Kayden had never been treated so disrespectfully before. A sharp glint of cold killing intent flickered in his eyes.
“Do you realize that no one in this world has ever dared to speak to me like that?” he said, his tone icy.
Christina chuckled mockingly. “Get out. This is my master’s place.”
This was Diomidis Stevens’ territory, but even Diomidis wouldn’t make Kayden leave. His very presence here elevated the place. Yet, this sharp-tongued girl was audacious and quick-witted, bordering on rude.
Forget it, he thought. She’s just a little girl, not worth the trouble. He gave a slight nod and said, “Fine. But let me remind you of something. What you’re doing might save this patient, but when you insert the needle, don’t let your mind wander. If your thoughts stray, the woman will still be cured, but you’ll face severe backlash. This isn’t ordinary stuff.”
“Alright, get lost already. You talk as if you know more than me,” Nick muttered dismissively.
“Enough, Nick. Don’t waste time arguing with this idiot. Save her!” Christina encouraged sharply.
Nick grunted in response and continued with the acupuncture.
Kayden had just reached the door when a sudden scream pierced the air.
“Nick! Nick, what’s wrong? What happened?” Christina’s panicked voice rang out.
Nick had fallen to the ground after inserting the second needle. His eyes rolled back, his body convulsing violently, foam spilling from his mouth. The sight was horrifying. Christina stood frozen, unsure whether to sit or stand, on the verge of tears.
Meanwhile, the previously unconscious woman had woken up. She glanced at the large man in front of her and asked, “What’s going on? Why am I tied up like this?”
The man, overjoyed, slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “You’re awake! Finally, you’re awake! I told you-you’ve been sleepwalking, digging up graves and all!”
“What?!” the woman gasped. “I… I don’t remember any of that!”
“Of course you don’t! If you knew, why would I have tied you up like this? Look at my arms-just look at what you did to me!” The man rolled up his sleeves, revealing deep scratches on his forearms.
The woman gasped again, guilt washing over her. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s all in the past now,” the man said, his voice trembling with emotion, tears threatening to spill.
Their simple, heartfelt exchange revealed a raw, genuine love. One was sick, the other worried. Though they bickered, seeing her recover brought him to the brink of tears. Such pure affection was rare in this age when relationships had changed so drastically.
Christina, however, wasn’t moved. “What are you two still doing?! He’s in this state because he was trying to save you, and you’re just standing there? Get over here and help!” she yelled, almost in tears herself.
The man turned to look at Nick and gasped. “This… this is exactly what happened to my wife earlier! The next step is biting people!”
“What do we do now?” Christina was frantic, like a headless chicken, completely lost.
The man said, “That guy you just kicked out-didn’t he say something like this might happen? He seemed to know what was coming. If he knew, he must know how to fix it too!”
His words jolted Christina. “Why didn’t I think of that?” she muttered.
She dashed to the door and spotted Kayden walking away.
“Hey, you!” she yelled. “Wait a second!”
Kayden stopped and turned around. “What is it?” he asked, his tone indifferent.
“You!” Christina’s face tightened with frustration. “How can you just walk away like that? Don’t you see what’s happening to him? Get back here and help!”
Kayden sighed. “Didn’t you just tell me to leave? Who do you think you are? You tell me to go, and I go. You tell me to stay, and I stay? Is that how it works?”
With that, he turned without hesitation and continued walking.
“Hey! Do you even have any medical ethics? He’s in this state, and you could save him, but you’re just walking away? This is a disgrace to your profession!” Christina shouted furiously at his retreating figure.
But Kayden ignored her and stepped out of the house.
The man shook his head and said to Christina, “Little girl, with how you spoke to him earlier, he’s obviously angry.”
“So what now? You expect me to lower myself and beg him?!” Christina retorted. She couldn’t imagine bowing to that man, her master’s new apprentice. If she humbled herself now, how could she ever hold her head high in the future?
Suddenly, Nick let out a guttural cry. His veins bulged grotesquely, as if his blood was boiling, making him look terrifying.
“Wait! Just wait!” Christina shouted as she bolted out of the house.
“Hey! You!” she called out, running to block Kayden’s path. She looked up at him and, swallowing her pride, said, “I’m sorry! Okay? I’m sorry! This is a matter of life and death. Please, help him!”
She took a deep breath and added, “Doctors are supposed to be compassionate. I’m apologizing-sincerely. Please, I’m begging you. Help him!”
Though her words seemed earnest, resentment simmered in her heart.
Kayden sighed lightly, his expression calm. “An apology should come with sincerity,” he said.
“Kneel,” he added, his tone firm. “Kneel and apologize. Then I’ll consider helping him. Otherwise, he’ll be dead in a few minutes.”
Kayden stood with his hands behind his back, exuding arrogance.
Christina’s eyes widened in disbelief. This was outrageous! Who did he think he was? She had already apologized-wasn’t that enough? Now he wanted her to kneel?
Her anger surged, and she was about to explode when another anguished scream came from inside the house. It was Nick. His cries were piercing, filled with unbearable pain.
Forget it! Pride didn’t matter anymore.
Without hesitation, Christina dropped to her knees with a thud.