Her Hidden Crowns (Suzanne and Austin)

Chapter 8

Alan's illness made him crave blood and become aggressive. Leaving Suzanne alone with him seemed reckless.

Richard stepped forward with a worried look. "Dr. Smith, you don't understand. My son's condition is... complicated."

Shane chimed in, clearly disapproving, "Exactly. If he lashes out, you won't be able to defend yourself."

No matter how skilled she was as a doctor, to them, she was still a fragile woman.

But Suzanne's gaze stayed fixed on Alan. She shook her head and said calmly, "It's fine."

Shane wanted to argue more, but Suzanne raised a hand to stop him. "Trust me."

Shane froze, his eyes narrowing. He knew her temperament better than anyone. Once she decided something, there was no changing her mind.

Still, he couldn't shake his worry. "Fine, but be careful. I'll be right outside. If anything happens, call me immediately."

To Shane, nothing mattered more than her safety.

Suzanne saw the concern in his eyes and gave him a small nod, silently reassuring him.

Richard felt uneasy and looked at Alan, speaking in a firm but pleading tone, "You have to control yourself. Don't you dare hurt her!"

Their worry was palpable as both men reluctantly stepped out. They glanced back several times before the door closed behind them.

The moment the door clicked shut, Suzanne's gaze fell on Alan, who immediately growled, "You can leave too!"

His fists were clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead as he visibly struggled to maintain control. With fewer people around, the sweet scent of blood seemed stronger, teasing his senses and tempting him.

almost

to the couch and sat down gracefully, her demeanor calm and unbothered. Her eyes rested on Alan, her tone measured and steady. "I'm the only one who can treat your illness. Are you

voice unwavering, "You crave blood. Your body can't resist the hunger. It's driving you mad—making you irritable, reckless, and even violent. Your appetite has likely disappeared by

Every word she

relying on IV drips to keep his body functioning and was barely holding on. But then his expression hardened, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "You

her hand.

in disdain. How capable could a woman be anyway? She couldn't possibly know

words made him

working down there,

and he knew better than

she know? That shameful, humiliating issue was something he had told no one. Not even the best doctors he had seen had discovered it. Only he was aware of it. His fists clenched harder, his brows furrowing as he stared at her. He was

symptoms aren't the last of it. You'll start to feel numbness creep through your body. Eventually, you'll

chill spreading through him as

posture, but now that she mentioned it, he remembered it had been happening more often. And in hindsight, his posture hadn't been any

end, he would be nothing more than a broken man staring

have some understanding of his condition to describe so

deep breath, though it didn't calm the agitation rising in his chest. After a long pause, he

answering honestly, "I'm not sure. I can

say. He laughed dryly. "So, you're

listed all his symptoms so accurately, only to admit she wasn't certain? Was

on with IV drips, and even they don't fully suppress your symptoms. At the very least, I can help you get complete relief. Whether I can cure you entirely will depend on how

down, she added, "I'll treat you for a few days. The symptoms will disappear,

lingered on her, his lips parting slightly as if to speak, but the

for him to respond. "We'll use acupuncture. If you agree,

what was the harm in trying? At this point, he was already a dying

long silence, he finally replied,