Chapter 4
Author: Calendula
last update2026-08-24 18:11:13

The atmosphere grew even more heated.

Several relatives began muttering insults, saying Thaddeus was only trying to get attention, that he was shameless, and that he always chose the worst possible moments to cause trouble.

Thaddeus fell silent for a moment. He knew that if he insisted now, they would never believe him. They would only hate him even more.

He took a deep breath and then said quietly, “Fine. I won't force you. But at least let me keep him in a position that will keep his airway open until the ambulance arrives.”

They still looked at him suspiciously, but eventually gave reluctant nods because they had no other choice.

Thaddeus turned his attention back to Gerald. His fingers remained steady against Gerald's jaw and neck.

The ambulance still hadn't arrived.

The atmosphere in the dining room became even more chaotic.

Some relatives were scrambling to find the correct emergency number, while others stood around Gerald's limp body on the floor.

Eden crouched down beside him, his face pale. “His breathing is getting weaker. Call the ambulance again!”

Thaddeus remained kneeling in the same position. One hand supported Gerald's jaw to keep his tongue from falling backward, while the other checked the pulse in his neck. It was still there, but extremely weak and irregular. Gerald's lips had already turned blue, and his shallow breaths were becoming weaker.

“Don't move him around,” Thaddeus said quietly when one of the men tried to lift Gerald by the shoulders. “If the obstruction shifts deeper, it could completely block his airway.”

“You always think you know everything!” the man snapped. “You've been saying this and that the whole time! It's all nonsense!”

Thaddeus didn't answer. He simply shifted his knees slightly to stabilize his position. Then, with a quick and precise movement, he turned Gerald onto his side.

Some mucus and saliva that had collected in Gerald's mouth escaped from the corner of his lips. His breathing was still extremely weak, but at least he was still breathing.

“Where is the ambulance?!” Noura shouted in frustration. “It's been more than ten minutes!”

One of the relatives who had made the call answered in a trembling voice, “They said there's heavy traffic on the main road. They estimate another fifteen to twenty minutes.”

Twenty minutes?! Gerald could die if they waited that long. For someone whose airway was almost completely blocked, twenty minutes was dangerously long.

“Why don't we take him to the nearest hospital in one of your cars?” Thaddeus suggested. In his opinion, it was a much better option than waiting for the ambulance.

However, they only exchanged glances.

Out of the twenty relatives there, only two had brought cars. The rest had come together on a bus.

“Uh, I don't have enough gas,” one of the men who owned a car said.

“My car is also having some problems,” the other man added. “I'm worried it might cause even more trouble if something happens on the way.”

Thaddeus slowly shook his head. He had already known how stingy the Kincaid family could be, but he never imagined they would be this unwilling to help one of their own relatives.

Thaddeus looked at Gerald's increasingly pale face. He understood the danger they were facing. If Gerald didn't receive enough oxygen soon, brain damage could begin.

“Okay, then. I can cook a simple herbal using the ingredients in the kitchen. Something that could stimulate his breathing and help stabilize his heartbeat while we wait for the ambulance.”

Every head immediately turned toward him.

Noura's eyes widened.

“Didn't you hear what we just said?! Gerald is dying, and you're still thinking about cooking?!”

“Mother-in-law, this isn't ordinary cooking,” Thaddeus replied. “I know the right combination of herbs and the proper temperature. It could help open his airway and provide mild stimulation.”

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 11

    That afternoon, just before three o’clock, Marcus called Thaddeus into the manager’s office. On the desk already lay a thick envelope containing three thousand dollars in cash. Marcus’s face was still tense, but he no longer dared to act as arrogantly as usual. “This… is your bonus,” he said, pushing the envelope forward. “Now answer me, Thaddeus. How did you master the Seven Knife Shadows? That technique is only taught to selected students. You never even entered the advanced weapons class. So… how?” Thaddeus took the envelope without saying a word. He slipped the money into his pocket with calm movements, then looked at Marcus for a moment. His eyes were flat—unreadable. There was no answer. Because even he himself did not know how it had happened. He simply gave a brief nod and walked out. Marcus stood in the doorway, mouth open, but no words came out. In the kitchen, several coworkers exchanged glances. No one dared to ask. A few of those who had seen the technique t

  • Chapter 10

    The next morning, the sky was still a silvery gray when Thaddeus dropped his two children off at daycare. The place was only two blocks from Maison Restaurant, where he worked. Leaving the children there while he was on the job had become his routine. His mother-in-law and sister-in-law refused to look after them, and Yilna wouldn’t hire a nanny, insisting that Thaddeus had to keep expenses down. After the children went inside and the daycare door closed, he stood for a moment on the sidewalk. He took a deep breath. The house mortgage payment of fifteen hundred dollars was due tomorrow. The annual bonus he should have received the previous month—three thousand dollars—was still being withheld. That was the only hope he had left. He walked toward Maison Restaurant. The kitchen was already bustling when he entered through the back door. The smell of frying onions, the sound of knives on cutting boards, and the hiss of lit stoves greeted him. A few coworkers offered brief he

  • Chapter 9

    That night, the strange heat in his body completely disappeared. After he finished washing up, his skin felt normal again. He climbed the stairs slowly and entered the master bedroom. Yilna stood in front of the dressing-table mirror, wearing a simple silk pajama set. She had just finished her skincare routine. Thaddeus closed the door behind him and walked closer. In his hand was a small velvet box. “My love,” he said softly. She turned. Her eyes moved to the box. A flicker of surprise crossed her face. Thaddeus opened it, revealing a complete set of jewelry—necklace, earrings, and bracelet. “This is for you,” he said. “Happy birthday. I wanted to give it earlier, but with everything that happened to Uncle Gerald… it didn’t feel like the right time.” Yilna stared at the jewelry for a few seconds. Then she picked up the necklace and turned it between her fingers. “Is this real or fake?” she asked. “Real,” Thaddeus answered without hesitation. “I saved for five months to b

  • Chapter 8

    Aunt Clara stared at him. Her expression was a mixture of shock, irritation, and something she still could not bring herself to admit. “You... have dark magic, and you're a shaman?” she asked quietly. Thaddeus shook his head. “No, Aunt. This isn't dark magic. It's just a healing dish, an ancient medicinal recipe I learned from my mentor." “Oh, Thad. You actually believe in things like that? Man, it's 2026,” Shein said. The others immediately agreed with him. Shein tried to laugh, but it sounded forced. “It could still be a coincidence. Maybe it just happened to be the right time for it to subside.” “Yeah,” Noura quickly agreed. “Don't immediately assume it's because of his cooking. We're not the kind of people who easily believe in ancient practices like that.” “Exactly. It's 2026. Everything should be modern by now. We shouldn't believe in superstitious nonsense like that.” “And remember, Thaddeus isn't exactly well-educated, so of course he'd believe in shamans,” ano

  • Chapter 7

    Aunt Clara pushed the empty bowl toward the center of the table. “I’ve eaten it. Nothing has changed. You lost.” Several relatives immediately broke into small rounds of applause, as if they had been waiting for this moment all along. “Kneel down now, Thad,” Shein said with a satisfied tone. “You said it yourself. If you failed, you had to kneel in front of all of us.” Yilna lowered her head even further. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She was deeply embarrassed. In front of her entire family, her husband looked like a man who believed far too much in superstition. Thaddeus didn’t move from his spot. He continued to calmly study Aunt Clara’s arm. “I’m not denying the results so far,” he said quietly. “But allow me to explain logically why I chose those ingredients.” Several people scoffed, but no one interrupted him. Their curiosity was still stronger than their annoyance. “Turmeric contains curcumin. This compound has been extensively studied

  • Chapter 6

    The ambulance siren grew louder until it finally stopped right in front of the house. Two paramedics rushed inside carrying a stretcher and medical equipment. They immediately knelt beside Gerald. After checking his airway and pulse, one of the paramedics nodded. “The blockage has loosened somewhat. The patient is more stable than we usually see in cases of choking this severe. His breathing never stopped completely. That’s a good thing.” The second paramedic turned toward the family while putting away the equipment. “Who gave him that warm herbal drink earlier? The timing was quite helpful.” The atmosphere immediately grew tense. Several relatives exchanged glances. "I was the one who did it,” Thaddeus said. “Glad I could help.” “Whoa, good job, sir,” the paramedic said. "It was just a coincidence. Don’t try to connect it to that strange drink him made," said Noura. The paramedics simply nodded politely, unwilling to get involved. They quickly transferred Gerald onto

More Chapter
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App