Anastasia shoved Mr. Evert and Lauren aside, snatching the silver needles from their hands without hesitation.
Her movements were deft and swift as she pressed the needles into several precise points on Mr. Calderon’s body. Within moments, his ragged breathing steadied, if only slightly.
“Where’s the medicine I asked for?” she demanded, her sharp gaze cutting straight through the butler.
The man shrank back, intimidated by her presence. “It’s still simmering, ma’am—almost ready!”
“Bring it to me as soon as it’s done!”
“Yes, right away!” he stammered, rushing from the room. In less than a minute, he hurried back, personally carrying a steaming bowl of the dark, bitter remedy.
“Give it to him,” Anastasia ordered.
Lauren stepped forward, blocking the way. “You can’t give him that!” she snapped, her voice edged with panic. “Are you trying to kill him?”
The butler hesitated, caught between the two women.
With a sharp laugh, Anastasia shot back, “And who was it that nearly killed him already?”
Lauren froze, her confidence wavering.
Anastasia turned to the butler, her tone icy. “You need to decide—are you going to listen to me, or to her? Or do you want to stand by and watch your master slip away?”
The butler hesitated only a second before gritting his teeth and nodding to the maid. “Give him the medicine.”
The liquid was quickly poured down Mr. Calderon’s throat.
Everyone watched anxiously, but instead of improving, his condition took a turn for the worse. His face flushed bright red, his body burning up. In seconds, he was burning with fever, skin hot to the touch—his temperature must have shot up to over 104 degrees!
He looked like he was about to burn out completely.
“Ms. Sterling! What’s happening?” the butler cried, panic rising in his voice.
Mr. Calderon’s body had swung from one extreme to the other, and it looked just as dire as before.
Lauren let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. So much for Anastasia’s miracle cure—she was just as helpless.
“Anastasia, this is a man’s life at stake!” Mr. Evert barked, his voice harsh with accusation. “Is this your idea of treatment?”
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