Chapter 204 The Truth Comes Out
"Why not?" James asked, a knowing smile on his lips. "Got something to hide?"
Guadalupe squirmed under James's gaze, his composure cracking. "Nonsense! I've done nothing wrong! You're slandering me!"
But the crowd, no longer swayed by his bluster, sensed his unease. One of the burlier family members, a man with a face weathered by years of hard work, grabbed Guadalupe by the collar. "You trying to pull a fast one, doc?" he growled, his voice thick with suspicion.
"Hey! Let him go!" Dr. Ingram and Dr. Jones shouted, rushing forward to intervene.
Guadalupe shoved the man back, his voice shrill with feigned indignation. "How dare you! I'm a respected physician!"
"Then why are you so afraid of a simple blood test at a proper hospital?" The man shot back, tightening his grip on Guadalupe's collar.
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. In their eyes, Guadalupe's refusal to allow a neutral examination spoke volumes.
Realizing he was losing his grip on the situation, Guadalupe straightened his back and forced a confident facade. "Fine! We'll go to the hospital! But I'm warning you, this charade will only end in humiliation for the Hall of Benevolent Medicine!"
James saw through his bravado, recognizing the fear flickering in his eyes. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice calm and confident.
Dr. Ingram and Dr. Jones huddled with Guadalupe, their faces etched with worry. "What now?" Dr. Ingram hissed. "If we go through with this, we're finished!"
"Think, man, think!" Dr. Jones urged, his voice tight with panic.
Guadalupe's mind raced, desperately seeking a way out. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a spark of malice. "I've got it!" he whispered. "I'll call Deputy Director Rogers. He'll make sure the doctors at Digital Health Hospital see things our way. The Hall of Benevolent Medicine won't stand a chance!"
"Brilliant!" Dr. Ingram and Dr. Jones exclaimed in unison, their faces brightening with relief.
They didn't realize that James, his senses sharpened by years of navigating treacherous waters, had overheard their whispered scheme. He allowed himself a small, cold smile. They were playing a dangerous game, and he was about to teach them a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.
The group piled into their vehicles and headed towards Digital Health Hospital. Jennifer, her brow furrowed with worry, sat beside James. "I have a bad feeling about this," she whispered. "Guadalupe is up to something."
James squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. I am aware of that. I heard him making calls."
Jennifer's eyes widened in alarm. "What are we going to do? We don't know anyone at that hospital. What if he's rigged the tests?"
"Don't worry," James said calmly, his voice a soothing balm to her anxiety. "We have ways of dealing with this. Trust me, the Hall of Benevolent Medicine will come out of this unscathed."
Jennifer, though still worried, found herself drawing strength from his unwavering confidence. Something about him had changed, she realized. He was no longer the meek, unassuming man she'd married. There was a steeliness to him now, a quiet strength that she found both reassuring and exhilarating.
At Digital Health Hospital, they were ushered into a private waiting area. Guadalupe, seizing the opportunity, slipped away unnoticed and made a call.
"Mr. Rogers? It's Guadalupe. I need a favor..."
Two minutes later, he hung up, a smug smile spreading across his face. He glanced back at James, who sat with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious.
"Idiots, you're about to learn that connections are everything in this world," Guadalupe thought.
Jennifer, however, couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her like a shroud. She watched as Guadalupe returned, his swagger back in full force, and knew in her gut that this was far from over.
The blood test was conducted swiftly. Guadalupe, ever the showman, made a big deal of demanding thoroughness, his voice dripping with feigned concern for the elderly patient. The chief physician, a portly man with shifty eyes, assured them that the hospital's equipment was state-of-the-art, guaranteeing accurate results.
As they waited for the results, Guadalupe and his cronies took turns needling James and Jennifer, their words laced with thinly veiled threats and insinuations. The family members, their initial anger giving way to uncertainty, shifted uncomfortably.
James, however, remained unfazed. He sat with his eyes closed, his breathing slow and even, as if he were simply taking a nap. To the untrained eye, he might have seemed defeated, resigned to his fate. But those who knew him, like Jennifer, could sense the quiet storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the chief physician returned with a folder in his hand. "The results are in," he announced, his voice devoid of emotion.
The family members crowded around him, their faces etched with a mixture of hope and dread.
The chief physician cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering on Guadalupe for a beat too long. "The patient," he began, his voice grave. "He has suffered a stroke. He's experiencing hemiplegia in his lower body, and there's evidence of damage to the anterior cerebral artery, which could lead to motor aphasia."
He went on to describe the elderly man's condition in clinical detail, his words painting a grim picture that sent a wave of despair through the family. Some of the women began to weep softly, their shoulders shaking with silent sobs.
"How could this happen?" one of the men cried out, his voice thick with anguish. "He was fine just a few days ago!"
"Doctor, what caused this?" another demanded, his face contorted with anger. "By traditional medicine or modern medicine?"
The chief physician hesitated, exchanging another loaded glance with Guadalupe. "It's highly unusual," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "How can you give him traditional medicine? Don’t you know those medicines would make his condition worse?"
The implication hung heavy in the air. Guadalupe and his cohorts exchanged triumphant smirks.
Jennifer, unable to contain herself any longer, jumped to her feet. "That's impossible!" she cried out, her voice trembling with indignation.
James, however, shook his head and sighed, not with fear but with profound sadness. He was deeply disappointed that these people, who were charged with the welfare of others, could be so vile.
"Are you saying my father is paralyzed because of the Hall of Benevolent Medicine?" one of the sons asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
Guadalupe, unable to resist twisting the knife, sauntered forward, his face a mask of smug satisfaction. "The truth speaks for itself," he said, gesturing towards the chief physician as if he were a magician revealing his latest illusion.
The family members turned on James and Jennifer, their faces contorted with a mixture of grief and rage. If not for the lingering fear of James's earlier display of authority, they might have resorted to violence.
Jennifer instinctively clutched James's arm, seeking solace in his presence. He might not have the most imposing physique, but at that moment, he was her rock, her only source of strength in a world that suddenly felt chaotic and dangerous.
James, however, seemed unfazed by the gathering storm. He looked at Guadalupe, his gaze filled with a mixture of pity and disappointment. "You've gone too far this time, Guadalupe," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "This could have been resolved with an apology and some restitution. But you chose to lie, to bribe, to manipulate the truth. Did you really think you could fool everyone?"
Guadalupe bristled at his words, hating the calm confidence in James's voice and the unwavering conviction in his eyes. He wanted to see fear, to revel in their downfall. But James's composure only fueled his rage.
"You're finished, James," he spat out, his voice venomous. "The truth is out. Your quackery has been exposed. You'll lose your license, your clinic, everything!"
He threw back his head and laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed through the sterile hallway. He'd won. He'd crushed them. And soon, everyone would know it.
As his laughter died down, he noticed a figure approaching from the end of the hallway. It was Felix Rogers, the deputy director of the health bureau. Guadalupe's smile widened, and he strode forward to greet his savior.
"Mr. Rogers, you're here! Perfect timing! These charlatans," he said, gesturing towards James and Jennifer with a dramatic flourish. "Have been exposed for the frauds they are! They're a danger to the public! You have to shut them down!"
Felix, however, seemed confused. "Hold on," he said, frowning. "What exactly is going on here? And who did you say these people were?"
"The owners of the Hall of Benevolent Medicine," Guadalupe said impatiently, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "They—"
"The Hall of Benevolent Medicine?" Felix interrupted, his eyes widening in alarm. "You mean the clinic founded by Dr. Smith?"
Seeing Felix's serious expression, Guadalupe froze, his triumphant smile morphing into an expression of bewildered horror.
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