Chapter 3
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Natalie’s face twisted. “You’re the one wasting time with your fake medicine. Move. I’m doing CPR.”
Olivia shot her a glare. “She passed out from low blood pressure, and CPR’s your only move?” Her voice was razor–sharp. “Quack.”
Natalie’s face burned. She’d just returned from an international medical conference with the Henry Evans, and this nobody had the nerve to question her? “Who the hell do you think you are? Do you even know who my uncle is?”
“Don’t care.” Olivia kept working, pressing a critical pressure point. “Get out of my way, hack.”
Natalie’s fists clenched. “Fine, she fainted. But you really think sticking needles in her will help? If traditional medicine worked, why would we even need real doctors? You kill her, and it’s on you.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“She’s right. Modern medicine is more reliable.”
“Did you see how she checked the pulse, though? That looked legit.”
The
A
When Olivia kept ignoring her, Natalie grabbed her arm. “Stop right there, you fraud.”
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Olivia’s voice dropped to a dangerous chill. “Let. Go.” Two things pissed her off beyond reason: people who trash–talked traditional medicine, and idiots who got between her and a patient.
Natalie released her with a shove. “Fine! Show me your magic tricks, then. Actually save her, and maybe I’ll apologize.”
Olivia didn’t blink. “Better start rehearsing.”
Olivia’s hands moved fast, and three needles were placed with precision. The girl stirred, her brow furrowing slightly as a soft whimper escaped her lips.
The crowd erupted. “She’s waking up!”
Natalie’s jaw dropped. “No way… How the hell did a few needles do that?”
Olivia didn’t hesitate. Two more needles flashed in her hands, finding their marks instantly.
Suddenly, the little girl’s eyes few open–big, round, and alert. Her pale face softened as she blinked up at Olivia, looking almost angelic.
All eyes widened in shock.
“Holy shit, she did it!” Frank, one of the bystanders, burst out laughing. “Five little needles and bam, she’s back with us?”
Olivia carefully removed the needles, disinfecting the girl’s arm. “Not random pokes,” she corrected. “She fainted. Hit the right points, and the body responds”
Natalie scoffed, crossing her arms, “Oh, please. This has to be staged. Since when does jabbing someone with needles fix anything? Typical traditional medicine scam.”
Olivia’s glare could ve frozen lava, but before she could fire back, the little girl piped up in a voice sweet but sharp. “Traditional medicine’s been around for thousands of years. And you? You could do nothing. Maybe you should go back to school”
Natalie sputtered, face turuing red “Excuse me?!”
The crowd lost it, and laughter exploded around them
Olivia smirked, wiping her hands. “She’s got a point. Might wanna hit the books again.”
“Pathetic peasants! I don’t have time for this,” Natalie spat, turning on her heel to leave
A needle whistled past her ear, embedding itself deep into a pine tree behind her
Natalie froze One inch to the left, and it would’ve been her skull.
Olivia’s icy voice cut through the silence. “Forgetting something, hotshot?” she smiled.
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Chapter 3
The crowd stiffened. That sweet–faced girl suddenly radiated something dark and dangerous.
Natalie swallowed hard, playing dumb. “What do you want?”
“An apology.” Olivia tapped her temple, grinning like it was all a game.
Natalie’s jaw clenched. This would destroy her reputation. “I don’t get it. And I don’t respond to frauds. My patients need me.”
A bystander scoffed, “You’re Henry Evans‘ niece? Damn, he’d be ashamed.”
Natalie whirled around and slapped the man hard across the face. “Shut your mouth, trash! The Evans family owns every hospital in Hillarica. Piss me off, and none of you losers will ever get treated again.”
The man’s fists shook with rage. “You! How dare—”
Natalie, who had always sneered at ordinary people, failed to notice the icy danger flickering in Olivia’s gaze.
With a careless flick of her wrist, Olivia sent a small stone flying. Natalie’s knees gave out, and she crumpled to the ground with a sharp
cry.
White–hot pain lanced through Natalie’s leg. Her face twisted as the sickening crack confirmed that her kneecap must be shattered.
She tried to speak, to move, but her body refused to obey. It was as if some invisible force had locked her in place, rendering her helpless.
Olivia stepped forward, bending down until their eyes met. “A real doctor wouldn’t miss a diagnosis this basic,” she hissed, voice like a blade. “This isn’t about your ego. It’s about people’s lives. And you? You’re not just bad at your job.
“You’re a disgrace to the profession. Stay down. Think about what you’ve done, if you’re even capable of shame”
Natalie could only glare, fury burning in her eyes.
“Since you’re related to Mr. Henry Evans,” Olivia continued coolly, “I’ll go easy on you.”
A flicker of hope crossed Natalie’s face.
“Spending the day like this won’t kill you.” Olivia watched her with a slow, merciless smile. “After all, Ms. Evans, no one pushed you. You chose to collapse.”
Natalie let out a strangled whimper, unable to form words.
“Serves her right,” someone in the crowd muttered.
“Yeah, calling people peasants? She’s a disgrace to doctors,” another added.
A particularly loud bystander shouted, “Hey, everyone! Check out the Kingtonelle best med student groveling for mercy.”
Natalie’s face burned with humiliation, but she couldn’t even snap back. More and more people turned to stare, whispering and pointing. She wished the earth would split open and swallow her whole. Instead, she could only lie there, seething with hatred.
That little bitch! Just wait. Next time we meet, I’ll make her regret this,‘ she thought angrily.
Olivia didn’t spare her another glance. If their paths crossed again, she wouldn’t be so lenient.
An elderly man stepped forward eagerly “Young lady, with skills like yours, you must come from a family of traditional healers, right?
Olivia paused as her expertise hadn’t come easily. Then she nodded. “Yes, my family practices traditional medicine*
Does that mean you’ll treat folks like us if we ever need help?
“Of course,” Olivia smiled warmly, without a trace of the Phantom Healer’s usual aloofness. “Come to 22 Willow Lane. My clinic’s always
open
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