Heartless Wolves

Rue's expression immediately changed. The bottle didn't even have a label on it. Who knew what kind of cheap, unregulated medicine it was?

"Dad, you can't just take random medication. I happened to study medicine online before. Why don't I take a look at you myself?"

"This isn't some unregulated medicine. It's—"

Before Gyle could finish, Rue was already in motion.

He sat down on the couch while she pulled a small medical kit from her bag.

She checked his pulse, examined his breathing, and asked him a series of questions about his symptoms. Then she guided him through a few mobility tests, observing the range of motion in his shoulders, neck, and chest.

Her movements were calm, confident, and methodical.

Next, she used a handheld massage tool and several targeted pressure-point techniques to relax the muscles around his upper back and rib cage before demonstrating a set of breathing and stretching exercises.

If she'd really learned all this from online courses and medical resources...

That was unbelievably impressive.

Just as Gyle was staring at her in shock, the front door suddenly creaked open.

"I told you we should've bought the dip today, but you wouldn't listen!"

Rita's voice floated in from outside.

Rue immediately caught a key phrase.

She glanced toward the doorway.

“Mom, are you and Cody trading stocks?”

“I...” Rita looked embarrassed. Scratching her head awkwardly, she nodded.

“We've just been following along with other people. We're not investing much. We thought maybe we could earn a little extra money to help with household expenses.”

“Oh...” Rue spoke casually. “One of my classmates from the finance department mentioned that the stock market might start recovering soon. Maybe you and Cody could give it a try?”

She deliberately made it sound like an offhand suggestion.

The last thing she wanted was to encourage her family to become addicted to stock trading.

After all, once people got hooked on it, it wasn't much different from gambling.

The reason she was recommending it now was simple.

She was absolutely certain.

“Didn't the market crash recently?” Gyle asked in surprise.

Cody smiled. “Our little sister is the family's lucky charm. Ever since she came home, even the debt collectors stopped showing up. Let's listen to Rue. We'll buy tomorrow.”

Then Gyle's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Hey, that actually works! I already feel a lot better!"

Rita stared at Rue in astonishment. "Rue, you know physical therapy techniques too?"

Rue answered calmly. "I picked up a lot from online medical courses and tutorials. Dad was basically my test subject just now."

"What test subject? I'd say your assessment and treatment skills are every bit as good as those—"

Before Gyle could finish, Rita shot him a warning look.

He immediately swallowed the rest of his sentence.

That evening, the family gathered together in their small home and shared a simple homemade dinner.

The house wasn't even as large as one of the guest suites in the Sterling Family villa.

Yet here, Rue experienced something money could never buy.

The warmth of a real family.

Three days passed.

During those days, Rue barely left her room.

By the time she emerged, she had successfully produced two large bottles of Vital Essence Pills.

She knew Vanderbilt Group was interested in them.

Perhaps this was an opportunity to make a fortune.

Rue had always had one habit. Whenever she worked on medicine, she became completely immersed in the process and hated being disturbed.

Her phone had been turned off for days.

When she finally powered it on again, she discovered more than ninety-nine missed calls.

The most recent one came from an unfamiliar landline number.

After hesitating briefly, she returned the call.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Rue Blackwood? We're calling from the hospital. Your brother, Zach Sterling, is currently in the ICU undergoing emergency treatment. His condition is critical. There are no family members with him at the moment. Could you come to the hospital as soon as possible?”

“Emergency treatment?” Rue's brows knitted together tightly.

A deep crease formed between them.

Had the Sterling Family done something to Zach again while they couldn't reach her?

She wasn't sure.

Before leaving, however, she gave her father careful instructions.

“Dad, I left some medicine for you. I learned how to make it from a traditional medicine expert online. Try taking it.”

If she hadn't run into Hans Galloway that day, she never would have realized how poor Gyle's health actually was.

Her father was sick.

Her brother was the family's only source of income.

They were buried under massive debts.

Yet despite all of that, she felt no fear whatsoever.

Gyle accepted the medicine happily.

"Rue is incredible. You know so much about health and medicine, and now you can even make your own remedies. All those years with the Sterling Family, your talents were completely wasted."

“Dad, I have something to take care of. Don't wait for me for dinner.”

She flashed him a sweet smile.

Then she left immediately and rushed to the hospital without wasting a second.

Along the way, it was almost as if the Sterling Family somehow knew she was heading there.

Call after call from Ariana Sterling flooded her phone.

Growing increasingly annoyed, she blocked one number after another.

There was nothing left for her to say to Ariana.

Outside the ICU.

The moment Rue arrived, she saw a group of familiar faces.

The entire Sterling Family was gathered outside the emergency room.

They stood together chatting and laughing as though they were attending a social gathering.

For a moment, Rue genuinely wondered whether any of them had a heart.

Zach's condition was so critical.

Yet none of them seemed worried.

Instead, they were busy making conversation.

“Rue Blackwood, you finally showed up.” Ariana sneered as she strode toward her. “I thought you weren't even planning to see Zach one last time.”

Then her expression darkened.

“Didn't you promise to deliver his medicine on time? And those Vital Essence Pills you gave us before—they were fake!”

“Fake?” Rue narrowed her eyes.

Her gaze drifted toward Mrs. Sterling.

“Mrs. Sterling, don't tell me you traded my Vital Essence Pills away to secure a business deal? Using your own son's life in exchange for cooperation. The Sterling Family truly is a nest of heartless wolves.”

“You—!” Mrs. Sterling's face alternated between red and white.

Embarrassed and furious, she immediately tried to defend herself.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Who says I traded away your pills for business?”

“Didn't you?” Rue folded her arms. “Then how exactly did you determine that my pills were fake?”

Her red lips curved upward into a smile so chilling it sent shivers down people's spines.

“Regardless, your medicine was fake,” Ariana declared loudly. “Otherwise, why didn't it help Zach after he took it?”

Then something occurred to her. Her expression turned even more arrogant. Pointing directly at Rue's face, she shouted, “You shameless little slut! Giving your own brother fake medicine wasn't enough—you've even been secretly seducing my fiancé behind my back!”

“You’re the only one who could possibly be interested in trash like that.”

Rue shot Ariana a look of pure disdain.

She didn’t even need to think about it.

Hans had probably gone home with scratches on him from their confrontation. When someone noticed the marks, he had naturally shifted the blame onto her.

“Let’s put Hans aside for now,” Mrs. Sterling said as she stepped forward aggressively. “Why did you use fake medicine to endanger your brother’s life?”

Her tone grew increasingly accusatory.

“Zach has always treated you well. If the Vital Essence Pill was too expensive, you could have named your price—or simply refused to give it to us. How could you deceive us with fake medicine?”

“Really?” Rue raised her eyes lazily.

Then she lifted her phone and pressed play.

The recording she had made outside the hotel played through the speaker at maximum volume, ensuring everyone in the hallway could hear every word clearly.

“As long as Zach is around, why would we worry about her refusing to give us the Vital Essence Pill? Once we get it, Vanderbilt Group's investment is guaranteed!”

Mrs. Sterling’s excited voice echoed through the corridor.