Chapter 9 A Brutal Blow

Violet Leach glanced sideways at Wesley Merritt, her cold, emotionless eyes betraying nothing. "Thanks, but there's no need to trouble yourself." With that, she yanked open the door and rushed out. Wesley Merritt stood frozen, his dark eyes fixed on the closed door. After a brief silence, he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Find out what happened with the Leach family." "Yes, Boss." Once Oscar Merritt regained his composure, he turned to his older brother. "Bro, why are you looking into this?" "Don't you think she was acting strangely just now?" Wesley countered. Oscar recalled Violet's demeanor earlier. It was unnerving, her terrifying aura eerily similar to his brother's when enraged. But still, what did Violet's odd behavior have to do with his brother? As Oscar pondered this, Wesley received a call from his assistant. "You found something?" So soon? "It's not about the Leach family. We've located the driver who hit the Mr. Merritt back then." At these words, Wesley's expression darkened. "Bring him in!" "Yes, sir." The scene shifted. Violet raced to the hospital and burst into the ward, where she found Caleb Leach lying on the bed, pale and lifeless. Her father, Heaven Leach, had told her over the phone that her brother's ribs were fractured. But now, seeing the situation, it was far worse than she had imagined. "A-Yu, you—how did you come here?" Caleb showed panic and heartache upon seeing Violet's sudden appearance. He didn't want his sister to see him in such a pitiful state—afraid she'd worry, afraid she'd blame herself. Violet read all these complex emotions from Caleb's face. Even in this condition, he still thought only of her… Emotions surged, boiling inside her. Her eyes welled up. She rushed to Caleb's side. "Brother… I'm so sorry. It's my fault you're like this…" In her past life, she had been an orphan, never knowing the warmth of family. Reborn into this life, perhaps Heaven had compensated her by giving her such an extraordinary brother. "A-Yu, don't cry. I'm fine. Just need a few days' rest," Caleb comforted her in a soothing, childlike tone, gently patting her back as he spoke. The gentler Caleb was, the more unbearable it became for Violet. His ribs were broken, and he still claimed he was fine? Even with her own treatment, full recovery wouldn't come in just a few days. It takes a hundred days to heal broken bones and injured tendons! Violet slowly raised her head to look at Caleb. When she saw the large burn scars on his face, her brows instantly furrowed. Caleb's facial scars were from when she was kidnapped as a child and trapped in a fire. He had rushed into the inferno to save her, suffering severe burns that left permanent scars. More than a decade later, the scars were still horrifying. Back then, Caleb had been the school heartthrob from elementary through university. Because of her, he had become this grotesque, barely human figure. She made a decision: she would heal his face! With that silent vow, Violet took Caleb's hand and began checking his pulse. "A-Yu, what are you doing?" Caleb asked, confused. "Taking your pulse." "Taking my pulse? When did you learn medicine?" Caleb stared at her in shock. "I learned it secretly. Never told anyone." Violet didn't intend to lie—she just knew no one would believe her if she told them she was reborn. They'd probably think she'd gone mentally unstable after being traumatized by Brian Mosley. Besides, she now inhabited this body completely. She *was* Violet Leach. She was both the Divine Physician and the eldest daughter of the Leach family. Violet released Caleb's hand and glanced at the medical report hanging by the bed. Two ribs were fractured, plus multiple soft tissue injuries. She could imagine how many fists her brother had endured that day—how much suffering he'd gone through! At that thought, her fingers curled into tight fists. Brian Mosley, Evelyn Conrad! You'll pay! She would remember this grudge! After a moment, Violet returned to Caleb's side, leaned in, and studied his face closely. "A-Yu, don't get too close. It's ugly. You'll be scared," Caleb turned his head aside, lowering his eyes to hide the sorrow within. "Brother, it's not ugly at all. Not scary in the least. My brother is the most handsome man alive." Hearing this, Caleb's pupils trembled, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Seeing his reaction, Violet knew that although Caleb claimed not to care about his looks, who wouldn't want to be beautiful? "Brother, I can heal your face." "What did you say?" Caleb turned back in astonishment. "Brother, I'm sorry I've kept so many things from you. The truth is, I know the Divine Physician. She… she's my master." As soon as Violet finished, she saw Caleb staring at her with utter shock. Just as she was about to speak again, a harsh voice suddenly cut through. "Violet Leach, how dare you even look at your brother? If it weren't for you, he wouldn't be like this!" Heaven Leach stormed in, shouting at her. Seeing his father arrive, Caleb's first instinct was to shield Violet behind him. "Dad, it's not her fault. Don't yell at her." "Not her fault? If it weren't for her, I'd be like this? Fine, that's one thing. But because of her, the Mosley Group is pulling out of the project we just negotiated! Do you have any idea how much manpower, material, and money I've invested in that project? If the Mosleys withdraw funding, how much will the Leach family lose?!" The more Heaven thought about it, the angrier he became at Violet. "Violet, you little brat! Did my words go in one ear and out the other when I called you? Go apologize to the Mosleys right now! If Brian doesn't forgive you, die there—don't come back!" Violet stared blankly at Heaven's furious rant, her heart growing cold, numb. "Dad, you can't make her go. She—" "Shut up!" Heaven cut Caleb off, turning to Violet. "You stupid girl, standing there like a statue! Are you a statue? Get going!" Heaven reached out to grab her, his movements brutally rough. But the moment his hand touched her clothes, Violet swiftly raised her hand and knocked it away. Heaven was thrown back several steps, his eyes bulging with disbelief as he stared at Violet. Caleb, who had just gotten out of bed, froze at the sight. "You—dare lay hands on me?" Heaven roared, his face twisted with fury. A-Yu actually fought back… Before, no matter how much her father beat her, she'd just stand there like a log. "What else? Just stand there and take your abuse? I may be your daughter, but I'm also an individual. I won't do what I don't want to—no one can force me!" Violet's sharp gaze burned with defiance and stubbornness. "Unbelievable! The world's turned upside down!" Heaven snarled, his face turning deep purple with rage. At that moment, Eleanor Young and her daughter Rosalie Leach arrived. "Honey, kids don't understand. Don't take it too hard—don't ruin your health over her," Eleanor said in a sweet, nurturing tone, gently patting Heaven's back. "Yeah, Sister! Dad's not well—why are you making him so angry?" Rosalie poured a cup of hot water for Heaven. Heaven looked at Eleanor and Rosalie. Though neither shared his blood, one was his devoted wife, the other his proud intellectual daughter. In his eyes, they were his true family. In contrast, his biological daughter Violet was useless—nothing but trouble. "Why did I have to give birth to a daughter like you?" Heaven gritted his teeth, pointing at Violet. "If you had even one-tenth of Rosalie's worth, I'd be laughing in my sleep!" After he said this, Violet clearly saw Rosalie flash her a smug, taunting look. Suddenly, Violet remembered what Rosalie had once told her: "So what if you're a wealthy heiress? You're still beneath me, the country girl. I hate the way you act. I'll take everything from you. Your father will be mine, and so will your brother!"