Chapter 14

Amid the chaos, Hera traced Bernard's arm until she reached an acupuncture point, LI 11. She pressed down hard on it. Once Bernard's grip weakened, Hera dashed away quickly. She rested her back against the wall, breathing heavily. Suddenly, there was a loud crash. Holding his head in pain, Bernard punched the wall next to Hera. His fist left a bloody mark on the white surface. "Bernard!" Douglas rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Bernard's waist, pulling Bernard away from the wall to prevent further injury. "Get a doctor, now!" Douglas yelled at Hera. Hera took a deep breath, fear gripping her as she watched Bernard's struggle in agony. She had narrowly avoided being choked by him! Seeing Hera's hesitation, Douglas shouted urgently, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up. I can't hold him much longer!" "Release him. I'll take care of this." Hera's hand dropped to her side. With a swift motion, a silver needle appeared between her fingertips. Douglas was speechless by how calm she sounded. When Bernard was in the throes of sickness, he'd morph into a wild beast. He would become so unruly that even two grown men would struggle to restrain him. So, how could Hera possibly handle him? As Douglas silently muttered, he suddenly received an elbow from Bernard. Douglas grunted as he was forcefully shoved away, crashing onto the ground. In the grip of his illness, Bernard looked like a crazed beast ready to pounce on anything in sight. He charged toward Hera, but she remained calm and unbothered. She aimed her silver needle and skillfully hit Bernard's M-HN-3 acupuncture point. Bernard froze. Then, he slumped weakly toward Hera. Douglas was amazed to see that Hera possessed a hidden weapon! Later, he started to mull over the situation. How was it possible for Hera to bring Bernard under control with just one needle? Even two burly men couldn't manage to restrain Bernard during his episodes. … In the infirmary, Bernard slowly woke up. His eyes fluttered open to find Hera above him. She had a pretty face with captivating eyes, though a hint of coldness lingered in her gaze. He noticed a faint, pleasant scent coming from her. Her hands were gently massaging his temples, easing away his discomfort. It had been ages since he felt this relaxed. Bernard enjoyed the feeling. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. However, Hera saw through his act. Her cold voice echoed from above. "Stop faking. You're awake." Douglas had been waiting nearby, and as soon as he heard Bernard wake up, he rushed to his bedside. "Bernard, are you alright? Johnson is coming. You've never been out for so long before. I was so worried." Bernard didn't reply, but he couldn't pretend anymore. He pushed himself up to sit, his demeanor becoming solemn. "Leave!" Douglas was startled by Bernard's sudden outburst. He felt hurt and confused by Bernard's harsh words. With a heavy heart, he murmured, "Alright." Then, he quietly left the infirmary. Hera remained silent. Bernard leaned back against the hospital bed, his eyes locked onto his bandaged hand. Lost in thought, he seemed to be reflecting on recent events. "Professor Killian, if you're feeling better, I'll head out," Hera said before turning away. She had wanted to leave earlier, but Douglas had insisted that she stay until Bernard woke up, especially since she was the one who had jabbed Bernard with the silver needle. "Considering the means my siblings use, do you really think they'll let you go if they find out you're still alive?" Bernard questioned. He lifted his gaze, fixing it upon Hera's figure. Without the barrier of his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes sparkled with a piercing intensity. Hera halted abruptly, memories of the dreadful events of that year flooding back. The bitter conflicts among the Killian siblings led to Lucius' wrongful imprisonment and Daphne's tragic death in a car accident. Bernard's mention of "the means my siblings use" appeared to separate himself from past events. But was the truth really that simple? "Oh, you're... Uncle Bernard?" Hera spun around as if she had just identified the man before her. Yet, her expression stayed cold. Observing this, Bernard couldn't suppress a small smile. Wasn't her attempt at acting somewhat awkward? He saw through it but decided not to point it out. His piercing gaze softened slightly as he asked, "You're not in a hurry to keep your distance from me anymore?" "What do you want?" Hera questioned. She was unsure of Bernard's motives. Was he considering informing the Killians that she was still alive? Bernard noticed the wariness in her eyes, and it unsettled him. Maintaining his calm demeanor, he gestured toward her. "Come here. Let me have a look. Is your neck okay?" Hera stood her ground, her icy stare locked on him. "Uncle Bernard, there's something wrong with you!" Bernard was at a loss for words. He knew something was off about him, but her absolute confidence made him feel uneasy. "Your assistant just gave you some modern medication, which includes Gabapentin and Carbamazepine. These are specifically used to treat neuropathic pain. "Considering the symptoms you've been experiencing during your episodes, it seems like you've been dealing with chronic headaches for quite a while," Hera explained. She remembered the moment when Douglas brought Bernard to the infirmary. Douglas had the doctor take care of Bernard's hand injury and then sent the doctor away. After that, Douglas took out a small bottle of medicine, gave Bernard a pill from it, and then made a phone call. Hera noticed the pill at that moment. Its shape resembled a modern medication that her online friend had researched for treating headaches, prompting her to take a closer look. "Go on," Bernard urged He narrowed his eyes at Hera, who seemed to give off an air of aloofness that kept everyone at arm's length. How had the once affectionate little princess, who used to cling to him every day, changed so much? "This medication can bring about side effects and shouldn't be used for a long time. I've learned alternative medicine from my grandmother, and I can help you treat this illness," Hera suggested. Then, she added, "But in return, you must keep the fact that I'm alive a secret from the Killians until I reach adulthood."