CHAPTER 66: USELESS GRANDSON

The director then turned toward the Pierces. "Please don’t worry about the patient. Her condition is much more stable than when she arrived, thanks to Dr. Chavan’s treatment. All she needs now is proper rest," he said reassuringly.

Albert and Monica felt their guilt toward Mia deepen when they heard that.

The director’s eyes then shifted to Lyra, who was standing in her husband’s arms. He blinked several times before finally summoning the courage to speak.

"Dr. Ashford... may we talk? Just the two of us. There’s something that needs to be discussed."

A thin sheen of sweat broke out on the director’s forehead. The man standing beside her—her husband, looked ready to eat him alive.

Lyra nodded and turned toward Rowan. "I’ll be quick," she said, patted his hand before following the director.

The director led Lyra to a room only a couple of doors away from Elean’s.

Through a small observation window, no wider than eight inches in diameter, Lyra could see the woman in a straitjacket slam her head against the padded wall, trying to injure herself, but the soft surface absorbed the impact.

Moments later, the patient’s cries followed by the dull sound of her rolling across the floor.

"When she admitted?" Lyra asked quietly.

"Days ago, while you were on leave," the director replied. "She was a victim of sexual assault. Since then, her condition has deteriorated, and she’s made several suicide attempts. The doctor who was treating her was injured in an attack and is now on medical leave."

He sighed before adding, "We need you to take charge of her trauma care. Are you ready to take this case, Doctor?"

The unspoken meaning was clear. He needed her to return to work immediately.

Lyra nodded without hesitation. "I’ll report in tomorrow."

"Good to hear," the director said. "The psychiatry department will be working closely with you on this case."

...

By morning, Rowan woke to an empty bed and found Lyra already dressed. He wrapped an arm around her waist from behind.

"I told you to rest for two more days," he murmured, displeased with the director for pushing her back so soon.

"I can’t hold the patient any longer without proper treatment," Lyra said. "Her condition has worsened."

"How about me? My condition worsens without you."

Rowan deliberately distracted her from getting ready, his fingers slowly untying the straps of her dress one by one.

"Rowan, I’ll be late if you keep distracting me. Go take a shower. Don’t you have work at the office?" she protested, shoving him lightly before tying the straps again.

"Fine," he sighed in surrender.

Before she could react, he stole a kiss, intentionally smearing her lipstick, then disappeared into the shower with a laugh.

A short while later, Rowan and Lyra walked into the dining room. They heard Mia say that she would be leaving the city today.

Rowan pulled out a chair for Lyra, and she asked, "You’re leaving today sis?"

"Yes. I only stopped by to look for a cure... there was just something I needed to take care of," Mia said, nearly letting too much slip. Luckily, she caught herself in time.

Everyone heard the word cure, but they understood she wasn’t telling the whole truth.

After breakfast, Lyra and Rowan headed out for work, while Monica asked the Pierce family’s driver to take Mia to the airport.

"Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Theo before leaving?" Monica asked, just in case Mia had forgotten about him.

Mia shook her head. "I’m sorry. I need to get back immediately. Please send my regards to him."

Theo was at the hospital, keeping Elean company. Her mood seemed better, with no sign of Rowan’s wife or Mia around.

He peeled an apple, sliced it neatly, and handed it to Elean. "Eat up, Grandma. You’ll be running around in no time."

Elean smacked his shoulder lightly.

"Are you teasing your grandmother now? I’m not that old, you know. And one more thing..."

She took a bite of the apple and continued speaking while chewing, "Don’t bring that girl again. Look what she did. She brought me bad luck."

Theo’s brows knitted together as his hands continued slicing the apple. He was momentarily speechless at his grandmother’s words.

"Why do you hate the woman I brought home?" he finally asked.

Elean snorted.

"I’ve had experience with women like that. Don’t bother arguing," she said, waving her hand dismissively.

Theo set the knife down and walked toward the sink to wash his hands. From there, he asked firmly, "Just tell me, what’s the story behind your hatred?"

"If I tell you my story, will you leave that rich woman?" she asked, taking another slice of apple.

Theo walked back to his grandmother and bent slightly until his gaze was level with hers.

"After you tell your story," he said flatly, "I’ll correct every prejudice and brainwash you until you accept the woman I brought home."

Elean nearly choked. Theo quickly patted her back and handed her a drink.

After gulping it down, she snapped, "Useless grandson."

Theo chuckled lightly. "Sorry, sorry. I was joking. Now tell me why you hate them."

Elean crossed her arms, her mood souring as she refused to say another word.

...

Lyra arrived at the hospital and clocked in. Just as she stepped forward to head to her office, Nora and Jane hurried up from behind and caught up with her.

They looked her over from head to toe, clearly come to check on her, worried she might still be as down as she had been the week before.

"You look much better than last week," Jane said.

Nora nodded as she added, "In that case, there’s nothing much we can do. So we’ll get back to our stations. Welcome back."

With that, they simply walked away, leaving Lyra standing there, utterly speechless.

Jane and Nora greeted Lewis as they passed each other in the hallway. Lewis then walked toward Lyra, a file tucked under his arm.

"The director said you’ll be in charge of a trauma patient, right?" he asked.

"Yes. So you’ll be the psychiatry representative for this case?"

Lewis followed Lyra to her office. She unlocked the door, and he stepped inside after her.

"I hope not. Didn’t you hear what she did to the doctor who treated her before this? I’m not even sure that doctor will be able to return to work or whether he’ll be dealing with trauma after this."

Lewis said, unable to hide his uneasiness.