A Matrilocal Husband's Counterattack

Chapter 35: Stunned

"Emily, what's going on? You know Ethan?"
Ms. Scarlet looked at the furious Emily Brooks in surprise.
"You're calling him a fraud, a charlatan. Is there some kind of misunderstanding?"

Andrew Brooks raised a hand to stop the bodyguards.
"Emily, this is someone your Aunt Scarlet brought here. How could he be a fraud? Don't speak nonsense."

"He is a fraud!" Emily's eyes blazed with anger as she glared at Ethan.
"Last night, he nearly killed you, Grandpa!"

The other family members cast doubtful looks at Ethan. His youthful appearance made it hard for anyone to believe he could be a doctor.

Emily launched into a rapid recount of the previous night's events, her voice sharp with disdain.
"If I hadn't stopped him from poking Grandpa with his needles, Grandpa might not have made it!"
Her eyes glinted with contempt. "All for the sake of a million bucks—he didn't care what happened."

Ethan's voice was calm as he replied, "I was saving him with those needles last night. Without those eight needles, Mr. Brooks would have succumbed to toxic blood poisoning."

Emily's pretty face darkened. "How dare you curse my grandfather like that?"
"Why don't you admit it right now, in front of everyone, that you have no medical experience and no license to practice medicine?"

Her hostility toward Ethan was clear. Thinking back on the previous night, she felt an overwhelming sense of fear at how close her grandfather had come to disaster.

"Emily," Ms. Scarlet interjected, her tone firm but gentle. "Ethan does not have a license, and I wasn't there to see what happened last night. However, I can guarantee that his medical skills are top-notch."
She continued without hesitation, "Cici's life was hanging by a thread twice, and both times, Ethan brought her back with his miraculous hands."

"As for the million dollars—Ethan doesn't need it. If he did, I'd give him a billion, or even ten billion, without a second thought."
Her unwavering defense of Ethan was clear for all to see.

Emily snorted. "Then it just means Aunt Scarlet, you've been deceived."

"Emily! Watch your tone," Andrew chided his granddaughter with a stern look. "Aunt Scarlet is only trying to help me."
"And besides, I'm just an old horse waiting for the end."

He turned to Ethan with a kind smile. "I'm sorry, Ethan. This is my granddaughter, Emily. She's young and impulsive—please forgive her."

Emily huffed but bit back her anger, seeing both her grandfather's and Ms. Scarlet's attitudes toward Ethan.

"Mr. Brooks," Ethan said, his voice steady, "no need for formalities. Let's get to the point: I can treat your condition."

Emily scoffed loudly. "You can treat him?"

"This isn't just an illness. Mr. Brooks has a source of poison in his body," Ethan said, his gaze sharpening.
"Once the source is eliminated, he'll be fine."

Andrew looked confused. "Poison source? But the hospital ran tests last night—they didn't find any toxins in my body."

"That's because I forced the toxins out last night," Ethan replied plainly. "But the poison source is still hidden..."

"Toxins forced out? Doesn't that mean it's already resolved?" Emily shot back.
"Then how do you explain Grandpa still being poisoned?"

Ethan patiently explained, "The toxins were expelled, but the poison source remains. Overnight, it has secreted more toxins..."

"Ridiculous!" Emily interrupted angrily.
"Grandpa is sick, yes. We've sought help from countless doctors. But we're not fools!"
Her face was red with rage. "Are you saying my grandfather's body can produce poison on its own now?"

Internally, she blamed Ms. Scarlet for bringing this unqualified person to treat her grandfather, as if he were already a lost cause.

Ethan rubbed his temples. "Mr. Brooks does have a poison source in his body..."

"Oh really? Then why didn't the instruments detect it? And why haven't any of us been affected by this so-called poison?"
Emily's brows knitted tightly. "Instead of learning something useful at your age, you're pretending to be a miracle doctor? Sorry, you might fool Aunt Scarlet, but not me."

Ms. Scarlet sighed. "Emily, Ethan isn't a fraud..."

"Aunt Scarlet, I don't blame you. I know you're doing this for Grandpa," Emily interrupted, her voice firm.
"But I won't tolerate repeated lies from a fraud like him. Our family doesn't welcome you. Get out!"

She shouted harshly and even pushed Ethan toward the door. "Get lost, you fraud."

Ethan caught her hand, and with a brief pulse of energy through his diagnostic ability, he understood her condition instantly.

"Scarlet, since Miss Emily looks down on me so much," Ethan said, releasing her hand and turning to Ms. Scarlet, "let's leave."
He added before walking out, "But before I go, let me just say: Mr. Brooks doesn't have a month to live."

"At most, he has seven days. And even that's only because of the time I bought him last night by neutralizing the toxins."
"If he stops eating cold food, he won't even make it three days."

He offered the warning out of goodwill, given his connection to Ms. Scarlet.

"Seven days?" Emily froze, then erupted in fury. "You're cursing my grandfather now? You're despicable, you scumbag!"
"Get out! I don't believe for a second that you have any real skills!"

"Vroom—"

At that moment, the roar of a car engine sounded outside. A black SUV pulled up to the entrance, and a group of young men with medical equipment stepped out.

Following them was an older man with snow-white hair, his presence commanding respect.

Ethan glanced at him and raised an eyebrow in recognition.

It was none other than Dr. Sun, the most renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in ZH City.

"Grandpa Sun! You're finally back from the capital."
Emily greeted him with enthusiasm. "You came just in time; otherwise, we'd have been fooled by a charlatan."

"Fraud, let me tell you, this is Dr. Sun, a true master. He's the real deal!"
Emily sneered at Ethan. "You're not even fit to carry his shoes, and you still have the nerve to act like you're qualified to treat Grandpa?"

"Get out!"

"Ethan?"

Dr. Sun turned at the sound of his voice, his eyes lighting up with joy. "You're here too?"

To everyone's shock, he walked straight past Emily and the others, heading straight for Ethan. He grasped Ethan's hand excitedly, practically dancing with delight.

"It was the Nine Palaces Rejuvenation Needles you used last time, wasn't it?"

Dr. Sun beamed like a child, his voice brimming with excitement.
"You have no idea how thrilled I was when I went through my ancient texts and compared them to the photos I took of your work!"

He had even traveled to the capital over the past few days to confirm his findings, and now he was determined to recruit Ethan at any cost.

Ethan smiled modestly. "Just a crude display, nothing worth mentioning, Dr. Sun."

"So you admit it? I can't believe it—someone in this day and age can perform the Nine Palaces Rejuvenation Needles!"

Dr. Sun's enthusiasm bubbled over.
"This is truly a gift from the heavens! Ethan, could you spare sometime later to teach me?"
"I have so many questions about acupuncture techniques I'd like to ask you!"

Emily stood frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded.