Chapter 12: The Davidson Family

Words : 2190 Updated : Nov 20th, 2025

Junbert Hospital. The night was black as ink, split by the emergency building's light. The leading figures of Junbert's medical world had rushed in at the Mendes family's urgent call. They travelled through the night, weary and dust-streaked, to gather in the hospital. Ambrose Davidson, head of the Davidson family, had collapsed without warning during his trip to Grivoria, setting off a shockwave. Countless onlookers saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to connect with the Davidson family, eager to hitch their wagons to a force that could change their fortunes. Inside the VIP suite, a tight, controlled silence held. With the Mendes and Davidson families keeping vigil, only doctors with true prestige and skill were allowed in. No one else was allowed near the patient. "Gavin Mendes, these are the best doctors Junbert has to offer? They look useless!" Carmen Davidson's voice shook with urgency and burned with anger. Staring at the so-called Junbert heavyweights in white coats, all shaking their heads and sighing, her blood was boiling. As the Mendes scion tasked with managing the crisis, Gavin had pulled every string and contact he had, rounding up any physician in Junbert with a reputation. No one had expected the so-called specialists everyone talked up. Faced with Ambrose's condition, they didn't even dare claim they could treat him. All they could do was shrug and sigh helplessly. It was a public humiliation for the Mendes family. "Ms. Davidson, I... I never thought they'd be this helpless," Gavin said, jaw clenched. He swept the assembled doctors with a furious glare and snapped, "You strut around with your professor titles! Isn't that supposed to be impressive? Is this all you've got? Listen, if you don't stabilize Mr. Davidson today, the Mendes family will make sure you'll never practice in Junbert again." Carmen's temper was building, about to erupt like a volcano. "I shouldn't have come to Junbert. Where's Denise? Where is she? Why isn't she here yet?" "My sister's on her way," Gavin said quickly. "She'll be here any minute." "Ms. Davidson, let me try!" A deep voice cut through the room, drawing every eye. Before Carmen could reply, Gavin grabbed the doctor by the arm. "Dr. Everett, you... You're confident? Please, go ahead!" After a careful exam, reviewing the labs, and a full workup, he offered his assessment. "The patient has high fever, headache, muscle aches, chest pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Imaging and labs show an enlarged liver with abnormal function. I believe we're looking at viral hepatitis." No sooner had he spoken than voices chimed in. "As expected of a heavyweight. Dr. Everett's analysis is spot on. I suspected as much, and now I'm sure it's viral hepatitis." "I agree. With these symptoms, it's not hard to treat. Since Dr. Everett called it, let him take the lead." Sighs drifted through the room. The other experts had lost their chances. Who knew when they'd get another shot to attach themselves to the Davidson family? Carmen felt some tension leave her shoulders. At least what Everett described fit perfectly. "Junbert's medical circle does have talent. Hurry and treat my grandfather." Everett basked in the attention. He felt the spotlight on him, envious eyes all around, his lips curling with restrained pride as he stepped forward, calm and self-assured. "This isn't hard to treat. I'll have Mr. Davidson awake very soon. Belle, you and the others assist me." All eyes were on him, some envious, some jealous, a wave of pride and control swelling in his chest, tugging his mouth into a smile he couldn't suppress. He strode to the bed with practiced confidence. "Dr. Everett, wait!" An old, urgent voice called out. Rodrigo pushed through the crowd, grabbed Everett's arm, and pulled him aside. They spoke in low voices, a heated exchange flashing between them. "Dr. Rodrigo, you're just jealous!" Everett snapped suddenly. "You're afraid I'll save Mr. Davidson. You're afraid I'll connect with the Davidson family. Spare me your doomsaying!" Everett wrenched his arm free and returned to the bed. Rodrigo looked helpless, even a little embarrassed. He glanced at the other elder beside him. They traded a look and shrugged. With everyone watching, Everett led his team and began. He didn't ask anyone to leave. He wanted the charged atmosphere, the buzz of showing off before a crowd, putting the others in their place. The Mendes and Davidson families stood tense with fear and hope. Seconds ticked by, each one an ordeal. "Ugh..." Ambrose convulsed on the bed mid-procedure, gagging and vomiting. His face turned pale, his lips a dark, purplish-blue. "Gasp!" The crowd of doctors reeled, gasping, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "Why is it getting worse the more we treat?" "This can't be right. Something's wrong. Check the EKG! It's all over the place!" "No, his blood pressure's dropping! Oxygen saturation is crashing!" Carmen clenched her fists, sweat beading on her brow. Seeing Everett's forehead slick with sweat and his hands shaking, she asked, "What... what's happening? What's wrong with my grandfather?" Panic flooded Everett's eyes. His hands started to tremble, his voice faltering. "I... This shouldn't happen. I followed standard protocol. I swear!" He shot a pleading look at Rodrigo and the other elder. "Dr. Rodrigo, don't just stand there. Help me!" Rodrigo and the other elder held up their hands helplessly. "Dr. Everett, we warned you before that this might not be viral hepatitis. You didn't believe us. Now that it's gone wrong, no one can bail you out." Everett's face went chalk white. He scanned the room, desperate. "Dr. Adam, help me..." Adam, a balding man in rimless glasses, hair silver at the sides, shook his head over and over. "I examined Mr. Davidson earlier. There's nothing I can do." "Dr. Otis..." Everett tried again. "Don't look at me. If I could have handled it, it wouldn't have been your turn." "Dr. Blake..." "Everett, I want to help, but I was already stumped before, and now it's worse. Better try someone else." Despair swallowed him. He'd imagined himself riding the Davidsons' coattails, basking in wealth and honor, his ascent smooth and certain, almost within reach. Instead, he was in free fall. Everywhere he looked, the so-called titans of medicine just shook their heads and stepped back. "If anything happens to my grandfather, if he dies or even suffers serious harm, I'll make sure your whole family pays for it." Carmen's voice cut into him like icy awls, despair biting to the bone. It was like being doused with ice water. Everett searched for a lifeline, and then he saw Dante. Thud! He lurched toward the door where Dante had just appeared. There was a trace of indifference in Dante's bearing, his eyes deep and cold as a still pond. Everett dropped to his knees and crawled to the door. He clung to Dante's leg and broke into sobs, snot and tears streaming, his plea raw and desperate. "Dr. Easton, save me! Please, I'm begging you! Save me!" The room erupted. Uproar swept through the ward. Everyone froze, mouths agape, stunned by the absurdity of the scene. Many had no idea who Dante was. Those who did had only heard of him drinking and gambling, a disgrace to his family, and the Swift family's black sheep. Yet here was Everett, one of the top doctors, kneeling to him for help. "Has Dr. Everett lost his mind? He's begging the Swift family's son-in-law with an awful reputation." "What is he even doing? Has the shock driven him mad?" Shock, suspicion, scorn, bewilderment... Every face seethed with tangled emotion. No one could understand why the notorious Dante had become Everett's last hope. Just a few days earlier, Dante had twice pulled off medical miracles at Junbert Hospital. To protect Everett's name, the incidents had been kept quiet, and both had happened late at night, with only a handful of staff on duty.

Chapter 12: The Davidson Family

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