Chapter 7: Denise's Resolve

Words : 1934 Updated : Nov 20th, 2025

"Ms. Mendes?" Eddie looked stunned to see Denise standing there. He lost his swagger, peered through the gaps in the crowd, spotted Dante, and jabbed a finger in his direction. "Ms. Mendes, we're here for that ungrateful son. That piece of trash ran in here to cause trouble. I'll take care of him for you!" "Idiot, get out of here! Don't think hiding inside will save you. If you don't come out, I'll go in there and flay you alive!" "Bastard! Where did you take my sister? Get out here, get on your knees, and talk to me!" Spittle flew. Foul curses exploded through the quiet hallway, so shrill they made people wince. Back in Junbert, before the Swift family snatched the Easton family's Pamela Group, the Swifts were a small-time family, barely worth mentioning. After stealing those assets, they jumped to third-tier status and finally established themselves in the city. Even so, in front of the Mendes family, a top-tier powerhouse, the Swift family still didn't count for much. Eddie, a spoiled rich kid from the Swift family, had deep respect and fear for Denise, who ran the Mendes family's core businesses. The Mendes family could wipe out the Swift family with a flick of the wrist. Dante stayed at the back of the crowd. He chose to stay out of sight. He didn't budge. A chill seemed to seep off him as he stood there in silence. His voice was cold and heavy, and it hit Denise hard. "Denise, I won't repeat myself. If you can't handle this, I'm leaving." "Wait, I'll handle it." Denise's already stony face went pale. Her heart clenched. She turned toward Eddie, the frost in her eyes deepening, pulled out her phone, and made a call. Moments later, a crew-cut hulk of a man appeared at her side, built like a tower. His presence was naturally intimidating. He bowed his head respectfully. "Ms. Mendes?" He had already noticed Eddie and his crew blocking the ward door. His brows knit, and a dangerous aura filled the air. He followed Denise's gaze to Eddie, recognizing him as the Swift family's trust-fund brat. Denise's crimson lips parted. Every word dripped venom. "Break his jaw. I don't want to hear another sound out of him." "Yes, Ms. Mendes." "No. Ms. Mendes, you must be... Ahh!" Eddie threw up his hands, but before he could react, the crew-cut man's brutal right hook crashed into his jaw. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose. "Denise Mendes! You! Ahh!" He tried to speak. The crew-cut man gave him no chance and hit another punch. Punch after punch. The metallic tang of blood filled the air. Each blow battered Eddie's face until he was unrecognizable. Onlookers sucked in a breath and stepped back, carving out a safe distance before the storm reached them. Even the tough-looking thugs who'd swaggered in with Eddie dialed back their bluster. They fell back like obedient puppies, heads lowered, stealing glances at Eddie's swollen, pig face, their bodies rigid with fear. It felt like those fists would be on their faces next if they didn't back off immediately. In the quiet hospital, Eddie's screams and the heavy punches rang painfully clear, drawing nearly every night-shift nurse and doctor. No one intervened. This was an order from a top-tier family. No one wanted to get involved. "Damn, that's brutal!" "Ms. Mendes is from a top-tier family. This is nothing to her. A third-rate playboy tried to show off in front of Ms. Mendes. He bit off more than he could chew." "Wait, Dante Easton... Isn't he Eddie's brother-in-law? I heard he's useless. Was he giving Ms. Mendes orders?" "Brother-in-law laying out his wife's brother? I heard Dante indulged in drinking, gambling, and drugs. Ashley Swift stood by him through thick and thin, and he turns on her after all that. What a disgrace!" "I heard the patient in the ward is Ms. Mendes's father. Dante is treating Asher Mendes." "What? Dante is treating Asher Mendes? We have so many doctors here. Even Everett, a top specialist, is here. They let that disgraceful son treat him? Is this a joke?" "You must be new. Don't underestimate Dante. He just woke his mother, Pamela, from a comatose state." "Are you serious?" While the one-sided beating went on, the chatter shifted to Dante, who stood behind them. He was disturbed while trying to give Asher treatment. He glanced toward the door and approved of how Denise handled it. The beating only stopped when Eddie lay passed out cold. The crew-cut man returned to Denise, reeking of blood. His voice was flat. "Ms. Mendes, he's out cold. Want me to wake him up?" Denise looked back at Dante. He still faced away, neither pleased nor angry. Without a signal from him, which meant she would make the decision. She turned and said, "Get him out of here. I don't want to see him." "Yes, Ms. Mendes." The crew-cut man hauled the wreck of Eddie away like garbage. A bright smear of blood snaked across the cold tiles, a sickly metallic tang hanging in the air. The thugs who had come with Eddie had disappeared. Denise's gaze stayed cool and imperious. "Don't let this happen again." The hospital leaders quickly scattered most of the staff, sending them back to their job positions. The ward fell silent. Denise stepped to Dante's side and said politely, "It's taken care of. My apologies." Dante didn't reply. His wrist twitched. The needle pouch unfurled, glittering with pinpoints of light. He rolled fine silver needles between his fingers. "Take off his gown." "I'll do it." Rodrigo moved quickly, loosening Asher's hospital gown. Asher's pale skin was revealed, blotched with eerie, dark-purple bruises. Rodrigo held his breath, his eyes locked on Dante's hands, eager to witness a miracle again. When everything was ready, he stood aside, eyes bright with anticipation, waiting to see Ancient Acupuncture in action. Whoosh! A cold gleam flashed. Dante struck. He moved fast, his motions flowing like water as the silver needles found their mark. "What... what is that? It's moving." A nurse pointed to a patch of skin over the heart that writhed. "And here. It's moving too." The skin on the abdomen rippled and crawled. Once Dante began needling, Asher lay quiet, calm as if sedated, showing no reaction. Dante's gaze sharpened, the silver needles twirling between his fingers. The corner of his mouth lifted. "I've been waiting for you." His hands blurred as he set more needles, pinning the writhing patches. The motion grew more violent, yet fixed in place, like bugs nailed down. Dante nicked the skin lightly with a needle tip and drew out two fresh, blood-slick creatures. "My God! What on earth are those?" Faces went blank with confusion. Rodrigo's brow furrowed. Horror tightened his features, and he stepped back. "Curse bugs? Are those curse bugs?" At the sight of the curse bugs, the crowd shuffled backward, eyes wide with shock and fear, their gaze glued to the two wicked little things still twisting on the needle tips. Only Denise did not retreat. She stared hard at the two blood-smeared curse bugs. Her face went livid, turning to lethal frost. Deep in her eyes, a tidal fury and bone-deep murderous intent surged and boiled.

Chapter 7: Denise's Resolve

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