Taylor took the bowl from Camilla’s hands with an air of calm indifference, downing the medicinal concoction in one swift gulp.
Instantly, his fair, handsome brows furrowed tightly.
From childhood till now, he had taken medicine more often than he’d drunk water.
But never had he encountered anything this bitter.
Camilla’s expression was one of complete understanding.
She had tasted this very remedy once as a child, and its flavor had left an indelible mark on her memory.
Perhaps accustomed to enduring pain, Taylor’s knitted brows soon relaxed.
"Is there anything else we need to prepare?"
"Take off your clothes."
Camilla drew a silver needle over three inches long from her acupuncture case.
But there’s something I should warn you about first," she said slowly.
"This acupuncture treatment will be quite painful.
You’ll need to endure it."
"Don’t worry," Taylor replied calmly as he unbuttoned his shirt.
"I’ve been through worse.
Go ahead with the needles, it’s fine."
His toned upper body was revealed as the shirt came off, with well-defined muscles across his waist and abdomen that were pleasing to the eye—clearly the result of regular exercise, quite different from the frail image she had imagined.
Camilla quickly snapped out of her momentary distraction when she noticed the intense gaze from the side.
"Rest assured, once we confirm the toxin, I’m confident I can treat it."
Taylor’s beautiful eyes lit up with hope as he caught the key word.
"Sister Camilla, you mean my brother’s poisoning can be cured?!"
Calvin and Sinclair both turned their attention to Camilla.
Even Taylor couldn’t hide his surprise.
He had assumed she was only here to identify the toxin in his system, never expecting actual treatment.
"Of course it can," As she spoke, Camilla deftly inserted a three-inch silver needle into a precise acupoint on Taylor’s neck.
"Everything in this world exists in a cycle of mutual creation and restraint—poisons are no exception."
These were the very first words her grandfather had taught her after she began studying medicine.
"Good... very good," Melissa nodded fervently, her eyes alight with excitement as he gazed at Camilla as though she were a savior.
Taylor, however, had no time to dwell on thoughts.
A searing pain radiated rapidly from the spot where the needle had pierced his skin.
His brows furrowed instantly, and his hands, resting on his knees, clenched involuntarily into fists.
And this was only the first needle.
Calvin noticed the shift in Taylor’s expression and narrowed his eyes slightly.
Seems like Taylor still has a long way to go.
But hope was better than nothing—it looked like bringing Camilla here had been the right call.
Sinclair, on the other hand, never once took his eyes off Camilla.
Unfazed, she continued without pause.
The Third Needle. ... In less than five minutes, over twenty silver needles were already inserted around his neck.
Taylor felt as though his entire body was being scorched by raging flames, the pain unbearable.
His jaw clenched tightly, veins bulging prominently on his forehead as he endured the agony.
Melissa watched, her heart aching at the sight of his suffering.
Her pearly teeth bit down on her crimson lips, torn between fear and concern, forcing herself to keep her eyes fixed on him.
Camilla held another needle, shifting her focus from Taylor’s neck to his chest.
Every ounce of her concentration was channeled into her hands—so much so that she didn’t even have a moment to wipe away the fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead and the tip of her nose.
The essence of this acupuncture technique lies in its seamless execution.
If she lost focus or paused midway, continuing would become nearly impossible.
Sinclair observed Camilla in silence, his dark eyes unfathomable.
Dozens of more needles followed.
Taylor felt the blood in his limbs and bones surging violently, as though his entire body were on the verge of tearing apart.
His teeth remained gritted, every muscle taut, veins writhing like earthworms beneath his skin. Cold sweat drenched him from head to toe.
The pain was nearly unbearable.
Melissa’s face was tense, her hands clasped tightly together as if in prayer.
"Just three more needles," Camilla paused, quickly wiping the sweat from her brow before forcing a lighthearted smile.
"If you can endure this, it’ll be over.
But if it’s too much, you can stop now."
Her words served a dual purpose—to gauge Taylor’s current state and to subtly remind him.
These final three needles were the most crucial.
If Taylor couldn’t hold still or pass out mid-procedure, all their efforts up to this point would be for nothing.
"...I’m fine. Keep going."
Taylor didn’t open his eyes, his voice strained and weak to the extreme.
The burden of the Taylor family was too heavy—he couldn’t bear to leave it all on Melissa’s shoulders.
Every extra day he could live was a blessing. As long as there was hope for treatment, he could endure anything.
A flicker of admiration flashed in Camilla’s eyes as she decisively inserted the silver needle.
"Tssk—" The searing pain flared up again inside him. Despite being mentally prepared, Taylor couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath through clenched teeth.
Camilla’s fingers holding the silver needle trembled slightly, yet her movements never faltered.
Without hesitation, she inserted the second needle.
Taylor’s body jerked violently as a muffled groan escaped his lips.
Some pains were so visceral that even witnessing them made one wince involuntarily.
Calvin couldn’t suppress a frown.
If anything ever happened to me, I’d rather not have Camilla treat me, he thought fleetingly—only to immediately dismiss the notion with a mental shake of his head.
No. Nothing would ever happen to me.
"Last needle now," Camilla murmured, drawing a deep breath as she channeled all her focus into her steady hands.
The entire room held its breath, every pair of eyes locked onto her precise movements.
When the final silver needle pierced Taylor’s skin, it felt as though his body were being torn apart by wild horses—an agony beyond endurance.
With a muffled groan of pain, his entire body began to slump forward.
Fortunately, Camilla reacted swiftly, catching Taylor just in time.
The moment she spoke, Calvin had already stepped in, taking over to support Taylor’s weight.
"Now we just have to wait," Camilla said, exhaling in relief, her voice strained.
"If all goes well, the venom should start seeping out through the needle points soon."
Sinclair wrapped an arm around Camilla’s waist, his brow furrowing as he took in her pale face and the sheen of sweat on her forehead.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Camilla shook her head, offering him a faint smile.
"Just a little tired. I’ll be fine after some rest."
Sinclair knew that while the acupuncture might appear effortless, it demanded immense mental focus.
Without a word, he scooped her up and set her gently on a nearby chair, then poured her a cup of tea at just the right temperature.
His silent care spoke volumes.
After sipping the tea and resting for a while, Camilla began to feel much better.
Just then, Melissa’s startled cry cut through the air.
"Sister Camilla, look!!"
The political climate in the capital was shifting like the wind.
Meanwhile, at Porter residence— "You two worthless brats!!
" A hoarse, icy voice roared, barely containing its fury.
"On your knees, now!!"
A suffocating tension hung heavy over the entire estate.
The servants held their breath, not daring to make a sound—everyone knew better than to draw attention when the storm was at its peak.