Chapter 31
Reginald took a step forward and placed his hand over Lucinda's.
His palm was warm and dry, wrapping her fingers—and the ring—entirely within his grip. He held them firmly.
"Accept my father's goodwill."
His voice was low. Then he leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Do me a favor—humor him. The happier he is, the faster he'll recover."
The warmth of his breath brushed her earlobe. The tip of Lucinda's ear instantly flushed red.
She turned her head, about to glare at him, but he'd already pulled back, standing upright with a completely serious expression—as if the person who'd just whispered in her ear hadn't been him at all.
Except his hand still held hers. He hadn't let go.
Lucinda glanced down. His hand was large, enveloping hers completely. His fingers were long and strong, knuckles defined.
Her hand looked much smaller wrapped in his—like it was enclosed in a warm stone. She couldn't pull free even if she tried.
Was this really just to make Hayden happy? Did he need to hold on this tight?
Her palm began to heat up.
Hayden sat on the bed, watching the scene unfold clearly before him.
His gaze rested on their clasped hands, and the curve of his lips was impossible to suppress.
He coughed once, deliberately turning his head away. He picked up the water glass from the bedside table, took a sip, set it down, then picked up the newspaper nearby and flipped through it. After two pages, he realized he'd been holding it upside down and flipped it over.
Suddenly, he seemed very busy—doing everything except looking in their direction.
"Then I'll accept it."
Lucinda's voice was softer than usual.
She tried to pull her hand back. It didn't budge.
Reginald's fingers tightened slightly, as if confirming something, before slowly releasing her.
Her fingers slid out from his palm, their tips still carrying his warmth.
She pulled her hand back, lowering her gaze to the ring. The flush hadn't faded from her ears yet.
Hayden finally turned back around. His gaze circled between the two of them, his smile lines deep.
He leaned back against his pillow, in high spirits. "Good that you accepted it. Very good."
He patted the blanket, his voice more robust. "If you don't want to wear it, have Reginald get you a chain to string it on. Wear it around your neck—that'd look nice too."
Lucinda closed the ring in her palm and nodded, saying nothing.
Reginald stood nearby, looking down at her slightly reddened ears. The corner of his mouth lifted, then quickly flattened again.
His fingers flexed at his side, as if savoring the feeling of holding her hand moments ago.
Her hand was soft—smaller than he'd imagined—and yet it could operate such complex instruments with ease.
The warm atmosphere in the room was interrupted when the door swung open.
Diana walked in on high heels, followed by a young man in a white coat, around thirty years old, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He carried a tray holding several IV bags.
He moved with a precise posture, his gaze sweeping around the room with a deliberately restrained air of superiority.
"Uncle Hayden, Reginald." Diana walked cheerfully to the bedside, her gaze pausing briefly on Lucinda before quickly moving away.
She stepped aside to let the man behind her come forward, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Vaughn Parker. Don't let his age fool you—he's already a lead physician at this nursing home. In this field, he's what you'd call a rising star."
Hayden, propped against the headboard, sized up Vaughn with a glance and nodded, his tone amiable. "Young man, well done."
Vaughn gave a slight bow, a polite smile on his lips. "You're too kind. Diana often mentions you—says you're in robust health with excellent spirits. Seeing you today, I can confirm she was right."
Diana looped her arm through his and took a couple of steps closer to the bed, turning to Hayden. "Uncle Hayden, Vaughn says it's time to change your IV. I specifically asked him to come do it. His technique is excellent—far better than those regular nurses."
Lucinda sat in the chair nearby, her gaze sweeping coolly over Vaughn's face.
Her brow twitched slightly.
This man was a lead physician at the nursing home? How did she not know him?
She'd built this nursing home from the ground up. From the director to the head nurse, she'd reviewed every single staff member's file.
There were three lead physicians total—all seasoned experts she'd personally recruited from major hospitals. The youngest was in his early forties.
This man, around thirty—how had she never seen him before?
Diana had already moved to the bedside, leaning down to check the IV drip, her tone solicitous. "Uncle Hayden, how are you feeling today? Any better?"
Hayden nodded, his voice noticeably stronger than before. "Much better. Ms. Wipere adjusted my medication. I've got plenty of energy today."
Diana's smile faltered. Her peripheral vision flicked toward Lucinda before quickly recovering.
She turned to Vaughn and gave him a pointed look. "Perfect timing then. Let's switch this one out to reinforce the treatment."
Vaughn stepped forward, smoothly removing the old IV bag and replacing it with a new one.
The needle pierced the back of Hayden's hand, and the clear liquid began dripping slowly through the tube.
Lucinda sat nearby, her gaze settling on the IV bag. Her brow furrowed slightly.
Less than two minutes later, Hayden's complexion changed.
His lips began turning purple. His breathing grew labored, his chest heaving violently—like something had seized his throat.
He suddenly grabbed the edge of the bed, his fingers clenching spasmodically. A mouthful of dark red blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, trailing down his chin and dripping onto his white hospital gown.
"Dad!" Reginald crossed to the bedside in one stride, his face going pale.
Lucinda was already on her feet. She shoved Diana aside and yanked the needle out of Hayden's hand in one swift motion.
Blood seeped from the puncture site. Without even glancing at it, she pressed cotton against the wound with her other hand.
"What are you doing!" Diana shrieked, reaching out to grab Lucinda's arm. "This is a normal reaction! Do you even understand medicine? Some medications cause rejection responses when administered—it passes in a moment! Don't think that because you stumbled through saving my dad once, you're suddenly some miracle doctor! Vaughn is a lead physician at this nursing home, professionally trained, with years of practice. Who do you think you are to interfere? Let go of my uncle—"
"Shut up." Reginald's voice cut through from behind, cold as ice.
Diana's words stopped dead. She froze in place.
She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but when she met her cousin's dark, menacing eyes, every word lodged in her throat. Not a single one came out.
Lucinda ignored her. She pulled a pill from her pocket.
It was an emergency medication she always carried—specifically for acute drug reactions.
She pushed the pill into Hayden's mouth, picked up the water glass from the bedside table, and helped him take a sip. Her fingers remained pressed against the bleeding site, her gaze fixed intently on his complexion.
Within seconds, Hayden's breathing gradually steadied. The purplish tinge on his lips began to fade.
He leaned back against the pillow, gasping for air, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
Lucinda released his wrist, turned around, and picked up the disconnected IV bag, holding it up to examine it.
The transparent liquid sloshed inside the bottle. The label listed a standard nutritional solution formula, but the liquid was a shade darker than normal.
She unscrewed the cap, brought it close, and sniffed. Her brow tightened instantly.
She set the IV bag down, her gaze landing on Vaughn's face.
Vaughn's face had gone pale. He stood by the bed, his fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of his white coat. He looked like a taut string about to snap.
"How much did you add?" Lucinda's voice was flat.
Vaughn's lips trembled. "What?"
"Aminophylline." Lucinda's tone remained calm. "An overdose of this drug causes acute poisoning. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, arrhythmia, vomiting blood. You added over three times the normal dosage. Were you trying to kill him?"