## **Outside the Emergency Room**
Steve sat on one of the chairs lined against the hospital wall. His shirt sleeves were rolled halfway up his arms, and his lifeless eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of him.
It had been three hours since Ivan had been taken into the emergency room.
According to the doctors, he had suffered a severe head injury and a fractured arm.
"Steve... drink this."
"You donated a lot of blood. Your body needs to recover."
Lewis's voice broke the silence.
Steve turned toward him and saw a glass of juice in his hand.
"...I don't want it, Uncle."
"I don't feel like drinking anything."
He quietly looked away.
Lewis let out a faint sigh.
"I understand that you don't feel like eating or drinking anything right now."
"But you have to."
"You've lost a considerable amount of blood today."
"Your body needs its strength."
Steve remained silent for a moment before finally accepting the glass.
Just as he was about to take a sip—
The emergency room doors suddenly swung open.
Several exhausted doctors walked out one after another.
The moment Steve saw them, he immediately placed the glass on the nearby table and hurried toward them.
Lewis followed behind.
"Doctor... is Ivan alright?"
Steve asked anxiously, looking at the young doctor standing before him.
The doctor removed his surgical mask and gave a small nod.
"His condition is stable now."
"The surgery was successful."
"We'll transfer him to a normal ward within an hour."
The moment those words left his mouth, the tension on both Steve's and Lewis's faces finally eased.
Lewis looked at the young doctor.
"Can we take him home instead?"
The doctor's brows furrowed.
"Uncle..."
"How can you take him home in his current condition?"
Lewis didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze slowly swept across the surrounding doctors and nurses.
The young doctor instantly understood.
Whatever Lewis wanted to discuss...
It wasn't meant for anyone else to hear.
"...Please come with me."
"We'll talk in my office."
---
## **A Few Minutes Later – Doctor's Office**
"Edward."
Lewis was the first to break the silence.
Edward removed the stethoscope from around his neck and placed it on the table before looking at him.
"Uncle..."
"If you want me to discharge him, you'll have to give me a valid reason."
Lewis remained silent for a brief moment.
"Everything that happened last night has already been covered up."
"I believe you already have some idea of what truly happened."
"I can't afford to take any more risks."
"Besides..."
"I already have a complete medical team waiting at Smith Mansion."
"They'll be able to monitor Ivan around the clock."
Edward quietly listened before giving a slow nod.
"...Very well."
"You may transfer him to Smith Mansion in an hour."
"But I'll personally visit him to check on his condition."
After a brief pause, he asked,
"I have a feeling this isn't the only reason."
"...Was someone else injured as well?"
Lewis slowly nodded.
"Danish was with them."
That single sentence was enough.
Edward immediately understood.
---
## **Smith Mansion**
An hour later, Ivan was carefully transferred to his room at Smith Mansion.
His breathing had finally become steady.
A thick bandage was wrapped around his head.
One of his arms was secured in a cast because of the fracture, while an IV line was connected to his other hand, allowing medicine and fluids to slowly flow into his body.
A private caretaker had already been assigned to stay by his side twenty-four hours a day.
Meanwhile...
On the upper floor—
Inside Danish's bedroom...
"We found her unconscious beside the car."
"The doctors believe she suffered from shock."
"But..."
"I'd still like to examine her myself."
Edward stood beside Danish's bed.
She lay quietly beneath the blanket, which was pulled up to her waist.
She looked as though she were simply sleeping.
Edward gently placed the back of his hand against her forehead.
"...Her fever is extremely high."
Steve's voice came from behind him.
"Did you give her any medicine?"
"We already did."
"But her temperature still hasn't gone down."
Lewis slowly walked over to Danish's bedside.
"The doctors say it's just an ordinary fever."
"But..."
"I don't believe this is normal."
For the first time that night, the exhaustion on Lewis's usually stern face was impossible to hide.
He gently pulled the blanket over Danish's shoulder before turning toward Edward.
"I think..."
"She needs the special tonic you created."
Edward's expression immediately stiffened.
He hesitated for a moment.
"I..."
Lewis calmly interrupted him.
"I'll personally bring you the herb you've been searching for."
Edward looked at Lewis in surprise before turning his eyes back toward the unconscious Danish.
"...Uncle."
"I don't need any deal."
"I'll give her the tonic."
"I've watched her grow up."
"And if she needs my help..."
"I'll help her."
Taking a slow breath, Edward closed his eyes.
A soft blue light began gathering in his palm.
Moments later...
A small glass bottle materialized in his hand.
Inside it swirled a glowing blue liquid.
The instant he removed the cork, a sweet fragrance spread throughout the room.
Edward walked over to Danish.
He gently placed the mouth of the bottle against her lips.
Almost as though her body instinctively recognized the medicine...
Her lips parted slightly.
She slowly drank every last drop.
Edward stepped back and quietly observed her.
Her complexion already seemed noticeably better than before.
Seeing this, Lewis finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"I know you didn't do this because of our deal."
"But tomorrow morning..."
"You'll still receive what you've been searching for."
Edward simply nodded.
He knew Lewis Smith was not the kind of man who accepted favors without repaying them.
Just then...
His phone suddenly rang.
Seeing Adrian's name on the screen, he answered the call before looking back at Lewis.
"Uncle..."
"I should get going now."
"As for Danish..."
"I believe she'll regain consciousness sometime tonight."
"If anything changes..."
"Call me immediately."
With that, Edward quietly left the room.
Lewis turned toward Steve.
"Go."
"See Edward out."
"We'll talk after you return."
Steve silently nodded and followed him outside.
Once the room had fallen silent again...
Lewis looked back at Danish.
For the first time that night...
A faint smile appeared on his usually stern face.