Chapter 2

"I've learned a bit of traditional medicine. When I touched your pulse just now, I felt something felt off."

"Didn't you say you never went to school?" Dawson brow furrowed even tighter. He was always skeptical and sharp.

"I learned it from my grandfather when we lived in the mountains. It was self-taught."

"Your grandpa was a traditional doctor?"

"He was also self-taught."

"Why didn't your grandfather come to your wedding?"

"He passed away."

"Oh."

After touching on her painful memory, there was not a hint of apology in his tone. But Lorraine didn't mind and continued, "Back to the point, I'm just telling you what I felt. Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"Go on."

"Do you mind if I check your pulse?"

Dawson said nothing but released her wrist, casually extending his arm.

Lorraine sat up and crouched at the edge of the bathtub to check his pulse.

She turned to sit up, half-squatting at the edge of the bathtub to check Dawson's pulse.

How to describe it?

This face was much more handsome than in those photos from TV and news.

During her four years in the Gregory family, she had occasionally heard news about him and seen his photos.

After all, the Mercer family was the top power in Amber City, everyone knew who they were.

Moreover, a month ago, when the betrothal gifts were sent, Dawson had personally visited the Gregory family.

Although she did not have the right to sit at the table for dinner, she had still caught a glimpse of him from a distance.

His presence was undeniable, though she had not seen his face clearly.

Now seeing him up close, especially with his upper body bare, was truly a feast for the eyes.

"Have you seen enough?"

"Enough, just properly take the pulse."

Lorraine quickly turned her head away, closed her eyes, and focused on checking his pulse.

Her slender, fair fingers rested lightly on his strong wrist.

The chill from her fingertips seeped into his skin, creating a rather peculiar feeling.

"The other one," Lorraine said.

"So troublesome." He muttered but still obediently extended his other arm.

After a moment, she slowly stood up. "Done."

"So? What's the verdict?" he asked calmly.

"You were poisoned."

"Oh?" That was definitely something he had not considered before.

"I'm just speaking from personal experience. I never went to school, never studied traditional medicine systematically, and I don't even have a medical license. So, take my words as a reference at best."

"Go on."

"Your pulse clearly shows signs of poisoning. And it hasn't been more than half a month since it started. The toxins are still active, which is why they show up so clearly."

"Do you know what kind of poison it is?" Dawson asked.

"Methanol poisoning. Have you been drinking fake liquor recently?"

Lorraine words actually made Dawson laugh.

"Me? Dawson? Drinking fake liquor? Do you want to reconsider what you're saying, little girl?"

"I'm just stating my opinion. Believe it or not, that's up to you."

Being doubted made Lorraine a little annoyed. She turned to leave and thinking to herself, "whatever you want!"

"Wait a minute."

"What?" She turned back.

"If you help me, I won't treat you unfairly. But if you're up to something, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Lorraine was instantly provoked by his warning.

"Mr. Mercer, you've never been polite to me since you walked in."

"Also, being overly suspicious is a disease too. I suggest you visit a psychiatrist when you have time!"

After saying that, Lorraine slammed the door and left!

The loud bang made Dawson's ears hurt a little, especially since he'd been relying on his hearing during this past week of blindness.

If he had his previous bad temper, a woman behaving like this would have been thrown out immediately.

But he didn't do that now because he had more important matters to attend to.

He took out his phone and dialed a number. "Help me check the autopsy report of the truck driver involved in the accident. Also, arrange a medical check-up for me tomorrow. Find several doctors."

Dawson remained in the bathroom for quite some time. By the time he came out, Lorraine was already fast asleep on the bed.

Listening to her steady breathing, he realized that this girl sure had a strong heart, sleeping so soundly after all that.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Dawson's mouth as he felt around for a spot on the sofa that was comfortable enough to lie down. He then settled in for a light sleep.

The next morning.

When Lorraine woke up, the man already dressed and sitting motionless on the sofa.

He had not even touched the soup that the maid had brought yesterday.

Her brain slowly booted up like a lagging system. In a husky voice, she drawled, "Morning."

"You're awake. Get up and eat." His expression remained as impassive as ever.

"Okay."

"Change into something more festive. We're going downstairs to serve tea to the elders."

"Alright."

Lorraine big families were full of rigid traditions. Even the Gregory family a second-tier wealthy clan, was pretentious to the extreme.

If it weren't for Sienna using her beauty and sweet words to win over Lidya Mercer.

There was no way their Gregory family would have landed such a prestigious marriage alliance. Throughout Amber City, there were countless women eager to marry Dawson.

Meanwhile, the Gregory family had been struggling financially over the past two years, their funds stretched thin.

It was the exorbitant betrothal gift from the Mercer family that had saved Caleb from his crisis.

Yet, in the end, the one who had to bear the burden of this marriage wasn't the real Gregory family heiress, Sienna. But it was Lorraine.

Lorraine rummaged through the simple suitcase she had brought and picked out a light red dress to wear.

After removing the hairpin, she felt much lighter and simply tied her hair back into a ponytail.

With this youthful face, she instantly became a cheerful girl.

As they descended the stairs, the entire family was already waiting for them.

Dawson could not see, but Lorraine could.

The long dining table was filled with people.

She carefully supported Dawson as they walked down the stairs.

"They're here," Lidya said with a smile.

"Grandma, please have some tea."

"Father, Mother, please have some tea."

"Aunt drank tea."

"Uncle, Auntie, please have some tea."

Agnes Mercer was over eighty but still in good spirits. She was happy that her only grandson was getting married.

But before she could even respond, Helena Mercer sneered, "Since the Gregory family has swapped out the real daughter for a fake one, shouldn't we be adjusting the bride price accordingly?"

Helena had always been a harsh person. Though married for many years, she still loved meddling in Mercer family affairs.

Her words were quickly echoed by Baron, "The Gregory family is indeed acting unreasonably. Dawson's accident was an unfortunate incident, but if they had any objections, they could've chosen not to go through with the marriage. Instead, they just randomly swapped in someone else. Isn't that even more disrespectful to our family?"

With Helena and Baron chiming in, Lorraine feels as if her presence was unnecessary. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her dress, and though she tried to maintain her composure, she couldn't ignore the sting of humiliation. No one liked being treated as if they were disposable.

At this moment, Dawson slammed his fork down on the table.

"If you had so much to say, why didn't you speak up yesterday?"

"Bringing it up now, after the wedding is done and the marriage certificate is signed. Don't you think it's a little too late?"

"If you had said it yesterday, I would have thought you were trying to make things difficult for the Gregory family."

"But saying it now? It feels like, dear Aunt and Uncle, you're the ones making things difficult for me."

Helena and Baron exchanged a cunning glance. Helena quickly tried to smooth things over, "Dawson, of course, that wasn't my intention. How could I ever make things difficult for you? We're family. I just feel bad that you've been wronged. Even your mother complained that this wife isn't as pretty as that Sienna."

If there was anyone truly devious in the family, it was Helena. Her words seemed like an explanation but effectively threw Dawson's mother under the bus as well.