Chapter 7

At the hospital. Due to Mr. Lawrence's social status, the hospital was in slight chaos as paramedics rushed about to give him medical attention. Even the hospital director came to the front line. He was under a lot of stress, especially after hearing Micah saying that they 'must save Mr. Lawrence at all costs'. Mr. Lawrence was more than 90 years old and had poor health. The fall had injured his head and spine, which would likely leave him paralyzed even if he managed to survive. One could see that the hospital director was deeply troubled by the current situation, but everybody was too busy to pay him any attention. All of a sudden, he received a call, and his troubled face soon turned to one filled with joy. With his phone still in his hand, he rushed over to Micah and Tyler and said, "There's hope! I just received a call from Master Xenos. He told me that he's in South City and that he's willing to treat Mr. Lawrence. "All is well now." Upon hearing Master Xenos' name, something flashed across Micah's eyes, and he thought of Tiffany. Tyler was delighted at the news as well. Like others, he, too, had heard of the legendary Master Xenos. The Lawrence family once tried to make an appointment with him but was rejected. Both Tyler and Micah were itching to meet this legend. However, the hospital director told them that Master Xenos did not want to meet anyone else but the patient. The two of them were disappointed at the news but decided to respect Master Xenos' wishes. Seeing that it was time for the meet-up, the hospital director went to the parking lot alone to welcome Master Xenos' arrival. He stood frozen in place when he saw a petite woman walking toward him. She was dressed in black sportswear and was wearing a black cap. She also wore a black mask. The hospital director asked, "You're Master Xenos?" With her hands in her pockets, Tiffany nodded and asked, "Is everything ready?" The hospital director came to his senses and led her to the operating room. He did not leave after that but stayed and offered to help. He felt that he would definitely be able to learn something if he were to observe her up close. Tiffany soon started performing dry needling on Mr. Lawrence. Her moves were skilled and professional. The hospital director found it difficult to understand what she was doing. An hour later, Tiffany removed the needles and did a final check-up. She then wrote a prescription, gave it to the hospital director, and said, "He should wake up tomorrow morning, but he should still be observed for a few more days. I’ll make time to treat him again one of these days. Don't tell anyone about me." "Rest assured, Master Xenos, I won't." The lights in the operating room were switched off, and the hospital director soon came out of the room while taking off his surgical gown. He then told Micah and Tyler that Mr. Lawrence was now in a stable condition, causing the two of them to breathe out a huge sigh of relief. To express his gratitude toward Master Xenos, Tyler asked if he could be granted an appointment so that he could thank him personally. Tyler also offered to compensate him for his trouble. "You're too kind, sir. Master Xenos said that he did it for free on behalf of someone's request. There's no need for you to pay him." "On whose behalf?" The hospital director shook his head and refused to answer. A figure appeared in Micah's thoughts upon hearing what the hospital director said, and his dark eyes sparkled in the light. He was doubtful when Tiffany told him that she was Master Xenos' apprentice, but now it seemed that they indeed knew each other. Just as he was thinking about the matter, Micah caught a glimpse of a petite figure disappearing into the corridor. Trusting his instincts, he decided to follow it. As he made a turn at the corner, he heard a woman speaking on the phone with a cigarette between her fingers. Micah cocked an eyebrow when he saw who it was. Seeing him, Tiffany was startled and quickly ended her call and put out her cigarette. She then stepped forward and held the cigarette out for him to see, "This isn’t the usual cigarette that you see on the market. There’s mint and prunes in it. It's used to calm one's nerves." "Were you the one who asked for Master Xenos?" Tiffany nodded in response. "Why?" "I didn't want you to get into trouble." As if he heard a joke, Micah laughed and said, "You’re the one who got into this mess. What does it have to do with me?" "You're my husband. Isn't it normal for husbands to help out their wives when they're in trouble?" Micah could not help but laugh in frustration. Tiffany could not understand what was so funny. Due to her health issues, Tiffany was feeling extremely tired after the treatment session, not to mention that dry needling required a high level of concentration. She yawned repeatedly. Seeing Tyler walking toward her from the corner of her eye, Tiffany asked, "Do you think he's here to give me a slap?" Tyler saw the two of them standing together for a while just now. Fury surged through him as he strode angrily toward Tiffany, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Tiffany scooted behind Micah for protection and grabbed his arm. She dared not show herself in front of Tyler. Seeing her reaction, Tyler thought that she was afraid, but Micah knew that she was actually tired, for he could feel her head leaning on his back. She was yawning non-stop. Micah originally did not want to meddle in her affairs, but after knowing that she was the one who asked for Master Xenos, he raised his hand and stopped Tyler in his tracks. "Bro, we've been friends for so long, yet you're choosing a woman like her over our friendship? "My grandfather treats you like his own grandson. Heck, he treats you even better than me. If you don't want to take my side, fine. But how could you be on her side? She's the one who put him here!" Tiffany poked her head from behind and said, "Mr. Lawrence, you've seen the surveillance footage yourself. It was Jessie who pushed him." "The video wasn't clear. I admit that she's at fault, but that doesn't make you a good person." Tyler would demand an apology from the Young family, but he did not intend to let Tiffany off the hook either. In the end, it was a quarrel between sisters, and his grandfather just so happened to be their victim. To Tyler, neither of them was a 'good' person. When he recalled that he used to have an inexplicable affection for Tiffany, he felt so disgusted. Tiffany tugged at Micah's sleeve to catch his attention. Tyler still found it hard to believe that they were a married couple. To him, Micah had always been a cold and reclusive person who showed no interest in love. He was the type to feel indifferent even if the woman was someone who came from a powerful and wealthy family, not to mention a country bumpkin like Tiffany. Now, Micah was not only allowing Tiffany to be near him, but he was also listening to what she was saying. His behavior was no doubt abnormal. Tyler believed that Tiffany must have done something to him. Perhaps she was like a fairy, seductive yet cunning. 'Or perhaps he had really fallen for her?' Tiffany lowered her voice and said to Micah, "Is it just me, or is he stupid?" Tiffany could not understand the reason why Tyler insisted on putting the blame on her even after seeing the surveillance footage. Although she had said it softly, Tyler still heard what she said. He stomped angrily. Tyler rolled up his sleeves and was about to punch Tiffany in the face. Micah dodged to the side, showing no interest in defending her. Tears welled up in Tiffany's eyes as she saw Micah's reaction. She did not expect him to dodge and felt deeply hurt. Tiffany had always been the weak and delicate type of girl, and now she looked like a child who had been deeply wronged. Looking at her expression, Tyler's punch stopped mid-air. He could not bear to hurt her. While Tyler's heart had softened, Micah did not even bat an eye at her. After that, when Tiffany was out of earshot, Tyler poked Micah in his side and asked, "So, what do you plan to do with her?" Being his childhood friend, Tyler knew a thing or two about Micah. He knew that Micah would not behave this way if he had really fallen for Tiffany. "I'll divorce her after a year, and we'll go back to being strangers." "After a year? You'll need to put up with her for one more year? Wow, bro, you have my respect." Tyler admitted that Tiffany was beautiful. He would not mind having her as his girlfriend and dating her casually. However, he would never see her as 'wife-material'. Rich kids like him would never marry someone like Tiffany who had no status nor a good background. Tyler gave a pat on Micah's shoulder and asked further, "Since you don't care about her anyway, why did you choose her side?" "She's just acting like a spoiled brat. What's the point of arguing with her? I'm not that childish." As long as Tiffany behaved herself and did not make trouble, Micah did not intend to put her in harm's way. Micah brushed his hand away and left the hospital after staying for a while longer. If Tyler were to know that Tiffany was Master Xenos' apprentice, Micah was sure that he would not dare to defame her anymore. Master Xenos was deemed to be a legend in the field of dry needling. Tiffany must be quite skilled. Otherwise, she would not have been able to become his apprentice. Looking at her poised and elegant appearance, it was obvious that Tiffany came from a rich background. She would not have such a refined temperament if she was really raised in the countryside. However, Fred had done a background check on Tiffany before, and Micah had read her file. She had indeed spent her last few years in the countryside. She spent her days planting vegetables and feeding the pigs. She did not do anything extraordinary. Micah once doubted that the person he saw was actually different from the person in the file. However, Micah was not interested in her no matter where she came from or who she actually was. Opening the car door, his gaze was met with one that was full of sleepiness. He turned and saw Fred in the driver's seat. It was indeed his car. "Why are you here?" Tiffany yawned sleepily and said, "I'm waiting for my husband to take me home."