Chapter 7 Bethany's Disappearance

"My master goes by the name Lucien Sagehart. He travels the world practicing medicine and rarely shows up in public. I haven’t seen him in a long time," Sebastian said. Alan and Henry exchanged looks. Among the masters of traditional medicine they were familiar with, none bore the name Lucien Sagehart. Still, it wasn’t surprising. Many legendary traditional healers preferred to remain hidden in the mountains, away from public attention. "What a shame..." they sighed. Sebastian’s remarkable skills hinted that his master was even more extraordinary. They had hoped to recruit the elder. But if they couldn’t find the master, keeping the apprentice might eventually lead to him. "You’re not just a brilliant doctor, but also compassionate. We at Highmere Hospital would like to appoint you as associate director of the traditional medicine department. The benefits will be exceptional. What do you think?" Henry asked cautiously. "Sorry, Dr. Henry. I’ve never worked in a hospital before, and I’m not suited to a fixed schedule," Sebastian declined. "How about becoming a consultant then? You wouldn’t have to keep regular hours," Henry suggested. "But I don’t even have a medical license," Sebastian said, smiling ruefully. "Leave that to me. I’ll get it arranged within a few days," Mr. Alan interjected. "Well... all right," Sebastian agreed. "Great, Mr. Hughes. In two days, you’ll receive your appointment letter and medical license," Henry said. "As a consultant, you’ll only need to assist during emergencies. The rest of the time, you’ll be free to come and go as you please," Henry added. "Plus, Mr. Hughes, the Health Bureau might invite you to participate in certain meetings and decisions," Alan added with a smile. Sebastian couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d stepped into a trap. Leaving the director’s office, he encountered Evelyn blocking his path. "Why are you still here?" he asked uneasily. "I hit you, so I have to take responsibility," Evelyn said firmly. "I’m fine now. You don’t have to worry," Sebastian said, waving her off and turning to leave. He bore no ill will toward Evelyn, as it was his fault for running the red light. "No, I must take responsibility," she insisted, grabbing his arm. "I really don’t need you to," Sebastian said with an awkward smile. A beautiful woman insisting on taking responsibility for him drew envious stares. "Why him?" "He’s not even that handsome, but she insists on helping him..." Blushing, Evelyn realized the scene was attracting attention. "Let’s exchange contact information. That way, I can reach you if needed," she suggested, handing him a card. Sebastian reluctantly accepted and handed her his own contact details. "If you feel unwell, let me know. I noticed you have some health issues," he said, referring to her condition. "How did you..." Evelyn’s face turned even redder as she changed the subject. "Your phone was damaged in the accident. I got you a new one," she said, handing over a new smartphone. Only then did Sebastian remember he hadn’t been able to contact his sister Bethany. Inserting his SIM card, he powered up the phone to find several missed calls from her. Her last message read, "Sebastian, I’m so disappointed in you. I’ll handle Mom’s medical expenses myself. Go enjoy your time with that woman!" "Not good," Sebastian thought, his heart sinking. Bethany had misunderstood. He quickly called her, but her phone was off. "I need to go. We’ll talk later," he said to Evelyn before rushing off. Evelyn watched him leave, her expression contemplative. To avoid worrying his mother, Sebastian kept Bethany’s disappearance to himself and began searching for her. He called her school, friends, and classmates, but no one knew where she was. Growing anxious, he consoled himself. Bethany is an adult. She knows what she’s doing. After returning home to change, he was about to head back out when someone arrived. It was Simon. "Dr. Hughes, I finally found you. You saved my daughter’s life, and I haven’t had the chance to thank you," Simon said, bringing expensive gifts. "Mr. Simon, it was just a coincidence. You don’t need to thank me," Sebastian said distractedly. "Please take these back," he added, pushing the gifts aside. "We in the Haynes family always repay our debts. You saved my daughter’s life, which is an enormous favor to us," Simon said. Looking around, Simon noticed the modest state of Sebastian’s home. "I’ve developed several properties in Rivershire. Choose one," he offered, presenting brochures for luxury homes. "Take your pick—or ten if you like." Startled by Simon’s generosity, Sebastian said, "Mr. Simon, I can’t accept a house. If you really want to repay me, help me find someone."