Chapter 30 The Needle and the Knife Chapter 30 The Needle and the Knife " Then find her . " " But this Dr. Claudia disappeared from the public eye three years ago . No one knows where she is anymore . Just like that mysterious master who vanished without a trace ... " Three years . Same disappearance . Marcus suddenly felt like fate had a twisted sense of humor . Why was it that the people he wanted to find most ... always vanished ? James glanced at the man in the rearview mirror . Marcus's expression had turned cold and unreadable . He knew better than to keep talking . " If we can't find her , " Marcus said suddenly , " why tell me about her at all ? " James immediately shut his mouth . " Keep looking . My father's condition is getting worse . We need to stabilize him as soon as possible . If Claudia can't be found , then locate a skilled acupuncturist who can help restore circulation and ease his symptoms . " His voice was low , and he turned to stare out the window . The moonlight tonight was unusually clear . But his mood was anything but calm . " Understood , Mr. Marcus . I'll get on it right away ." After a long silence , Marcus spoke again . " Since the incident ... has Jackson come to the hospital ? With her ? " Her . James took a moment to catch on . " Jackson did visit - with Victoria . But Ms. Natalie hasn't come by at all ... Maybe Jackson didn't 1/3 6:34 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 30 The Needle and the Knife even tell her what happened . " Marcus said nothing . It looked like Natalie had made the right choice in leaving him . The next morning . Lucy sent Natalie the room number . She packed up her acupuncture tools and took a cab straight to the hospital . When she arrived , there was no nurse or caregiver in the room - just Gabriel , lying in bed . " Grandpa . " Gabriel's face lit up came . " with a warm smile . " Natalie ! I was just about to call you . I can't believe you Natalie placed her case gently on the side table . " I only heard about your hospitalization late last night ." " I just regained consciousness . The nurse said I was brought in two nights ago for chest tightness . I've been out of it since then . I remember three years ago - you treated me with acupuncture when I had the same symptoms . I wanted to call you again ... " " That's exactly why I'm here ." Natalie sat by the bed and gently checked his pulse . It wasn't great . But with consistent acupuncture , she could definitely help him stabilize - better than what Western medicine could offer in the long run . " Let's start by restoring your circulation , Grandpa . " " Okay ." She had just begun inserting the needles and asked Gabriel to lie still and rest when the knock came at the door . A second later , the door swung open . Natalie turned to look - and froze . Jackson and Victoria stood in the doorway . Jackson's brow furrowed sharply the moment he saw what was happening . " Natalie , what do you think you're doing ? " The session would take at least thirty minutes . Gabriel had only just fallen asleep . Any disturbance now could disrupt the treatment . Natalie quickly stepped forward , lowering her voice. " Please step outside . " As she passed him , Jackson grabbed her wrist , his expression darkening . " Natalie , " he growled , " you seriously think you're qualified to stick needles in my grandfather ? You wanna kill him with that half - baked ' medical training ' of yours ? " " Exactly , " Victoria chimed in from the side . " Ms. Natalie , do you even have a medical license ? Who gave you the right to treat Grandpa like this ? " " I'll say this one last time , " Natalie said coldly . " He needs rest . Now get out ." She shook Jackson's hand off and walked straight to the door . Jackson and Victoria followed her into the hallway . There , Jackson lost it . " This is a hospital , Natalie , not your house ! You don't get to do whatever you want . Take those damn needles out of Grandpa - now ! If anything happens to him , that's on you ! " In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.