Chapter 6 Katherine Is My Woman

Katherine's face promptly went pale, and she felt as though her very soul had been sucked away. Never had she expected a single decision from her to lead to such a series of ramifications. “Quick, let's go! My father had a heart attack again! We're heading to Catena Hospital right away!” She scooped Lilianna up and strode toward the door. “Give me the car key. I'll drive,” Leopold hastily offered. During the drive, he gave Verma a call and ordered, “Bring my sheepskin parchment over to Catena Hospital.” A heart attack sounded very common, but the patient would be in great danger without effective treatment once it recurred. As a precautionary measure, Leopold planned to take matters into his own hands when necessary. Indeed, other than his talent in organizing the troops and devising strategies to win battles a thousand miles away, his medical skills were exceptional. Not only were there twenty-four silver needles within the sheepskin parchment, but it also contained a hidden manual of an acupuncture technique. The acupuncture technique was known as Drago Solar Day. It was something he had obtained by chance when he had gone deep into the northern border's desert. A solar day represented a period of twenty-four hours. It meant that the acupuncture technique had the efficacy of bringing a dead person back to life. He had saved countless people at the northern border with that acupuncture technique. Regardless of whether the patients were soldiers in the military or native shepherds in the desert, he had successfully treated countless difficult and complex diseases. As such, a common ailment like a heart attack was nothing to him. “Didn't you say you'd stop performing acupuncture when you left the northern border, Boss?” On the other end of the phone, Verma's eyes lit up. I wonder which important figure managed to have General Drago make an exception. “My father-in-law had another heart attack. Also, I want you to arrange for Athena and Joseph to be servers at the retirement ceremony in two days.” “Understood, Boss!” Verma replied. Leopold then hung up without delay. Just then, Lilianna piped up from the back seat in a juvenile voice, “Who's your father-in-law, Daddy?” “My father-in-law is your granddad, Lilianna. He had another heart attack, so I must find a way to save him,” Leopold explained patiently. “Wow, how incredible that you can save Granddad yourself, Daddy!” Lilianna praised, clapping her hands. Beside her, Katherine sighed deeply. Disappointment brimmed in her eyes. He's decent-looking and has pretty good fighting skills, but why must he be so fond of bragging? Putting aside the matter of whether he has medical skills, he likely doesn't even have the right to attend General Drago's retirement ceremony. Yet, he wants to arrange for Athena and Joseph to be servers. He's got some nerve. How absurd! Ten minutes later, the family of three arrived at Catena Hospital. The scene at the hospital director's office door had sheer shock inundate Katherine. Her stepmother, Lorraine, was begging Dray in all humility. Joseph and Hilda stood at the side, watching sheepishly. Athena, on the other hand, had a sneer playing on her lips. Leopold's brows knitted together. “What is Dray doing here?” Katherine went over to Lorraine. “Why are you begging him, Aunt Lorraine?” Without a word, Lorraine reached out and dragged her to Dray. “This hospital belongs to Dray's uncle. It's too late to transfer your father to another hospital in his current condition. Hurry up and beg him to arrange for a specialist to operate on your father right away!” “Did you deliberately sabotage things and forbid the doctors from operating on my father, Dray?” Katherine asked suspiciously. Touching the freshly bandaged gauze on his head, Dray sneered, “To be honest with you, my uncle is a specialist in cardiology. But he isn't on duty now. Why should he operate on your father? No matter how important it is, everything will have to wait until tomorrow!” “Are there no other doctors on duty?” “I regret to tell you this, but even if there are other doctors, they won't dare operate on a critical patient like your father,” Dray stated with a cold chuckle. After getting injured by Leopold earlier, he had gone straight to the hospital. Later, Athena called and informed him that Katherine's actions had caused John to suffer a heart attack. Following that, John had been sent to that hospital. Dray was the director's biological nephew, and all the doctors in the hospital knew him. He naturally had to seize that opportunity right then to threaten Katherine. Utter anxiety swamped Katherine, and she had no choice but to put away her dignity to save her father. “A life is at stake here, so put all the grievances between us aside first, Dray. Please call Dr. Wand and save my father!” “You're begging me now, huh? You should've known your place earlier. Isn't the man who told you to leave things to him here with you? Since he's so capable, why not ask him to help you?” Dray drawled smugly. It was only then that Lorraine realized the man who had rushed over with Katherine was none other than Leopold. She instantly roared, “You won't stop until your father is dead, huh, Katherine? How dare you bring that poor loser here! Are you blind or dumb to fancy him? Do you realize that not only is he poor, but he's been Athena's admirer for five years?” She then turned to Leopold. “Scram as soon as possible, Leopold! Katherine's father and I will never allow you to marry into the family.” Subsequently, she said to Dray, “Don't worry, Dray. You're the only son-in-law we acknowledge. This matter today is just a moment of foolishness on Katherine's part. When her father regains consciousness, I'll definitely teach her a lesson.” Dray's mood lifted. “Fine, then. I'll call my uncle here for your sake, Mrs. Swallow. But Katherine must be with me tonight.” “How dare you!” Katherine was both shocked and furious. She had never expected the man to voice such a demand in front of a crowd. At the side, Athena suddenly snorted and scoffed, “You even have a grown kid, so why pretend to be some chaste maiden, Katherine? Five years ago, you didn't mind being with a stranger. Can't you sacrifice for a bit to save your father today?” Her words were like a knife coated in toxic poison, stabbing Katherine right in the heart. Slap! Leopold shot his hand out and smacked Athena hard across the face. A coppery taste pervaded Athena's mouth, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. “I've said that Katherine is my woman, and no one is allowed to pick on her! You didn't remember it this morning, so I'm stressing it again now.” Slap! Another hard slap split the air. This time, it landed on Dray's face. “And you! Since you dare to pick on my woman, you deserve to die!” Like a clap of thunder, Leopold's words rang out deafeningly. Lorraine's vision went black, and she almost keeled over. What a b*stard! Dray has finally relented after I begged him for a long time, yet this d*mn man slapped him. We're really doomed this time! If John were to die, my leisurely days would also come to an end. Beside her, Hilda wanted nothing more than to beat Leopold to death with her cane. Katherine was also taken aback and stumbled back several steps. She stared at Leopold in anguish. Does he suffer from intermittent explosive disorder? Indeed, Dray crossed the line. That was why I didn't say anything when he hit him at the restaurant back then. But things are different now with my father's life at stake! At that moment, disappointment and regret flooded her. She regretted taking the wooden pendant at the café back then. “Leopold... why must you resort to violence whenever there's a conflict?” she asked in a quivering voice. “I've said that no one is allowed to pick on my woman!” Leopold answered solemnly.