Fabian appeared ghostly pale under Tiana’s gaze, barely managing a word before he was whisked into an ambulance. A police officer, brief and apologetic, explained, “We received orders this morning to allow Mr. Melford to be hospitalized. Unfortunately, we didn’t expect... he suffered a heart attack at four in the morning.”
“The duty staff realized at seven, unable to wake him, and we immediately notified you to come for him. You better get him to the hospital.”
Tears streamed down Tiana’s face as she hurriedly thanked them and followed into the ambulance, “Dad, dad…?”
It was then Whitney called—
“Hey, Whitney, I’ve got my dad.”
“Mr. Melford’s really been released?” Whitney sounded surprised, quickly adding, “How’s he doing?”
“Heart attack, now unconscious.” Tiana could hardly speak through her tears, clutching half a pill tightly, “I need you here, Whitney.”
“I’m on my way!”
Fabian was rushed to Skyfaith Hospital, part of Ludwik’s empire in Banyan City.
Whitney arrived an hour later.
Tiana stood vigil outside the ICU, guarding her father.
Several specialists began their examination inside.
“Whitney, you’re just in time.” Tiana turned to see Whitney, passing her sterile gowns and gloves, “Can you check on my dad, work with the doctors? You’re a naturopath, I need to know if there’s any toxic substance in his heart?”
Whitney understood.
Tiana hoped she could identify the poison Endora used.
“You have the experience, you found the toxins in Ludwik’s mother, Natalie. Barclay only gave me half a pill!”
“Calm down, Tiana, I’ll have a look.”
Entering the room, Whitney saw doctors shaking their heads.
One pressed on Fabian’s heart, another reviewed the blood work, discussing, “The patient’s heart issues are chronic, having undergone four bypass surgeries. His condition is critical, low hemoglobin and high bilirubin levels, his heart is failing, and insufficient blood supply could lead to brain hypoxia, causing brain death from cardiac arrest… Heart transplant isn’t an option now.”
“He’s been poisoned!” Whitney interjected.
The lead doctor turned, “Poisoned?”
“Can’t you detect any toxins through the blood test?” Whitney approached, “May I see the blood work?”
“Who are you?”
“I’m a licensed naturopath.”
Handing over the results with a frown, “Without your heads up, I wouldn’t have suspected poisoning, given his heart condition. The viral markers in his blood only hint at anomalies, pinpointing the toxin would require detailed blood analysis.”
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