Chapter 12 Family Misfortune

• At that time, outside the ICU of the Oasis Hospital in Ciderbrook.
• The Hiltons were gathered around the bedside, each person looked worried and lost in their own thoughts.
• On the bed, an old man with a head full of gray hair lay there, eyes wide open and face looking really tired. His cheekbones stuck out as if he was trying to hold on to his last breath. It felt like if he let that breath go, he'd be gone in an instant.
• On the other side of the bed, a group of doctors in white coats stood by. These weren't just any doctors—they were the well-known doctors in Ciderbrook, and right now, they were all focused on the old man.
• "Dr. Bowen, is there really nothing else we can do?"
• A middle-aged guy in a black suit looked at the elderly doctor in charge with a worried look, pleading earnestly.
• "Ugh ... "
• Jerry Bowen pulled his hand back with a sigh and, pointing to the life-support monitors, said, "Mr. Hilton, you can see your father's condition.
• "We've done everything we can here.
• "I thought he'd at least have another week, but given the situation now, you should get the will finalized while he's still hanging on.
• "Please accept my condolences."
• At these words, the Hiltons showed a subtle shift in their expressions.
• When most people heard Dr. Bowen's "condolences," they didn't look upset.
• Instead, they seemed to relax, like a huge weight had finally been lifted from their shoulders.
• "Why bother with the will now?"
• "Before, his lawyer showed us the will. It says he wants to leave 80% of the Hiltons' inheritance to that girl, Alice.
• "A married daughter is like spilled water!
• "If we follow his will, the Hilton Group will end up with someone else's name!"
• "Yeah!
• "I agree with Russ on this.
• "Today, I heard the old man rambling about some crazy stuff—like an Azuron amulet and a shadow ruler!
• "I'm starting to think he made the will when he wasn't thinking straight.
• "That will isn't valid. We need to get a new one made."
• "Uncle Russ, Uncle Nigel, don't you think this is going too far?
• "Grandpa isn't even gone yet, and you're already changing the will right in front of him!"
• Nearby, a girl who looked quite similar to Alice but with a touch more youth and a hint of defiance—Lara Hilron—bit her lip in frustration and spoke up.
• The middle-aged men snorted. "What do you know?
• "You're just a kid—focus on your studies!
• "This is adult matters. It's not your place to get involved!"
• "Yeah, you're way too young to be sticking your nose into our family business!
• "Just go somewhere and stay out of it!"
• At that moment, the situation in the hospital room was bizarre.
• Most people present weren't focused on the old man's condition but were instead fixated on revising the will and dividing up the inheritance.
• Just as everyone was scrambling to secure their share, the door to the room was pushed open, and Alice and Eric strode in.
• "Mr. Goodwell, this is the place.
• "Please, come in!"
• Alice politely opened the door and gestured for Eric to enter. She then approached Silas' bedside and said, "Grandpa, I brought the person you asked for."
• On the bed, Silas was so weak that he couldn't even open his eyes to look at Eric. With barely any strength, he said, "Sorry to bother you, Mr. Goodwell."
• Before he could finish, his hand fell back down onto the bed.
• Alice's second uncle, Russ Hilton, glanced at Eric with a frown and asked with a tone of irritation, "Alice, who's this guy?"
• Alice quickly explained, "Uncle Russ, Grandpa asked me to bring Mr. Goodwell here to check on him."
• "Mr. Goodwell?
• "It's him?"
• Russ stretched out his words, clearly annoyed. "Seriously, Alice!
• "Your grandpa's losing his mind, and now you're spouting this kind of nonsense too?
• "If Dr. Bowen from Ciderbrook's Oasis Hospital can't do anything, what can this inexperienced kid possibly do?
• "To me, it looks like you're so obsessed with the inheritance that you brought this newbie in just to harm your grandpa!"
• Usually, Alice would let Russ's comments slide out of respect for him as an elder.
• But this was a life-or-death situation!
• With her grandpa's life on the line, she didn't have time to waste on Russ's nonsense.
• Her expression turned icy as she said, "Uncle Russ, I don't know the reason behind this either.
• "But this is what Grandpa asked for, so I'm just following his instructions."
• She then turned to Jerry and added, "Besides, the situation is already clear. Even if Dr. Bowen has a great reputation, if he can't cure Grandpa, what's the point?
• "It's better to let Mr. Goodwell give it a try!"
• As soon as she said that, the room, which had been noisy, went quiet.
• Her words left no room for compromise, dismissing not only Russ' objections but also showing no respect for Jerry.
• And then there was Eric.
• Young!
• He was so young!
• No matter how you looked at it, the Hiltons just couldn't see how this young guy could be considered a 'miracle doctor.'
• "Alice, you can be stubborn and make a fuss at other times, but not with this. There's no room for negotiation!
• "Dr. Bowen and his expert team are here!
• "If they can't figure out your grandpa's condition, what's this young kid going to do?"
• It was always messy with wealthy families.
• Eric wasn't interested in diving into this family power struggle and drama.
• He was here because, on one hand, he felt a sense of duty to help Silas, who had been his subordinate in the past.
• On the other hand, Alice had been very kind to him and his parents, so Eric felt a sense of obligation to help her and agreed to come for the consultation.
• But when Eric arrived and saw the situation firsthand, it became clear that the Hiltons, who claimed to be concerned about Silas, were actually eager for him to die quickly so they could fight over the inheritance and divide the assets.
• What a family misfortune!
• Eric shook his head, sighing, and turned to leave.
• Suddenly, on the bed, Silas managed to use all his remaining strength to open his hand.
• In his palm was an amulet that bore a striking resemblance—about seven or eight out of ten—to the Azuron amulet Eric wore around his neck.
• Eric took one look and was stunned, muttering under his breath, "Inferwyrm amulet!
• "How could this amulet end up in Silas' hand?
• "Could it be that the Hiltons have some connection with my mentor, the Senan Sage?"