Chapter 273: Born Way Too Pretty

Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Born Way Too Pretty

The woman in his arms was warm and soft, her sweet scent filling his senses. A tender warmth spread through Jared Hawthorne’s chest, and he wished he could hold her forever.

’But she’s pregnant,’ he reminded himself. He had to be gentle, not reckless.

He savored the tender moment, holding Vesper Grayson for another heartbeat before slowly letting her go.

When they went downstairs and entered the living room, several people were sitting on the sofa.

Besides her parents and older brother, Chadwick Whitman, there were two strangers: an elderly woman and a young man. They had to be the friend her brother had mentioned, Kyle Lockwood, and his grandmother.

"Mom, Dad, Chadwick," Vesper said, her steps light as she greeted them.

Hearing her voice, Renee Rhodes looked up and walked over with a gentle smile. She took Vesper’s hand and softly introduced the guests.

"This is your brother’s friend, Kyle Lockwood, and this is Miss Lockwood."

Vesper nodded with a faint smile, offering a polite acknowledgment.

Miss Lockwood’s gaze lingered on her face, studying it for a long moment before a gentle smile bloomed in her eyes.

"So this is Renee’s daughter, the one she found after so many years? I can see a shadow of you and your husband in her features, yet her beauty and poise are even more striking."

The young woman was gracefully beautiful, with an elegant posture that spoke of an excellent upbringing. She was a true classic beauty.

Renee Rhodes was beaming. "Please, have a seat and rest. Vesper will be ready to see you after she’s had breakfast."

"Oh, it’s no trouble, I’m in no hurry," the elderly woman replied quickly, still feeling a bit apologetic for imposing on them.

Renee Rhodes led Vesper to the dining room, with Jared Hawthorne following right behind them.

The man was tall and lean, with a naturally distinguished and composed air about him. Kyle Lockwood had only seen him from a distance before. Now, seeing the renowned legend of The Exchange up close, he was truly stunned. He leaned closer to Chadwick Whitman and whispered in awe.

"Chadwick, your brother-in-law is really Jared Hawthorne! And your sister... she’s unbelievably beautiful."

So beautiful she could stop time with a single glance.

’Too bad I met her too late,’ he thought. ’She’s already taken. Otherwise, I would’ve definitely tried to win her over.’

’Then again, how could anyone catch Jared Hawthorne’s eye without extraordinary beauty and talent?’

Chadwick Whitman frowned and shot him a cool glance.

"Wipe that drool off your face. I told you already, you don’t stand a chance."

Kyle Lockwood, "..."

In the dining room, Renee Rhodes was speaking quietly to her daughter.

"Vesper, Miss Lockwood has suffered from chronic insomnia for years. When you see her, if you aren’t completely confident, just tell her the truth. There’s no need to pretend or push yourself."

"I understand," Vesper replied calmly. "A patient has the right to know the severity of their condition. I won’t hide anything."

"Good. And if you can’t find a permanent cure, don’t worry about it. Countless senior specialists have been stumped by her case. It would be perfectly normal if you couldn’t fix it, and Miss Lockwood will understand."

"Yes, you can’t be reckless when treating someone. I’ll do what I can."

"Jared, you should eat, too. Don’t just dote on Vesper."

Renee Rhodes looked at Jared Hawthorne, her eyes filled with the clear approval of a mother for her son-in-law. For the last two weeks, Jared had taken meticulous and thoughtful care of Vesper, handling everything with a personal touch. Renee had noticed it all.

Capable and devoted to his wife—a man like that was a rare find.

Jared Hawthorne handed a piece of toast with jam to Vesper, his expression gentle and humble.

"It’s my duty to care for her."

Vesper’s lips curled into a light smile. "Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be sure to treat your son-in-law well."

After breakfast, Vesper went to the living room to take Miss Lockwood’s pulse and begin her diagnosis.

"Miss Lockwood, you’re suffering from a long-term deficiency in both heart and spleen qi. Years of mental strain and sleep deprivation have weakened your digestive functions, leading to a continuous depletion of your qi and blood. It’s a vicious cycle that has resulted in years of chronic insomnia."

Beside her, Kyle Lockwood asked anxiously, "Is there a permanent cure?"

"There is a solution, but I need to confirm something first." Vesper looked up. "Does Miss Lockwood have regular medical check-ups?"

"She gets one every six months," Kyle replied. "All her organs are free of any organic lesions."

That was the problem. The check-ups couldn’t find the root cause. While various specialists had made similar diagnoses, any initial improvement from treatment would quickly fade, and her condition would relapse and worsen over time.

"Did you bring her medical reports?"

Kyle immediately took out the reports he had with him and handed them over. Vesper reviewed them one by one before speaking.

"This is treatable, but the recovery period will be long. Most importantly, you must follow my treatment plan to the letter."

After reviewing the reports, she had a clear understanding of the issue. Miss Lockwood didn’t have hyperthyroidism, chronic digestive diseases, or depression. It was purely a case of heart and spleen qi deficiency accumulated over many years. Improper treatments and a mishmash of medications had only worsened her weakness and insomnia. The overall plan would center on acupuncture and dietary therapy, supplemented with Spleen Pills. The first priority would be to regulate her sleep, followed by gradually improving her appetite.

A chronic constitutional weakness like this can’t be cured overnight. It will require at least three to six months of systematic treatment. If the treatment is interrupted, it will only address the symptoms, not the root cause, and a relapse will be highly likely.

Kyle’s eyes filled with astonishment. "Can you really cure it completely?"

"It’s not a particularly complex or severe condition. A full recovery isn’t difficult, but it requires Miss Lockwood’s complete cooperation throughout the process."

Miss Lockwood immediately gave her solemn promise. "As long as I can finally get a peaceful night’s sleep, I will follow your instructions to the letter."

She knew the torment of long-term insomnia all too well. The sleepless nights led to headaches, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and irritability. She had no appetite, and her weight had dropped to under ninety pounds. Every time she looked in the mirror, her own haggard, emaciated reflection was frightening to see.

"I’ll make sure my grandmother follows through," Kyle offered.

Vesper retrieved a pen and paper, wrote out the complete treatment plan, and handed it to them.

Kyle stared at the items on the paper, his brow furrowing with doubt. "This is the whole treatment plan?"

He had already hired people to try these acupuncture and dietary methods before, with minimal results.

Sensing his skepticism, Vesper remained perfectly composed, her tone unruffled.

"Mr. Lockwood, there’s an old saying: ’Don’t employ those you doubt, and don’t doubt those you employ.’ If you still have reservations, you’re free to find another physician."

Kyle quickly scratched his head, flustered. "I’m not saying I don’t trust you. It’s just... we’ve tried these treatments many times before, and they’ve had little effect."

"The herbs may be the same, but the slightest difference in preparation or timing can result in a world of difference in their effects." Vesper gave a faint smile. "The choice is yours. If you trust me, we can begin."

Having said her piece, she fell silent.

Miss Lockwood shot her grandson a glare, then took Vesper’s hand. Her voice was warm and gentle.

"Vesper, dear, don’t pay him any mind. He’s spent years searching for a cure for my insomnia, getting his hopes up only to be disappointed time after time. It’s only natural he’d be skeptical. I sincerely trust your skills, or I wouldn’t have made a special trip here to see you. Rest assured, I will follow your plan to the letter."

"Please wait one moment."

Vesper turned and went to her bedroom. She returned a moment later holding an exquisite, rounded glass bottle and several sticks of Calming Incense.

"Every night before bed, put two drops of this essential oil on a stick of the Calming Incense. Be sure not to use more than that."

Kyle couldn’t help but blurt out, "We’ve bought countless high-end calming incenses and essential oils for Grandma, but none of them ever worked."

Vesper slowly raised her eyes to meet his, her gaze placid.

Kyle Lockwood fell silent. ’What did I say wrong this time?’

Miss Lockwood shot her grandson another reproachful glare and took the essential oil and incense from Vesper.

"I’ll remember. Two drops every night, and not a drop more."

"I will give you your first acupuncture treatment today. Afterward, you will need to have it done three to four times a week. You can go to any licensed TCM clinic; just have them follow the acupoints marked on this plan."

This was a standard, common needle technique that any certified TCM practitioner could perform.

She was leaving for Northolme next month, so she wouldn’t be able to stay and personally administer Miss Lockwood’s long-term acupuncture treatments.

"I understand."

After the session, Miss Lockwood felt instantly refreshed. The dull, throbbing ache and fogginess that had plagued her for days had significantly subsided. In the past, acupuncture sessions with other specialists had always left her feeling even more exhausted. She had never felt so relaxed and comfortable from head to toe.

In the car on the way home, Kyle gripped the steering wheel and glanced at his grandmother in the back seat.

"Grandma, was the acupuncture really that effective today?"

"Yes, it was completely different. That young woman the Whitmans found... she is truly skilled." Miss Lockwood brought the incense and oil closer, inhaling the scent. A pure, lasting fragrance filled her nose, and her agitated mind instantly grew calm.

Her eyes suddenly brightened. "This scent is very special."

Kyle caught her expression in the rearview mirror and chuckled. "It’s just some essential oil and incense, Grandma. I’ve bought you all kinds of high-end fragrances before, and I’ve never seen you take such a liking to any of them."

"Those other incenses just made my head feel stuffy and dull. This one is different. A warmth seems to spread from the inside out, through my whole body. I feel completely relaxed."

"You’re making it sound almost magical."

Miss Lockwood raised her hand and tapped him lightly on the forehead.

"With emotional intelligence like yours, how are you ever going to find a girlfriend if you don’t change?"

Kyle Lockwood, "..."

"Vesper said it herself: ’Don’t employ those you doubt.’ We made a special trip to ask for her help, and you kept questioning her over and over. It was incredibly rude!"

"I just wanted to get some clarity."

"If you don’t understand it, don’t question it."

Kyle coughed lightly and rubbed his nose. "Grandma, your insomnia isn’t even cured yet, and you’re already completely sold on her because of some incense and a bottle of oil?"

"That young woman is composed and well-spoken. She’s clearly not the type to make false promises. I trust her." Miss Lockwood changed the subject, asking softly, "Have you been in touch with your older brother lately?"

"He’s swamped with work, when would he have time to call me? And even if he did, it would just be to ask how you’re doing," Kyle said with a laugh. "Why? Do you miss him?"

"Yes, a little. Right now, besides wanting a good night’s sleep, my greatest wish is to see you two brothers settle down and start families. That way, when I’m gone, I’ll have something good to report to your grandfather, your parents, and all the Lockwood ancestors."

A somber feeling settled over Kyle. He softened his voice to comfort her. "You’re going to live to be a hundred, Grandma."

"If I live too long, I’ll turn into an old fossil," Miss Lockwood chuckled, slowly closing her eyes. The corners of her lips turned up in a faint, unconscious smile. "I’ve watched you and Asher grow up and secure the Lockwood family’s legacy. I’m already content with my life."

When they arrived back at the Lockwood estate, Miss Lockwood immediately handed the dietary plan to the chef and instructed that, from now on, all three daily meals were to be prepared strictly according to the new menu.

After reviewing it, the chef bowed. "Miss Lockwood, this meal plan is designed to fortify the spleen, replenish qi, nourish the blood, and calm the spirit. It’s an excellent plan."

"Follow this meal plan from now on," Miss Lockwood said decisively.