Cherith also temporarily stopped his current work to focus on recovering, so as to avoid other irreversible major mistakes.
But after a thorough examination, the results showed that Cherith’s body did not have any obvious abnormalities. His private doctor also claimed that his recent insomnia and hallucinations were due to excessive stress.
He suggested that Cherith should slow down his busy pace, use travel or exercise to relax his body and mind, and he would recover soon.
However, after more than half a month, Cherith’s condition showed no improvement, so at Madame Sisha’s suggestion, he sought out Ann Vaughn.
"When I observed your complexion just now, it seemed rosy and full, with a vibrant spirit, but the eyelids were faintly dark, the eyes unusually protruding with many blood vessels, which was quite incongruous." Ann Vaughn withdrew her hand from Cherith’s pulse and said with a frown.
"Your pulse is chaotic, sometimes beating rapidly, sometimes calm and steady. It’s very likely that the heart is damaged, and the life force within your body is also being constantly drained." Ann Vaughn summarized concisely and then said, "You’re not ill; you’ve been poisoned."
Cherith and Madame Sisha looked at each other in shock, yet their facial expressions remained well-controlled and weren’t easily noticeable.
If an outsider were here now, they might think they were just having a casual conversation.
"Dr. Vaughn, what type of poison does my husband have? Is there still a way to cure it?" Madame Sisha asked anxiously, and even the previously unperturbed Cherith now looked tense.
Ann Vaughn did not answer immediately but instead took out a golden needle and a container to extract a few drops of blood from Cherith.
While an ordinary person might not detect anything from the blood besides the smell of iron, Ann Vaughn could distinguish the medicinal components and the depth of the poisoning through scent.
A fishy stench would indicate that the poisoning was severe and life-threatening.
"This poison has been lurking in Mr. Cherith’s body for a long time, with a small but potent dose. Relying solely on medication wouldn’t likely have much effect." Ann Vaughn set down the glass container, a thoughtful expression flashed across her eyes.
The poisoner’s strategy was clever, with just the right dose—not easily noticeable, nor causing Cherith’s immediate death to arouse suspicion.
Instead, it slowly eroded Cherith’s vitality step by step with a hallucinogenic poison, causing him to gradually lose control of his actions. And at this moment, if someone were to suggest something to him...
Over time, it’s not impossible that he might harm himself.
It truly was an exceptionally sophisticated poison.
Even the most precise instruments at the hospital failed to detect anything amiss in his body, but Ann Vaughn discovered it with just a pulse reading. Cherith was now completely convinced of her ability and said, "I’ll follow Dr. Vaughn’s decision without question."
Ann Vaughn returned to the hotel from Seabreeze Villa just before dawn, and a warm sun rose from the direction of the end of the avenue, tinting half the sky with orange-red.
Having worked all night, Ann Vaughn was incredibly tired and longed to sleep.
Yet, if she didn’t bathe and change clothes before sleeping, she felt uncomfortable all over, so she declined Madame Sisha’s offer to stay over and forced herself to return to the hotel.
She slept until two in the afternoon, freshened up, and ordered room service to handle her belated lunch in her room. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NovᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet
She spent two consecutive days , day and night reversed.
It wasn’t until the remaining poison in Cherith’s body was finally completely cleared that Ann Vaughn could finally relax a little, no longer needing to constantly monitor his reaction after taking the antidote.
"Starting tomorrow, there’s no need for acupuncture. As long as you take the medication on time and soak in a medicinal bath twice a week, the damaged organs will gradually recover, and the previous ailments won’t recur."
Ann Vaughn placed the newly written prescription on the table, advising Cherith, who had just sat up, and Madame Sisha beside him.
"Annie, I truly don’t know how to thank you," said Madame Sisha, wiping the moisture from the corner of her eye caused by tension, as she excitedly stepped forward to grasp Ann Vaughn’s cold little hand, "Thank goodness for you."
"Please don’t say that. Mr. Cherith helped me unconditionally when I had nothing years ago. Now I’m just doing what I can, and I really can’t accept such gratitude." Ann Vaughn’s bright eyes curved into a gentle smile.
Madame Sisha’s heart warmed, her initial fondness for Ann Vaughn increased from seventy percent to a full hundred percent.
And her way of expressing her affection for Ann Vaughn was quite direct—
"Do you have a boyfriend? I have quite a few eligible bachelors on a list here; would you like to see if you fancy any and take a few back?"
Cherith, who had just finished acupuncture and was waiting for his wife to fuss over him, deliberately lay still: ...
In this distant foreign land, Ann Vaughn oddly found a point of connection with the older generation of both countries—they all loved to introduce people to potential partners...
At that moment, Ann Vaughn’s attention was captured by the sudden burst of fireworks outside the window. Watching the delicate lines in the sky bloom into marvelous patterns, her heart fluttered slightly.
"These fireworks are beautiful, aren’t they?" Madame Sisha, noticing her gaze of fondness, was moved, "Later, there will be many guests coming here to celebrate the last day of the year with us. Why don’t you stay and celebrate with us? I assure you, these fireworks will be the most beautiful in the country."
Due to Cherith’s condition, they initially planned to cancel all celebrations today to avoid exhaustion.
But Madame Sisha thought it was a rare occasion for Ann Vaughn to visit F Country, and who knew when they would meet again. After discussing with Cherith, they decided to hold a party at Seabreeze Villa for some excitement.
Cherith naturally had no objections, as the signs of his recovery filled him with joy, and he even contributed several ideas to Madame Sisha.
Unable to resist their warm hospitality, Ann Vaughn happily agreed.
As the pitch-black night sky absorbed the last traces of sunset’s glow, the brightly lit Seabreeze Villa was bustling with activity, with the elegant and romantic music audible everywhere.
It made one want to immerse in this enchanting and captivating atmosphere.
When Ann Vaughn arrived, she hadn’t brought a dress; it was Madame Sisha who sent over a dress from her studio, resolving her predicament.
The party was held in the circular hall on the villa’s fifth floor. Madame Sisha, holding the hand of Ann Vaughn, who wore a navy blue semi-sheer mermaid gown, descended the spiral staircase, immediately drawing the eyes of everyone there.
Among a host of exotic, noticeably alluring women, Ann Vaughn’s exquisite yet unpretentious appearance, her bright eyes gently sweeping with a blend of charm and elegance, did not fade in comparison. Instead, she shone even brighter.
The gentlemen dancing in the ballroom glanced in that direction and were so captivated that they forgot to avert their gaze, even failing to notice when they stepped on their partner’s shoes.