Chapter 212: The Doomed Must Still Die

Chapter 212: Chapter 212: The Doomed Must Still Die

After they got in the car, Sebastian Kensington drove steadily as he murmured instructions to Miss Kensington, who sat beside him.

"Grandma, when we get to the Sterling residence, just tell everyone that Dr. Lawson is our family’s old butler. Whatever you do, don’t reveal that he’s a doctor."

Miss Kensington nodded in understanding. Posing as the Kensington family’s unassuming old butler, Limping Lawson entered the Sterling residence without arousing anyone’s suspicion, just as planned.

By then, an opera troupe was already in place. A stage had been set up in an open space in the Sterling family’s courtyard. As the gongs and drums began to sound, melodious arias drifted through the air.

Miss Sterling lay weakly in a rocking chair under a pavilion. Her face was ashen, her lips were bloodless, and even opening her eyes seemed to require immense effort.

Seeing Miss Kensington, she managed to conjure a faint smile, her voice barely a whisper.

"Winnie, thank you for making the trip."

"We’re old friends; there’s no need for such formalities." Miss Kensington clasped her frigid hand, her voice filled with concern. "How are you feeling today? Are you feeling any better at all?"

"The same as always," Miss Sterling replied softly. "But seeing you has put my heart at ease, and my spirits have lifted a bit."

Once the opera officially began and everyone’s attention was diverted to the stage, Miss Kensington glanced around before lowering her voice and leaning close to Miss Sterling.

"My dear friend, I brought a doctor here especially for you. I want him to take your pulse and see if he can help you get your strength back."

Miss Sterling let out a resigned chuckle, her eyes filled with a sense of weary acceptance.

"Over the past six months, I’ve seen countless famous doctors, both from here and abroad. If there were even a sliver of hope, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. I know my time is almost up. There’s no need to keep trying in vain and wasting your efforts."

She had been feeling increasingly exhausted in mind and body lately. Having long made her peace with death, she had already begun quietly arranging her affairs, hoping only for a peaceful end.

"Don’t you dare say such discouraging things! The fact that those doctors couldn’t cure you just means they weren’t skilled enough!" Miss Kensington cut in sharply, then shot Limping Lawson a meaningful look.

Limping Lawson understood the signal. He moved forward discreetly and, under the pretext of refilling Miss Sterling’s teacup, quietly placed his fingertips on her wrist to take her pulse.

’It only took a moment for him to understand. It’s just as Vesper said,’ he thought. ’Miss Sterling is showing signs of chronic poisoning.’

This poison was incredibly insidious. The symptoms were usually subtle, causing only gradual weakness and fatigue. However, once the toxins accumulated to a critical point, they would erupt violently. The victim would begin coughing up blood incessantly, exhibiting signs of organ failure and appearing to be at death’s door—symptoms an ordinary doctor would never be able to diagnose correctly.

"Mom. Sterling."

Just then, Silas Sterling approached slowly, leaning on a cane. When he saw the Kensington family’s "old butler" with a hand on his mother’s wrist, his face filled with confusion.

"What’s going on here?"

"Silas, my dear," Miss Kensington began calmly. "My old butler has been studying traditional medicine on his own for many years and has become quite knowledgeable. I asked him to take your mother’s pulse, just for my own peace of mind." She then added smoothly, "You’re just in time. You should let him take a look at you, too. You’ve been so weak for so long."

Before Silas Sterling could respond, Limping Lawson had already stepped forward and placed his fingertips on his pulse, simultaneously observing the man’s complexion and the whites of his eyes.

"Mr. Sterling, I hear you fell gravely ill about six months ago. After you recovered, you were left weak and with a chronic cough that hasn’t responded to treatment. Is that correct?"

"That’s right," Silas Sterling sighed, a weary expression on his face. "Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory injections, all kinds of treatments, both Western and traditional... I’ve tried them all. Not only have I not improved, but I feel my body growing heavier and more exhausted every day."

He had barely finished speaking when he had to lower his head, unable to suppress a cough. After just a few light hacks, his face turned deathly pale, and his breathing grew ragged.

Limping Lawson silently withdrew his hand. Without a word, he pulled a small, white porcelain vial from his pocket, tipped out two round pills, and held them out.

"Take these."

Silas Sterling’s brows furrowed, his eyes wary. "What is this?"

"This will temporarily stabilize your pulse and protect your heart. For now, it will keep you alive," Limping Lawson explained calmly.

With that, he paid Silas Sterling no further mind, pouring out two more pills and gently offering them to Miss Sterling.

"Miss Sterling, you should take two as well."

Miss Sterling looked to Miss Kensington, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

"Winnie..."

"It’s all right, take it. My old butler is honest and trustworthy; he would never harm you," Miss Kensington said, patting the back of her friend’s hand with a reassuring tone. "Would I ever joke about the life of my dearest friend?"

’Even though I don’t know what these pills do, Sebastian told me to trust this doctor.’

Only after watching them both take the medicine did Limping Lawson look away.

"Don’t mention to anyone else that you’ve taken this medicine. Only the four of us should know."

Hearing this, Silas Sterling’s expression grew solemn. "Why?"

Miss Kensington said, "My dear boy, you and your mother may have been poisoned. Until we get to the bottom of this, you mustn’t breathe a word of it to anyone!"

...

That evening, Vesper Grayson was on the living room sofa binge-watching a drama when she got a call from Limping Lawson.

"Vesper, I did as you asked and gave the mother and son the medicine," Limping Lawson said, a hint of teasing in his voice. "These were the Detoxification Pills you gave me three years ago. I’ve been cherishing them all this time, so it pained me greatly to use them today."

’I only had five, and now there’s just one left!’

’The loss was killing him.’

A small smile played on Vesper Grayson’s lips. "Don’t worry, Mr. Hitch. Once this is all over, I’ll give you a whole new bottle. I promise."

"’You’ve got a deal, then. Don’t you go tricking an old man like me,’ Limping Lawson replied with a laugh before his tone turned serious. ’I examined them both closely. They’ve definitely been poisoned, but I can’t identify the specific toxin just yet. Miss Sterling’s pulse is faint and sluggish. Her organs have been thoroughly ravaged by the poison; she’s already at death’s door. The Detoxification Pills can only temporarily keep the toxin at bay. For her, the effect is negligible.’"

’If the poison isn’t completely purged from her system, she’s still going to die!’

"All right, I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Hitch." Vesper Grayson hung up, her brow furrowed and her heart heavy.

’Miss Sterling is too deeply poisoned; the toxins have already seeped into her marrow. Saving her would be like trying to snatch someone from King Yama himself.’

’Even if I have a cure, the Detoxification Pill I need to compound requires several core ingredients that are priceless, incredibly rare treasures. Time is short, and Miss Sterling simply can’t afford to wait...’

"What are you thinking about with your brow all furrowed like that? Did someone upset you?"

Jared Hawthorne entered the living room and saw the furrow in her brow. He walked over to the sofa, leaned down, and gently pulled her into his embrace, his warm breath tickling her ear.

Vesper Grayson relaxed into his warm chest, her arms wrapping lightly around his lean waist.

"My suspicions were correct. The members of the Sterling family were indeed poisoned."

"Still worrying about the Sterling family? I thought you said you weren’t going to get involved."

"But there are lives at stake," Vesper Grayson said, gently stroking her still-flat abdomen, her eyes softening. "My master always taught me that a healer must have a benevolent heart. If I stand by and watch them die, I’d be betraying everything I believe in. That would be too heartless. Besides, now that I’m pregnant, I want to accumulate some good fortune for our child."

’He knew Vesper was kind to her core. It was a kindness etched into her very bones, and it was precious.’

’If not for that kindness, they would have never met all those years ago.’

’And it was that same purity that had made him fall for her, step by step.’

"If you want to save them, I won’t stand in your way. Tell me what you need."

"To save Miss Sterling, I need to compound a Detoxification Pill. The problem is, several of the ingredients are incredibly rare and almost impossible to find."

"If we can find them, then it means Miss Sterling isn’t fated to die yet. If we can’t, you mustn’t blame yourself. It will simply be her destiny."

Vesper Grayson nodded softly.

Jared Hawthorne immediately dialed Sebastian Kensington’s number.

"Jared?"

"President Kensington, it’s me."

"Miss Grayson. Go ahead."

"If you truly want to save Miss Sterling, you need to find the following items as quickly as possible: hundred-year-old pure wild ginseng, top-grade saffron, aged wild dendrobium, premium wild Fritillaria bulbs..."

She rattled off over a dozen medicinal herbs in one breath.