Chapter 410: Chapter 410: Kindred Spirits
Are you happy?
This question lingered on the great President Hawthorne’s face, as he returned to the car, still somewhat complicated.
"Mark Joyce." Cyrus Hawthorne’s brows furrowed and relaxed, then furrowed again.
"President Hawthorne?"
"You didn’t tell her the original purpose of those flowers?"
"..." Mark Joyce looked apologetic, feeling a bit guilty, "I thought you suddenly canceled the previous arrangements because you didn’t want Miss Vaughn to know those flowers were carefully prepared by you. I’m sorry, I acted on my own accord."
Cyrus Hawthorne lowered his gaze to the bouquet of gladioluses on the table, his dark, narrow eyes showing a hint of helplessness, "It’s fine, it’s better that she doesn’t know."
That thing is not meant for her yet.
It’s just that he hadn’t expected Ann Vaughn to perfectly replicate... the surprise he originally intended for her.
...
The Chambers Family.
Iris Chambers had been waiting for Ann Vaughn since early morning, dismissed the servants upon seeing her, and took the lead in guiding her.
"My company is currently vying for a government contract. If word gets out that my father has an epidemic at such a critical time, it will cause significant upheaval in the company, and the deal might fall through, so please keep it confidential..."
Ann Vaughn was puzzled upon hearing this, "If that’s the case, then why did your friends at the restaurant earlier seem to know about this?"
Iris Chambers smiled bitterly, her face looking extremely haggard without makeup, "The dealings between high societies aren’t as clean as they appear, there’s always someone watching, and that’s how the news got out."
That’s why she dressed herself as glamorously as usual, strolling around and shopping nonchalantly, just to mislead those people.
Ann Vaughn nodded, having a profound understanding of this.
For anyone with power and influence, good health is always the fundamental safeguard for everything. Otherwise, if something happens to them, the scramble for power will almost begin.
This kind of scenario is even more common abroad amongst politicians and those with great authority.
A small building behind the villa was isolated separately, with doctors and nurses, and even security guards at the door to prevent anyone from entering by mistake.
Before going inside, Ann Vaughn chewed up the pale green pill she was holding in her mouth, swallowed it down, and then stepped inside.
"Why did you come in here without protective clothing? Are you risking your life?!" The doctor testing Mr. Chambers’ temperature caught sight of Annie entering with just a mask, nearly dropping the thermometer in shock, "Get out, quickly!"
"I took some medicine, it’s okay." Ann Vaughn shook her head slightly and walked up to the bed, simply placing her hand on Mr. Chambers’ wrist.
The doctor nearby immediately rushed over to stop her, "This epidemic has a high infection rate, touching the patient directly like this might get you infected too!"
Ann Vaughn lowered her eyes, carefully feeling Mr. Chambers’ pulse, ignoring the doctor’s words, and instead asked, "How long has he been like this?"
"Three days."
"Has the infection source been identified?"
"A new strain of rat, Red Rat, escaped from Eland Research Institute. This epidemic is appearing for the first time... Uh?" One of the doctors clearly answered her question, only to realize something was amiss.
Why was he answering every question?!
A new type of plague...
Ann Vaughn’s pretty face grew more serious. Just as she was contemplating which kinds of traditional herbs she should use, Mr. Chambers lying on the bed suddenly half woke up and started coughing vehemently, vomiting!
Blood spurted from his mouth, dyeing the floor in front of the bed red!
The doctors pulled Ann Vaughn back several steps, their expressions changing drastically.
If they got splattered by Mr. Chambers’ blood, they wouldn’t escape infection.
Ann Vaughn looked at Mr. Chambers’ reddened eyes, remembering the congested throat and tongue she had seen during her examination, her eyebrows furrowing tighter.
This epidemic... resembles the worst outbreak of plague in Athens’ history.
Except Mr. Chambers wasn’t thirsty, but had intermittent vomiting of blood, excruciating pain, and couldn’t sleep.
"To be on the safe side, all of you should take this." Ann Vaughn took out a porcelain bottle from the medicine box and handed it to the doctor nearby, "Also, let me see the Red Rat information."
"What is this?"
"Medicine to prevent infection." Ann Vaughn casually explained, then took the information handed by the doctor and quickly reviewed it.
Will this medicine be effective against the new epidemic?
Several doctors looked at each, all expressing skepticism, holding the medicine bottle, and hesitantly took one pill each.
After taking it, they miserably realized why they followed the inexplicable woman’s orders!
Ann Vaughn didn’t notice their complaints, seriously read all the information, pulled out a piece of paper from the side, and began writing a prescription, "Ge Chuan Grass, Jiang Powder, Dendrobium, Scorpion..."
These important herbs can be found in any general Chinese medicine shop, but a few are rare herbs Ann Vaughn discovered herself, which might not be available in typical shops.
Ann Vaughn had someone pass the prescription to Iris Chambers and Mrs. Chambers waiting at the door, mentioning this.
Mrs. Chambers’ weary eyes lit up when she saw the prescription, "Dr. Vaughn, we have some of these in our family’s storeroom. Please wait a moment!"
It turned out Mrs. Chambers was too modest.
Ann Vaughn looked at the mountain of herbs before her, her lips twitching. Borrowing the kitchen in the small building, she went in to decoct the medicine.
When the medicine was ready, it was a light red color, like jelly, but the emitted smell was quite unfriendly.
Ann Vaughn turned off the heat, uncovered the lid, and dropped two drops of extracted essence into it, darkening the light red color of the medicine and significantly calming the pungent medicinal smell in the air.
Returning to the makeshift ward, Ann Vaughn handed the medicine to the nurse, "Have Mr. Chambers drink it, quickly."
Three days had already been delayed, any longer and Mr. Chambers wouldn’t be far from death’s door.
The mouthful of blood earlier was a blatant omen.
"Yes, yes." The nurse took the bowl of medicine and went to the bed to feed Mr. Chambers.
Fortunately, despite the burning and prickling pain in Mr. Chambers’ throat, he could still swallow, though much of the medicine was spilled.
Ann Vaughn regretfully looked at the bowl of medicine, thinking of those two drops of the extracted essence brought a pang to her heart.
Those doctors no longer stopped Ann Vaughn from doing anything. After all, with Mr. Chambers in this condition, any more efforts would be in vain, so they let her proceed.
For a person infected with the epidemic to hold on past two days and survive to the third was already a miracle.
By the time they receive the Red Rat specimen from Eland and research a definitive treatment, Mr. Chambers would already be unable to hold on until then.