And The Daddy Is... The Infertile Guy?! novel Chapter 7

"I'll prove it to you right now." Saying so, Gwendolyn dragged a medical chest from beneath the bed and flipped it open.

Nine slender needles glinting with a metallic sheen lay in perfect array. She selected a long needle. With a swift motion, she inserted it into a specific spot on his leg.

Tilting her head, she watched Howard's face intently. "Feel anything?"

A tingling sensation, like ants marching, spread through his numb legs. Howard, his dark eyes briefly betraying his pain, turned his head away, his expression stoic, his brow furrowed.

Gwendolyn knew that grimace all too well. It meant pain. She pushed the needle a fraction deeper, her voice soft and soothing, "Feeling something is good. I haven't treated any celebrities, nor do I have a medical license, but I'm certain I can heal your leg."

"With daily acupuncture to disperse the blood clots, supplemented with herbal concoctions and massage therapy, you could be back on your feet in a month, maybe six at most."

A flicker of emotion crossed Howard’s usually restrained face, the harshness fading away.

"What do you want?" he asked. There were no free lunches, especially not for a businessman like him.

Gwendolyn hesitated, slightly embarrassed. "My grandma has been taken to Bayridge City by the Sawyer family. They want your big venture with Summit Corp, so that Vivien can marry your cousin."

Even a country girl like her had heard of Summit Corp, a multinational conglomerate dwarfing the Chadwick Group’s dominance in Bayridge City.

That project was a hot commodity.

Gwendolyn watched him anxiously, feeling guilty for Howard's misfortune.

He stood to lose not only resources but also to hand over his fiancée.

Howard's laugh was bitter.

At the sight of his reaction, Gwendolyn said with a downcast tone, "Sorry, I asked too much."

She bent down, removed the needle, packed up the medical chest, and left the room.

Howard's gaze followed her retreating figure, his eyes darkening. He reached for the phone on the nightstand and dialed a number.

"Nathan, it's me."

The man on the other end sounded shocked, "Howard, you're awake! I thought we'd be visiting your grave next year."

Howard was direct, "Prepare the files on the Summit Corp and Chadwick Group collaboration for me and tweak them a little."