Chapter 81: Both Have Herniated Discs
Cheyenne glanced at the tall, black-clad figure by the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his strikingly handsome face, pensive and deep in thought. He didn't believe she'd saved him three years ago. If Abbie had said it, would he have hesitated?
Cheyenne chuckled, a dismissive smirk curling her red lips. "Mr. Foley, you're busy. Please leave," she said, without looking at him.
Kelvin observed them both, sneering inwardly. This woman was despicable. Just now, she'd insisted on helping him, but now she was dismissing him upon seeing her lover. Afraid he'd disturb their alone time?
"As you said, we're even," Kelvin said coldly, leaving with his assistant, Chris. His tall figure was proud and resolute.
"Cheyenne, what are you looking at?" Reece waved a hand before her dazed eyes.
Cheyenne remained unresponsive, staring down the empty hallway. Slowly returning to reality, she murmured, "It's nothing. Please don't tell my grandfather." It was probably too late.
"Don't tell me what? That you were trying to act tough?" Layne's angry voice cut through the air from outside the door. He entered, wearing a black suit and cloth shoes. His cold eyes softened slightly as they landed on Cheyenne's pale face.
"Grandpa? What are you doing here?" Cheyenne exclaimed, glancing questioningly at Reece. Reece, breaking into a cold sweat, quickly shook his head. "It wasn't me."
"Don't mind him. Mr. Todd called to say you were bitten by a snake."
As Layne approached, Reece respectfully stood and helped the old man sit. Layne patted Reece's head. "Not bad, you're a good kid."
Back to the snake. Layne remembered it being caged; how had it escaped?
"According to the Todds, last night's rain and humidity allowed the snake to crawl out through a small hole in the wall."
The snake belonged to Master Davon Todd. Could he have ordered the attack? Cheyenne considered her encounter with the snake before the bite, then shook her head.
"Grandpa, Master Davon spoke to me in the pavilion before I was bitten."
Reece and Layne looked at each other, confused. "Cheyenne, what did Master Davon say?"
She sneered. "What else? Insincere gratitude, then questions about Iker's Estate. When I said Iker's leg was incurable, he looked relieved. He wants to win me over; this wasn't his doing. Kelvin just had bad luck."
Layne found her analysis logical. If Davon wanted Cheyenne dead, he wouldn't have chosen right after their conversation. If not Davon or his mother, then who? Madam Poppy seemed virtuous; whether Iker or Davon held power, she wouldn't be involved.
Suddenly, Cheyenne remembered something. Madam Erica had seemed to treat Iker differently a few days ago. Could it be her? Without evidence, she kept her doubts to herself.
"Stop thinking about it. You're weak. That jerk's fine, but you fainted from residual venom," Reece said disdainfully. "Get better soon! What do you want for dinner?"
Cheyenne lazily lifted her eyelids. "Chicken soup."
"Okay, I'll ask Mom."
"Tell her to make extra. I need nourishment too," Layne said, a smile in his eyes—a mirror of Cheyenne's.
"Grandfather, I'm the sick one!"
Layne puffed out his chest. "As an elder, I need to prevent osteoporosis, herniated discs, and such."
Cheyenne rolled her eyes. His herniated disc was already protruding enough.
Meanwhile, at another hospital, Kelvin removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, sitting before a young doctor in a white coat. The doctor, Eddie, was handsome, with glasses and fair skin.
"Mr. Foley?" Eddie asked politely.
Kelvin sat with an imposing aura, his eyes assessing the doctor. He felt Eddie was applying extra force.
Eddie calmly observed Kelvin, then asked him to lift his arm. He easily recognized Cheyenne's clumsy bandaging. With a swift motion, he removed the golden cloth. Kelvin's arm was numb, his hand turning purple. He needed antivenom immediately.
"Mr. Foley, what did the snake look like?" Eddie asked, wiping the wound with alcohol, lingering slightly longer than necessary.
"Bright red, triangular head, black stripes," Kelvin replied.
"Lycodon rufozonatus!" Eddie recognized the highly venomous snake. If Cheyenne hadn't treated him, Kelvin would be paralyzed. The final sentence, "Nes," was removed as it appeared to be an error.