Chapter 44

"You want me to come help you guys out?" Louis chuckled. Philip's intentions were pretty obvious.

"You're sharp, Mr. Windsor! With all these new medical groups popping up, the medical community here isn't as tight-knit as it used to be. It's slowing down our progress. Now, there's even this Korean Medical Association trying to show us up. Our doctors are losing respect, and even I'm getting dissed by them!" Philip nodded, clearly frustrated. This Korean Medical Association was way too arrogant, practically bullying them!

"Are you part of the Ancient Witchcraft Medicine Research Association?" Louis asked. Philip was full of surprises.

"That's right. Ancient shamanic medicine isn't just about healing; it's a culture, and we can't let it be tainted by outsiders!" Philip said indignantly.

"When's the exchange meeting?" Louis asked.

"In three days. If you're willing to join, I'll tell you the details," Philip pleaded earnestly. Having seen Louis's rare medical techniques firsthand, Philip had full confidence in him.

"Alright, I'll check it out." Louis nodded.

Louis didn't refuse Philip's request.

The ancient witchcraft medicine he taught was considered trash by Korean doctors? He wanted to see just how impressive these so-called Korean doctors were!

"Thank you!" Seeing Louis nod, Philip was thrilled.

As Louis and Philip left, a group of medical staff stood there, stunned. The plot had developed way too dramatically!

It was almost nine o'clock in the evening when Anna dragged her tired body back to the apartment.

It was clear that Anna was in a bad mood.

"Did you go to your grandma's house?" Louis took Anna's bag and asked softly.

"Yeah." Anna nodded, her voice filled with sorrow.

Suddenly, Anna knelt in front of Louis.

Louis was startled by Anna's sudden action. He quickly said, "What are you doing? Why are you kneeling?"

"Louis, can I ask you for a favor?" Anna looked at Louis, her voice trembling with tears.

Louis helped Anna up and asked, "Is it about the Brown family?"

Harper and the others were definitely up to something again!

Harper and her group wouldn't be content with the Brown family going bankrupt, so they would definitely target Anna.

"Yes." Anna nodded. "Louis, I'm still a member of the Brown family. I have feelings for the family and don't want to see it go bankrupt."

Tears welled up in Anna's eyes. She knew that asking this would put Louis in a tough spot.

But she couldn't wait any longer. If this continued, the Brown family would completely collapse.

"I want to ask you to help us, just for me." Anna's eyes were full of pleading, her voice growing softer and softer, making it hard to resist.

"Do you really want to save your family?" Louis asked seriously.

"Yes!" Anna nodded firmly.

"Alright, I'll help you." Louis looked at Anna and answered simply and seriously.

Anna was stunned and quickly asked, "Really?"

"You're my wife. It's my duty to help you," Louis said calmly.

"Did you mean it?" Anna asked, looking deep into Louis's eyes.

In that moment, Louis saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"Yes," he nodded firmly.

Just like with healing, Louis had always said he'd only save people in two situations: by chance or at Anna's request.

When he confessed to Anna at the Sunset Bay International Hotel, he promised not to let her suffer any more grievances. He intended to keep his word.

Anna's expression was complicated. She stared at Louis, a bit dazed. The relationship between Louis and her family, and Harper, was irreconcilable.

She thought she would need a long time to persuade Louis, but he agreed without hesitation.

"Louis, why did you agree so quickly this time?" Anna asked, unable to hold back.

"Because you're my wife!" Louis grinned, showing his white teeth.

Anna's heart ached. The Louis in front of her, always with a faint smile, made her realize how ridiculous her pride had been. The family's disdainful words, the "useless" labels, now felt like loud slaps in the face.

The wheel of fate turned mercilessly, and she had placed all her bets on Louis. Was he really the useless person they said he was?

"I'm sorry, Louis. I've dragged you into this." Anna's voice was almost inaudible, each word filled with endless guilt.

"Anna, if anyone should apologize, it's me." Louis gently patted her trembling shoulder, his voice soft. "You've endured far more for me than I have for you."

Tears finally broke free, blurring Anna's vision. Anna, once the most famous beauty in Sunshine City, had been played by fate, marrying a man everyone saw as a loser. The rumors alone were enough to break an ordinary person, but she had endured for three years, three whole years!

Moreover, in a past life, during the ancient shamanic medicine tribulation, Anna had selflessly shielded Louis from a fatal blow from the demon king. In comparison, her current request was nothing.

Thinking of that event, Louis felt a wave of compassion.

"However, my help comes with conditions." Louis's tone turned serious.

"What conditions?" Anna looked up, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Louis.

"The three-hundred-million-dollar project. I can give it to the Brown family, but Harper can't be involved in any of it," Louis said firmly.

"This..." Anna was speechless. This condition was harder for Harper to accept than death. Harper had a strong desire for control over everything. Now, asking her to relinquish control was impossible.

"I know this condition is harsh, but I need the Brown family to understand your value! I don't want my wife to be looked down upon by them!" Louis's eyes flashed with determination.

Anna was silent. She understood Louis's intention. He wanted her to firmly establish her position in the Brown family. But could this really be achieved?

The next morning, in the Brown family meeting room, the atmosphere was tense.

"What? That useless Louis dares to set a condition? Who does he think he is?" Samuel slammed the table, roaring in anger.

"Exactly, what right does he have to set a condition for us? He's delusional!"

"Anna, are you being fooled by that loser? How can you side with him?"

The Brown family members were all talking at once, practically spitting in Anna's face with their accusations.

"I knew that loser had bad intentions!" Harper snorted, her face dark.

"Grandma, Louis is just trying to help us..." Anna tried to explain.

"Shut up! You're still defending that loser? I think he's put a spell on you!" Samuel scolded angrily.

"I'm telling you all, I will never agree to his condition! I want to see what he can accomplish without the Brown family!" Harper declared firmly.

"Grandma, you're so wise!" Samuel and the others quickly flattered her.

"Anna, go tell that loser to give up! The Brown family is not something he can control!" Harper said coldly, glaring at Anna.

Anna opened her mouth but couldn't find the words. She nodded silently and left the meeting room.

"I don't believe he can just watch the Brown family go bankrupt!" Samuel said smugly.

"Exactly, he'll eventually hand over the contract willingly!"

"Just wait and see, we're definitely going to win this game!"

The Brown family members were full of confidence that Louis would let the Brown family fall.

What they didn't know was that Louis was no longer the pushover they used to bully.

"Louis, I'm sorry, I couldn't convince them." Anna returned home, her head hanging like a child who had done something wrong.

"It's okay, I expected this." Louis smiled faintly, not surprised at all.

"But the Brown family is really going to go bankrupt. I can't just watch it collapse!" Anna was so anxious that tears were about to fall.

"Don't worry, as long as I'm here, the Brown family won't go under." Louis gently patted Anna's shoulder, comforting her.

"But..." Anna said anxiously.

"No buts. Trust me, everything will get better." Louis interrupted Anna, his eyes firm.

Anna looked at Louis, feeling an inexplicable sense of security. She nodded, choosing to trust him.

Days passed, and the Brown family's situation worsened. Their stock plummeted, partners withdrew investments, and banks started demanding repayments. The entire family was shrouded in gloom.

"Grandma, do we really have to bow to that loser?" Samuel asked, looking miserable.

"What else can we do? Do you have a better idea?" Harper snapped.

"I... I..." Samuel stammered, unable to come up with anything.

"Useless bunch!" Harper scolded, frustrated.

"Grandma, maybe we should agree to Louis's condition. If this continues, the Brown family will really be finished!" Anna suggested cautiously.

"Shut up! You ungrateful thing!" Harper roared.

"Grandma, I'm just trying to help the Brown family!" Anna said, feeling wronged.

"How dare you talk back! Do you want to be kicked out of the family?" Harper was shaking with anger.

"Grandma, calm down. Don't take it out on Anna." Samuel quickly intervened.

"I must have been blind to raise such an ungrateful child!" Harper cursed.

"Grandma, I..." Anna opened her mouth, trying to say something.

"Get out! I don't want to see you!" Harper pointed to the door, shouting.

Anna had no choice but to leave the meeting room.

"Anna, don't take it to heart. Grandma is just angry," someone tried to comfort her as she left.

"I think she's been bewitched by that loser and has forgotten her own family name!"

"Exactly, does she really think she's the savior of the Brown family? What a joke!"

Most of the Brown family members gossiped, full of hostility towards Anna.

Hearing their words, Anna felt like needles pricking her heart. She couldn't understand why her own family would treat her this way.

"Grandma, do we really have to agree to that loser's condition?" Samuel asked, still indignant.

"What else can we do? Do you have a better idea?" Harper retorted.

"But this is so humiliating! When has the Brown family ever been treated like this?" Samuel fumed.

"Suck it up. That loser holds the big contract!" Harper said through gritted teeth.

"Grandma, are we really going to give in?" Samuel snapped.

"Give in? Never! I'm just agreeing for now. Once we get through this crisis, I'll make him pay double!" Harper's eyes flashed with malice.

"Grandma, you're so clever!" Samuel flattered.

"Alright, you all leave. I need to think about how to deal with that loser!" Harper waved them off.

"Yes, Grandma." Samuel and the others responded and left the meeting room.

Harper sat alone, her face dark and menacing. She couldn't understand how she had been bested by a loser.

"Louis, just wait. I'll make you regret this!" Harper said through clenched teeth.

The next day, Anna returned to the Brown family meeting room.

"Grandma, I've talked to Louis. He's agreed to help us," Anna said.

"Anna, what does he want this time?" Harper asked.

"He wants you to stay out of the project's affairs," Anna replied.

"What? That's impossible!" Samuel jumped up before Harper could respond.

"Shut up!" Harper glared at Samuel, then looked at Anna. "Did you agree to this?"

"I..." Anna hesitated but nodded.

"You... you're driving me mad!" Harper pointed at Anna, too angry to continue.

"Grandma, don't be mad. I'm just trying to help the Brown family!" Anna quickly explained.

"How dare you argue! I think you've been completely bewitched by that loser and don't care about the reputation of the Brown family!" Samuel scolded.

"I haven't..." Anna said, feeling wronged.

"Enough!" Harper shouted, cutting Anna off. "Since you've already agreed, we'll do as he says."

"Grandma, are you really agreeing?" Anna couldn't believe her ears.

"What? You think I'd go back on my word?" Harper said coldly.

"No... I just..." Anna was at a loss for words.

"Alright, leave. I need to discuss the details with the others." Harper waved her off impatiently.

"Yes, Grandma." Anna responded and left the meeting room.

"Grandma, are you really going to agree to that loser's conditions? It's too easy on him!" Samuel said, still upset.

"Easy on him? You're mistaken. I'm just biding my time. Once we get through this, I'll make him pay!" Harper's eyes gleamed with malice.

"I see!" Samuel nodded knowingly.

"Alright, now let's plan how to teach the loser a lesson," Harper said.

Samuel and the others rubbed their hands together excitedly, starting to plot their next move.