The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1985

"Then, I'll call you Wynter," Sadie said softly before introducing herself, "My name is Sadie Littlewood, you can just call me Sadie."

"Alright." Wynter nodded slightly. "I had someone brew a cup of medicinal tea. I'll bring it over for you."

She rose to her feet and walked out just as Wolf was bringing the tea over.

Seeing Wynter, Wolf handed her the tea. "Boss, it's ready."

Wynter accepted it smoothly. "Good. You didn't forget what I taught you."

Just as she was turning back, she suddenly thought of something and looked toward Dalton. "Take Wolf and check around again. Her grandmother is important to us."

"Got it." Dalton stood up. "I'll go with Wolf to search for her. I'll leave the things here to you."

Wynter nodded, then carried the steaming tea back into the room. "Sadie, the tea is ready. Drink it slowly. It can help calm nerves and nourish the liver."

Sadie carefully took the cup, her hands still trembling a little. She brought it close, blew on it gently, and took a sip.

The tea was bitter yet faintly sweet, and as it slid from her throat into her stomach, a warm current spread, miraculously soothing her taut nerves.

"This tea… I can't quite describe it, but it makes me feel calm," Sadie said as she savored the taste.

"Of course. It's meant to strengthen the kidneys and protect the liver." Wynter took the empty cup from her. "I still need to take another look at your medical report. I think something might've been overlooked."

At that, Sadie pulled some documents out of her bag and handed them to Wynter.

Wynter flipped through the imaging report slowly, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

The report showed severe optic nerve damage, which usually made recovery nearly impossible. However, the response she had just observed after the acupuncture session didn't match what the report suggested.

Suddenly, Wynter noticed a folded supplemental report. "Wait, this one mentions you have a mild cervical misalignment."

Sadie nodded. "Yes, but the doctor said it wasn't serious. The main problem is with the optic nerve."

"No, that doesn't add up…" Wynter set the file down and moved behind Sadie, gently pressing along her cervical spine. "Here… and here. Does it hurt?"

"It hurts a lot." Sadie winced and instinctively shrank her neck, her brows knotting together.

Seeing this, Wynter made a guess. "I see. Your cervical misalignment is pressing on the nerves and blood vessels connected to the eyes. The hospital focused only on the optic nerve damage and ignored how the cervical issue could disrupt circulation."

Wynter quickly stood up as relief flashed across her face. "I'll give you acupuncture and cervical adjustments, along with herbal medicine. I'm about 80 percent confident I can help you recover."

Sadie's lips trembled as she heard Wynter's words. "There's an 80 percent chance I can recover? Really?"

"Of course." Wynter looked straight into her eyes. "Traditional medicine emphasizes belief in the treatment. There's hope as long as you cooperate, but the process won't be easy."

Sadie fell silent for a long moment before suddenly gripping Wynter's hand. "Wynter, I'm willing to try. I have nothing left to lose. If there's even a chance, I want my world to no longer be in endless darkness again!"

Even if hope was slim, Sadie wanted to at least try. It wouldn't change much if it failed, but her entire life would change if it succeeded.

Feeling the cold sweat and faint tremor in Sadie's palm, Wynter gently squeezed her hand. "Alright, but do you want to rest for a while? I'll adjust your cervical spine and continue with the acupuncture later."

"Thank you, Wynter." Sadie hesitated before asking, "But why are you helping me? We didn't even know each other."

Wynter lifted her gaze to meet hers. "Because a doctor's heart is filled with compassion. I'll do everything I can to help if I come across someone in need—it could be anyone. I believe there's no such thing as an incurable illness, only treatments not yet discovered."

A gentle smile curved her lips before she continued, "Besides, isn't it worth trying to help someone, who has lived in darkness so long, see light again?"

Tears welled in Sadie's eyes as she gripped her hand tightly. "I've used up all my luck meeting you, Wynter."

...

Meanwhile, Dalton had taken Wolf out to search for Sadie's grandmother.

The damp sea breeze carried with it the mingled stench of fish and engine oil.

"Mr. Leprechaun, the boss told us to look for this woman, but we've been walking in circles and still haven't found anything." Wolf rubbed his hands together, clearly tired.

Dalton's gaze stayed stoic. "Keep searching if you don't want her to lock you up in a dark room."

Wolf lifted his head. "But I'm so tired…"

Dalton didn't answer. Instead, he raised a finger to Wolf's lips. "Stop."

His ears had caught something—not the crash of waves against the breakwater nor the distant blare of a cargo ship's horn, but something subtler and more dangerous.

Seeing this, Wolf lowered his voice. "Mr. Leprechaun, did you find her?"

"There are people up ahead," Dalton murmured.

He pressed Wolf down with a hand, and the two of them moved silently toward the source of the sound.

Before long, Dalton and Wolf crouched behind a cover. Ahead of them, several men were laughing boisterously.

"You don't know when to quit, huh? We've given you money to keep you quiet last time, and now, you're back again. Do you think we're walking piggy banks?" one of the rough voices jeered.

In the middle of the group was an elderly woman. "I need money to treat my granddaughter's eyes. I had no choice but to come to you."

The leader sneered. "So, you're taking us for fools, huh?"

The old woman raised her head, determination flashing in her eyes. "I'll report what happened last time to the police if you don't give me the money. They'll definitely come here to check!"

As soon as she finished, the leader's hand shot out and clamped around her throat. "Are you threatening us, old hag? Do you realize that that one sentence just sealed your fate? And you've got a granddaughter, haven't you?"

A crushing wave of suffocation flooded the woman's chest as she struggled desperately.

"Boss, the waterway might become too risky to use if we kill her like this." One of the men behind him spoke up.

The leader released his grip after a pause. "That's a good point. If trouble comes, those relics won't be able to be transported in secret."

Suddenly, a wicked smile tugged at his lips. "But this is the last shipment, anyway."

He glanced down at the old woman on the ground. "Blame yourself for seeing what you weren't supposed to. Be more careful in your next life."

Just as he was about to act, the man suddenly snapped his head around. "Who's there?"

Dalton stepped out with Wolf at his side. "It looks like we came just in time."

"What do you mean?" The man frowned. "What did you hear?"

"Everything." Dalton's voice was calm and flat.

The man's brows furrowed even deeper. "Get them! Don't let them leave!"

The words had barely left his mouth before his men rushed at Dalton.

Dalton's expression stayed the same as he glanced at Wolf. "They're yours."

Then, he stepped back a few paces, leaving the fight to him.

She suddenly clutched her eyes and bent over, as if struck by invisible pain.

Seeing this, Wynter immediately gripped her wrist. Sadie's pulse was taut and rapid, as if her liver was burning. Wynter quickly acted without hesitation, pulling a silver needle from her kit and piercing precisely into the LI4 acupoint.

Sadie's violent struggle ceased, though she still trembled. Wynter took the chance to place a few more needles in her, draining the excess heat at LR3 and LR2 acupoints.

Gradually, Sadie's breathing steadied.

"Now, tell me exactly what happened," Wynter asked softly, her fingers pressing gently around Sadie's eyes.

Sadie bit her lip. After a while, she finally whispered, "My eyes were suddenly burning earlier. That's when even that last trace of light disappeared."

Her voice grew smaller as she continued, "Wynter, does this mean there's no chance for me to recover anymore?"

Wynter didn't answer immediately. She examined Sadie's eyes carefully, then took her pulse again.

At last, her brows slowly eased. "This is a good reaction. In traditional medicine, this means that you're healing."

"Healing?" Sadie struggled to lift her head. "But I'm back to how I was before."

Wynter comforted her gently, "There's an old medical text that says that the illness will not be cured if there is no such reaction after ingesting medicine.

"What you're experiencing now is a sign that your oxygen and blood have begun to circulate better, but we're not done yet. Imagine it like unclogging a blocked pipe. There will be resistance at first."

Sadie clutched Wynter's hand. "Then what should I do now?"

"Lie down." Wynter stood, her tone returning to a doctor's calm steadiness. "I'm going to use golden needles for your acupuncture, and it will hurt. Are you ready?"

Sadie nodded, lying down.

Wynter drew out another needle case, in which ten golden needles lay in perfect order. They hadn't been used in a long time. After all, golden needles were reserved for severe cases.

Sadie gasped sharply as the first needle pierced her BL1 acupoint. It felt as though a current of electricity had just shot straight into her brain.

Wynter's hands moved with swift precision, placing the remaining nine needles across nine points on her head, forming a strange pattern.

"What is this?" Sadie's voice trembled under the strange sensation.

Wynter, fully focused, twisted the needles gently. "I'm guiding oxygen into your eyes. Relax."

With each needle, Sadie felt an unprecedented heat coursing within her eyes. It was like spring waters breaking through ice. Though the pain remained, it gradually became bearable, feeling almost like a sense of release.

"How does it feel?" Wynter asked while adjusting the golden needles' angles.

"It's hot… and it feels like something is pulsing inside my eyes. There's even a little itch." Sadie tried to describe it.

Wynter's lips curved faintly. "Your oxygen and blood are beginning to circulate. I'll prepare medicine for you."

She quickly mixed a packet of herbal powder with warm water and handed it over. "Drink this."

Sadie gulped it down in one breath. The bitterness made her gag, and minutes later, she suddenly clutched her stomach. "It hurts..."

"The medicine is taking effect. Endure it." Wynter caught Sadie's hand as she tried to pull the needles out. "The body battling sickness will never feel comfortable, but as long as you hold on, you will prevail."

For Sadie, the following moment was like being plunged into purgatory. The pain in her stomach twisted like a blade, her eyes burned unbearably, and cold sweat soaked her clothes.

Wynter stayed by her side throughout, adjusting the golden needles from time to time and massaging her acupoints gently with her warm palms.