The moment the words left his mouth, Ryan Hughes lunged at Adrian Hughes.
I stopped the impulsive boy just in time. If Ryan really harmed Adrian here in the clinic, it would surely draw the attention of the Underworld Court.
This clinic stood at the boundary between the living and the dead, balancing on a fragile equilibrium. If a spirit attacked a living person here, the consequences could be catastrophic.
I had only been running this clinic for less than half a year. I couldn’t let my master Gabriel Reed’s lifelong devotion go to waste.
Adrian, of course, couldn’t see the unusual patients in the clinic, nor could he hear what Ryan had just shouted.
Snarling arrogantly at me, Adrian said, “Bitch, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”
“Don’t think I’m joking. I’ll give you ten minutes. If you don’t clean and bandage my dog’s paw, don’t blame me for what happens next.”
Chloe, clinging to his arm with a smug smile, sneered at me:
“Did you hear that? You’ve only got ten minutes. My boyfriend’s influence in Bayshore City is beyond your imagination. If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life crippled, you’d better get moving and treat Coco.”
I looked at the Maltese lying weakly on the counter and could only shake my head.
Its injury wasn’t serious. But when Chloe barged in earlier, the many spirits inside the clinic had all turned their cold eyes on the dog. The poor thing had been overwhelmed by the heavy aura of death in the room.
Animals can see what ordinary people cannot. Surrounded by so many spirits, the dog’s courage collapsed entirely. Its body convulsed violently—it was beyond saving.
I sighed softly. “I’m not a veterinarian. There’s nothing I can do.”
At my words, the Maltese gave a final shudder. The light faded from its eyes, and its breathing stopped.
Adrian froze, stunned, while Chloe’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Pointing at me, she let out a shrill, fake-anguished scream:
“Rachel Evans, this is all your fault! If you had treated Coco sooner, he wouldn’t have died!”
“You killed him!”
“This was my boyfriend’s most beloved pet. You’re dead this time.”
Then she turned to Adrian, feigning tears:
“Darling, Coco died so tragically. You have to make this bitch pay!”
Already drunk and enraged, Adrian hadn’t understood exactly how his dog had died. But Chloe’s pitiful wailing fueled his anger toward me.
With a sudden swing, he slapped me hard across the face and cursed, “You damned bitch! You killed my dog—I’ll never forgive you.”
“Even if God himself came down, he couldn’t save you tonight!”
He turned to his bodyguards and roared, “What are you waiting for? Smash this pathetic clinic to pieces!”
At his command, the dozen burly men stormed in and began smashing everything in sight.
The spirits in the clinic grew even more furious, the dark aura thickening until the lights flickered wildly as though the electricity was failing.
I hurried to restrain them. I couldn’t allow the spirits to harm the living. If they did, this clinic would truly be finished.
