Chapter 60

Eliana hurried to smooth things over. "Julia, please don't be upset. Claire spoke impulsively because she's worried about me. She meant no harm."

Secretly, though, she wvished Claire wouldn't always blurt out exactly what was on her mind without considering the consequences.

With lips pressed tightly, Grace studied Eliana before saying, "Dr. Morrison might not have answers for your illness, but don't lose hope. Someone else can."

At Grace's words, Eliana's face shifted. "Who could it possibly be?" The question escaped before she could stop it.

Was she being naive again? Why was she grasping at thin air? In her view, Grace had never shown herself to be reliable-what miracle solution could she possibly offer? Certainly, Grace had no connections to anyone capable or famous. Maybe the sickness was getting to her own head.

Nearby, Gianna's irritation bubbled over. "Grace,you aren't implying you're the miracle healer, are you? You genuinely believe you can cure Aunt Eliana's stomach cancer?"

"Actually, I am," Grace replied with quiet determination.

The room fell silent, as though caught in a cold grip.

Eliana felt the fragile spark of hope wvithin her flicker and vanish into a familiar ache of disappointment.

She forced herself into a bitter, weary smile. "Grace,please stop this nonsense..."

Claire,unable to contain herself any longer, sharply interjected, "Do you realize the kind of trouble your bragging could cause? Aren't you afraid of being caught in your own lies?"

Gianna's mouth twisted scornfully. To her, Grace had clearly lost her sense of reality, thinking she was superior to world-renowned experts. She had rarely seen anyone with such nerve.

Ethel's face was equally tense, disbelief etched deeply as Grace's claims grew more absurd.

Grace merely offered a small, calm smile. "It's your choice to believe or not."

Without another word, she turned and left.

Julia hurried after her, offering comfort.

While doubt filled the room, Julia remained

unwavering. After all, she'd personally experienced the extraordinary effects of the medicine Grace developed. She trusted implicitly in her daughter's honesty.

Confusion rippled among those left behind.

Rodger's brow creased slightly. He couldn't imagine Grace speaking without reason.

"Eliana, don't lose hope. I'll do everything I can to find someone who can truly help," he said gently, noticing the shadow on her face.

He recalled whispers about a mysterious healer named Dr. Q, reputed to defy death itself and conquer diseases thought unbeatable.

Finding Dr. Q was nearly impossible; the mysterious doctor never made any public appearances.

A sharp, disbelieving laugh slipped from Eliana."Dr.Q?" she said. "Rodger, that's just a story people like to whisper about..."

Without wavering, Rodger met her doubts with certainty. "I've already sent out investigators.Any clue at all, and we'll do whatever it takes to bring this doctor here for you."

"Alright." Eliana nodded, a smile flickering across her face though it didn't reach her eyes.

Unexpectedly,Gianna broke the quiet with a new idea."I came across something interesting-there's an auction this weekend. Supposedly, a miracle cure will be up for bid, claimed to heal any sickness and restore youth. An enigmatic healer created it, and the city's wealthy all line up for a chance at it. Maybe it's worth a look for Aunt Eliana?"

Ethel couldn't hide her excitement. "Seriously? We have to check it out!"

A brief silence followed as Rodger weighed the option."I'll assign someone to investigate the medicine. If it truly works, we'll secure it, whatever the price."

Claire's face lit up, her joy unmistakable. "You mean it?That's amazing. We really have totry!"

Every possible option needed exploring if there was any hope of easing her mother's illness.

That approach certainly sounded more promising than paying attention to Grace's bragging.

Meanwhile, Grace picked up her phone to find Patrick on the line. "Hi, I've got some exciting news. There's an auction coming up this weekend-rare medicinal treasures will be up for grabs, but the real star is our 'Rejuvenation Pill'. I've set aside two just for the auction. Interested? I managed to snag an invitation."

Gaining entry to events like this wasn't easy; only the select few with exclusive invites could hope to attend.

"Sounds good, I'll go have a look," she replied, not having any pressing plans for the weekend anyway.

Back at the hospital, Eliana relied on prescribed medications while Rodger's efforts remained focused on the elusive Dr. Q.

For her part, Grace stepped aside, letting them follow their own path. If her advice went unheeded, she saw no point in pressing further.

A different day found Grace scheduled for a house call to Colton's-her last check-up for him.

Progress from her earlier treatments had left Colton on the verge of full health.

Upon arrival, the butler received her with a deep bow."Miss Miller, Mr. Pearson is waiting for you."

She acknowledged him with a nod and made her way directly to his room.

There, Colton stood quietly at a window, posture commanding and gaze unreadable.

He turned as soon as he heard her approach, his

attention sharpening. "You've arrived."

Grace returned the look, her answer measured,replying, "Go ahead and lie down. This is your final follow-up."

With a subtle smile, Colton's tone dropped to a murmur."Are you really convincedI'm back to normal?"

One eyebrow arched, Grace shot him a teasing look."So,have you lost faith in my abilities?"

Colton's laughter was quiet, almost warm, as he settled back and let her begin her work.

With steady hands, she pressed her fingertips to his wrist, feeling for a steady rhythm. After a few thoughtful seconds, a smile played at her lips. "Your recovery is complete. Every trace of the toxin is gone."

A glimmer of mischief danced in Colton's eyes. Out of nowhere,he caught her wrist and grinned. "Grace,you've pulled me back from the edge. Any ideas on how I might repay you?"