Chapter 2: Heart Attack

Judith's three younger sisters rushed in. They were anxious that their eldest sister was about to get the short end of the stick. Judith's cheeks flushed bright red. She had no idea what to say. Magnus smiled. "That gust came out of nowhere. Let's say I saw more than I should. Honestly, she's beautiful." "That's enough! Shut up!" Judith blurted. It was bad enough he looked, and now he's even giving commentary? Everyone stared, stunned. So Magnus saw everything. Only Timothy was grinning ear to ear.  "It's fate, plain and simple." "Judith, Magnus is here to follow through on your engagement." Judith froze. The other three sisters were stunned. Timothy had mentioned an engagement once, but everyone thought he was joking. Turns out he meant every word. Magnus frowned. "Mr. Hopkins, I actually have urgent business. I came today to call off the engagement. I hope you'll agree." Judith drew a sharp breath. Call it off? She was single and a company president. Did Magnus think she was not good enough? Magnus didn't even look at her. He liked women, but he wasn't desperate.  Since Judith looked down on him, there was no reason to stay. Timothy just shook his head. "Ms. Rhea told me you can only turn it down if I say so." This time, Magnus felt cornered. How was that any different from forcing him to marry? However, Rhea had warned him not to reject the marriage rashly. Seeing Magnus at a loss for words, Timothy looked pleased with himself. "Judith, you're old enough to marry." "Since he's already seen you like that, you should marry him." Judith's eyes went wide. Magnus was a creepy Peeping Tom. If she were to really marry him, how could she ever be happy? Her father, Charles Hopkins, finally spoke up. "Father, I don't get it. Of all the promising young men, why pick him?" The other sisters joined in, urging Timothy to reconsider. The villa erupted into an uproar. "Quiet!" Timothy's irritation grew with every word. He slapped the table and lurched to his feet. The next second, he clutched his chest and collapsed into his chair, his face twisted in pain. "Grandpa!" "Father!" Panic swept the room. "Dr. Jameson, hurry!" "Make way!" An older gray-haired man strode out from the inner hall. After taking Timothy's pulse, his brows knit and his eyes flashed. "I've told you, Mr. Hopkins's internal injuries keep flaring up. He mustn't get worked up. Just go along with him." "Yet you upset him. Do you want him to die?" At Nolan Jameson's scolding, Charles and the others were wracked with guilt. Judith, especially, was frantic, tears brimming in her eyes. "Grandpa, I'll do as you say. I'll marry Magnus. Just don't die. Please." A strained smile tugged at Timothy's pained face. "It comforts me that you think so. Remember what you said. Don't go back on it." Then he stood up as if nothing had happened. He even flashed Nolan a triumphant look. "Your acting's better than mine. That shout of yours almost made me blow our cover." Nolan put on a mock scowl. "I'm a renowned physician. Don't rope me into that again." "What is going on?"  Gasps rippled through the room. They soon realized Timothy had faked the heart attack and teamed up with Nolan to put on a melodramatic act. The goal was to force Judith to agree to marry Magnus. Judith and the others looked livid. Even Magnus could only shake his head. Timothy was an old rascal.  This family is a circus. He felt like he'd wandered into a den of thieves. "Grandpa, are you still messing around?" Judith scrubbed at her wet lashes, stung to the core. Timothy, though, sounded proud. "If not for this, how could I make sure you and Magnus get married?" "Now that you agree, I'm thrilled." He burst out laughing, but after a moment, he grabbed his chest again and collapsed, his face contorted in genuine pain. "Grandpa, are you still playing games?" Timothy nearly drove her mad. She bent to help him up and froze. "Grandpa, your hand is so cold. It's twitching!" Charles hissed, low and sharp, "Judith, this is not the time. Stop humoring your Grandpa." Judith shook her head hard. "I'm not. He's not acting this time. He's really having an episode. Dr. Jameson, please, help him!" "What?" Nolan's face drained. He rushed forward. Timothy's face was pale. The twitching was real. Signs of acute heart failure were obvious. "Mr. Hopkins, hold on. I'll treat you right away." He unrolled a set of silver needles. There were long ones and short ones, with finely crafted, elegant handles. One glance showed they were extraordinary. Judith and her family watched anxiously, full of hope. "Dr. Jameson, we're counting on you." Nolan looked supremely confident, his tone edged with pride. "Don't worry. Once I get the needles in, Mr. Hopkins will wake up for sure." Anticipation swelled. Just then, Magnus grabbed Nolan's wrist. "If you insert those needles, Mr. Hopkins will wake up, and within ten seconds, he'll be dead." Everyone blanched. At a time like this, he was getting in the way? Outrageous! Nolan's eyes reddened. "Young man, we're trying to save a life. Stop making a scene." "If you delay the treatment, it's on you. Let go!" Magnus didn't let go. "Your Willow Needle Technique hits hard. It'll snap him awake. But once he comes to, he'll be weak. If the needle's effects haven't worn off, that surge will rebound and hit his heart. He won't survive that." Nolan froze. "He's right." "I was too focused on bringing Mr. Hopkins back. I forgot about what happens after." "I hadn't even set the first needle, but this young man already knew I was about to use the Willow Needle Technique." "Magnus isn't ordinary. His medical skills are better than mine." Nolan thought. He was momentarily at a loss. Charles and Judith were frantic, trying to drag Magnus away so he wouldn't interfere with the treatment. "Stop! Show Mr. Kendall some respect." Nolan barked the order.  Charles and Judith flinched, and the others stared in stunned silence. Ignoring them, Nolan addressed Magnus respectfully.  "What do you think is the best way to treat Mr. Hopkins?" This shocked everyone even more. Nolan was seeking Magnus's guidance. Magnus didn't explain. He propped Timothy up. "Saving him is simple. Watch closely." Before he finished speaking, Magnus drove a fist square in the middle of Timothy's back. Thump! The sound rang through the room. "Magnus, are you insane?" The Hopkins family saw Magnus pummel Timothy and were torn between fury and heartbreak. "I'll kill you!" Charles lunged at Magnus. Led by Judith, the daughters of the Hopkins family rushed forward, desperate to stop Magnus. Magnus moved with effortless power. With a single sweep of his arm, he pushed them all back. Then he struck Timothy's back again, harder. Thump! A deeper, heavier sound reverberated, louder than before. After the first blow, Timothy still grimaced in pain. Now his face lost all expression. He looked as if he had passed away peacefully.