Chapter 12: Throw Hope Williams Out

She paused in her speech, looking utterly heartbroken and helpless.

Waylon Lewis's pupils shrank violently, and the icy coldness in his eyes was replaced by profound sorrow.

"You said you had controlled Grandpa's condition before, so how could it suddenly become serious?" Christopher's urgent, grave voice sounded.

Joy Ward, yelled at, bit her lip and shook her head, looking aggrieved.

Grandpa Lewis's heart disease was very severe to begin with; she could only temporarily control the onset of his illness with increased medication. To those unfamiliar with medicine, it seemed as though Grandpa's complexion had improved, creating the illusion of recovery.

In this manner, her act of saving Grandpa Lewis would earn her favor with the Lewis Family, and with this act of grace, her chances of successfully proposing marriage to Waylon would be much higher.

Moreover, she didn't want Grandpa to wake up. This old man had always opposed her marrying Waylon in the past few years. His death would be to her advantage.

She had originally intended to increase the dosage, ensuring that Grandpa wouldn't die from illness before her marriage to Waylon; after the wedding, no matter how he died, she could easily claim that Grandpa was old, that a sudden illness took him, and that she had done her best. It wouldn't be her fault.

But she never expected the old man to be so feeble. Before she had the chance to marry Waylon, he was dying.

Hope Williams was so frantic she was nearly in tears, her eyes red and her whole body trembling. She grabbed Waylon's hand, "Please!"

"Waylon, I beg you to let me see Grandpa, I have a way, a way to save him!"

Grandpa couldn't wait any longer; there could be no more delays, truly.

Waylon's eyes narrowed, but Hope had already rushed past all restraint.

"Pull her back. Hope, do you still want to harm Elder Lewis?"

A servant moved to pull her away.

"Nobody touch her," Waylon commanded coldly. For some reason, upon seeing the girl's frantic expression, he softened inside and subconsciously wanted to believe her.

"Waylon?" Alitzel Williams looked at her son with some surprise. He used to detest Hope; why was he now protecting her at every turn?

Hope sat beside Elder Lewis, and with Waylon's backing, nobody dared touch her. She calmed down and examined Elder Lewis.

The Lewis Family had made thorough medical preparations in Elder Lewis's room. Hope's brows furrowed with concern; it was clearly symptoms of heart failure, and it had been ongoing for a while. Elder Lewis was extremely weak now and might not survive if taken off the ventilator.

Hope took out a Silver Needle from her bag, pinching it between two fingers, pausing momentarily. Using the Acupuncture Technique on Elder Lewis at this time was the best and riskiest way to save his life.

The best treatment for such severe heart disease was a heart transplant, but for some reason, given the many renowned doctors surrounding him, Hope couldn't fathom why Elder Lewis had missed the optimal window for treatment. Now, they had no choice but to take a risky path.

"Grandpa, don't worry, I'll definitely save you."

"Miss Williams, what do you intend to do to Old Master Lewis?" Just as Hope was about to begin acupuncture, Joy suddenly shouted.

Joy's exclamations immediately drew the attention of others; Alitzel moved forward swiftly, seizing Hope's hand, which held the Silver Needle.

Everyone crowded around the bed.

"Hope, Elder Lewis was never unkind to you, and now that he's in this state, you still want to harm him. What is your intention?" Alitzel had never liked Hope from five years ago, and now the hostility was even stronger, with anger raging in her eyes as she berated Hope.

"I'm not, I want to save Grandpa," Hope retorted, her brows tightly knitted.

She knew that every wasted second delayed Elder Lewis's condition.

At this, Joy's eyes shifted, and a mocking, cold smile curled at the corners of her mouth directed at Hope, "Miss Williams, you were expelled from school, didn't even finish your sophomore year, and now you're probably not even a doctor. How can you save Grandpa? His body is very weak already; he can't withstand your meddling."

Joy's voice was soft and gentle, emanating thick advice and helplessness, appearing to be completely for the sake of Elder Lewis.

Only Hope knew that everything Joy was saying was laced with scorn for her.

Hope slightly turned her head to look at Joy, her face displaying nothing but urgency, "Let go."

"Miss Williams, perhaps you shouldn't exacerbate Grandpa's condition..."

Hope, out of patience with Joy's incessant chatter, flicked her hand away.

Staggering, Joy fell toward Waylon, who reached out to steady her, his expression indifferent.

"Waylon..."

Joy's gentle call and her beautifully fragile appearance, filled with vulnerability and helplessness, and seeming greatly wronged, moved all to pity. Her attempts at gentle persuasion cast Hope in the light of being unreasonable and unruly.

And Waylon's gaze on her carried a hint of reprimand.

Hope's lips twisted in bitterness.

Alitzel spoke out to chastise, "Hope, you dare be presumptuous in my Lewis Family's house? Someone, throw her out."

Hope's heart tightened, and her gaze instinctively sought Waylon's. In his deep, dark eyes, his towering figure shielded her from the bodyguards.

His profound gaze met hers.

In that moment, Hope felt a surge of intense expectation from the depths of her heart.

Would he believe her?

Waylon...

"I'll have someone send you back."

The man's icy voice caused Hope's entire being to shudder, all her wild expectations crashing down, shattered.

It was just like five years ago, when she told him full of hope that they would have a baby, and he responded by giving her a check, telling her to get rid of it.

Waylon was always so cruel to her.

Tears trembled in her eyes, but ultimately she couldn't hold back a scornful laugh.

"Miss Williams, please." Thomas Hughes stepped forward, showing much more courtesy than the Lewis Family's bodyguards towards this former lady.

"I won't leave." Hope knew that if she left, Grandpa would truly be beyond saving. Whether as Hope or as a Doctor, she couldn't leave.

"Thomas," Waylon barked.

Thomas was torn and conflicted—on one hand, he couldn't disobey his master's command, and on the other hand, he found himself unable to be harsh with this former lady as he would with any other woman.

In his dilemma, he could only look to Wyatt Lewis for help.

Wyatt was also struggling with what to do and hesitated briefly before addressing Hope, "Sister-in-law, maybe... for Grandpa..."

Wyatt's words hung unfinished as his gaze shifted from Hope to Elder Lewis on the bed, who with a trembling effort lifted a hand.