Chapter 9

Alan moved his fingers and felt the pain. As long as he stayed still, it wasn't too bad, but the moment he tried to move, a sharp, searing pain rippled through his entire body. He froze for a moment as he realized that the constant agitation in his chest had eased. His relentless craving for blood wasn't as strong either. Slowly, Alan opened his eyes, glancing at Suzanne with a hint of disbelief. Could acupuncture alone really have done so much? He'd seen alternative medicine doctors before, but none had been able to help. Their treatments were useless, which was why he had developed such a deep disdain for alternative medicine doctors no matter how "renowned" they were. Feeling Suzanne's gaze on him, he cleared his throat and replied in a hoarse voice, "The symptoms have eased a lot." Suzanne nodded knowingly. After some time, she stepped forward and carefully removed the silver needles from his body, one by one. When she was done, Alan looked as if he had just been soaked in water. His entire body was drenched in sweat, the sticky discomfort making him fidget. Suzanne noticed his unease and calmly instructed, "No bathing or exercise for now. If you want to eat, stick to light, liquid meals, and only a few bites at a time." Alan nodded. He reclined slightly, letting himself relax. His body hadn't felt this light and free in forever. Looking at Suzanne, he said softly, "Thank you." Though the words came out stiff and awkward, he was sincere. Suzanne raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. She was mildly surprised that Alan would soften up. After packing up her silver needles, she headed out. The moment she opened the door, Richard and Shane rushed forward. Richard's worry was evident as he looked at Suzanne. "How is he?" Suzanne nodded slightly and was about to answer when her eyes caught sight of two familiar people. It was Jenson and Seline. Suzanne smirked, amazed by how shameless they were. Turning back to Richard, Suzanne spoke with her usual composure, "His symptoms have been suppressed for now, but he'll need consistent treatment. He can be discharged and recover at home. I'll perform acupuncture every three days and prescribe him with medication." Richard's face lit up with hope. "Does this mean he can be cured?" Suzanne gave a small nod. Shane immediately stepped forward, clapping Richard on the shoulder with an easy smile. "Of course! Dr. Smith's reputation isn't just for show!" His voice brimmed with confidence, but Joe gave him a weird look. Shane might be someone many in their circle sought to curry favor with, but not many people would dare to pat Richard on the shoulder like that. Shane had some guts. Still, Richard didn't seem to mind. In fact, he let out a heavy sigh of relief, his entire body relaxing as if a massive weight had been lifted. His eyes grew red with emotion, his voice trembling as he said, "Dr. Smith, I can't thank you enough. Whatever you want, name it. No matter what it is, I'll make it happen!" He had spent an unimaginable amount of money and energy searching for a cure for Alan, consulting every renowned doctor around the world. None of them had even managed to provide temporary relief. But now, there was finally hope for Alan. Shane's confidence only grew. With Jane's skills, there was no illness she couldn't conquer. She was completely unstoppable. Meanwhile, Seline hadn't fully grasped the situation. She couldn't help but sneer at Suzanne, "Sue, how can you say that so confidently? What if something happens to Alan? How will you take responsibility?" Suzanne's gaze hardened. Seline just couldn't leave her alone. Seline mistook Suzanne's silence for guilt and quickly pressed on, "You should apologize. He's a generous man. He might forgive you." Jenson sighed softly, stepping forward. His gaze landed on Suzanne as he warned her, "Suzanne, we don't even know the specifics of Alan's condition yet. You shouldn't speak so carelessly. It could delay his treatment." He didn't believe for a second that Suzanne could treat anyone. She had never studied medicine, let alone anything advanced enough to handle Alan's complicated illness. "Come on. Stop this and apologize to Mr. Alvarez. Don't lie anymore, alright?" Jenson spoke in a soft tone. He kept his tone as gentle as possible. He couldn't afford for Suzanne to mess up his plans. Shane, however, had had enough. He stormed forward and shoved Jenson aside, his anger boiling over. "Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to boss her around?" He was furious. Jane had stepped back for two whole years because of this fool, and now, just when she had decided to take action, he dared to run his mouth? If it weren't for the fact that Jenson was once important to Jane, Shane would've decked him already. "Do you even know who she is? She's the legendary Jane Smith! You're not qualified to criticize her!" Shane wondered if Jenson knew who Jane Smith was in the medical industry. She was a legend. The name "Jane Smith" hit Jenson and Seline hard. They couldn't believe their ears. Jenson's eyes widened in disbelief. "Jane Smith?" Jane Smith was the doctor who had dared to defy death itself. She had disappeared from the public eye for three years. That wasn't possible. Suzanne couldn't possibly be Jane Smith! Jenson's mind raced. Before hiring Jeremy, he had tried to contact Jane, only to be completely ignored. Seline clutched her skirt tightly, her whole body shaking as she fought to stay composed. So, Suzanne was the the miracle doctor Richard mentioned. Seline refused to believe that Suzanne was so capable. She tugged at Jenson's sleeve, her voice trembling as she tried to convince herself, saying, "Jenson, she's lying, isn't she?" Shane let out a humorless laugh. "Are you two joking? You must be trying to stir up some trouble. It's obvious you don't want Alan to recover." Richard's expression darkened. Jenson's brows furrowed, and he immediately snapped, "That's nonsense!" Suzanne suddenly chuckled, drawing everyone's attention. Her eyes locked on Jenson as she said lightly, "Oh, so you know about nonsense?" Right from the start, they had been claiming she was causing trouble and demanding her to apologize. Now, they were flipping out from a few words Shane said. Shane chuckled along coldly. "If you're not trying to sabotage Alan's recovery, then why are you constantly standing in Jane's way? Look at how the two of you are working together. It's almost impressive how well you've planned this." Seline's face turned pale, and she instinctively hid behind Jenson. She muttered pitifully, "Jenson…" But Jenson didn't even glance at her. His gaze was fixed on Suzanne, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. He wondered if Suzanne was truly Jane Smith. Even now, Jenson found it hard to believe that this was the same woman who had chased after him for ten years. And yet, the evidence was irrefutable. Richard had addressed the man as "Shane" and Suzanne as "Dr. Smith". Given the Alvarez family's status, they would never hire an ordinary doctor. He should've recognized Richard's respectful attitude toward Suzanne. Anger suddenly flared in Jenson's chest. He stared at Suzanne, his voice sharp as he demanded, "Why did you hide this from me?"