Dr. Clarkson’s sharp gaze swept over Kayden as he asked coldly, “Young man, you claim I don’t know medicine. Do you? What prestigious medical school did you graduate from? Where do you work now? What’s your position? What have you accomplished? Do you even have a medical license? And if so, is it an advanced or expert-level certification?”
Each question was delivered with an air of arrogance. In that moment, Dr. Clarkson appeared like an untouchable giant, a towering figure in the medical field, while Kayden seemed like a mere novice, barely worthy of acknowledgment.
Kayden met Dr. Clarkson’s gaze steadily. It was clear that the renowned doctor’s reputation was of paramount importance to him. Kayden’s words had struck a nerve, wounding Dr. Clarkson’s pride. His anger was palpable.
As Dr. Clarkson’s accusations echoed, the crowd began murmuring among themselves.
“Exactly! Who does this guy think he is, talking to Dr. Clarkson that way? Doesn’t he know who Patrick Clarkson is?”
Many in the audience recognized Dr. Clarkson from his frequent media appearances. His fame preceded him.
Kayden shook his head calmly and replied, “I didn’t graduate from any prestigious school, nor do I have a medical license.”
The crowd gasped in shock.
“No medical license? Then he’s not even a doctor! Why is he interfering? He’s just wasting everyone’s time.”
“Probably a quack,” someone sneered. “There are so many fake doctors these days, pretending to be experts just to cheat people out of their money.”
Dr. Clarkson snorted dismissively, his disdain evident. “Enough. Stop wasting my time. If something goes wrong, you’ll be the one to take responsibility.”
Kayden remained unfazed. “You truly don’t understand medicine. License or not, you don’t get it. If you did, you wouldn’t diagnose this young woman with epilepsy.”
“Ridiculous!” snapped Dr. Clarkson’s apprentice, a young woman with an air of confidence. She glared at Kayden and shouted, “What do you know? Get out of here before you ruin everything! If you delay my teacher’s treatment and something happens, you’ll pay the price. Don’t think going to jail will solve it-you’ll have Nate Olson coming after you. You won’t even know how you died.”
Kayden glanced at her with disdain but said nothing. Instead, he smirked faintly.
Dr. Clarkson let out a derisive laugh and raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand medicine? That’s the first time anyone’s dared say that to my face. Fine, then. If you’re so knowledgeable, tell me-if she doesn’t have epilepsy, what’s wrong with her? I’m curious to hear your grand explanation.”
Kayden didn’t bother with pleasantries. “She’s not sick. She’s possessed.”
His words hung in the air, drawing incredulous stares. The crowd erupted into laughter.
“Possessed? Is he serious? In broad daylight, talking about ghosts and spirits? Who could believe such nonsense?”
The ridicule came fast and relentless.
“This young man looks normal enough, but he’s clearly a fraud! Can’t he see this is a medical emergency? Does he want to risk this girl’s life?”
“Exactly. This is Nate Olson’s daughter! If something happens to her, he’s as good as dead.”
Dr. Clarkson sneered, his contempt for Kayden growing. “I don’t need to say anything more. Stop wasting my time and get lost.”
Kayden’s cold laugh cut through the noise. “You can’t save her. If you send her to the hospital, you’ll only be sending her to her death. Watch and learn.”
Without waiting for permission, Kayden strode toward Marie Olson. Ignoring the hostile stares, he knelt beside her. But just as he crouched, Dr. Clarkson grabbed his arm.
“You stubborn fool!” Dr. Clarkson snapped. “I’ve tried to reason with you, but you refuse to listen. Do you even understand how precious Miss Olson is? If you delay treatment, you’ll be held accountable. Do you want to ruin your life over this?”
“Don’t bring your half-baked skills here to harm people. Leave now!”
Kayden’s expression didn’t change. “If she goes with you, she’ll die. Step aside.”
He shook off Dr. Clarkson’s hand with a firm motion, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. For a moment, Dr. Clarkson froze. Fear crept over him, as though those eyes had pierced through his very soul. He felt an inexplicable chill, like he had been struck by an unseen force.
What kind of gaze was that? He couldn’t describe it, but it left his mind in chaos. He tried to shake off the feeling, but the humiliation lingered. Being intimidated by a nobody in front of so many people made his blood boil.
Dr. Clarkson forced a laugh to mask his unease. “Fine. I’ll hold you responsible. If you fail to save her, you’ll regret it.”
Kayden ignored him and turned to Marie Olson. He began his treatment. Pressing his fingers firmly against her forehead, he applied pressure at specific points. To the crowd’s astonishment, a dark, almost black mark appeared where his fingers had touched.
Next, he pulled out a silver needle and inserted it precisely into the mark. He repeated this process, pressing on several points on her head. Each time, dark patches emerged, and when he pricked them with the needle, blackened blood began to seep out.
The onlookers watched in stunned silence. Marie Olson, who had been trembling uncontrollably moments ago, suddenly stopped. Her body relaxed, and her breathing steadied.
Dr. Clarkson stood frozen, his teeth clenched in frustration. He wanted nothing more than for Kayden to fail. In his mind, the only way to salvage his reputation was for Marie Olson to die. If she survived, it would prove Kayden’s skill, and Dr. Clarkson’s own credibility would be shattered.
But if she died, everything would work in his favor. He could maintain his untarnished reputation, and Kayden would face the wrath of the Olson family. It was a perfect outcome-for him.
Just as he entertained this dark thought, a sudden cough shattered his fantasy.
“Cough! Cough!”
Marie Olson’s weak but unmistakable cough echoed through the room. Dr. Clarkson flinched, his entire body trembling. His face drained of color as he stared at the young woman who was now showing signs of life.