The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 144
In the early morning, sunlight spilled into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Leilani had already packed her medical kit.
Following the routine of the past few days, she went to Mr. Chilton’s bedside to check his pulse. After the recent acupuncture sessions, his pulse felt much more stable than before. Leilani felt relieved. She prepared to say goodbye to Mr. Dillon and head back.
During every treatment session, Mr. Dillon had accompanied her. Now, Mr. Dillon stood at the door, his brow furrowed as he tried to persuade her to stay. He clearly didn’t want to let her go. “Dr. Cheney, your other patients don’t have urgent symptoms. Why not stay
e until the Moonlight Herb arrives so we can test its effectiveness against the toxin together? Mr. Chilton isn’t fully stable yet. If you leave and something happens…”
Leilani felt helpless. She thought Mr. Dillon was worrying too much.
“I just checked his pulse. It’s much steadier than when I arrived, and the toxins are suppressed. There won’t be any danger in the short term. Staying here doesn’t make much sense. Besides, we can’t pin all our hopes on the Moonlight Herb. I need to investigate and all your eggs in o
I
if there have been similar cases and treatments nationwide. Don’t put
basket-you should know that principle better than I do, Mr. Dillon.”
Mr. Dillon hesitated, then sigh
“But if the toxin flares up suddenly…”
He would feel more at ease if Leilani were here. He regretted choosing surgery as his specialty years ago; if he had studied ancient medicine, he wouldn’t be so passive now.
“It won’t.” Leilani’s tone was certain and confident. “As long as Mr. Chilton’s dressing is changed on time, the toxin absolutely will not backlash.”
She paused, thinking of Mr. Dillon’s patient guidance and care over this period, and offered a promise to reassure him. “Rest assured, the moment the Moonlight Herb arrives, I will return immediately.”
Mr. Dillon remained silent for a moment before finally nodding. He then took out a rectangular ID badge the size of a card from his pocket and handed it to Leilani.
“This badge grants access to hospital archives nationwide. You can’t just rest when you go back; take this and check the archives. You don’t have connections outside, so this
will be much faster.”
Leilani was young, and her school of thought was different. Young people’s minds were sharper than old bones like him. They hadn’t found anything after searching for so long, but maybe Leilani would find a new perspective.
Leilani was surprised. This badge was important; wasn’t he afraid she would misuse it?
“This is my badge. I’m just lending it to you temporarily. Remember to return it when you
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come back.”
After spending these days together, Mr. Dillon could tell Leilani was a sensible girl with integrity. He felt safe giving it to her.
Before she left, Mr. Dillon handed her a document. “Leilani, this is a non-disclosure agreement.”
Leilani took it and scanned it quickly. The content was standard: she was not to disclose Mr. Chilton’s condition, identity, or treatment details. She was familiar with this process, having gone through it when treating Arnold in Zamora.
Leilani deftly signed her name.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.