Chapter 6
“Relax, I believe you.”
I continued, “Diana showed me a video of Scarlett preparing the medicine. One of the liquids she used had no label. I wasn’t sure at first…”
“But when I saw Richard suddenly standing up, I guessed what it was, Eroded Butterfly Water.”
“It temporarily restores paralyzed limbs by accelerating cell activity… but within minutes, it begins to rot the body from the inside.“}}
Max’s brow furrowed.
“So, Scarlett meant to hurt him?”
I shook my head slowly.
“I don’t know if she’s unbelievably stupid, or if someone used her.”
He didn’t ask further and silently offered to drive me home.
As I stepped out of the car, my phone rang. Diana again.§
“Miss Baldridge, could you please come to the hospital? I don’t know who else to asked to…“) Richard’s furious voice shouted in the background.
“I said I’m not amputating! Stop listening to that fraud Victoria! My legs can be saved!“}
Scarlett said this is just a phase, once my bones and flesh remodel, I’ll be able to walk again!“}] “It was just a fluke, I fell too quickly, that’s all!”
Diana’s anxious, tearful voice followed.§
“Richard, even the hospital doctors say this is urgent! If we delay, you might not survive!“}
“Please… listen to your mother and get the surgery!“}
Then came the sound of glass shattering.
Diana pleaded with me again.§
“Miss Baldridge, the doctors aren’t confident. I’m begging you, please just come and take a look.”
“I’m waiting for you at the hospital.“}
Max, who hadn’t left yet, accompanied me.>
Halfway there, he finally asked, “Are you going to save him?“}
I rolled down the window, letting the cold wind hit my face.
“No.”
“I just want to see what he looks like when he’s worse than dead.“}
Max’s hands jerked slightly on the steering wheel.
“You… hate him?”
“As far as I know, you two don’t have any real enmity.“>
A cold smile tugged at my lips.}
“He owes me his life.”
Then I closed my eyes and rested and Max, seeing that I wasn’t ready to explain, stayed silent. When we arrived at the hospital, Richard had already kicked all the doctors out of the ward.§
Diana stood outside, eyes swollen from crying.
“Miss Baldridge, could you help me convince him to get the surgery?”
“I would, but I’m the last person he wants to see. No matter what I say, he’ll think I’m trying to harm him.”
I sighed.
“Doesn’t he trust Scarlett? Maybe you should ask her to talk to him.”
The mere mention of Scarlett made Diana grit her teeth.D
But with no other choice, she called for her guard to bring Scarlett in.
Soon, Scarlett knelt by Richard’s bedside, crying uncontrollably.
“Richard, does it hurt? I really don’t know what went wrong, the medicine should’ve worked…”
Richard reached out to comfort her, but the movement tugged on his lower body. He went pale from the pain.
After several deep breaths, he spoke again.
“Scarlett, you said I wouldn’t need amputation. That it’s just… remodeling, right?”
Scarlett glanced at his mangled, blood–soaked legs.”
She remembered Diana’s warning and the doctors‘ assessment.@
She bit her lip, voice trembling.
“Richard… you should listen to the doctors. Your legs might really not be salvageable…”
Richard stared into her eyes, unblinking.
