The doctor's words left Director Smith stunned, unable to process what he had just heard.

"What? Recovery? My God, how could this be?" Director Smith thought.

Mrs. Lewis sprang from her chair and stared at the doctor. "What did you say? Say that again!"

Though the doctor himself found it hard to believe an Eldermere practitioner could have healed Celia, the evidence was undeniable.

He met Mrs. Lewis's gaze and repeated, "You heard me correctly, ma'am. Miss Palmer is completely cured. All of her vitals have returned to normal."

In that moment, the confirmation finally sank in for Celia. She covered her mouth, tears of joy streaming down her face.

She had suffered from severe epilepsy since birth, each seizure an agony that made her wish for death. No one could understand how desperately she had longed for a healthy body, to run freely under the sun like a normal person, without the constant fear of a seizure or the humiliation of incontinence. She had gone to countless hospitals, each time filled with hope, only to leave in despair.

Gradually, she had given up on ever getting better. Then, as if one blow wasn't enough, childbirth had left her with debilitating after-effects. Celia felt her life was ruined.

But now, she was hearing that all her vitals were normal.

Celia threw her arms around Mrs. Lewis, sobbing. "Aunt! Did you hear that? Did you hear?"

She was well. She was finally well!

Though she knew she had been improving, hearing it confirmed by a doctor sent a wave of ecstatic relief through her, so powerful it brought her to tears. Only someone who had lived with a chronic illness could possibly understand this feeling.

Mrs. Lewis was overjoyed. "Yes, I heard, I heard! Celia, congratulations. This is a new beginning for you."

She kissed Celia's cheeks, her own eyes wet with tears. For Celia, this truly was a rebirth. As her aunt, Mrs. Lewis had watched Celia grow up and knew how difficult her journey had been. She remembered one time when Celia had a seizure and fell into a fountain; she would have drowned if someone hadn't found her in time. Then came the unplanned pregnancy and the traumatic birth that left her with such severe complications.

But it didn't matter now. All of that was in the past. It was all over.

Director Smith stood to the side, still utterly bewildered. He walked over to the doctor. "Griffin, let me see that report."

He refused to believe a doctor from Eldermere possessed this kind of skill. Valerium was the pinnacle of medical advancement. What were those quacks from Eldermere? As a tenured professor at a top international university, Smith wouldn't even give a student from Eldermere the time of day if they applied to study under him.

But now, a case of epilepsy that he couldn't crack had been cured by someone from Eldermere. It was a crushing blow to his pride, one he couldn't accept. It had to be a mistake. Griffin must have misread the report.

Griffin's expression mirrored

Smith's. She, too, looked down on Eldermere's medical practitioners

from the depths of her soul. In her

eyes, the

medical standards

weren't even half as good as Vaterium's not even a tenth, or a hundredth.

After a moment's hesitation, Griffin handed the report to Smith. "See for yourself, Director."

Smith took the report. The more he read, the grimmer his face became. He had hoped Griffin was wrong, but the data on the page was indisputably normal.

Celia had truly recovered. And not just recovered-she was in perfect health.

The hand holding the report began to tremble. Smith took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

Celia spoke then, her voice soft but sharp. "Director Smith, the 'quack' you spoke of cured my illness, while your team has researched for years without any results. Doesn't that mean you don't event qualify as quacks?

Her words were gentle, her tone light, but each one was a soft needle, finding its mark with devastating precision.

Smith's face went pale. He couldn't admit his own incompetence, but the proof was right in front of him. Quickly, he scrambled for an excuse.

"Miss Palmer, I still find it hard to believe a doctor from Eldermere could achieve this. There must be an issue with the equipment. Let me perform the tests again myself, right now. What do you say?"

Yes, that had to be it. The equipment was faulty.

Celia let out a soft laugh. "Director Smith, is really so difficult to admit you're not as skilled as you think? Miss Gonzales is simply better than you. You can test me once or ten times; the result will be the same."

She paused, then added, "But since you refuse to accept reality, I'll indulge you. Run the tests again."

Celia knew Smith's personality all too well. If she didn't cooperate, he would never change his prejudiced views about Eldermere practitioners.

Director Smith bowed slightly. "Thank you, Miss Palmer."

Celia turned and walked back toward the examination room with Smith trailing behind her, while Mrs. Lewis waited outside again.

Meanwhile, at Silverhaven Airport.

Xavier Richards, dressed in a black hoodie with a mask covering his face, pushed his luggage cart out of the terminal and slid into a waiting car.

Once inside, he pulled down his mask and instructed the driver, "To the hotel first."