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 primal urge to

gracefully, her demeanor calm and unbothered. Her eyes rested on Alan, her tone measured and

resist the hunger. It's driving you mad—making you irritable, reckless, and even violent. Your appetite has likely disappeared by now. You can't eat normal food anymore,

narrowed his eyes in surprise. Every

keep his body functioning and was barely holding on. But then his expression hardened, his lips curling into a mocking

couch, propping her elbow on the armrest and resting her chin in her hand. She raised a brow and said

woman be anyway? She couldn't

next words

not working down there, are

he knew better than anyone else what she meant. His face turned stone

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

smiled and said softly, "These symptoms aren't the last of it. You'll

chill spreading through

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

the end, he would be nothing more than

must have some understanding of his condition to describe so much in

breath, though it didn't calm the agitation rising in his chest. After a long pause, he fixed his gaze on Suzanne and asked in a low voice, "Can you

answering honestly, "I'm

didn't know what to say. He laughed dryly. "So,

to admit she wasn't certain?

barely hanging on with IV drips, and even they don't fully suppress your symptoms. At the very least, I can help you get

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

her, momentarily speechless. His gaze lingered on her, his lips parting slightly as if to speak, but the

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

his mind a storm of agitation. But what was the harm in trying? At this point, he was already a dying man. If there was even a slim chance, why not take

silence, he finally