a Liar

The moment he saw Jared emerge, William was filled with delight and ran to him.

“You’re finally here, young man. This way, please.”

Holding Jared’s hand, William sighed with relief.

“Mr. Sullivan, since I promised, I had to come.”

Jared knew William had been worried he wouldn't arrive. Feeling embarrassed, William could only smile awkwardly. “After you, young man.”

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. “What’s 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?”

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.

“Josephine, stop it and apologize!” William barked sternly.

“No way. He’s barely a man! How can he be a miracle doctor? He’s a con artist!”

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.

“Dad!”

Josephine rushed to support him, but recoiled in fright at the sight of black blood.

Jared frowned. William's injury was worse than he’d thought; he was surprised he'd survived this long.

“Quick, take your dad to a room,” Jared ordered the panicked Josephine.

She remained motionless, distrustful of Jared.

Frowning at her inaction, Jared snapped, “Do you want to watch him die?”

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.

“Dr. Watson, quickly! My father just vomited blood!”

Josephine felt a surge of hope.

“What? Let me see.”

Dr. Jonathan quickly opened his bag.

“Move away.”

Josephine shoved Jared aside, supporting William. “Dr. Watson, my father's life is in your hands! Please save him!”

William was near unconsciousness, his breathing labored.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Sullivan. I will do my best.”

Jonathan took William's pulse, his frown deepening. Josephine, noticing his expression, remained silent.

“Ms. 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?” Jonathan explained gravely.

Josephine, furious, glared at Jared. His treatment, as the doctor described, had initially helped, but ultimately harmed William.

“You con man! If anything happens to my father, I’ll never forgive you!” she roared.

She would have attacked Jared if not for supporting William.

“How can you call me a con man? Did I cheat you? Without me, your father would be dead! You're ridiculous!” Jared retorted, angered by her accusations and her nastiness.

“You…”

Despite her anger, Josephine knew saving her father was the priority.

“Dr. Watson, please, find a way… please…” She was close to tears.

Jonathan took a black pill from his bag and gave it to William, then began acupuncture.

“That won't save him; it will harm him,” Jared commented, observing Jonathan's technique. Jonathan frowned.

“What do you mean? Are you doubting me? You know acupuncture?”

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.)