?Chapter 148:


    Elliana’s lips tightened slightly after hearing what Charles had shared. Mentioning the Delta in print was almost unheard of. The topic was so forbidden that no publisher would dare touch it. However, somehow, Charles’s grandfather had gotten his hands on a copy. Who had written the book? And how had it ended up in the possession of a Henderson? Elliana’s curiosity was piqued. She found herself wishing she could flip through the pages herself. But any hope of that vanished—the book had been buried with Charles’s grandfather. Digging up a grave for the sake of information was out of the question.


    After a long pause, Elliana turned to Charles. “Do you have any idea where your grandfather got that book?”


    A slow shake of the head was Charles’s only answer. “He never spoke about it. Not once did he exin where it came from. And he never talked to any of us about the Delta either.”


    Gatlin jumped in, his voice thoughtful. “That’s true. As far back as I can remember, my father never mentioned anything like that. I figure he just thought the book was fiction.”


    Elliana gave a small nod but didn’t press the issue. There was nothing more the Henderson family could give her. The lead ended here, so she let it go and turned her attention to Barbara instead.


    “Venacure is doing its job neutralizing the Scorpion King in Miss Henderson’s body, but because the poison has been building up in her system for years, the damage is already severe. Full recovery won’t be quick. She’ll need constant care, and you’ll have to be diligent during her rehabilitation,” Elliana exined.


    Both Gatlin and Eloisa gave a nod, but the motion came off stiff—nearly robotic. They looked like people standing on a thin sheet of ice, fully aware that it could crack beneath them at any second. Whoever had poisoned Barbara had done it under their noses. If that same person struck once, pulling off another strike would be very much possible.


    ncing at the couple, Elliana recognized the anxiety behind their silence. “You should stay on guard. We still don’t know who’s responsible. Until we do, you’ll need to be extremely cautious.” She knew that her advice, while reasonable, wasn’t exactly reassuring. Even with their best efforts, the Henderson family wasn’t equipped to handle enemies from the Delta. Against a force like that, they were painfully outmatched. So, she added something she knew they wanted to hear, “I’ll keep checking in on Miss Henderson. You won’t be on your own.”


    That promise brought a bit of color back to Gatlin’s and Eloisa’s faces. The tension in their shoulders eased ever so slightly.


    ?????????????? ?????????????????? ????????: g???????????ν???????????????????


    Elliana continued, “Besides cleansing the poison, the Venacure also helps regenerate nerve tissue. If she keeps improving, she’ll eventually be able to walk again. For now, just help her rebuild her leg strength through consistent therapy and movement.”


    The possibility that Barbara might one day walk again left Gatlin and Eloisa stunned with joy. Their eyes lit up, and Eloisa spoke first.


    “Mrs. Evans, we can’t thank you enough!”


    Gatlin quickly followed with sincerity in his voice. “Please, allow us to pay you for everything you’ve done. It’s the least we can do.”


    Elliana shook her head gently. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not doing this for recognition or money. I just want to ease the tension between the Evans and Henderson families. I hope the two of you can let go of the past. As for Jeff, don’t worry. I’ll make sure he behaves himself from now on.”


    Though the circumstances surrounding her marriage to Cole were still murky, Elliana had already epted the role that came with it. As long as she held the title of his wife, she would take full responsibility for the weight that came with it. That was simply her way of life.


    Gatlin exhaled. “There was a time when our two families were as close as kin. If not for what had happened to Barbara and Charles, we wouldn’t have thrown a tantrum at the Evans residence. Looking back now, I truly regret it all.”


    Eloisa lowered her voice, remorse flickering in her tone. “Over the past two years, I’ve said a lot of awful things. I’ve acted out of grief, but that’s no excuse. I’ll visit Ruben personally to offer him a proper apology.”


    Eloisa’s eyes drifted toward Charles, still seated in his wheelchair. In that moment, the warmth in her expression gave way to sorrow. Joy had returned to her life with Barbara’s recovery, but her heart still ached every time she looked at her son and the wheelchair he could not leave behind. Even if she chose to make peace with the Evans family for Elliana’s sake, the bitterness in her heart hadn’t fully faded.


    Elliana caught the shift in Eloisa’s mood and turned her attention to Charles. She walked over and said, “Would you mind if I take a look at your legs?”


    Startled, Charles lifted his head, his voice rushing out with hope. “You mean… Are you thinking of treating me?”


    A small smile curved Elliana’s lips. “I’d like to try.”


    Without needing another word, Gatlin and Eloisa jumped to help. They carefully rolled up Charles’s pant legs with trembling hands.


    “Everything above his knees works fine. But below that… There’s no feeling. Nothing at all,” Eloisa exined quickly.


    Dropping to a crouch, Elliana began inspecting Charles’s lower legs with precise focus. After a few moments, she spoke. “I need to see his medical records.”


    Eloisa didn’t hesitate. She immediately sent someone to retrieve the documents.


    Elliana flipped through them page by page, her eyes scanning every detail. Once she reached the final sheet, she closed the file and looked up. “I can treat his legs,” she said inly.


    The room fell into stunned silence before erupting with barely contained relief. It was like a floodgate had opened, and for the first time in years, hope had spilled in.


    Charles stared at Elliana, wide-eyed and overwhelmed. Gratitude radiated from his face, mingled with disbelief. Living with that wheelchair had be his quiet burden, but he’d never stopped dreaming of standing again.


    Elliana leaned in slightly and said, “There’s just one condition I need to make clear first.”


    .


    .


    .