Chapter 12: Betrayal in the Prescription

"No, I must inform Madam Vanderbilt! She needs to see what kind of monster Daniel Lockwood truly is!"

Charlotte Xiao's chest burned with fury.

Yet the next moment, her rage dissolved into cold clarity.

No.

I can't.

Just yesterday, even after Daniel and that woman were caught in flagrante, Elena Vanderbilt had seemed ready to pardon him—no mention of divorce.

And now, Daniel had just secured Dr. Zhang Zizhen, the legendary National Physician, to treat Elena's illness. In her current state, would she even believe this photo's authenticity?

Would handing it to her now change anything?

Elena's trust in Daniel was absolute—enough to stake her life on it...

A suffocating bitterness rose in Charlotte's throat. She felt powerless.

After a strained silence, she exhaled in defeat. "I'll wait for the right moment to give it to Madam Vanderbilt."

She saved the photo's original file and locked it away.

Daniel's Perspective

Daniel Lockwood had barely stepped into the hospital when his adoptive father, Alistair Lockwood, called.

"Daniel! Do you realize the losses you've cost the family by destroying Elena's contract?! Return immediately! This instant!"

Daniel's voice turned glacial. "Without me, Elena wouldn't spare a glance for the Lockwoods. From today, consider your privileges with Vanderbilt Industries revoked. Interfere again, and the consequences will far exceed your pay grade."

Click. (The line went dead.)

Without waiting for a response, Daniel abruptly ended the call.

As he turned toward Elena Vanderbilt's hospital room, his attention was caught by a middle-aged man peering into one room after another, as if searching for someone.

The man was none other than the same individual who had been thrown out of Dr. Zhang Zizhen's clinic by Lin Xiao just the day before.

Daniel studied his face, and that inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over him again.

I've definitely seen him somewhere before...

Then it hit him.

"Wait—

"Li Fujiang, Chairman of Fujiang Group in Longjiang Province!"

A man whose wealth ranked among the top ten in the entire province.

The Lockwood family was insignificant compared to someone of Li Fujiang's stature. In Daniel's current position, he wouldn't normally have any opportunity to interact with a figure like him.

The only reason Daniel recognized him was from newspaper coverage in his past life.

Li Fujiang's current wife, Wu Rong, was his second marriage—and not the biological mother of his son, Li Hua.

In that previous timeline, Wu Rong had schemed to seize the family fortune by slowly poisoning Li Hua. The toxin had been odorless, tasteless, and undetectable by conventional medicine. By the time Li Hua died, even the doctors couldn't pinpoint the cause.

But Li Fujiang, refusing to accept the loss, had spent a fortune to enlist a National Physician. The truth was uncovered—along with an antidote—but by then, it was already too late.

Daniel hesitated only a moment before striding purposefully toward Li Fujiang.

"Mr. Li, hello."

Li Fujiang paused, frowning as he turned to scrutinize Daniel.

"Young man, you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not Li Fujiang."

With that, Li Fujiang dismissed Daniel and turned to leave.

Unfazed, Daniel continued calmly, "Mr. Li, your son is dying—and I'm the only one who can save him."

Li Fujiang's entire body stiffened.

Whoosh.

A surge of fury ignited within him.

"Listen here, young man," he said, his voice dangerously low. "If you're trying to get my attention, this is going too far."

His gaze turned icy as he glared at Daniel.

People usually flattered him when they wanted favors—this was the first time someone had dared to curse his son.

If not for the possibility that Dr. Zhang Zizhen might be nearby, he would have already struck Daniel down.

Daniel remained unshaken, his expression composed.

"Mr. Li, I know you don't believe me. But surely you're aware that your wife and your son… don't exactly get along?"

"You're imagining things. My family is perfectly harmonious!"

Li Fujiang shoved Daniel aside. "Get out of my way!"

Undeterred, Daniel pressed on. "Your wife, Wu Rong, wants your son dead."

"If you don't believe me, check your surveillance footage tonight. Then you'll know if I'm lying."

Li Fujiang fell silent, his piercing eyes locked on Daniel for a long, tense moment.

Suddenly, Li Fujiang laughed—a cold, mirthless sound.

"I'll check the surveillance footage. But if I find nothing…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Central Avenue might just wake up to an unidentified corpse tomorrow."

His eyes, fixed on Daniel, were those of a man already measuring a coffin.

With a flick of his sleeve, he strode into the elevator without another word.

Daniel exhaled slowly as he watched Li Fujiang disappear.

Dealing with men like this could cost you your life.

Still, he wasn't overly worried. Once Li Fujiang reviewed the footage, the truth about his wife's treachery would be undeniable.

The Next Morning

Elena Vanderbilt had just taken her medicine and settled back into bed when Daniel entered the hospital room, carrying a thermal lunchbox.

Charlotte Xiao's disgust flared the moment she saw him.

"Daniel, why are you still here? Madam Vanderbilt needs rest—must you keep tormenting her?"

"I brought her soup," Daniel said, lifting the container.

Charlotte's lips curled. "Have you forgotten what happened last time? Or are you deliberately trying to make her worse?"

It wasn't the first time Daniel had pulled such a stunt. Once, when Elena had a stomachache, he'd "thoughtfully" prepared a pot of soup—only for her to discover it was lethally spicy. Yet Elena, interpreting it as genuine concern, had forced it all down… and nearly ended up hospitalized.

A quiet voice interrupted. "Charlotte, let him bring it here."

Elena's command made Charlotte clench her fists.

How?

How could the woman hailed as the "Queen of Commerce," a strategist without equal in the business world, become so blindly trusting when it came to Daniel?

But arguing now would only upset Elena further. Swallowing her fury, Charlotte turned to the silent bodyguard by the door.

"Wyatt. Test the soup."

Without a word, Wyatt took the thermal lunchbox from Daniel, opened it, poured a small bowl of soup, and drank it in one gulp.

As one of Elena Vanderbilt's closest confidants, Wyatt was well aware of Daniel's past antics. He had fully expected this soup to be as unpalatable as before.

But the moment the broth touched his tongue, he was caught off guard—it was perfectly seasoned, rich yet not greasy, with a delicate balance of flavors.

Wyatt's eyes flicked to Daniel, who stood there with an uncharacteristically gentle smile.

"Did you really make this?" he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

Charlotte, noticing Wyatt's odd expression, pressed, "Well? Is there something wrong with it?"

"No..." Wyatt shook his head, his expression conflicted.

"That's impossible!"

Refusing to believe it, Charlotte stepped forward and took a sip herself—then froze.

The soup was good.

Unnervingly good.

Had Daniel changed tactics? Was this a ploy to lower Elena's guard before striking again?

Daniel could easily guess their thoughts from their expressions, but he offered no explanation. Instead, he carried the soup to Elena's bedside and sat down.

"Elena, let me feed you," he said softly, his gaze warm.

Elena blinked, momentarily stunned.

In all their years together, Daniel had never spoken to her with such tenderness—only cold indifference or outright disdain.

"Mm." After studying Daniel for a few seconds, Elena gave a faint nod, her expression unreadable.

Daniel smiled, lifting a spoonful of soup to his lips to gently blow on it before carefully feeding her.

The tender scene left Charlotte and Wyatt utterly bewildered—it felt surreal, like watching a dream.

Had they not witnessed Daniel's past cruelty firsthand, they might have mistaken the couple for genuinely devoted partners.

After a few sips, Elena's gaze grew complicated. "Daniel... you don't have to do this. I've already given you everything I can. If you're after more, there's nothing left."

Daniel shook his head gently, his voice soft. "I don't want anything. I just want you to recover."

For the first time in years, a flicker of emotion stirred in Elena's eyes as she looked at him.

Then—

"Cough—!"

A sudden spray of crimson blood erupted from Elena's lips.

The bright red splashed into the soup bowl, spreading like blooming petals of violence in the golden broth.