**Chapter 7: The Awakening** “Is he awake?” The question hung in the air like the calm before a storm as disbelief washed over everyone present. Andrew, once lost in the depths of unconsciousness, slowly returned to the light of awareness. The doctors stood frozen, caught in their own shock, as the monitors beeped steadily, revealing a surge of normalcy in Andrew’s vital signs. Who could have predicted that a mere young man named Dustin would unravel the mysteries of a disease that had baffled a whole brigade of specialists? It was nothing short of miraculous! “That’s incredible! Grandfather is awake!” Ruth’s voice broke through the stunned silence, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy at the sight of her grandfather’s revival. Natasha, her heart pounding with relief, joined in the moment, breathing deeply in gratitude. “Mr. Rhys, words cannot express my thanks for what you’ve done. From this day forward, you shall be a revered guest of the Harmon family!” She bowed deeply, respect lacing her words as they reached Dustin. “Thank you, Ms. Harmon. It was no trouble at all,” Dustin replied modestly, a small smile playing on his lips. Yet, his humility was particularly vexing to Dr. Jansen. The doctor’s face darkened; after all the effort he and his team had invested in treating Andrew, for this upstart to downplay it as “no trouble at all” felt like an affront! “Hey! What about that centipede? Why was there a centipede inside my grandfather’s body?” Ruth’s voice cut through the tension. “This isn’t an ordinary centipede. It’s a venomous curse,” Dustin replied, turning his attention to Andrew. “Mr. Harmon, where have you been lately? Have you eaten anything unusual?” “Right on the money. Just a few days ago, I was at a party in Millsburg and had some wine,” Andrew confirmed, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. “If I’m right, you’ve been cursed,” Dustin asserted, the weight of his conclusion settling over the room. “Cursed?” Andrew echoed, bewilderment etching his features. The others exchanged shocked glances; curses were the stuff of folklore, not reality. “Don’t talk nonsense! A curse? It’s utterly illogical! I’ll wager Mr. Harmon merely ingested centipede eggs by accident!” Dr. Jansen interrupted, his voice rising in protest. “Dr. Jansen, any common centipede eggs would have been neutralized by the gastric acid! If you're not familiar with this reality, refrain from spreading misinformation!” Dustin retorted, calm but indignant. “Y-you…” The doctor fell silent, caught off guard by the piercing glare from Natasha that silenced him instantly. “Mr. Rhys, I appreciate your diagnosis. I will delve deeper into this matter,” Natasha said with newfound resolve. She had heard whispers of venomous curses before but had never encountered one herself. The thought that her grandfather could fall victim to such a malevolent force ignited a fierce determination within her to seek justice against those responsible. “Now that the curse has been lifted, you should follow this prescription for five days to purge the toxins from his system.” Dustin scribbled hastily on a notepad, handing it to Natasha. “Thank you immensely, Mr. Rhys!” she said gratefully, clutching the paper tightly. “Alright, I believe my work here is done,” Dustin said, preparing to take his leave. Natasha rose to accompany him. “Sis, what should we do with these insects?” Ruth piped up. “Dr. Jansen said he would eat them! Since he’s so eager, let’s oblige him! Ensure he finishes those insects before departing!” Natasha commanded coldly, a glint of mischief in her eye. “What?” Dr. Jansen turned pale at the unexpected turn of events. Meanwhile, chaos unfolded in a different hospital room. “Mom! How could Rhys hit me? You must make him pay!” James whined from the confines of his hospital bed, where his head was tightly bandaged, rendering only his nose and mouth visible. “Don’t worry, my dear. I will get even for you!” Florence promised, her voice soft yet unwavering. “Mrs. Nicholson, it’s absolutely appalling that Dustin had the audacity to physically assault both of you!” chimed in Chris Nolan, a strikingly handsome young man in a tailored suit. He was the second son of the illustrious Nolan family and had long held a crush on Dahlia. “Chris, you won’t believe it. That punk went off the rails and hit my son like a crazed animal! No one could stop him!” Florence spat, anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Is he really that untamed?” Chris frowned in response. “I know some tough guys who can handle this for you. Shall I help out, Mrs. Nicholson?” “Oh, that would be fantastic!” Florence’s face lit up, animating her expression. “Make sure they knock some sense into him. A few broken bones will suffice!” James interjected, his fury palpable. “Consider it done. I promise, he won't stand a chance!” Chris laughed, his tone malicious. The truth was, Dustin’s marriage to Dahlia had been a thorn in Chris’s side for far too long. Just how had a so-called ‘useless bum’ managed to charm away such a captivating and accomplished woman? It was an opportunity he couldn’t let slip by. “James, how are you feeling?” Dahlia asked as she entered the room, her striking black dress accentuating her curves, capturing Chris’s attention immediately. “Dahlia! Finally, you’re here! Look at me, I’m in terrible pain!” James exclaimed, sitting up and pointing dramatically at his bandaged head. “Dustin already explained what happened and sent his apologies. Let’s just let it go,” Dahlia suggested gently, hoping to calm the escalating tension. “Let it go?” James shouted incredulously. “Dahlia, are you serious? I’m black and blue! An apology won’t cut it! What am I, a fool?” “Well, what exactly do you want?” Dahlia asked, trying to rein him in. “I want him to kneel before me and beg for forgiveness!” James declared vehemently. “He’s still your brother-in-law. Don’t blow this out of proportion.” “Don’t deceive me! I know you both are divorced!” James retorted, fury bubbling in his voice. “Regardless of our past, we were once family. You share responsibility in all of this,” Dahlia countered. “Dahlia, why are you defending him? What did I do wrong? I merely shattered his ridiculous necklace!” James snapped, anger propelling his words. “What? You what?” Dahlia’s expression shifted, tightening into disbelief. “The necklace that you wore before. He insisted it was an heirloom, but I’m certain it’s nothing but trash!” James muttered defensively. “Did you break that necklace?” Dahlia pressed, her voice lowering in intensity. “Yeah! He was being outrageously rude! That insufferable punk refused to hand over the crystal necklace, and I smashed it in retaliation!” James exclaimed stubbornly. “You’ve really gone too far!” Upon hearing this, Dahlia’s fury ignited like wildfire. Slowly, the pieces fell into place, and she finally comprehended why Dustin had struck James. James had provoked him, having demanded the shattering of his beloved crystal necklace. To outsiders, it may have seemed trivial, but Dahlia understood the necklace's true importance. It was a cherished family heirloom, a precious link to Dustin’s mother, and a symbol of her unwavering love. When they parted ways, Dustin had clung to it with fierce protectiveness, and losing it felt like losing a part of himself. “Dahlia, it’s just a necklace! Why are you scolding me over this?” James continued whining. “That trinket doesn’t compare to your brother’s life!” Florence interjected, her voice laced with urgency. “I’ll deal with both of you later!” Dahlia snapped, exasperated. Without another word, she stormed out. The weariness of arguments with her entitled brother and unreasonable mother weighed heavily on her. In the chaos, she realized that her harsh words had inadvertently hurt Dustin. Regret settled in her heart as she acknowledged that, given his temperament, he wouldn’t have lashed out without a reason. She knew she had made a grave mistake…