Chapter 324
That morning, Richard had overheard a conversation in the hospital hallway. Two men were plotting to drug Pearl and abduct her, unbeknownst to him that they were armed with knives.
Richard had swiftly intervened, but the confrontation had turned violent, and he had been slashed on his chest.
“So, you took that attack for me? Your fever is because of the infection in the wound, isn’t it?” As Pearl questioned him, her voice trembled with worry and sorrow. She found it difficult to hold back her tears, and each word felt like a painful stab to her heart.
Richard hadn’t told her this information, precisely to spare her from worrying. Seeing her cry now tore at his heart. He felt as though his own heart was shattering. He gently pulled her closer, encircling her waist, and whispered, “It’s alright, it’s just a minor wound. I’ve experienced worse injuries before. Don’t cry, Pearl.”
For the first time, Pearl cried like a child, sobbing uncontrollably. “But you got hurt because of me. I didn’t suffer any harm, but this wound feels as if it’s on my own b*dy.”
Richard pinched her nose playfully. “I’d feel much worse if anything happened to you.”
Cupping her face, he spoke earnestly, his voice filled with sincerity. “Pearl, I’m really glad you’re not the one hurt.” Being able to stop that, not only did he not feel bad, he was actually delighted.
“Miss…”
Before they could continue their conversation, there was a knock at the door. They quickly distanced themselves, and Richard released his hold on Pearl so she could open the door.
The man standing outside greeted Pearl with a warm smile. “Hello, I’m George Clearwater, the family doctor appointed by Mister Ezra. He sent me to ch*ck on Mister Richard.”
Upon seeing Richard, George Clearwater couldn’t help but feel his icy aura, which sent shivers down his spine.
Pearl welcomed him inside. “Please, come in.” He looked friendly, so she allowed him to examine Richard.
After conducting his assessment, George’s initial friendliness shifted to a more serious look, and he furrowed his brow. Pearl couldn’t help but worry and asked, “How is he, Doctor George?”
George sighed and shared his concerns, “Mister Richard’s wound is not a simple slash. The knife was poisoned, and the poison has entered his b*dy. It doesn’t look good.”
Startled, Pearl inquired, “What kind of poison is it?”
“I can’t identify it. It’s an unusual poison, one I’ve never encountered in my years of medical practice. It’s possible that my knowledge is limited, and I couldn’t recognize it.”
Pearl’s stomach tightened with worry. The fact that the doctor hired by the Jordans couldn’t identify the poison meant that Richard was severely poisoned, making treatment significantly more difficult.
“Thank you, Doctor George. Please provide him with medicine to counteract the poison,
Pearl requested. As she looked at the wound on Richard’s chest, a sense of deja vu filled her, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen a similar wound before.
George agreed, “Of course, I’ll do that.”
Once he had left, Richard gazed at Pearl’s anxious expression and tried to comfort her with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, everything will be alright. I’m still fine for now, right?”
Although he said this, he could feel his condition deteriorating.
Pearl rolled her eyes at his attempt to ease her worries. “You may think you’re fine now, but what am I going to do if things take a turn for the worse and you don’t make it?”
“Nonsense. I’ll be alright.” Richard chuckled softly.
“But, Richard, that wound on your ch*st looks very familiar to me. I feel like I’ve seen it before.
