Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 135

"Enough." Thaddeus waved a hand to cut off the argument, turning to the old man. "Azure Healer, it's all up to you now."

"Yes, Mr. Miller." The old man nodded slightly. His confident demeanor really did carry the aura of an enlightened master.

Phoenix and Cyrus watched with deep interest, both dying to know where this old fraud got his nerve.

Cyrus had already conducted a silent assessment; without his signature Thirteen Ghost Needles, it was absolutely impossible for Gideon to wake up.

"Healer, please do your best," Julian and Phoebe said, their eyes filled with hope.

The old man strolled up to the bed. He looked entirely unbothered, but inside, his heart was pounding like a drum.

He was nothing more than a wandering quack doctor; what did he know about miracle cures? But that didn't stop him from acting. As long as nobody died, he could just stick in a few needles at random, then claim the illness was terminal and beyond medicinal help, easily sweeping the truth under the rug.

Besides, the Azure Healer's whereabouts were a mystery. As long as he stubbornly stuck to his identity, there was no way for them to verify it.

The old man put on a show of taking Gideon's pulse and checking his eyelids. His movements were incredibly smooth, causing everyone to hold their breath in anticipation—except for Phoenix and Cyrus, who were purely enjoying the show.

"What a pity, what a pity..."

"Healer, what do you mean by that?" Milo asked urgently.

The old man stroked his beard with a long sigh, looking utterly regretful. "Ten minutes ago, I had an eighty percent chance of success. But now... I'm afraid it's less than forty."

"What?" Milo swayed, nearly collapsing.

Phoebe quickly stepped forward to support him, saying gently, "Don't panic, Milo. The healer said there's still a forty percent chance, which means there's still hope."

That sweet nickname rolled off her tongue naturally, but Milo, his mind in a chaotic knot, didn't pay it any mind. He simply turned and glared furiously at Marcus. "Did you hear that? If you hadn't put up every possible block and delayed the crucial window, how could the chances drop to forty percent?"

Facing the accusation, Marcus sneered in retaliation. "Hah. Who knows if this old fraud is just spinning lies? Making excuses before even failing to cure someone is a trick I've seen plenty of times."

The old man's heart skipped a beat, silently noting how sharp Marcus was. But he showed nothing on his face. Instead, his expression darkened, and he feigned profound offense. "Marcus, questioning my medical skills means questioning everyone I've dragged back from the gates of death. Take Director Lawson, who was paralyzed for six months, for instance. Should I invite him over to have a chat with you?"

Director Lawson?

That was the head of Cloudhaven's Development Department, the man who controlled all land acquisitions. Even his father had to tread carefully around him.

Marcus pressed his lips tightly together, ultimately not daring to say another word.

"Healer, when will Grandpa wake up?" Milo pressed impatiently.

The old man looked at him, sighing heavily with a face full of regret. "Gideon's illness is far too deeply rooted, and his organ failure is too severe. I have utilized the Thirteen Ghost Needles, but unfortunately... it is beyond repair."

Those words left everyone stunned.

Julian and Phoebe's faces turned deathly pale. He couldn't be cured? Didn't that mean this massive favor they were trying to cash in was completely ruined?

"How could this be..." Milo looked dazed and in disbelief. "Is he really beyond saving?"

"Milo, I told you from the start." The massive weight in Marcus's chest finally lifted, yet he wore a look of utter devastation. "There's no other way besides a kidney transplant. Why didn't you just listen to me?"

"Bullshit!" Milo clenched his jaw, glaring at Marcus with bloodshot eyes. "I had specialists review the case. Grandpa's condition absolutely doesn't require a kidney transplant. Marcus, what exactly are you planning?"

"Dad, I'm afraid my cousin's anxiety has clouded his judgment." Marcus turned around, sighing with helpless frustration. "I have run myself ragged over these past years for his illness. Who knows his condition better than I do? Right now, there is only one path forward, and that's the transplant."

His cold, dark gaze then landed on Meredith. "And Meredith is the only candidate who can save him."