The man, Rodger Gilbert, turned to face Eileen at an unhurried pace, his eyes sharp with scrutiny. "So you're the person Patricia mentioned before?"

His gaze traveled over Eileen from head to toe. "You look far too young."

Eileen did not reply at once. Her eyes swept across the office instead.

The room had been furnished with quiet luxury. Beyond the towering glass windows, the whole city sprawled beneath them. The person who owned this place was clearly a man of immense money and influence.

"I am Patricia's student," Eileen finally said.

A trace of astonishment crossed Rodger's face. "Patricia's student? She never had any students before."

Eileen exhaled softly as her mind slipped back to four years ago.

Not long after she was sent to prison, a fight broke out one day.

A group of tall female inmates had cornered an elderly, gray-haired woman and were trying to snatch away her meal.

Eileen had only just arrived back then, yet she interfered anyway. She was beaten badly for it.

From that day forward, the elderly woman, Patricia, treated her with kindness and began teaching her all kinds of things.

From defending herself to difficult medical principles, from the use of herbs to acupuncture, Patricia passed on everything she knew without reservation.

Throughout those four years, Patricia never received visitors and almost never mentioned anything about her past.

Eileen had once asked her why she had landed in prison. Patricia had merely smiled in that unreadable way of hers and said she had chosen to come there.

One month before Eileen's release, Patricia's condition took a sudden turn for the worse.

Before dying, she handed Eileen a phone number and told her to reach out to its owner after leaving prison. She also warned her to be careful.

Eileen gave Rodger the short version. "Before she died, she left me your number and told me to come find you."

Rodger fell into deep thought after hearing that.

The office grew still, and the only sound left was the steady ticking of the clock on the wall.

"In the medical field, Patricia was called Healer Enigma. Five years ago, my mother came down with a strange disease. Even the finest hospitals could do nothing for her. Later, I paid an enormous price to bring Patricia to treat her."

Rodger rose from his seat and walked over to the window, standing with his back turned to Eileen.

He continued, "Patricia said she could heal my mother, but she needed time to prepare the medicine. On the third night after the treatment began, she suddenly gave me something, asked me to keep it safe, and said she had urgent business to handle. After that, she disappeared without a trace. I did not dare touch the item she gave me. I could only keep using the prescriptions she had left behind to keep my mother's condition stable. But for five years, her condition has only worsened. And now, she..."

A spark of hope lit Rodger's eyes. "Are you really Patricia's student? Can you save my mother?"

"I can try," Eileen said evenly. "But I need to check on the patient first, and I also need to see the thing Patricia left with you."

Rodger drew in a deep breath, as though weighing a major choice.

After a brief pause, he grabbed his phone and called someone. "Get the car ready. We're going to the hospital now."

Twenty minutes later, a luxury car came to a stop outside the city's most exclusive private hospital.

Rodger brought Eileen straight to the VIP area on the top floor.

Along the way, every member of the medical staff greeted Rodger with clear respect.

"My mother's attending doctor was specially brought in from abroad. Even he has no solution," Rodger said quietly as the elevator climbed. "You are my last hope."

Eileen said nothing.

Patricia had taught her a lot of things, but the thought of facing an illness even top experts could not treat still left her uneasy.

The moment the elevator doors opened, a neatly dressed middle-aged woman hurried toward them.

"Rodger, why are you here so late? Your mother had another episode earlier. The doctor said—"

She suddenly stopped talking the second she noticed the young woman standing beside Rodger. She knitted her brows. "And this is?"

"Honey, this is Dr. Flynn. I brought her to treat my mother," Rodger replied.

Rodger's wife, Amy Gilbert, gave Eileen a slow once-over, noting her plain clothes and worn appearance. Disdain flashed through her eyes.

"A doctor so young? Where exactly did you find her? Is she even reliable?"

Before Eileen could say anything, Rodger spoke first. "She is Patricia's student."

"Patricia? The one who vanished five years ago?" Amy looked surprised, but suspicion quickly returned. "How do you know she isn't a fraud? Plenty of swindlers prey on rich families like this."

Pain tightened Rodger's expression. "My mother does not have much time left. Even the specialists have stopped trying. This could be our final chance..."

"That is precisely why we cannot act recklessly," Amy said with firmness. "She has to prove she is capable of doing this."

Eileen finally opened her mouth. "Mrs. Gilbert, the dull ache in the knuckle of your right little finger is an early symptom of rheumatism. You should stay away from the cold to prevent your condition from getting worse."

Amy dropped her eyes to her hand in shock. She did have that problem, yet she had never told anyone about it.

Before she could speak, Eileen continued, "And those migraines of yours, especially when stress hits, are caused by an issue in your cervical spine."

Amy's expression changed at once. She stared at Eileen in shock.

"H-how do you know that?" she asked.

"Observation. Now, may I see the patient?" Eileen said.

Amy hesitated for a brief second, then moved aside. "I am still not completely convinced. I will stay and watch the entire process."

Eileen stepped into the hospital room and found an elderly woman with silver hair lying on the bed, her skin waxen and her frame extremely thin. It was obvious her life was hanging by a thread.

Medical equipment crowded the bedside, their warning sounds ringing out in a steady rhythm.

"Dr. Flynn, this is my mother. Please examine her condition," Rodger said in a low voice, his eyes heavy with concern.

Eileen moved to the bedside and inspected Leah Gilbert with careful attention.

She saw the strange ashen color staining Leah's nails and a slight bluish cast lingering around her mouth.

The symptoms made the cause plain. Leah had been poisoned, and it had been happening for a very long time.

Amy stood off to the side, observing Eileen's every action, her expression still tinged with doubt.

"What exactly are you going to do? Do you need any special equipment or medicine?" she asked.

"No. I only need a set of needles," Eileen replied.

"Needles? We brought in the best experts and used the finest machines and medication, and none of it helped. But you think a few needles are going to solve this?" Amy's voice was thick with disbelief and impatience.

Eileen paid no mind to Amy's words and looked at Rodger instead.

"Mr. Gilbert, your mother stayed unconscious because poison accumulated inside her body. I can draw it out. If I cannot do it, I will bear all responsibility."

Rodger looked closely at the young woman standing before him. For reasons he could not explain, the steadiness in her eyes made him believe there was still hope for his mother. He inhaled deeply and gave a firm nod. "Alright. Go ahead."

Amy still looked ready to protest, but eventually, she pressed her lips together and moved out of the way.

Rodger promptly got the needles for Eileen.

Eileen accepted them, disinfected the needles, and picked out several slender ones.

She laid two fingers against Leah's neck and checked her pulse.

Then, her fingertips traveled slowly along Leah's arm, searching with exact care.

"This is the spot," she suddenly said.

Without the slightest pause, she slid a needle into an exact point on Leah's arm.

Amy let out a sharp gasp, but Rodger stopped her from stepping forward and signaled her to stay quiet.

Eileen went on identifying points across Leah's body, placing a needle each time she found the right spot.

Her hands stayed steady and assured.

Before long, well over a dozen needles were in place.

She made a slight adjustment to a few of them, then slowly turned one.

At that moment, something strange happened.

A bead of blackened blood leaked from the place where the needle had gone in. Then, more followed, gathering into a narrow stream that slid down Leah's arm.

Rodger and Amy stared in stunned silence.

"It is just as I thought. Long-term poisoning. The toxins have been collecting for years," Eileen said evenly.

She kept turning the needles, and more dark blood spilled out.

Just then, the door was shoved open, and a middle-aged doctor in a white coat entered the room.

The moment he saw what was happening, alarm flashed across his face.

"What are you doing? Who gave you permission to treat this patient?" He strode over at once and spoke with cutting sharpness. "What kind of treatment is this? Do you even know that this could cause infection?"

Before Eileen could reply, he turned toward Rodger. "Mr. Gilbert, who is this woman? Does she even have a medical license? I need to report this."

"Dr. Todd, calm down," Rodger said at once. "This is Dr. Flynn. I brought her here to treat my mother."

"Dr. Flynn? There is no doctor here by that name!" Samuel Todd sneered and pulled out his phone to place a call. "Treating a patient like this is against the law. I have to report this to the police."

Just then, Leah gave a weak groan and slowly lifted her eyelids.

"Mom!" Rodger rushed to her side and clasped her hand. "You're awake! How are you feeling now?"

Leah blinked sluggishly. She was still frail, but her eyes were clear as she looked around the room.

"It feels like I have been asleep for a very long time. I can finally open my eyes again..."

Samuel went rigid, staring at her in utter disbelief.

"This... this is impossible. Your condition..."

Eileen continued her work calmly, as though nothing had happened.

She removed the needles that had already done their job, then inserted fresh ones into several other areas, continuing to purge the toxins.

"You used heavy medication on her but failed to clear out the source of her condition," Eileen said without raising her head. "This was never about giving her more medication. It was about taking out what never should have remained inside her. The toxins stayed in her system for too many years. More medication only worsened her condition."

Samuel's expression darkened with rage.

"Are you questioning my medical skills? I graduated from a prestigious medical school!"

"And was that where they taught you to handle chronic poisoning with strong medication?" Eileen answered evenly. "That kind of treatment isn't right at all."

Samuel's face turned livid in fury, yet since Leah was awake because of Eileen, every retort died in his throat.

"Are you saying that all these years of treatment did not just fail, but actually pushed my mother's condition further downhill?" Rodger asked, dumbfounded.

He had poured an enormous amount of money into hiring renowned specialists, only to make his mother's condition worse.

Eileen gave a faint nod. "Your mother came into contact with a slow-acting poison years ago. It stayed in her body until it finally caused severe symptoms. Ordinary tests could not find the source of the problem, but my observation and examination techniques exposed the issue."

Samuel flushed with humiliation. In the end, he lowered his phone and left the room using the excuse of having something else to do.

The treatment went on for about an hour. At last, Eileen removed every needle and wiped the dark blood from Leah's body.

She then wrote a prescription and carefully explained the dosage.

"This is only the beginning. The oldest toxins are gone." She turned to Rodger. "She will need this medicine for three months to remove all the toxins in her body."

Rodger was overcome with gratitude. The weight he had carried for five years finally fell away, leaving him feeling lighter than ever.

"Wait," Rodger called when Eileen was about to leave. He gestured to his assistant.

The assistant hurried over with a neatly wrapped box and handed it to Eileen. "This is the latest phone model. Mr. Gilbert's number is already saved on it."

Rodger pulled out his phone and completed a transfer. "I just sent you three million dollars as your payment. I will return the item Patricia left to you soon."

Eileen had planned to turn the money down, but she had nothing left to her name and needed a new beginning. So, she accepted it.

After she left the room, she stepped into the elevator.

The doors slid open on the fifth floor, and a young doctor in a white coat hurried in.

The moment his eyes met Eileen's, both of them froze in surprise.

"Eileen?" the young doctor said, stunned. "What are you doing here?"

Eileen looked at him with a cold expression. He was Evan Hewitt, her second elder brother.

Her voice stayed calm, but her eyes were icy. "I was just released from prison. You didn't know?"

Evan still looked shaken. "I didn't know you were out. Why are you at the hospital?"

The elevator reached the first floor at that moment, and the doors opened.

Eileen walked out and tossed a casual reply behind her.

"I came here to save someone."

Eileen had just stepped out of the elevator when a rush of footsteps sounded behind her. Evan closed the distance in no time.

"Stop!" He caught her wrist hard enough to draw a crease between her brows. "What was that you just said? Save someone? You can do that?"

Eileen shook his hand off, her face unreadable, her eyes icy. "What, you don't believe me?"

Evan gave a scornful laugh. His eyes ran over her from head to toe, pausing on her worn-out clothes. Sarcasm coated every word. "You've done time, and you've never studied medicine before. What exactly are you planning to save people with? Are you here to scam people?"

Eileen looked at him. Her gaze sharpened at once, piercing like needles aiming straight at him.

"What? You want to take me on?" Evan sneered. He clamped down on her wrist and hauled her toward the exit. "Get out. You have no business being here."

The people nearby traded looks. Someone nearly moved to stop him, but Evan's frigid gaze made them hesitate.

A few of them recognized him as a respected doctor here and started whispering among themselves.

"Isn't that Dr. Hewitt? Why is he arguing with someone here?"

"Who is that woman? She is dressed so shabbily..."

"Should we intervene?"

"Better stay out of it, Dr. Hewitt usually has a good temper. Maybe that woman is the problem."

Eileen paid no attention to the whispers. Evan's grip was making her wrist throb.

"Think whatever you like. Why are you pulling me like this?" She was irritated and tried to wrench herself free, but she did not have enough strength for that.

Just then, a streak of silver flashed, and Evan let go with a cry of pain.

The moment Eileen turned to leave, Evan stopped her again and shoved her angrily. "You little menace, what did you do to me just now? Was prison not enough to teach you a lesson?"

Eileen stumbled backward, her spine slamming against the wall. Before she could regain her balance, Evan closed in, looming above her with a fierce glare. "Let me make this clear. Drop whatever game you're trying to play. The Hewitt family has no connection to you anymore. Don't get any ideas about coming back and squeezing profit out of us with your cheap tricks!"

Eileen lifted her gaze. A flicker of coldness flashed across her eyes. Her fingers curled slightly.

The needle strike had been too gentle.

If she truly wanted to, she could have forced Evan to his knees within seconds.

After all, the years she spent in prison had not only taught her how to save a life. She had also learned how to ruin a person quietly, leaving behind injuries or permanent damage without a trace...

An icy smile brushed Eileen's lips. "You're right. I have nothing to do with your family anymore. So why don't you move aside instead of standing here in my way?"

"Still acting tough?" A spark of fury lit Evan's eyes. He lifted his hand, about to shove her again. "Stay out of my sight from now on!"

Just before his hand could land on her shoulder, a tall man stepped out of the elevator. An arm came out with effortless precision and stopped Evan.

"Isn't it inappropriate to get physical in a hospital?"

The deep voice carried a coldness no one could miss.

Evan stiffened and turned to look at the man, his expression changing on the spot. "M-Mr. Owen?"

Bryan Owen spared him a brief glance before turning his eyes to Eileen.

Her face was pale. Red marks were visible on her wrist. Even so, her eyes still held a stubborn strength that would not bend.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Eileen gave a nod and quietly put a little space between them. "Yeah. Thank you."

Evan's face darkened, but he did not dare do anything rash in front of Bryan. Forcing himself to speak, he said, "Mr. Owen, this is between her and me. You must have misunderstood me..."

"Is that so?" Bryan arched a brow. "Regardless of everything else, shoving a woman around in a hospital is unacceptable."

Evan had no reply to that, the vein at his temple pulsing hard.

He hadn't expected the usually aloof Bryan to speak up for Eileen.

Thinking of the Owen family's immense power, Evan did not press the matter. He shot Eileen a venomous look and muttered, "Just you wait!" Then, he turned and walked away.

The corridor went quiet.

Eileen rubbed her aching wrist and lifted her eyes to Bryan. "Thank you for helping me just now."

Bryan gave a faint nod, his gaze resting on her face for a brief moment.

Her expression was calm and cool. Even after all that, there was not a shred of humiliation on her face, only a silent toughness.

"It was nothing," he said evenly. "Do you need help?"

"No." Eileen shook her head, her voice distant. "I still have something to handle. I'll leave now."

With that, she turned and left, her back straight as though the clash from moments ago had never even taken place.

Bryan watched her leave, lost in thought.

Inside a VIP hospital room.

When Bryan entered, Harold Owen, Bryan's grandfather, was propped against the headboard with a newspaper in hand. The moment Harold saw Bryan, he smiled and set it down. "You're here."

"Yes." Bryan sat beside the bed and poured a glass of warm water before passing it to him. "How are you feeling today?"

"No different from usual."

Harold noticed a few creases on Bryan's suit, as though someone had pushed him not long ago.

One brow lifting, he accepted the water and asked, "Did you run into someone you knew on the way here?"

Bryan followed his line of sight and noticed the marks, too. They were likely from when he stopped Evan earlier.

He paid them little mind. "Not really. I just came across an argument in the hallway and intervened."

"Oh?" Harold was instantly interested. "Who would make you step in like that?"

Bryan let out a faint chuckle. "Grandpa, stop teasing me."

Harold laughed, then his expression turned serious. "Right, I was just about to tell you something. You know Leah Gilbert in the room next door? That strange illness of hers was suddenly cured."

Bryan raised a brow. "Really?"

"Yes!" Harold lowered his voice. "I heard it was a young woman who cured her. Just a few needles, and the poisonous blood was forced out! Rodger was over the moon, saying she was practically a miracle worker."

Bryan nodded. "That's indeed impressive."

"Exactly!" Harold patted his hand. "You know people. Help me find out whether this doctor can come and treat me, too. I can't keep depending on medicine forever."

Bryan thought the matter over for a moment. "I'll have someone look into the matter."

Harold shook his head. "No need. Just ask Rodger yourself. Doesn't he still owe you one?"

Bryan considered it for several seconds before nodding. "Alright. I'll call him later."

Harold smiled in satisfaction. Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, he said, "Oh, right, Rodger said that woman is cold by nature and doesn't say much, but her medical skills are astonishing. Be courteous when you approach her. Don't scare her away."

Bryan let out a quiet laugh. "Who do you think I am? Some street thug? Why would I scare people away?"

Harold gave a snort. "With that cold expression of yours, do you really not know how intimidating you look?"

Bryan fell silent.

He couldn't retort to Harold's words. After all, he was his grandfather.

He pulled out his phone and called Rodger. After a short exchange of greetings, he got straight to the point. "I heard your mother recovered?"

On the other end of the line, Rodger's voice brimmed with excitement. "Yes! Dr. Flynn saved her. It was nothing short of a miracle!"