Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Stephanie’s brain was racing. Her cover as Summer was super important. She couldn’t let it slip. She fiddled with her hat and face mask, making sure no

one could see her face.

She adjusted her voice and greeted the approaching Vincent, “Hello, Mr. Fletcher. I’m Dr. Summer.”

Vincent nodded slightly and replied, “Hello, Dr. Summer. Getting you here was no piece of cake.”

“Sorry. I was off the grid, you know, studying medicine and stuff, I wasn’t seeing any patients,” Stephanie said.

Vincent smiled and responded, “As long as you can cure my mother, I can add 40 million dollars more on top of the 100 million dollars promised.”

*40 million dollars? No way I’m saying no to that, even from my own husband, mused Stephanie.

“All right,” agreed Stephanie smilingly.

When they got into the Fletcher place, a housekeeper came running, all freaked out, “M-Mr. Fletcher, your mom passed out!”

“Take me to her,” instructed Stephanie, stepping forward.

The housekeeper was confused and looked over at Vincent, who told her, “This is Dr. Summer. She’s here to help.” The housekeeper got it and went upstairs with Stephanie.

Watching Summer rush off, Vincent got this weird déjà vu feeling Zane wheeled Vincent into the elevator, hit the button for the third floor, and asked, “Mr. Fletcher, Dr. Summer is seriously young. She might be faking it, right?”

Vincent’s look got icy, “if she’s a fake, she won’t walk out of here alive.”

While they chatted, they made it to the third floor. Zane pushed Vincent toward Ellen’s room. They could hear Kevin yelling from inside, “She’s coughing up blood!”

Douglas was super

super stressed, “Can you actually cure her, or a

r, or are you just a scammer?”

Vincent rolled in just in time to see Douglas reaching for Summer’s face mask. But before Vincent could do a thing. Douglas was hollering. “Ouch! Did you just stab me with a needle?”

Stephanie looked at him like he was gross, “Zip it! Disturb me again, and I’ll make you lose your voice!”

Douglas was about to argue, but Stephanie threw another needle and he clammed up, pointing at his throat, super mad.

Raphael and Lorelai seemed like they wanted a word, but Stephanie pointed her needle their way and asked, “You want some of this?” They backed off pretty quick.

Frederick and Edith looked at each other smilingly, their eyes full of hope.

Stephanie glanced at Douglas, disgusted, “I’ll fix those needle spots after I check Mrs. Ellen Fletcher. Now move!”

Kevin moved fast, dragging Douglas out of her way. Douglas couldn’t speak a word.

Vincent watched her work on Douglas. She was pretty slick with those needles. If Stephanie could see Douglas like this, she’d be pumped.

Vincent’s mind wandered to Stephanie and Douglas, and he pouted a little.

12:45 Sat, 25 May M

Chapter 21

Stephanie cleaned up Ellen, explaining as she went, “That blood she coughed up? It means there was a clot blocking her lungs. Made her faint because she wasn’t getting enough air. Gonna handle it with some needles and medicine.” She took out her needle kit and started working on Ellen, slipping a pill under her tongue.

Ten minutes later, Ellen spat out another mouthful of blood. Then Stephanie worked on Ellen’s head with the needles. Standing up, she said to Vincent. “I’ve looked over her files. That tumor in her head? No surgery needed. She’ll get better with just meds and some more of this needle work.”

“How long will it take?” inquired Vincent.

“One pill a day, needles once a month, she’ll be good in three months,” Stephanie answered.

Vincent nodded slightly and said, “Noted.”

Fifteen minutes later, Stephanie pulled out the last needle, and Ellen’s eyes fluttered open. Ellen was confused, “What happened to me?”

Kevin was holding her hand, super excited, “You fainted! But Dr. Summer here fixed you up!” Ellen mumbled a sleepy thanks and dozed off again.

Stephanie said, “That’s normal. Let her wake up on her own time.” She reached into her backpack, pulled out a white bottle, and passed it to Kevin. “Pop one of these under her tongue every day. Mrs. Ellen Fletcher will be up and at them in an hour. Don’t sweat it.”

She walked up to Vincent and said, “See you in a month, Mr. Vincent Fletcher.”

Vincent nodded and said, “I’ll walk you out.”

Raphael blurted out, “Wait up! Vincent’s been dealing with a messed-up back for ages. Dr. Summer, can you give him a once-over? Maybe there’s still a chance for him. We went through a lot to bring you here.”

Zane piped up, “Yeah, Vincent got hurt eight years back. We’ve been told it’s hopeless.”

Stephanie caught the hint. She nodded and said, “Since Mr. Vincent Fletcher has spent 140 million dollars on his mother’s treatment, I will do a pulse diagnosis on him for free.”

Vincent unbuttoned his cuff link leisurely, revealing his wiry arm, and said, “Go ahead.”

Stephanie felt Vincent’s steady and strong heartbeat through the fingers she placed on his wrist.

When she realized Vincent was staring at her fingers, she covered them with her wide sleeve with a guilty conscience.

After a minute, she exhaled. “This injury’s old, and your system’s all clogged up. It’s beyond me. I’m real sorry, Mr. Fletcher.”

Alter some thought, Raphael insisted, “You worked wonders on my mom with those needles. How about a last try for Vincent?”

Vincent glanced coldly at him and mocked, “How thoughtful of you, Raphael.”

Raphael smiled and said, “You are my brother. Why give up when there is still hope? Let me help you with your pants.”

Stephanie kneeled opposite Vincent’s legs and said, “That’s unnecessary. Allow me, please.”

Vincent’s leg muscles were sinewy. No matter how well someone maintained their disabled legs, one couldn’t prevent them from atrophying. His secret. would be exposed if the pants were folded up.

Stephanie took a new needle pouch and thrust a needle into Vincent’s thigh.

An imperceptible surprise flashed through Vincent’s eyes before they turned impassive.

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Chapter 21

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Vincent’s legs didn’t respond, no matter how many needles Stephanie used. She sighed and said, “It’s a pity. If Mr. Vincent Fletcher had been examined by me earlier, he would be standing now.”

Raphael and Douglas exchanged glances.

Stephanie put the needle pouch into her bag and said, “I have a prior engagement, so I’ll take my leave.”

Right then, Douglas rushed over. Stephanie was caught unaware and fell into Vincent’s lap.

A familiar fragrance wafted into Vincent’s nose. Vincent was stunned. He frowned and thought, “What the hell?”

He looked at Stephanie’s back

‘Am I gonna blow my cover now?” Stephanie worried.