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!"