Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Sally’s hand paused mid–air, her fingers tightening around her phone.
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This was the first time Jaxon had ever called her on his own. If it weren’t for something urgent, there’s no way they would be calling her back–to- back like this.
After a brief hesitation, she tapped the screen and answered, “Mr. Zale?”
“Sally, my father is having difficulty breathing again,” Jaxon explained. “Can you come over?”
The moment Sally heard the words, she shot up from her chair. “I’ll be there right away.”
Ending the call, she quickly strode to the cabinet, retrieved her acupuncture kit and cupping jars, and made a beeline for the door.
As she walked, she called out over her shoulder, “Abigail, something urgent came up. I might not make it back tonight–Lillian is in your care.
“What’s going on?” Abigail fell into step behind her, curiosity knitting her brows. “Is it Howard again? Did something happen?”
“Yes,” Sally said shortly, glancing back. “I’m heading out.”
Okay, Abigail waved her goodbye. “Be careful on the road!”
The door closed with a solid thud, cutting off Abigail’s voice and Sally’s figure in one clean sweep.
By the time Sally arrived at Zale’s family house, it was already past 8 p.m. The entire manor was ablaze with lights, and the warm glow casted long shadows across the courtyard.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for her.
“Mrs. Zale, thank goodness you’re here!”
The butler all but ran toward her the moment he saw her enter, the first–aid case in her hand drawing his eyes like a beacon.
“How’s Grandfather doing?” Sally asked as they walked briskly toward the inner hall, her voice low and calm despite the urgency in her step.
*He started having trouble breathing right after dinner. We were going to send him to the hospital, but he insisted on having you here instead,” answered the butler. “He says hospitals just make things worse.”
Sally nodded, saying nothing.
As they passed through the corridor into the main room, she spotted Brad and Lauren sitting on the couch, expressions grim under the chandelier’s golden light.
Brad, seeing her arrive, rose abruptly and walked toward her. His gaze–dark, unreadable–held something like resentment, and Sally caught every ounce of it.
She ignored him and passed him by. Led by the butler, she entered Howard’s bedroom.
And there he was. A tall, farmiliar figure stood by the bed, his back straight, one hand gently resting on Howard’s chest, helping him breathe in rhythmic strokes.
It was Jaxon. The moment he noticed her, he got to his feet and gave her a small nod, his eyes solemn.
Sally moved to the window–side and knelt to examine Howard’s condition. Beside her, Jaxon remained still, but his gaze never left her.
At the doorway, Brad stood silently, watching the two of them interact.
The way Jaxon had called and brought her here with just one phone call–when he, her husband, had been ignored all day—filled him with a silent fury
Since when had they become so… familiar? He wondered.
Sally’s voice cut through the quiet like a calm blade. “I need one person to help support Grandfather. Everyone else, please leave the room.”
“I’ll help, Brad offered instantly, stepping forward.
But before he could approach, Jaxon moved to block his path.
“Brad, you leave. I’ll stay,” said Jaxon, standing firm.
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The words were simple, but his tone left no room for argument. The quiet authority in his voice settled heavily over the room.
Brad’s expression shifted. “But I’m Sally’s husband. Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to stay and assist?”
“Brad, get out. Now.”
The interruption came swiftly. Sally turned her head to see Lauren standing at the doorway.
Without another word, Lauren reached out and dragged Brad from the room by the arm.
The butler, noticing the drop in atmosphere, also quickly excused himself and shut the door behind him, leaving only three people inside.
“So, how can I help?” asked Jaxon.
Sally set her case down. “I’m going to apply fire cupping to his back to release some of the stagnated blood. I’ll need you to help support him.”
Jaxon didn’t hesitate. He stepped up, cradling Howard’s shoulders with practiced ease, and carefully pulled the pajama top down to reveal the
elder’s back.
Sally wasted no time. She lit the cotton ball, suctioned the jar, and placed it with precision, her movements swift and confident.
At one point, as she leaned in to adjust the angle, her delicate arm brushed against the back of Jaxon’s hand. Skin met skin–warm and faintly electric–but she was too absorbed in her task to notice.
Jaxon did. He turned to look at her, at the way her face tightened with focus, at the loose strand of hair that slipped down her temple. She brushed it aside absently with the back of her hand and reached for another jar.
This was his first time witnessing her treat a patient. And only one thought came to mind: She was really an angel in white.
He knew little about traditional medicine, but even he could tell–Sally’s technique was leagues above the practitioners he had seen before.
She didn’t even need to feel for the acupuncture points–she knew them. Instinctively. Effortlessly.
He watched her insert a needle. Then, came ten minutes of stillness.
Neither of them spoke. They simply observed Howard’s breathing, his pallor, his heartbeat.
Eventually, blood began to pool inside the glass cups–dark, sluggish blood that slowly cleared the congestion in his lungs.
Sally finally exhaled. Howard’s eyes began to regain clarity, and his chest rose and fell with a newfound rhythm.
Once she was done, Jaxon looked down at his watch. The whole procedure had taken less than fifteen minutes.
In Westmere, there weren’t many who could pull off something like this. Jaxon was sure about this.
“Grandfather, how are you feeling now?” Sally asked softly.
“Much better. I can breathe again!” Howard beamed at her. “You really saved me tonight, Sally.”
“This is what I do,” she replied gently. “Don’t worry about it. Just focus on getting some rest–I’ll stay and keep an eye on you.”
“Good, good…” Howard nodded in relief.
As Sally and Jaxon stepped out into the hallway together, Brad was already there–leaning against a pillar, a half–smoked cigarette between his fingers.
The moment he saw them, he crushed the cigarette underfoot and walked briskly over.
“Come with me. We need to talk.” He simply reached out, grabbed Sally by the wrist, and pulled her down the stairs.
“Hey—what are you doing? Let go of me!” Sally struggled, but his grip didn’t ease. He dragged Sally away into the corridor.
Upstairs, Jaxon rested his hands on the railing, watching them disappear into a side room.
“Bang” The door slammed shut
Jaxon’s brow furrowed. His hand tightened around the railing, knuckles turning white. After a beat, he pushed away from the banister and made his way downstairs to check on them.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Brad shoved Sally toward the bed, his eyes blazing.
“What the hell is going on with you?” he growled. “You ignored every single one of my calls, but the moment Jaxon picks up the phone, you come
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Chapter 32
running. Are you trying to humiliate me on purpose?”
Sally’s chest rose with restrained fury. “How was I supposed to know Grandfather was unwell? You didn’t say anything–how was I to guess that out of the blue?”
“You think I have time to call you for fun?” Brad cut her off, impatiently. “You think I wanted to be ignored like some idiot?”
