**Chapter 5: The Unraveling Truth** “How did you know that?” Ruth’s eyes widened in disbelief, nearly popping from their sockets. The shock overtook any embarrassment she felt; Dustin had pinpointed her health issues merely by examining her tongue. Every complaint she had, from debilitating migraines to gut-wrenching diarrhea, was laid bare in his assessment. Was he genuinely that skilled, or was it mere luck that guided him? “There’s a great deal one can discern merely by observing another,” Dustin replied, an air of nonchalance cloaking his confidence. “Do you see now, Ruth?” Natasha nudged with a knowing smile, though a wave of relief washed over her. Thank goodness, it seemed Dustin knew exactly what he was doing. “He just got lucky!” Ruth clung to her stubbornness, unwilling to concede. “Forgive Ms. Harmon; she’s just far too obstinate for her own good. Please don’t mind her,” Natasha interjected, casting an apologetic glance in Dustin’s direction. “It’s alright. Shall we begin?” Dustin’s demeanor remained unaffected by Ruth’s defiance. Ignoring the tension, he crossed the room to Andrew’s bedside, embarking on a meticulous examination. It didn’t take long for him to diagnose the severity of the situation. The elderly man had been poisoned—no doubt about it. And the venom coursing through his veins was alarmingly potent. Fortunately, the poison had been caught early enough; had it lingered a day or two longer, Andrew might have found himself in the cold embrace of death. “Ms. Harmon, could you fetch me some silver acupuncture needles?” Dustin requested calmly. “Of course,” Natasha replied, swiftly waving her hand. One of her bodyguards promptly exited, returning a few minutes later with a glimmering set of needles. “Thank you,” Dustin nodded appreciatively before turning his attention back to Andrew. Gently, he unbuttoned the old man’s shirt, tapping his knuckles against Andrew's abdomen to locate the precise acupuncture points. With deft expertise, he began inserting the needles, his touch light yet assured. Ruth watched in astonishment; it was evident that Dustin’s skill far surpassed any previous healer she’d encountered. As he placed the last of the sixteen needles, a relieved breath escaped his lips. It had been some time since his last session of acupuncture, yet the intricacies of the practice flowed back to him with ease. “Is that all? Nothing’s different!” Ruth’s confusion was palpable. “Your grandfather has been poisoned. It will take approximately two hours to draw the toxin from his system. You must keep the needles in place during that time, or the consequences could be dire!” Dustin explained, a note of gravity underscoring his words. Ruth pouted, crossing her arms defiantly. “Why should I trust you?” “Ruth!” Natasha’s impatient glare fixed on her sister. “I need to use the restroom. Please keep an eye on him while I’m away,” Dustin announced, slipping out of the room. Moments later, an unexpected commotion reverberated through the door as a trio of doctors stormed into the room. At the forefront was a bald man whose presence commanded immediate attention. “Who the hell are you people?” Ruth demanded, her arms still crossed in defiance. “I’m Jansen, the executive director of this hospital and the dean of the medical school. I’m here to treat Old Mr. Harmon,” the bald man introduced, his tone laced with authority. “Wait, you’re that renowned Dr. Jansen! The best doctor in Swinton!” Ruth exclaimed, surprise igniting her excitement. “More like one of the best,” Dr. Jansen replied with pride. “But yes, that’s me.” “It’s an honor to meet you, Doctor. Please help my grandfather!” Ruth immediately stepped aside, her trust quickly shifting towards the seasoned physician. “I will do my best.” Dr. Jansen nodded as he approached the bed, his expression darkening upon noticing the needles. “What’s going on here? What are these needles doing in him?” “Wait!” Natasha’s voice rang out, halting him just before he could grab a needle. “What’s the issue?” Dr. Jansen asked, irritation seeping into his voice. “Dr. Jansen, I’ve consulted another healer who has already diagnosed my grandfather as being poisoned. We can’t remove those needles or else there could be serious repercussions!” Natasha insisted, her voice firm. “What utter nonsense!” Dr. Jansen scoffed, rolling his eyes. “If these needles could truly cure ailments, what purpose do trained doctors serve?” “That’s right!” Ruth chimed in, confidence in her conviction. “Natasha, that Dustin barely looks older than twenty! How could he possibly be a skilled healer? Don’t tell me you’re believing the garbage he spouted!” “Then how do you explain his ability to discern your stomach issues merely by looking at you?” Natasha countered, her voice rising. “He… must have been lucky!” Ruth fumbled for an answer, the foundation of her defiance cracking. “Ms. Harmon, the finest doctors in Swinton are here. I don’t know who this charlatan was that you hired, but I assure you, he’s likely conning you. Our professional training far surpasses that of some random kid on the street,” Dr. Jansen objected sternly. “I understand your concern for Old Mr. Harmon, but please, don’t fall for superstitions. They will only worsen the situation!” “That’s correct! Dr. Jansen has saved countless lives. You can rest assured, Old Mr. Harmon is in capable hands!” the other physicians echoed, bolstering Dr. Jansen’s claims. Their collective confidence began to erode Natasha’s resolve, yet she maintained her stance. “We should wait for Mr. Rhys to return.” “Why should we? He may have skipped town by now!” Ruth snapped defiantly. “Ms. Harmon, I’m a busy man, and I cannot waste more time. If I pull out these needles and something happens to Old Mr. Harmon, it will be my responsibility,” Dr. Jansen exclaimed. In one swift motion, he yanked all the needles from Andrew's body. The moment the needles were extracted, chaos erupted. Andrew’s body seized violently, his face taking on a ghastly shade of black as blood poured from his nose and mouth. Alarms blared around the room, signaling a dire emergency. “What in the world is happening?” Dr. Jansen’s confidence wavered, bewilderment clouding his features. “What’s going on, Dr. Jansen?” Natasha’s voice trembled, fear threading through her words. “That’s odd. He was stable just moments ago…” Dr. Jansen swirled with uncertainty and dread. “Sir, the patient is coding!” a panicked voice called out. “Quickly, get the machines!” Dr. Jansen shouted, springing into action. Without hesitance, he initiated emergency resuscitation. The frantic minutes dragged on, yet Andrew showed no signs of recovery. In fact, his vital signs plunged into a terrifying decline. Panic closed around Dr. Jansen. “Ms. Harmon, I… I think Old Mr. Harmon is… dying…” “What?” Both Natasha and Ruth gasped in frozen disbelief, horror flooding the air as the reality of their situation sank in.