Chapter 9 An Impossible Offer

"Ethan, you weren't supposed to leave the estate unless Maya came to examine you. Where have you been?" Sophia asked, unable to hide the concern in her voice.

Marcus looked from the woman to Victor before answering calmly.

"Am I not old enough to leave the house whenever I want? Am I not mature enough to know whether I'm well enough to go out?"

Without waiting for an answer, Marcus headed upstairs. He locked the bedroom door, carefully hid the Code of Vitalis where no one would find it, then returned to the living room a few minutes later.

"Ethan," both his parents called almost at the same time.

Victor cleared his throat, "The National Medical Consortium is holding its party meeting tonight. I think you should come with me"

He paused before adding, "As long as you behave yourself, I'll approve your request to build that laboratory"

Marcus shook his head, "That's not what we agreed"

Victor frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"

"The laboratory comes first," Marcus replied calmly. "Once construction begins, then I will think about attending any meeting"

Sophia looked from Marcus to Victor before speaking.

"Ethan, your father is only asking you to attend one meeting"

"And I am only asking that construction starts first," Marcus replied. "That was the condition"

Victor stared at his son for a few moments. Ethan had always been stubborn, but this time he sounded unusually firm.

After a brief silence, Victor let out a sigh.

"Fine. I will have the construction work begin immediately"

Marcus gave a slight nod. With a blank face, he said: "Once it starts, I will consider attending the meeting"

Victor and Sophia exchanged a glance before quietly letting out a breath of relief.

They stood to leave, but Victor suddenly stopped at the doorway.

"That reminds me... Reginald Thorpe called earlier"

“ And what did he say this time?”, Marcus asked

"He said he ran into you in a remote village. Apparently, you bought an abandoned house there"

He sighed before continuing, "I am not telling you how to spend your money, but I think investing overseas would have been a better decision"

Marcus frowned slightly, "Why do you say that? Is investing in local real estate not also contributing to the country's development?"

Victor smiled faintly, "We will talk more about that after the construction begins"

“ About the construction, I think I have a better location for the laboratory”, Marcus said with a smirk.

Victor rubbed his forehead in frustration, “I don't think I'm ready for this boy’s tantrum, not again”.

Noticing her husband's reaction, Sophia decided to save the day, “ Where is this better location?”, she asked.

Before Marcus could reply, the sound of a car was heard.

Victor glanced toward the entrance, "I believe your doctor is here for your afternoon check up"

With that, he walked out, and Sophia followed beside him.

A few seconds later, Maya entered carrying her medical case.

She bowed politely, "Good afternoon, Mr. Voss"

Marcus nodded, "Good afternoon"

Maya placed the case on the table and began taking out her equipment.

"I was told you specifically requested that I come instead of Director Reginald"

Marcus stretched out his arm as she wrapped the blood pressure cuff around it.

"I had my reasons"

She switched on the monitor and waited for the reading. After a brief silence, Marcus spoke.

"How is the man who was in the accident with me?"

Maya paused and looked at him, she had not expected that question.

“When did Ethan Voss start worrying about someone else?”, she wondered.

"He is still unconscious," she answered quietly before continuing the examination.

Marcus lowered his voice, "Can you tell me his condition? I feel responsible for what happened"

Maya hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I probably should not be telling you this"

She glanced toward the closed door, then continued.

"We suspect there is bleeding in his brain. A CT scan should have been done immediately, but Director Reginald stopped everyone from treating him"

Hearing this, Marcus's jaw tightened.

"I am only telling you this because you seem genuinely concerned," Maya continued. "If anyone can convince the director to let us treat him, it is probably you"

Marcus lowered his eyes in deep thought. He already knew why Reginald had done it. The man was not refusing treatment because of hospital policy. He wanted Marcus to die in that hospital bed.

For a brief moment, Marcus considered confronting him, but quickly dismissed the idea. Knowing Reginald, doing that would only make him more determined to finish what he had started.

The monitor beeped and Maya removed the cuff from his arm.

"Your blood pressure is normal," she said. "Are you feeling any discomfort?"

Marcus shook his head, "No. I am fine"

Maya packed her equipment back into the medical case. Just as she was about to close it, Marcus spoke again.

"Maya", She looked up.

"Can you watch over him for me?"

She squinted her eyes in confusion, “ Who?”

"The man in the coma," Marcus clarified. "Can you keep an eye on him and let me know if anything changes? I will pay you whatever amount you think is fair"

Maya's expression softened, but she slowly shook her head, "I am sorry, Mr. Voss. I cannot"

"My job would be at risk, and I can't afford to lose it"

She then lowered her head, "My salary is the only thing paying for my mother's treatment"

She picked up her medical case and turned toward the door.

Marcus stopped her, "What if you never had to worry about your mother's hospital bills again?"

Maya paused but did not turn around.

Marcus continued calmly, "I will pay every medical expense she has. All I ask is that you watch over the man in the coma and keep me informed"

For several seconds, Maya remained still, then she slowly turned around.

"My mother has been in a coma ever since a brain tumor operation failed," she said quietly.

"There was a time I truly believed she would wake up. I stayed by her bedside every day. I talked to her even when the doctors told me she could not hear me. I kept hoping she would open her eyes"

A faint, bitter smile appeared on her face, "But one day became another. Then weeks turned into months. Nothing changed"

"I have taken extra shifts whenever I could. Every salary I earn goes toward her treatment. I stopped spending money on myself a long time ago because keeping her alive is all that matters to me"

She let out a weary breath, "But hope is expensive, Mr. Voss"

Her eyes met his, "I know you feel guilty because of the accident, and I appreciate what you are trying to do. But some things cannot be solved with money"

Marcus' hand instinctively brushed against his shirt. Money could not save his real body, power could not save it either. Only the knowledge inside that ancient book could.

He looked back at Maya and he could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She was not trying to gain sympathy, she had simply reached the point where hope no longer came easily.

After a long silence, Marcus finally spoke.

"What if I could heal your mother?"

Maya stared at him, convinced she had misheard, "What?"

"You heard me". Marcus looked at her with quiet confidence, "I can heal her”