Jared shifted uncomfortably under Stephen’s gaze.
Still, Jared managed a smile and stepped up to the bedside. “How are you feeling? Everything okay?”
Truth was, he was panicking inside.
He never thought that tiny little Arya would actually manage to bring Stephen back.
He could only curse silently in his heart, cursing that Stephen must have lost his mind.
It was ridiculous. The man had fallen from such a height. His head had been bleeding. No way she could’ve healed his brain.
What did she think she was–some reincarnation of Hippocrates?
Maria stood by the bed, her nerves stretched thin. “Stephen, how do you feel?” she asked, voice tight with worry.
It had been over a month since his fall.
A month of uncertainty, sleepless nights, and constant fear of complications.
Arya might’ve woken him up, but brain trauma didn’t just go away.
The doctors had warned her–there could be long–term effects.
Travis leaned closer, his expression hopeful but tense. “Dad… do you recognize me?”
The whole room was holding its breath. Then, finally, Stephen parted his lips. “Ah… ah…”
Just sounds. No words.
Silence fell.
And then Jared exhaled in visible relief.
Well, that settled it. Even if Stephen had regained consciousness, he was far from his old self. Probably just a shell of the man he once was.
How ironic. The mighty Stephen, once at the top of his game, now reduced to incoherent babble.
Jared almost smiled.
Maria’s eyes filled with tears. “Stephen, what happened to you?” Her voice cracked.
“Dad, look at me,” Travis said, crouching by the bed. “It’s me–Travis. Do you know who I am?”
Stephen’s gaze drifted to his son.
But there was no spark of recognition, no warmth. Just a distant, foggy look.
And it hurt. Travis had convinced himself that the moment Stephen woke up, everything would be fine again.
But this… this wasn’t fine.
Jared stepped forward, playing the part of the caring relative. “You shouldn’t be too upset,” he said, with what he probably thought was a comforting smile. “The fact that Stephen’s awake at all is already a blessing. He’s worked hard his whole life. Maybe living out his years in peace like this… maybe it’s not such a bad thing.”
1/3
13:18 Fri, 13 Jun WEO
Chapter 38
“Afraid you’ll be disappointed, Uncle. I’ll cure my dad!” A crisp, clear voice rang from the doorway.
Arya strode in, eyes sharp, tone cool.
Behind her, tall and imposing, walked Finn.
The air in the room seemed to drop ten degrees the moment he stepped inside.
Jared’s ingratiating smile flickered, but he recovered quickly. “Mr. Barnett! What an honor to see you!”
The way he looked, the way he carried himself–it was as if he were the true master of the Keller family.
He was already imagining it–his daughter Eloise marrying Malcolm, their families joining forces, rising into the ranks of Flodes City’s elite.
Finn was the head of the Barnett family, so of course he wanted to build a good relationship with Finn first.
Finn, however, didn’t so much as glance at Jared. Instead, he walked right past him, nodding politely at Maria before turning to Travis. “Travis.”
His tone was even, almost detached, but there was a quiet authority in it that made it clear who commanded the room.
“Finn, you’re here.” Maria tried to muster a smile and nodded toward him before quickly hurrying over to Arya.
She gripped her daughter’s hand tightly. “Arya, your dad woke up, but he doesn’t recognize any of us–and he can’t speak. Please, check him. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
Since Stephen’s fall, Maria’s only lifeline had been Arya. And now more than ever, she needed her daughter to make this right.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take a look.” She stepped quietly to the bed, locking eyes with her father.
His gaze was focused. Alert. Not the vacant stare she remembered from the worst days. And if he’d taken the Miracle Pill K, then physically, he should’ve been fine.
As for why he couldn’t speak, it might be because there was a problem with the language center.
And why didn’t he recognize them?
Then Stephen blinked at her–deliberately.
Arya caught the flicker of meaning instantly.
She turned slightly and glanced at Jared.
Sure enough, Jared was watching Stephen with narrowed, gleaming eyes. Like a vulture circling something half–dead.
She felt the cold settle in her chest.
Then Jared came forward, all fake concern again. “Arya, what’s the verdict? Is your dad… curable?”
“I’m still examining him,” she said evenly.
Finn stood nearby, silently observing her.
He’d had Robert look into her background.
He knew she was just an intern at the Flodes Medical University Hospital, studying neurology.
But still he was starting to suspect. The way she moved, the techniques she used—they were exactly like Lexie’s.
And Lexie was who he’d been searching for all along.
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13:18 Fri, 13 Jun W□O
Chapter 38
She finished checking and looked down for a beat, letting emotion flicker across her face. “His condition’s complicated,” she said finally. “I’m afraid… there’s no cure. At least not for now.”
Maria staggered backward, barely catching herself before she fell.
Travis grabbed her quickly, his own face collapsing in silent pain.
He’d tried to prepare for this possibility. But hearing her say it still hit like a punch to the gut.
Jared, though–he couldn’t hide the smirk tugged at his lips. “Well, Arya, don’t beat yourself up,” he said, doing a poor job of masking his satisfaction. “The fact that he woke up at all is a miracle.”
She looked straight at him, her voice suddenly cold. “You seem awfully pleased to hear that my father can’t be cured.”
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