Not A Small-Town Girl

Danielle and her team rushed to the hospital and immediately changed into scrubs before heading into the operating room.

When Ethan saw Danielle enter, he was almost on the verge of tears.

"Miss Darling, you’re here..."

"Mhm," she replied, giving a quick glance at the situation before jumping right into the procedure.

Under the synchronized efforts of Danielle and Austin, Xavier’s vital signs stabilized, and the doctors breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Ethan was utterly focused, watching Danielle with rapt attention as she performed the surgery—he was so impressed that, had it not been for the sterile environment of the operating room, he would’ve been clapping in admiration.

Meanwhile, Jaden had brought someone back from outside.

Howard and Vivian, hearing that Ember had nearly killed Xavier, were both furious.

"How did you contact her?" Howard demanded.

Ember, still stunned and dazed, didn’t immediately answer.

"Through the phone. She paid me a large sum of money, and that’s all I know."

"Take her away," Jaden ordered, waving his hand.

A few bodyguards quickly escorted Ember out.

Two hours later, the operating room doors opened.

Doctors filed out, one by one.

"Xavier’s surgery was a success," they announced, followed by nurses pushing Xavier, still unconscious, on a gurney.noveldrama

The Darling family’s faces fell when they saw Xavier’s pale, unconscious form—an overwhelming sense of worry flooded over them.

Austin, Danielle, and Ethan emerged shortly afterward.

David rushed forward and grabbed Danielle’s hand. "Is he alright?"

"I’m not that fragile, don’t worry," she replied, trying to reassure him. Ever since he found out about her poisoning, he hadn’t stopped watching over her, as if she were incapable of taking care of herself.

"Danielle, you’re alright, right? Xavier is fine now, you should go home and rest. We’ve got this covered," Vivian and Howard said, their concern evident.

Ethan, who had originally wanted to discuss Danielle’s medical expertise, was left standing in the corner, unable to join the conversation.

Danielle’s brothers were aware that she had been poisoned, though they still didn’t know what kind. Howard and Vivian hovered around her, their concern so overwhelming that her brothers couldn’t get a word in.

"Dad, Mom, I’m fine. I’m not going home to rest, I still have things to do. And by the way, you two should get home early tonight," she insisted.

"Sweetheart, you really don’t need to push yourself," Vivian said, her worry written all over her face.

"No need to rest, really," Danielle replied.

Meanwhile, in a dark, secluded room, Vera stared at the man in front of her, frustration and defeat in her eyes.

"I failed, sir. It’s my fault."

The man, casually toying with a rosary in his hand, waved dismissively, his tone icy. "It’s not just your failure, Vera. You underestimated Danielle. She managed to stay sharp even under the influence of poison."

"I should’ve stopped her, but I didn’t. Punish me if you must, not her," Hugh said, stepping forward to shield Vera.

The man’s gaze darkened. "Vera, your arrogance is going to be the death of you. Underestimating your enemies is a fast track to your own ruin. If you can’t change this flaw, I’ll be forced to teach you personally."

The coldness in his voice sent a shiver down their spines.

Vera trembled, fear gripping her. If the man chose to act personally, she wouldn’t survive.

"I understand, I’ll change," she whispered, her voice shaking.