The True Lady Strikes Back novel (Cecilia and Christopher)

Chapter 244

The doctor naturally wouldn’t doubt the antidote Aiden personally brought in, so he immediately

administered it to Elaine.

Elaine was already in a severe coma, and she was unable to take the medication on her own.

The doctor gently lifted her chin, and his thumb slid down her throat, one stroke after another.

He was anxious, sweating profusely, fearing that Elaine might not be able to swallow the medicine or

that it might get stuck, making it hard for her to breathe.

Just as he was about to use a tool to forcefully administer the medicine, Elaine finally managed to

swallow it on her own.

The doctor heaved a sigh of relief and turned to Aiden, saying, “Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw has ingested the

antidote. Once it begins to take effect, everything should be alright.”

After saying that, he glanced at the ECG monitor.

The previously rapidly declining data had finally stabilized.

Although it hadn’t shown an upward movement yet, the fact that it wasn’t declining further was good

news.

Seeing Logan looking exhausted, Aiden said, “You should take a rest first. Thank you.”

Logan waved his hand and replied, “Don’t mention it, as long as Mrs. Shaw is fine. I can’t rest yet, I

have to keep an eye on her vital signs.”

Aiden expressed his concern, asking, “If there is no issue with the antidote, my grandma will be fine,

right?”

“It’s hard to say. We need to do a full medical examination for Mrs. Shaw to be certain. After all, poison

can have adverse effects on the body. But since she was poisoned for a relatively brief period, it should

not be a major problem,” Logan responded.

He didn’t want to make any absolute statements, as he was apprehensive about unforeseen

complications.

Aiden nodded understandingly. “When do you think my grandma will wake up?”

Logan replied, “Mrs. Shaw is in poor health, and the poison has

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exacerbated her other health issues. I’m afraid she may not regain consciousness until tomorrow

morning.”

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“Understood. Please ensure my grandma receives the best care. I have other pressing matters to

attend to, so I’ll take my leave now,” Aiden said in acknowledgment.

Realizing there wasn’t much he could do at the moment, Aiden headed to Cecilia’s ward.

Cecilia recovered quickly. Other than a slightly pale complexion, there were no visible signs of anything

unusual.

Upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she immediately looked toward the doorway.

Seeing it was Aiden, she asked right away, “Aiden, how is Grandma Elaine?”

Aiden replied, “Grandma had another bout of poisoning, but fortunately, I arrived in time to administer

the antidote. She’s stable for now.”

As Cecilia heard the word “for now,” she immediately tried to get up and said, “I want to see Grandma

Elaine.”

Aiden pressed her shoulder back down to the bed, keeping her from rising. “Grandma is still

unconscious, and she won’t regain consciousness until tomorrow morning. There’s no point for you to

go there now. It’s best for you to have a good rest.”

Cecilia met Aiden’s impassive stare, and she found herself unable to protest. She obediently lay back

in bed and inquired, “Aiden, are you going to seek out Jeffrey now?”

Aiden nodded. “Yes, now that Grandma’s poisoning has been resolved, it’s time to question him.”

Just as he was getting ready to leave, Cecilia grabbed his wrist. “Aiden, Jeffrey is very skilled in

administering poison. You need to be cautious.”

Aiden replied, “Okay, I will.”

Aiden went to the laboratory.

Jeffrey was experiencing severe internal discomfort, with intense stomach pain that rendered him

unable to sit up. Cold sweat had soaked through his clothes.

When he saw Aiden enter, he urgently implored, “Hurry, I need medical attention. Without treatment, I

will succumb to agonizing suffering.”

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Unswayed by Jeffrey’s poor state, Aiden remarked, “If you want treatment, you’ll have to offer

something in exchange.”

Jeffrey was well aware that Aiden wouldn’t extend assistance without getting something in return, so he

had already figured out the bargaining chip.

He stated, “I can provide you with information about Charlie. I didn’t lie to you. He really is not dead.”

“Compared to that, I’d rather you assist in detoxifying Ceci,” Aiden responded.

“Commander Shaw, I’m fully aware that Cecilia is the most significant trump card, and I won’t employ it

that easily,” Jeffrey declared.

Aiden retorted, “In that case, you can continue enduring your pain. I don’t believe you’re the sole

person capable of helping her right now.” Following those words, Aiden turned and strode off.

Jeffrey’s voice trailed behind him.

“Do you really not care about your brother, who’s endured twenty–three years of torment? Do you know

what kind of life he’s led all these years? Does the Shaw family prioritize patriotism over family ties?”

Aiden came to a halt but didn’t look back.

He let out a dry laugh and sneered, “Had those words been uttered by someone else, they might have

provoked a response from me. Yet, you, as the executioner, what authority or standing do you possess

to level accusations against the Shaw family?”

With that, he suddenly turned around, walked back, and grabbed Jeffrey’s hair, exerting a powerful

tug.

He could feel the hair snapping in his grip.

Looking at Jeffrey’s contorted face due to the agonizing pain, he spoke deliberately, “I almost forgot to

ask you, what role did you hold in that obstructive organization? It must have been rather significant, I

presume. Tell me everything you know, and I might make your death a little less painful.”

Considering the crimes committed by Jeffrey, he would undoubtedly face the death penalty. Even if he

offered information to lessen his culpability, it wouldn’t alter that fate.

The only difference would be whether he could avoid suffering before his execution.

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Jeffrey felt that his scalp was about to be torn off, and the pain made him shed a tear.

He felt that he had suffered more on that night than he had suffered in the past forty–plus years.

It was so overwhelming that he considered compromising to end the agony.

However, he knew deep down that if he revealed everything he knew, he would become a person with

no remaining value.

Every day that followed would be even more painful than the last.

So, despite the excruciating pain, he said, “Commander Shaw, I do have a lot of insider information

about the organization, but given your attitude toward me, do you really think I would tell you everything

without holding back?”

After finishing his words, he paused for a while and then added, “That’s not how we negotiate mutually

beneficial deals.”

That statement seemed to convince Aiden.

He let go of Jeffrey and blew off several locks of short black hair from between his fingers right in front

of him. “You’re right. Without giving you some incentive, I can’t trust the information you provide.”

Jeffrey massaged his numb scalp and nodded. “That’s the way to think, Commander Shaw. Now, can

we engage in a rational conversation?” He knew that if the torture continued, he might not survive.

Aiden nodded and took a seat on a nearby chair.

Even though Jeffrey was much taller than him while standing, his aura appeared considerably

diminished.

“I’m in need of medical attention, Commander Shaw. Let me know what you want in return, but please

keep them reasonable. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair,” Jeffrey stated.

“Are you really talking about fairness with me?” Aiden asked sarcastically. “Of course, it’s not absolute

fairness, but relative fairness. For example, you agree to give me treatment, and I’ll tell you information

about Charlie instead of helping Cecilia detox,” Jeffrey proposed.

Aiden nodded in agreement. “Go ahead. If what you say is true, I’ll have the doctor treat you.”

When Jeffrey heard that, he felt the pain in his body had seemingly

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diminished.

He braced himself on the lab table, straightened his posture, and proceeded to narrate the harrowing

experiences Charlie had endured since his capture.

He provided a detailed account and started off by saying, “Charlie was brutally beaten by those who

held animosity toward the Shaw family immediately after his capture. Later, when the Shaw family

refused to compromise, Charlie’s fingers were severed.”

“Such a young child, crying his heart out, but everyone watched as if it were a show. After the Shaw

family entirely abandoned him, Charlie endured inhumane torture. For instance, his tormentors

submerged his entire face in scalding hot water, cast him into a cage to be preyed upon by wild wolves,

and kept him in captivity like a dog…” he went on to

recount.

Aiden listened to cach detail, and a strong sense of rage surged through

him.

The intense desire for vengeance emanating from Aiden turned into an invisible hand that clenched

around Jeffrey’s throat, leaving him unable to utter a word.