Chapter 9 Brushing Past

Tina returned to her bedroom and walked to the window with a serious expression. The thought of the little girl she had just saved at the entrance of the shopping mall furrowed her pretty brows tightly. She had immediately recognized that the girl had been poisoned, and the toxins in her body were concocted by her own mother, incredibly potent and aggressive. If the poison were to flare up, it would cause pus to form on the face and lead to necrosis.

Someone had come looking for her mother before she died, and her mother's poison formula had been taken. It had taken Tina many years to develop the antidote to this poison. Resting her pale fingers on the windowsill, she tapped slowly and rhythmically.

The girl didn't have much time left. Who took the formula in the first place, and why would they target such a small child? Suddenly, Tina stopped tapping and pulled out her phone to call Cole.

"Check for me which hospital admitted a girl about five years old today, with a disfigured face."

Cole acknowledged and hung up the phone.

Tina leaned against the window, waiting silently. About half an hour later, Cole called back, "Found her at Ensford City Hospital, in the VIP ward of internal medicine."

"Okay, got it."

Two days later, at Ensford City Hospital, Tina got out of a taxi and entered the hospital. At the same moment, a black sedan brushed past her. Inside the car, Jared's gaze fell on Tina through the rearview mirror, and he sharply commanded, "Stop the car!"

With a screech, Nathan braked abruptly, causing all three occupants to jolt forward. Nathan looked back and asked, "Mr. Farrell, what's wrong?"

Jared didn't answer him, and without waiting for his assistant Nathan to bring the wheelchair, he pushed open the car door and got out. His narrow eyes searched through the crowd for that figure, but found nothing.

Hayden got out of the car and asked, "What's going on?"

Jared narrowed his eyes and withdrew his gaze, "Nothing, let's go."

Elsewhere, Tina entered the hospital and headed straight for the VIP ward of internal medicine. Standing at the door of the ward, she saw the little girl at a glance. The child had taken her medicine and looked much better. Tina's hand rested on the doorknob, pondering whether to enter. It was the most difficult decision she had faced in her life. Intervening could potentially expose her identity, and her mother's affair was a matter of great importance; she had to ensure absolute security.

Yet, when she thought of the clarity and brightness in the little girl's eyes, she hesitated. If someone had reached out to help her ten years ago, she wouldn't have had to watch her mother die before her eyes. She didn't want the same thing to happen to a five-year-old girl.

As she wavered, the ward door opened.

"Is it really you? Did you come to see me?" Sophia blinked her clear eyes and clutched Tina's hand, delighted. She had seen someone standing outside the ward and thought it might be the big sister who had saved her. She had rushed out, never expecting it really was her.

Tina looked down at the small hand clutching hers and met Sophia's clear eyes, feeling a strange melting in the depths of her heart. She smiled slightly, "Yes, I came to see you."

"I knew you would come!" Sophia said excitedly, pulling on Tina's hand, "Shall we go in?"

Tina was drawn in by her, almost subconsciously entering the ward. Mrs. Brown, seeing Tina, was surprised, "Miss Reed?"

Tina nodded, not finding it strange, "Yes, I came here for something and saw that it was you in the ward."

Mrs. Brown quickly poured a glass of water for Tina, "Please have a seat."

Tina hummed in acknowledgment and said to Sophia, "Let me have a look at you."

Sophia nodded with a smile, "Okay."

Sophia's obedient appearance almost made Mrs. Brown's eyes pop out of her head. Sophia usually disliked being treated by doctors. She would be somewhat compliant when Jared was around, but as soon as he was gone, no one could touch her, let alone a stranger like Miss Reed.

If Mrs. Brown hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would have thought she was hallucinating.

Tina's hand rested on Sophia's wrist to take her pulse. After a moment, Tina's brow furrowed deeply, and her expression grew increasingly grim. Although Sophia had taken her pill, the poison had infiltrated her internal organs. Some toxins had been cleared, but her damaged organs were still failing, making treatment complicated.

Mrs. Brown's heart sank as she asked anxiously, "Miss Reed, there's nothing wrong with our young lady,is there?"

Tina glanced at Sophia, pursed her lips, then gently stroked the girl's head and asked softly, "I can cure your illness, but it will be a bit painful. Are you afraid?"

"Really?" Sophia's eyes lit up, "Can my face also return to looking pretty?"

"Yes," Tina affirmed.

"Then I'm not afraid!" Sophia declared earnestly. "As long as you are here, I won't be scared."

Tina smiled, "Alright, but I have a condition. You must not tell anyone that I treated you, not even your family."

It's always better to be cautious.

"No problem," Sophia assured, patting her chest.

Tina then looked at Mrs. Brown, "And you?"

Mrs. Brown was in a bind. She was just a nanny and didn't dare to joke with such a serious matter.

"She won't have a problem either," Sophia interjected quickly.

"Miss..."

Before Mrs. Brown could finish, Sophia burst into tears, "Mrs. Brown, every day people call me a monster. I have no friends, I can't go to school, I'm in so much pain..."

Mrs. Brown was startled by her tears and quickly said, "Miss, don't cry. I'll agree to whatever Miss Reed wants."

With her agreement, Tina nodded, "Okay, then we'll start the treatment tomorrow."

After leaving her phone number, Tina departed.

At a private villa.

As Jared entered, a piercing cry resonated, "Mary, why is my life so wretched? I finally found a bride for your grandson, but he couldn't keep her, let her get scared away..."

"Pity me, with these old bones, still worrying about his marriage at my age."

"I can't go on, you might as well come and take me."

Jared watched his grandfather roll on the floor in the living room, his brow twitching uncontrollably.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, resigned, "Grandfather! It was Miss Reed who initiated this."

Upon hearing this, Logan wailed, "Mary, look at your unfilial grandson, making me a man of broken promises! I assured Rebecca that this boy would marry Miss Reed, but this scoundrel, he wants to make me a liar."

"What am I to do, when I die, I won't even be able to face Rebecca in heaven."

Leaning back in his wheelchair, Jared took a deep breath.

Neither Nathan nor Hayden behind him dared to utter a word. It was no laughing matter; who would dare to speak at a time like this? Logan would tear them apart!

"Enough with the fuss! State your purpose!" Jared was troubled by all the commotion.

"Come with me to ask Miss Reed to marry you!" Logan sprang up swiftly, his agility astonishing both Hayden and Nathan.

Jared was left speechless. What else could he say?