Chapter 10

Anna and Louis were tearing down the road towards Sunshine Coast Estates like their lives depended on it.

Anna's face was ghostly white, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel. "My mom really screwed up this time... A million bucks? This is gonna ruin us!"

Louis glanced over, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat. "Yeah, a million's a lot, but let's not freak out just yet. We need to see how bad the damage is and if there's any way to fix this. We'll figure it out as we go."

"Fingers crossed," Anna muttered. They pulled up to the villa area and immediately spotted Lucy huddled at the entrance, looking like a mess. Her face was streaked with tears, and she seemed like a kid who'd been caught doing something really bad.

Anna's heart melted a bit, and she rushed over to help her mom. "Mom, are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Lucy choked back a sob, "I'm not hurt, but... they want a million dollars, Anna! How am I supposed to come up with that kind of money? This is gonna kill me!"

She clung to Anna's hand, eyes full of desperation.

Anna turned to the guy in the suit standing nearby, her voice sharp, "A million dollars? Are you kidding me? My mom barely tapped your car; this is ridiculous!"

The guy in the suit gave her a cold look, dripping with disdain. "Ridiculous? Do you even know who your mom hit?"

He was flanked by a bunch of bodyguards, and Anna knew better than to make a scene without knowing the full story.

Louis stepped in, putting a hand on Anna's shoulder. "Sir, we know Lucy messed up, but we don't want this to get out of hand. Is there any other way to settle this?"

The guy in the suit sneered, "Oh, there's another way."

He looked at Lucy with contempt. "Either cough up a million bucks and get out, or she stays here as a housekeeper for my family forever."

Lucy went pale, stepping back and trembling. "I... I can't do that! I've heard about your family... I can't stay here!"

She instinctively hid behind Anna and Louis.

The guy in the suit raised an eyebrow, his tone menacing. "Can't? Then let your daughter stay."

"Not a chance!" Louis snapped, stepping in front of Anna.

Before Anna could say anything, Lucy blurted out, "What about leaving Louis here? He's strong and can work."

Anna's face turned ashen, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Mom, how could you even suggest that? You caused this mess, and now you want Louis to pay for it?"

Lucy looked guilty but still defended herself, "You know what kind of place this is... How could I handle it alone?"

Anna was too furious to speak, her fists clenched. "Mom, you need to take responsibility for your own actions."

Sensing the tension, Louis gently squeezed Anna's hand. "Calm down, Anna."

He turned to the guy in the suit, his voice steady. "I'll stay. But I need to know my wife and her mom can leave safely."

The guy in the suit looked at Louis with a smirk. "Interesting. You've got more guts than the rest of them."

He sneered and motioned to the bodyguards, "Take him inside."

"Louis," Anna called out, her face etched with worry.

"It's okay, you two head back. I'll handle this," Louis reassured her with a calm smile.

"Anna, what are you waiting for? Let's go before they change their minds," Lucy urged, grabbing Anna's arm. Anna kept glancing back with every step, while Lucy shot Louis a look of disdain.

To Lucy, it seemed Louis was just a pawn to take the fall.

Louis sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment. Everything he did was for Anna.

Inside the villa, the air was thick with tension. A young man stood by the window, his hands clenched, brows furrowed.

Louis watched him calmly.

After a moment, the young man turned around, looking weary. "My sister, Zara Stone, was hit by that woman's car. She was about to get out of the car when it happened."

Louis's eyes narrowed as he realized Lucy hadn't hit an elderly person but a young girl.

"So, you think having Lucy stay and take care of your sister is a fair way to compensate?" Louis asked, frowning.

The young man didn't answer right away. He stared out the window, then said slowly, "My sister needs care. Anyone can do it, but that woman is the best candidate. This is my punishment for her."

Louis felt a wave of discomfort. He stood up, walked to the window, and scanned the yard. "You're wrong. Lucy didn't hit your sister."

"You're just trying to extort us!" Louis turned to face the young man.

"What are you talking about?" The young man's eyes widened in surprise.

Louis stayed calm, analyzing in a low voice, "From the trash in the yard, there's no sign of external medication, which means your sister has no external injuries. As for the car accident—"

"That's nonsense! My sister was hit by that woman," the young man interrupted.

"Your sister didn't have a car accident. Her stomach cancer has reached the late stage, causing her to faint," Louis continued.

The young man's face turned pale with shock. He couldn't understand how Louis knew this.

Louis went on, "Your sister has been taking a lot of painkillers and chemotherapy drugs. I can smell them. She wasn't injured in a car accident; her condition worsened, causing her to faint at the scene."

"Am I right?" Louis asked.

Everyone was stunned by Louis's analysis. The young man's face went blank, disbelief in his eyes.

"How do you know this? Who are you?" he demanded.

Louis didn't answer. He had pieced together the details in his mind.

Lucy hadn't hit anyone; she was just a scapegoat. The car accident was a cover-up for Zara's illness.

The young man's face darkened. He hadn't expected Louis to uncover his sister's condition so accurately.

He felt a mix of guilt and helplessness, but in the end, his lips trembled slightly, and he said in a low voice, "You're right. Lucy didn't hit her... She just suddenly fainted. I... I was on the spur of the moment."

"But what can you do to me?" The young man suddenly became fierce.

Having been through this a lot, Louis remained calm and said, "Who I am doesn't matter, and no one should pay for your pain. Your sister needs treatment, not to be dragged into this vicious cycle."

The young man was slightly stunned.

At that moment, hurried footsteps were heard, and the young man's face suddenly darkened as he rushed forward.

"Mr. Stone, Ms. Stone has woken up!" a servant came over.

Albert Stone's face showed a hint of joy, then he looked at Louis coldly and said, "Even if my sister has woken up, it doesn't mean you can leave safely."

Louis frowned slightly, trying to gain the upper hand, "Since Ms. Stone has woken up, why not let me see her condition? If her situation is stable, perhaps I can help you take better care of her, to prevent any further incidents."

Albert goggled at Louis in surprise as he didn't expect Louis to make such a request. After a moment, he sneered, "You? My family doesn't lack doctors."

Louis smiled slightly, his tone confident, "The doctors in your family only use some expensive but ineffective treatments, which probably can't really help your sister."

Albert frowned at these words, "Arrogant! I defy you to treat my sister."

Louis took a few steps closer and said in a deep voice, "Talk is cheap. I need to see your sister's condition for myself, and I've already said this before! From the smell of the medicines at the villa entrance, I can guess that they are trying to prolong her life forcefully, but this will only increase her pain."

After his calm analysis, Louis's gaze was composed and unhurried.

Albert was shocked and even somewhat shaken.

"Can you cure my sister's illness?"

Louis shook his head, his eyes showing a hint of sorrow, "Given the current situation, the possibility of a cure is minimal. But I can use special treatments to alleviate her pain, allowing her to at least pass this time more peacefully."

Albert fell into deep thought, his fists clenched tightly as if weighing something.

At that moment, a weak voice came from inside the house, "Albert... Albert, don't make things difficult for them anymore."

Albert's heart trembled, and he quickly walked to the sickroom.

Lying on the bed, Zara was wearing a pallid face, her lips trembling slightly. She reached out her frail hand to grab Albert's arm and said softly, "Albert, they... didn't do it on purpose. I'm awake now. Don't blame them anymore."

Albert gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "Zara, you're my sister. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Zara lay on the bed, her face pale, her breath weak.

Her voice was almost inaudible, but every word was filled with pain and pleading, "Albert, let that person outside go."

Zara turned her head with difficulty, her eyes filled with faint hope, "He didn't hurt us."

Albert felt even more burdened by Zara's kindness, wondering why his sister had to suffer such illness.

To fulfill Zara's wish, he lowered his head and instructed his subordinates, "Let him go."

Although reluctant, Albert knew that if he didn't respect Zara's wishes, even her last bit of hope might disappear.

Louis stood outside the sickroom and asked, "Can I go in and see Ms. Stone?"

Albert hesitated for a moment.

Louis was clearly not an ordinary person; earlier, he had identified the types of medicines by their smell, showing extraordinary ability.

Thinking of Zara's worsening condition, Albert felt a faint glimmer of hope lit up inside him.

He nodded slightly and instructed his subordinates, "Let him in."

When Louis entered the room, he saw Harry Brooks busy treating Zara.

Harry was a renowned oncologist, known for treating late-stage cancer patients worldwide. His techniques were skilled, his gaze focused, but Louis noticed that Zara's condition had reached an irreversible stage.

Her face showed an extremely dull lifelessness.

"Sir, I've done my best." Harry stopped his actions and said heavily to Albert.

Albert felt a pang of sorrow, 'Is Zara really beyond saving?'

In this oppressive moment, Louis spoke up, "I suppose this is the famous oncologist Harry Brooks? Your treatment methods may not be helping Ms. Stone."

His words were direct but seemed inappropriate.

Harry cocked his eyebrows upon hearing this, and he became furious, "Who are you? How dare you question my treatment methods?"

He felt disdain, as he was not only a medical authority but also skilled in using chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat stomach cancer, with globally recognized results.

Louis smiled slightly, "I'm not questioning you, but I see that Zara's condition has entered the terminal stage. The chemotherapy drugs you're using are not effective for her condition and may even increase her pain. Late-stage stomach cancer patients are not suitable for such strong medications."

As he heard this, Harry's face changed dramatically, then filled with anger, "You're just an outsider, what qualifications do you have to point fingers at me? My methods for treating stomach cancer are recognized by the global medical community! These treatments are undeniable!"

Louis sneered, showing no weakness, "Those drugs can only alleviate symptoms but cannot cure the root cause. If this continues, Zara will die in pain."

Albert stood aside, feeling extremely conflicted.

He looked at Louis, then at the angry Harry, seemingly torn about whom to trust.

Louis didn't pause, continuing, "Dr. Brooks, your methods may be effective in some cases, but for Zara's stomach cancer, they are meaningless."

His tone was cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, carrying only clear judgment.

Harry's face turned livid, and he angrily turned to Albert, "Sir, who is this man? How can you let him criticize me?"

Albert took a deep breath, suddenly turning to Louis, "Can you cure her?"

Louis responded calmly, "I can't guarantee it, but I can try."

At this moment, Harry's voice rang out again, "Do you know how complex the treatment for late-stage stomach cancer is? You're out of your league!"

Louis smiled slightly, "You see it too simply. True medical skill is not just about drugs and chemotherapy, but finding the root cause and treating it fundamentally."

Harry suddenly asked warily, "From what you say, do you have a way to save Ms. Stone? Are you a doctor too?"

Louis smiled faintly and shook his head, "I'm not a doctor, but the students I teach are all top doctors."