Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 565

Chapter 565

Julian’s expression tightened. “Come on. We’ll go to the hospital first.”

Peter had already heard the commotion and gone ahead to start the car.

Inside the vehicle, Julian reached over to fasten her seat belt, but Sydney had already steadied herself and buckled it. Her quick adjustment surprised him.

She spoke in a distant, shaken voice. “Do you know what I’ve feared most all these years?”

He lowered his gaze, wrapped her trembling fingers in his palm, and asked quietly, “What is it?”

“I fear something happening to Alan and Eliana.” Her tone stayed even, but her fingers shook harder.

Fear pushed through her, yet years of relying on herself made her force calm. She could mask anything else and keep her thoughts hidden. When it involved Alan and his wife, she could not pretend.

Eliana had cared for her with a gentleness that even Alan sometimes matched only in part. They treated her like half a daughter. In her heart, they came closest to parents.

Marcus had strong medical skills. He surpassed many academy-trained physicians by a wide margin. Even so, he still rushed her to the hospital.

Sydney felt a bad premonition rise.

Julian tightened his hold on her hand. “See her first before you decide anything. It may be nothing serious.”

Sydney drew a soundless breath. “Yes.”

He was right. She should trust her own skills. And if not hers, then Alan’s. But Alan had flown abroad yesterday afternoon for a conference. Marcus had already notified him, yet he would not land in Jouleston until tomorrow. Until then, she had to take care of Eliana.

They reached the hospital and hurried toward the emergency wing. Marcus waited by the doors.

Sydney closed the distance with quick strides. “What’s her condition?”

“I’m not sure yet. They just took her into the resuscitation room.”

He looked as anxious as she felt. “Her pulse was a complete mess. I couldn’t determine anything for certain, so I sent her here immediately.”

Sydney trusted his judgment. “Why would she be poisoned out of nowhere?”

“I don’t know.” His frown deepened. “My father told me to deliver an art piece to Alan. When I arrived, I found her collapsed on the floor. At first I thought it was low blood sugar, but her pulse was extremely thin and soft while beating fast and erratically.”

Sydney could not hold her calm any longer. “I’ll go in.”

Julian frowned but did not stop her. He told the hospital director, Daniel Franklin, to accompany her and

1/4

Chaptor Bab

+25 Bonus

murmured before she entered, “Whatever happens, don’t be afraid. I’ll be right outside. You have me.”

Her panic steadied for a moment. She nodded hard and stepped through the doors.

Inside, the medical staff stood around the bed with grim faces. Eliana’s face was chalk-white, and her lips carried a dark cyanotic tint.

Sydney’s heart clenched hard.

A doctor turned, ready to scold the “family member” who had rushed in, but he saw Daniel behind her and froze. “Dr. Franklin…”

Daniel’s expression sharpened. “Why are all of you standing here dazed?”

“We finished gastric lavage,” the doctor said in frustration. “We’re waiting for the lab results. Other than the coma and the irregular heart rhythm, her tests aren’t showing much yet.”

Sydney pressed her palm against her other hand and stepped to the bedside to take the pulse.

“Don’t touch her!” the doctor snapped. “What are you doing? The patient is—”

He cared about nothing except proper protocol, but Daniel recognized Sydney at once. Her team had developed the latest cancer drug. And Julian had brought her here in person.

Daniel shot him a sharp glare. “Be quiet. Let Dr. Wilson take a look.”

The doctor stared in confusion. All tests pointed nowhere. What could this young woman find?

Before he could speak again, Sydney’s fingers rested on Eliana’s wrist. Within seconds, her brows tightened.

Her expression grew grave. ‘Impossible. Alan left only yesterday afternoon. One night later, the poison has already reached her lungs.’

Sydney turned sharply. “She’s poisoned. Do you have silver needles?”

She had rushed here with nothing.

“Yes.” Daniel told a nurse to bring them.

A few minutes later, Sydney took the needles and inserted them one by one into key acupoints with swift precision.

Daniel watched, unfamiliar with this practice. “What’s this?”

“Opening the acupoints blocked by the toxin and restoring circulation.” She finished, washed her hands, and stepped outside.

Julian saw her pale face. “It’s complicated?”

“Yes.” She had trained with Alan since childhood and rarely encountered a case she could not manage. She always believed she could protect the people close to her. Right now, she felt lost and unsure where to begin.

“It should be a compound toxin,” she said, her voice steady but strained. “It won’t be easy to undo.”

2/4

Chapter $65

+25 Bonus

Such poisons formed from multiple interacting components. The wrong antidote could make everything worse. She handed a vial of blood to Peter. “Please take this to the research institute for analysis.”

It was the fastest route she could think of.

As for the reason behind such severe poisoning…

She opened her mouth, but Julian had already understood the fear in her eyes. “Elliot has called the police. He and the officers are on their way to Alan’s house.”

D