Sydney acted as if she hadn’t heard a word, her cold gaze fixed on the silver acupuncture set in the boy’s hand. “Give it back. Now.”
Alan had passed down a prestigious, centuries–old acupuncture technique, one taught to only a single protégé per generation. At 13, Sydney had already been chosen to inherit it. Even Marcus had never been granted access.
The silver needles had been a gift from Alan when she began her training. To her, they were priceless–both in sentiment and significance.
“I won’t! I want to piss you off!” The angrier she got, the more gleeful Timothy became. He yanked the needles from their case and flung them across the floor, stomping on them with both feet like a lunatic.
Sydney grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out of the consultation room. Her face darkened as she pinched his pudgy cheeks, her cold, sharp gaze locking onto his.
“If you come into my office again, I’ll jab every one of those needles into your head. Got it?” she said slowly. “I’ll turn you into a chubby little pincushion. Do you believe me?”
Timothy’s bravado collapsed. He trembled all over, his mouth twisting before he burst into wailing sobs. “I don’t believe you! You’re lying! Wahhh! Let go of me! I’m telling my mom!”
Sydney released him, and he bolted down the hallway, bawling like the sky had fallen.
He was such a coward, yet bold enough to cause trouble repeatedly. Did Penelope even treat him like her own child?
Not that it mattered to Sydney. He wasn’t her kid. Why would she care?
Although the clinic had seen fewer patients with the New Year approaching, Sydney hadn’t left her seat all morning. She didn’t see her final patient until nearly 1:00 p.m.
She didn’t head to the cafeteria. Instead, she gathered her things to leave for Sterling Corp.
Marcus had gone ahead earlier that morning.
As she stepped out of the restroom and turned back toward her office to grab her bag, a sharp, blood- curdling scream rang out from the stairwell. Then came the sound of something tumbling down the steps.
Acting on instinct, she pushed open the fire door and rushed in. The motion–sensor lights snapped on, flooding the stairwell with harsh white light.
Timothy lay crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, deathly still. Blood was pouring from his head.
Sydney froze for only a second before racing down the steps to check his pulse and breathing.
Two nurses arrived seconds later, drawn by the noise, ad stood frozen in shock.
“Don’t just stand there!” Sydney snapped, calm but urgent. “Get something to stop the bleeding! And bring my silver needles!”
“Right away!”
1/2
Chapter 79
They ran off and returned moments later with their arms full of supplies.
+15 BONUS
Sydney grabbed the needles and began emergency acupuncture, her hands moving with practiced precision.
“Help me stop the bleeding,” she said, not looking up.
Snapped out of their panic, the nurses scrambled to assist. It wasn’t their fault. In a traditional clinic like this, traumatic emergencies were rare.
Just as Sydney inserted the final needle, Penelope burst in. She shrieked and shoved Sydney hard, sending her sprawling to the ground.
“He’s just a kid! How could you hurt him over something so small?” she demanded.
Sydney hadn’t braced herself. Pain shot through her elbow as she hit the floor. She looked up at Penelope, her expression frosty and calm.
“He was already like this when I got here,” she said coolly.
“Liar!” Penelope broke down completely, clutching Timothy’s limp body as tears streamed down her face. ” I can’t believe how cruel you are! You’re a monster! You don’t deserve to be a doctor!”
“Then wait for the police,” Sydney said coldly.
She had no interest in arguing. She motioned for the nurse beside her to call the police.
