Chapter 319

Years spent immersed in pharmacology had given Verena a foundation most doctors could only envy.Experience with rare and difficult cases, along with her unconventional methods, offered a glimmer of hope even when situations looked grim.

Sherwood studied Verena,searching her calm face for any hint of certainty. His voice trembled as he spoke."Verena, do you really think there's a chance for me to get better?"

She chose her words carefully, keeping her confidence guarded. "Liver cancer isn't easy to fight,Mr. Kirk, but there are ways to manage it. I'll do everything I can for you."

Relief flashed across Sherwood's features. "Just hearing that from you helps me breathe a little easier.Thank you,Verena."

She nodded. "We'll start with traditional treatment to help your energy flow and ease your discomfort. The needles might sting a bit, but try to stay relaxed."

She opened her kit, revealing rows of shining silver needles, each one meticulously arranged and ready. Though he tried to seem fearless, Sherwood couldn't stop staring at the needles, swallowing hard. "I'm ready. Go ahead.I trust you."

His tone was steady, but his hands twisted the hem of his shirt, betraying a deep-rooted anxiety.

Trust, after all, was never something he handed out freely.

Verena wiped each needle with care, her tone soothing. "There's nothing to worry about. If you focus on a pleasant memory, the treatment will be over before you know it."

Her hands moved with swift precision, finding each acupuncture point with confidence. The needles glided into place, her expertise on full display.

Verena recalled Isaac's warning from the night before about Sherwood's suspicious intentions, and a sharp glint of caution flickered in her eyes.

On the outside, she looked calm and steady, but underneath, she carried a quiet edge of caution-she didn't try to do her best for now.

This session was just the beginning, a way to gauge his condition, nothing more. A single round of acupuncture would only smooth the surface; the real problem ran deeper. Verena wasn't naive enough to save someone who posed a threat to her family.

She maintained a careful mask: all professionalism and poise, her real thoughts hidden.

Once the final needle was removed, she cleaned her tools and returned them to their case with quiet efficiency.

"That's it for now, Mr. Kirk. Try to get plenty of rest,and if you notice anything out of the ordinary,let me know right away," said Verena, her voice gentle but firm.

Sherwood pushed himself upright with slow movements, gave a brief stretch, and a faint expression of relief settled across his face.

"I'm already feeling the difference,Verena. Thank you."His face softened into a smile as he made a gesture of hospitality. "It's nearly lunchtime. Would youstay and join me? Let me show my appreciation."

A polite smile flickered across Verena's face as she shook her head."That's very generous of you, Mr. Kirk,but I have a few pressing matters I can't put off.Maybe next time, after your next round of treatment."

Her words were gentle, yet there was no mistaking her resolve. Sherwood caught the unspoken finality and didn't push any further.

"Alright then. If you ever run into trouble, business or otherwise, my door's always open to you, Verena," he said,following her to the entryway.

He watched as she walked away, his initial warmth dimming as her figure slipped out of sight.

Outside,the sun beat down relentlessly. Raising a hand to shield her eyes, Verena hurried toward the waiting car by the curb.

The driver wasted no time opening the door, and she slid into the cool interior, grateful for the reprieve.

The car pulled away from the Kirk family villa and onto the main road.

Returning to her home in Shoildon, Verena dropped onto the living room sofa, sinking into the cushions.

Thoughts tumbled through her mind: Isaac's warning from the night before, and the man she'd seen outside Sherwood's villa, both lingering at the edge of her memory.

Digging for the truth would take more than speculation.She needed real answers.

Determined, Verena grabbed her phone and dialed Luis.

He picked up on the first ring, his voice calm as ever."Hey, Verena. What's going on?"

She wasted no time with pleasantries. "Luis, I need you to pull the profiles for every executive and shareholder at. Sampson Group. I want their backgrounds, recent movements, and who they've been meeting with. Don't leave anything out."

Luis immediately picked up on the urgency in her tone."Is something wrong? Did you run into trouble?"

Verena's gaze drifted to the garden outside, her brow furrowing. After a brief pause, she replied, "I'm not sure yet. Send me what you find first, and we'll talk once I've gone over the details."

Luis understood that Verena never acted without careful thought, and he was certain she would not press him with such urgent demands unless there was a solid reason behind them.

He chose not to press her with more questions and instead spoke firmly. "Alright, I'll take care of it right now. As soon as everything is ready, I'll send the materials to you."

With the call finished, Verena made her way upstairs and booted up her laptop.

A short while later, a notification chimed. Luis had already delivered the files.

Without hesitation, she clicked open the documents,ready to dig into whatever secrets they held.

Information and images filled the screen, each file unraveling the inner workings of the Sampson Group's leadership.

Verena's eyes moved swiftly, absorbing every name,background, and photograph with laser focus.

Roughly thirty minutes passed before something unusual made her pause mid-scroll.

A certain image jumped out at her, halting her hand in place.

There,frozen on the screen, was a man with a brown birthmark on his right cheek and heavy square glasses perched on his nose.

Recognition hit like a punch; she'd seen this man earlier, crossing paths with him on the road leading to Sherwood's villa.

A sharp breath escaped her as she leaned closer,reading the caption beneath the photo. The name read Howe Adams, a major power broker at Sampson Group, holding a sizable share and clearly pulling more strings than most.

The realization left her stunned, mind racing with questions. Her fingers drummed an anxious beat on the desktop.

Why would someone like Howe be anywhere near Sherwood's home?

What kind of arrangement could be brewing between them?

There was no way this was a chance encounter.Something bigger had to be unfolding beneath the surface.

Maybe Howe was just one of the cogs in a much larger scheme.

Determined to get answers, Verena picked up her phone and dialed her trusted detective.

On the third ring, a voice came through. "Verena, how can I help you?"

Verena wasted no time. "I need a full report on who's been snapping up Sampson Group's loose shares.I want names, transaction dates, and even where the deals went down. Don't leave anything out. This takes priority. Send me what you find as soon as possible."