Chapter 7: Giving It All

"What garbage are you spewing? You're not needed here. Get out!" Josephine barked, worried that Jared would disrupt the treatment.

"Fine. You asked me to leave. I'll be waiting in the corridor. In less than five minutes, you'll be begging me to come back."

Jared opened the door and left. No one paid him any attention. Meanwhile, Jonathan carefully continued William's acupuncture treatment, soon becoming drenched in sweat.

After the last needle, William gradually regained consciousness and opened his eyes.

"Dad! My dad's awake, Dr. Watson! He's awake! This is wonderful!" Josephine cried, tears filling her eyes. Moments before, she'd feared he might never wake.

Jonathan, too, breathed a sigh of relief; he'd had little confidence in his treatment. Unfortunately, the moment they relaxed, William began to tremble violently, his face turning purple with excruciating pain.

"Dad! Dad!" Josephine yelled, turning to Jonathan in panic. "Dr. Watson, why is this happening?"

Jonathan, distressed and stumped, stammered, "I… I don't know. How did this happen?"

"Who are you asking? You're the doctor!" Josephine roared in desperation.

William's shivering subsided, then ceased entirely. He stopped breathing. Jonathan's panic intensified. If William died, he would face the consequences.

"Dad, don't scare me… don't scare me…" Josephine sobbed.

"Ms. Sullivan, let's take Mr. Sullivan to the hospital. I've run out of ideas!" Jonathan suggested anxiously, hoping to shift responsibility. If William died at the hospital, it wouldn't be his fault.

"Do you take me for a fool? Given my father's condition, he can't make it to the hospital! You better save him! Or you won't survive this unscathed!" Josephine exploded, losing her composure. The Sullivans were Horington's wealthiest family; destroying a lowly doctor would be easy for them.

Jonathan, terrified by her threat, was at a loss. Suddenly, he thought of Jared. "Ms. Sullivan," he said quickly, "the man who just left… perhaps he has a solution. He might know something."

Josephine remembered Jared. She noted Jonathan's earlier disdain and current praise, realizing he planned to shift blame to Jared. If Jared treated William, even if he died, Jonathan would be absolved.

After a moment's hesitation, Josephine released William, who slumped in his chair, and rushed from the room.

Jared sat in the corridor, awaiting Josephine. Seeing him, she ran to him, then hesitated, unsure how to address him.

"P-Please save my father, I beg you," she pleaded, her expression awkward.

Jared raised his head. Josephine averted her gaze, unable to meet his after her recent berating.

"Do you believe I can save your father, and that I'm not a con man?" Jared asked.

Josephine remained silent, unsure. She didn't fully trust him, but had no other choice.

Jared chuckled, deciding not to pressure her. He stood and returned to the room.

Josephine followed, finding Jonathan pacing, sweating profusely. Seeing Jared, Jonathan felt he'd seen his savior. Regardless of the outcome, he could blame Jared.

Humbly, Jonathan begged, "I'm sorry, young man. Please save Mr. Sullivan!" He felt politeness was prudent, given his potential losses.

Glancing at William, Jared sighed. "Looks like I'll have to give it my all."

Turning to Jonathan, he asked, "Do you still have any silver needles?"

"Yes, in the medical bag." Jonathan quickly produced a bag.

"It's not enough!" Jared shook his head.

Jonathan was stunned. "Thirty needles! How can that not be enough?" In acupuncture, more than ten needles was impressive; even the renowned John Jacobson, president of the Association of Traditional Medicine, used around twenty.

"It isn't. I need more!" Jared replied.

"How many more?" Jonathan asked cautiously.

"Eighty-one!"

Jonathan was aghast but, silently, handed over all his needles.

Jared laid William flat and swiftly inserted the needles, working ambidextrously. Sweat beaded on his forehead; he seemed to be exerting immense energy, his clothes drenched.

After inserting the final needle, Jared sighed, collapsing onto the ground, utterly drained.

Josephine watched nervously, hesitant to interrupt. Jonathan, however, was speechless, his mouth agape. His shock soon turned to elation. With a thud, he knelt before Jared.

His sudden movement startled both Jared and Josephine.