Suddenly, the sound of the beeping machine changed. It was as if Sir Orton was battling life and death. At this point, Sylvester's reassurance meant nothing. Anabel’s heart dropped immediately. The change in sound sent a wave of panic through the room. She knew that something was going terribly wrong.
“Daddy!” she cried. Her voice was breaking as she rushed to his bedside.
Jethro reacted immediately. He didn’t wait. He bolted toward the door and pulled it open so hard it nearly slammed against the wall. With the way he was rushing, all the staff who saw him could tell that something was wrong.
He stormed into Dr. Maxwell’s office without knocking and blurted out, “Doctor! Something is wrong with my father. The sound of the beeping machines changed! You need to come right now!"
Dr. Maxwell dropped the medical report he was reviewing and followed Jethro at a fast pace back to the room.
When he entered, he scanned Sir Orton’s condition. He checked his body and noticed that he was getting weaker. Anabel watched him desperately with tears streaming down her face. “Doctor, please,” she begged. “What is happening? Is he okay?”
Dr. Maxwell didn’t respond immediately. He continued to check Sir Orton. Then, slowly, he shook his head. The motion sent a fresh wave of panic through Anabel.
“Doctor, say something!” Jethro demanded, his voice rising. “Is he getting worse?”
Dr. Maxwell exhaled and reached for his phone, then dialed a number swiftly. Anabel’s heart began to pound harder as she noticed he was making another call. That meant things were getting even worse.
Tears blurred her vision as she held her father’s hand tightly, shaking her head as if refusing to accept reality. “Please, Daddy, hold on.”
After Dr. Maxwell ended the call, he turned back to them and said. “The specialist doctor is coming very soon. I need you all to stay calm. The machines are stabilizing him. Do not panic.”
Jethro, however, wasn’t convinced. He knew the truth. They were running out of time. He stepped forward to the doctor, "Doctor, this is risky. We need to do something fast. Look at him—he’s getting weaker! We need another now.” He tried to convince Dr. Maxwell, but he held his ground. “I understand your concern, Jethro, but I need you to trust me. The specialist….”
“We don’t have time for the specialist!” Jethro interrupted. “Call the nurse. Have her reach out to the Desmond she said could help. We don't have time. We need every option right now.” Jethro added, and Anabel glanced at him in shock. She hadn’t expected him to bring up the nurse’s suggestion again.
“I can't believe you are considering this joke. I have already told you. I won’t allow a man who is not a doctor to experiment with Sir Orton’s life. It cannot happen. Not on my watch." The doctor insisted.
Sylvester, who had remained quiet until now, perked up at the mention of Desmond. His gaze flickered toward Anabel in curiosity. “Who is this Desmond?” He asked, and Anabel told him what the nurse said.
Jethro continued to talk with the doctor. "But the nurse said she saw him handle a similar case before. She trusted him. Let's give this man a chance." Jethro said.
"And I said no, I won't let that happen." The doctor refused.
“Well, if that’s the case, isn’t it worth trying?” Sylvester suggested. “If this guy has experience. Doctor or not—maybe he could do something.”
"Absolutely not,” the doctor declared. “We will wait for the specialist. I won’t risk something worse happening.”
“Doctor, we are talking about my father. Don’t tell me to wait when I know I have an option right in front of me.” Jethro stated, but Dr. Maxwell didn’t budge. “I understand your emotions, Jethro. But emotions cannot dictate medical decisions. I won’t gamble with your father’s life. I know what is best for Sir Orton. The specialist is coming.” With that, he turned and left the room, making it clear that his stance wasn’t changing.
Anabel felt her body go numb. Her head was spinning. She couldn’t tell what was right anymore. She didn't know who to support.
Minutes later, the nurse entered for a routine checkup. Jethro wasted no time and approached her. “Hey, can you call the Desmond you mentioned earlier? Do you have his number?"