Chapter 574: Chapter 574: There Must Be a Secret
"How is Laura Quinn’s condition?" Old Master Hawthorne noticed a hint of hesitation in Dr. Kane’s eyes and furrowed his brows.
Dr. Kane shook his head, "The Madam has multiple internal injuries, accumulated over the years, that have long caused damage to the root. Trying to cure it is as difficult as climbing to the heavens, let alone..."
Cyrus Hawthorne’s cold brows slightly knitted together, his tone chilling: "Speak plainly."
"Yes. Upon our initial examination, the Madam’s body contains nearly a hundred types of deadly poison, the toxins have long since fused into her bloodstream and meridians. Now, her body is like a hollowed-out tree, eroded to scars by poison and internal injuries, I’m afraid... there isn’t much time left."
Since Dr. Kane spoke so definitively, it indicated that Laura Quinn’s illness was truly incurable.
The atmosphere in the hallway was momentarily tense.
"Strange..." Ann Vaughn muttered with furrowed brows; logically, having hundreds of poisons in a person’s body simultaneously is an impossible feat.
Even a strong man would lose his life instantly to a single dose of poison.
The only ones who could survive hundreds of poisons to this day are those who have been immersed in poison and reformed their constitutions, resorting to consuming poison daily to achieve immunity—a living drug person...
Drug person.
But that’s an extremely painful and terrifying process; out of a thousand people, hardly one can endure it.
The end result is either a miserable death or a lifetime of disability.
Because this method is so sinister, it has been criticized by many physicians, and related books were all destroyed long ago.
When Ann Vaughn was young, her grandfather talked about these matters, but he never mentioned how to restore a drug person to normal...
"Let me try." After a moment’s thought, Ann Vaughn spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Hawthorne’s eyes showed a hint of relief.
He hadn’t spoken up earlier because he feared that, if unsuccessful, it would bring too much pressure on Ann Vaughn. Unexpectedly, she volunteered herself.
Dr. Kane then said, "Please come with me."
Ann Vaughn nodded, and just as she was about to follow, her wrist was once again held by Cyrus Hawthorne.
"Call me if you need anything, I’m right here." The man succinctly whispered in her ear before slowly letting go of her wrist.
Ann Vaughn’s eyes curved slightly, and the slight anxiety in her heart was soothed by the warmth of his hand on hers, "Okay!"
Inside the room.
Following Dr. Kane to the bedside, Ann Vaughn saw that Laura Quinn was already alert, sitting by the bed drinking water.
"Madam." Dr. Kane led Ann Vaughn in front of Laura Quinn, saying, "The Young Madam wishes to conduct another examination for you."
Laura Quinn put down the water cup, her hands naturally folding in front of her, "No need. I’m well aware of my own body, no need to trouble you."
"Madam, you may not know, the Young Madam’s medical skills are so advanced that even I can’t hold a candle to them. Perhaps letting her try could bring some unexpected surprises?" Dr. Kane persuaded again.
"No need, all of you should leave. I just want to rest well."
"Madam..."
"Dr. Kane, if you don’t want my condition to worsen, then take everyone out."
After refusing Dr. Kane’s suggestion, Laura Quinn lay back down, ready to rest.
The final words from Laura Quinn struck even Dr. Kane as rather harsh, and seeing her reluctance, he chose not to insist.
"Young Madam, the Madam just woke up and is in a bit of a bad mood, she didn’t mean to make things difficult for you." After leaving the room, Dr. Kane saw Ann Vaughn in silence and couldn’t help but offer a word of comfort.
Ann Vaughn, who was deep in thought, returned to her senses, shook her head upon hearing this, "I didn’t take it to heart, Dr. Kane, you don’t need to worry."
She was just puzzled by one thing.
Laura Quinn’s face... why did it look so strange?
When she had just examined her, she couldn’t find any signs on her face that reflected her physical condition.
It was like a fake face.
...Could it be?
Ann Vaughn’s back felt a bit chilled as she walked out of the room, unable for a long time to shake off the horror story she had imagined.
Dr. Kane conveyed Laura Quinn’s words tactfully to Old Master Hawthorne.
If a patient wouldn’t cooperate, a doctor couldn’t force the treatment.
Other doctors might insist, but besides being a doctor, Ann Vaughn is also Laura’s daughter-in-law...
Even though Dr. Kane explained diplomatically, insight like Cyrus Hawthorne’s would not fail to notice something.
"Grandfather, I’ll take Annie back to the hospital first, please keep an eye on Mom."
Old Master Hawthorne sighed, waved his hand and said, "Go on, go on."
Cyrus Hawthorne nodded slightly, then wrapped an arm around Ann Vaughn’s slender waist, leading her downstairs.
By the time Ann Vaughn came back to her senses, she realized she was already in Cyrus Hawthorne’s car.
"Why did you come out too? Don’t you need to stay at home?" Seeing that the road led to the hospital, Ann Vaughn looked puzzled at the man reviewing documents.
——During his absence, the "reports" at the company piled up like a mountain, nearly overwhelming Ann Vaughn before.
So difficult.
Did this man have a penchant for self-torture? Otherwise, why would he work day and night, neglecting his own health?
There must be a secret.
Ann Vaughn’s eyes swirled playfully, her mind full of speculation, when Cyrus Hawthorne closed his files without her noticing, his narrow eyes thoughtfully resting on her face.
"...Is there something on my face?"
"The heads of all departments are lamenting in the group chat," Cyrus Hawthorne said flatly, glancing down at his tablet.
Lamenting?
Ann Vaughn curiously rubbed her ears, then scooted closer to Cyrus Hawthorne, blatantly "eavesdropping" on the internal group chat of the corporation.
[I’ve worked at Hawthorne Corp. for years, and it’s the first time I’ve been so eager for President Hawthorne to come back quickly.]
[Oh, the President’s wife said that scattering rice on a keyboard for chickens to peck at would produce better results than what I wrote. QAQ]
[Isn’t the President’s wife a doctor? Why does she know so much about business and speaks so eloquently... Did she secretly take lessons??]
[With the President around, why would she need secret lessons? Oh, I’m so envious, I want a President to tutor me too.]
[...]
The group chat was bustling, but Ann Vaughn felt as if she were freezing.
The reason was nothing other than the intense gaze of the man beside her, which felt like the snowy rain outside.
"Taking lessons?" Cyrus Hawthorne caught her wrist, effortlessly pulling her to face him, his narrow eyes holding a subtle grin, "Mrs. Hawthorne, does someone else tutor you?"
The warm breath near her neck made Ann Vaughn shrink involuntarily.
"No one tutored me, because I cheated..."
"Hmm?"
Ann Vaughn then explained how Eli Sheridan guided her through the headset, "He was worried I couldn’t handle them, so he deliberately had me be sharp-tongued to give them a taste of their own medicine."