Chapter 6

That was when Gavin snapped impatiently from his bed, "That's enough—shut up already! A so-called venerable healer behaving like some wimpy brat?! On top of that, you're all talk! Get out of here already, and don't ever show your face in Riverton!"

"Yes, yes…" Roch was at once cowed, nodding and bowing as he fled, but not forgetting to shoot Tony a venomous glare just before he left the room.

As Gavin calmed down, he turned toward Tony and studied him. "So, Ingrid—this was the gentleman who saved my life?"

Ingrid nodded. "Yes, Grandpa. His name is Tony Quill…"

With that, she told her grandfather everything that had happened.

"I owe you my life, Mr. Quill." Gavin then smiled at Tony. "I've been poisoned with an atypical substance, and I'm well aware that it was the work of one Leon Bolton. That means there's a mole in my own house, or he wouldn't even have a chance.

"You can truly look everywhere but still not see what goes on behind your back. I'm lucky you came when you did—"

"Excuse me, Mr. Carter," Tony said, interrupting him just then. "The poison in your body is now under control, and with this recipe, it'll all be excreted in three days. I've held up my promise to Ms. Carter, so I'll get going now."

Gavin was shrewd, but Tony was not slow either—the man was telling everything so that he could recruit Tony to his cause, but Tony really was not interested in his beef against Leon.

Moreover, he had his own priorities—he had managed to trace his family's massacre to the Fishers.

And with others clearly still hunting him and Rain, he needed to drag them out into the light.

Gavin could certainly read his intention and nodded with a smile. "Anyway, allow me to thank you again, Mr. Quill. If you don't mind, I'd ask you to speed my way to recovery too. Ivan, if you will please escort Mr. Quill?"

"Of course, sir! This way please, Mr. Quill!"

While Ivan escorted Tony out of the room, Gavin beckoned at Ingrid, who was soon grinning in understanding after a brief exchange.

"You really are sharp, Gramps," she giggled. "The man isn't just an incredible healer, but he's more than what he seems too. Even the mayor shows him due respect, so if he joins us, we'll have another formidable asset in our fight against Leon!"

Gavin smiled. "Oh, you silly girl…"

Ingrid shrugged and smiled in return, heading outside the room to call Tony. "Can you wait downstairs for a moment? I'll give you a ride."

-

Meanwhile, a dark green Range Rover stopped outside the hospital where Roch stood.

"You cured Gavin Carter?! That's great!" Lex exclaimed in delight in the car.

Kate was sighing in relief too, unfastening his seatbelt as she reached for the door. "Please join us, Healer Jarek. I'll treat you to a banquet."

However, Roch pressed a hand on the door, sighing as he shook his head. "That's tactless of you, Ms. Willow!"

Kate was left confused. "What? What do you mean?"

Roch narrowed his eyes, his expression aggrieved as he ranted, "I have been a healer all my life, but I've never sought fame or wealth! I was helping because I respect Mr. Fisher here, even though I know you're both trying to get in the Carters' good graces. But did you have to use me like a tool?"

That left Kate even more confused, and it was Lex who asked, "What do you mean, Healer Jarek?"

"Tony Quill!" Roch bellowed. "He announced himself as Ms. Willow's husband, and not only did he claim credit for my accomplishment, but he insulted me just to make himself look good in front of Ms. Carter!

"One really can't sink any lower than that… But I guess it's fine. I'm old, and I'll be retiring anyway. I certainly will after this crap!"

And with those words, Roch stormed off, though his grief soon vanished when he was far enough, his lips curled up in a cunning smile.

On the other hand, Lex and Kate remained in the car, staring at each other in confusion.

Eventually, Lex bellowed, "Tony Quill screwed it all up! After claiming Healer Jarek's credit, he must've badmouthed us in front of Ingrid Carter too!"

Kate was frowning, but she murmured, "No, Tony isn't that type of—"

"What do you mean by that?!" Lex kept bellowing. "Hasn't the Venerable Healer Jarek made himself very clear?!"

It just so happened that he noticed Tony stepping out of the hospital, still on the call with Ingrid.

"I'll kill you!" Lex snarled as his face contorted with hatred, jamming his foot on the gas pedal and sending his Range Rover lurching toward Tony.

The Range Rover's tires screeched as it bounded toward Tony, who raised a brow while preparing to leap out of the way.

That was when Kate suddenly pulled the handbrake, bringing the Range Rover to a screeching half mid-sprint!

But without the seatbelt on, her face slammed painfully on the windshield from sheer inertia.

Lex was too furious to care, winding the window down and bellowing at Tony, "How dare you ruin my plans! I'll kill you!"

Tony completely ignored him, however, and was instead looking at Kate with a brief flicker of tenderness.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"She's my girl! It's none of your business!" Lex kept bellowing at him.

Though Kate felt an aching from Tony's concern, she could see that Lex was clearly not in control.

Not wanting Tony to get hurt, she shot him a cool look and snapped, "I'm fine! And we're divorced now—I don't need your concern!"

"So, I worried too much?"

Tony chuckled self-deprecatingly, but his frustrations spurred him into arguing. "I honestly don't understand what you see in scum like him!"

"Scum?! You piece of shit—"

Lex was ready to get out of the Range Rover, but Kate caught his arm while snapping at Tony, "Quit meddling! It's over between us! Lex is rich and well-connected—he'll help my career, something which you can't ever do! Just leave! I don't ever want to see you again! And I don't need you worrying about me!"

While she was just trying to defuse the situation and send Tony away, her words still hurt, and Tony totally gave up on her just then.

"Fine. Do whatever you like!" he retorted as he turned to leave.

Lex, however, was not about to let it slide.

"Did I say you can leave?!" he bellowed as he shook Kate's hand away and alighted, calling his goons while taking out a baseball bat from the car trunk.

Pointing at Tony with the bat, he smirked, "You're upset, aren't you? I stole your wife, and now you're sucking up to Ingrid Carter and sending her after us?"

Tony's patience was at its limit, but even as he clenched his knuckle, someone snapped, "How dare you snap at my man! Do you want a piece of me?!"

"Who's the bitch… Ms. Carter?!"

Lex was still growling like a mad dog one moment, but freezing up the next, his gaze at once fearful when he saw Ingrid.

As she strode up to Tony, everyone watched as she hugged his arm while leveling a threatening smile at Lex. "Rabid dogs really bark at anyone in sight, huh? Or perhaps the Fishers decided they don't like it here in Riverton?"