Chapter 1693 Negotiation
After getting up the mountain, they quietly went back to Southridge.
Zachary began his treatment while Bruce, Marino, and others accompanied him. They were anxious when Francesco pierced his body with needles and released some blood.
Everyone only saw Zachary when he returned with his recovered body, but none of them knew the amount of suffering he had endured.
The torture was inhumane. It wasn’t something anyone could endure. It was as if he walked through into gates of hell and dragged his scarred and bloodstained body out, one step at a time.
The treatment lasted for an hour and a half. Although Zachary was sweating from the pain, he didn’t make a sound. He remained calm and courageous.
Francesco treated him casually with ease, as though her patient wasn’t a living being but a lifeless object.
Her hand movements were skilled and a little aggressive, not knowing how to be gentle.
Bruce got anxious as he watched. He couldn’t hold it in any longer and said, “Dr. Felch, please be gentle. Please be gentler!”
When he said it the first time, Francesco frowned. After hearing it for the second time, she got angry and said, “You’re so noisy. Get out!”
Bruce was startled. He didn’t dare to let out another sound.
Marino hurriedly limped out and hid behind the door to peek.
At half past seven, the treatment finally ended.
Francesco dragged the unconscious Zachary to immerse him in a tub of medicine. Then, she dusted her hands and went out. Before leaving, she told Bruce, “After half an hour, get him out of the tub and wipe him dry. Then he may leave.”
“Okay. Understood.”
Bruce hurriedly nodded. He was terrified of Francesco, afraid that he might get on her nerves again.
Francesco leaped out the window and ate an apple on the hammock.
She never played with electronics, nor did she watch TV. Her only hobbies were sleeping, eating, and talking to small animals.
At this moment, many birds flew over to her side to eat the apple core she had discarded.
At the same time, she had a great time chatting with the birds.
Soon, an hour passed.
Zachary seemed to have had a vague dream. When he woke up, he couldn’t remember any of it. All he saw when he opened his eyes were the busy figures of Bruce and Marino.
“What time is it?”
Zachary’s voice was frail and hoarse. At that time, his body felt numb and weak.
After such extensive treatment, he no longer felt any pain. However, he felt like he wasn’t in his own body.
“It’s half-past eight, Mr. Zachary.” Bruce’s eyes were pooling with tears. His heart ached after watching him being tortured. “Have some rest. I’ll change your clothes.”
“Okay.” Then, Zachary closed his eyes and instructed, “Put me in that black suit. I have to look grand in front of Danrique.”
“As you wish.” Bruce was devastated that Zachary was still thinking about work at this time. However, he could only obey his wishes.
“I’ll sleep for half an hour. Remember to wake me up.”
Zachary was exhausted and his mind was blank.
“Don’t worry. You can sleep at ease.”
Bruce changed Zachary’s clothes, covered him in a blanket, and stood by him.
“How long will Nr. Zachary’s treatment last? This is really tormenting,” Marino asked anxiously.
“What will happen to the treatment if Danrique took Francesco away?”
“That’s why we have to negotiate tonight,” Bruce frowned and said, “We must let Francesco complete Zachary’s treatment before she leaves no matter what.”
“Right…” Marino nodded repeatedly.
After half an hour, Bruce was reluctant to wake up Zachary. He wanted to let him sleep for ten more minutes. However, Zachary woke up by himself and said with his squinted eyes, “What time is it?”
“It’s nine o’clock, Mr. Zachary.” Bruce gently responded.
Zachary always had a good sense of time and wanted to be punctual. “Help me up. Today’s negotiation is very important. We cannot be late.”
“Right away.” Bruce helped Zachary up and helped him to his wheelchair with Marino. He helped him put on his coat and pushed the wheelchair out.
“Where’s Francesco?” Zachary turned his head toward the courtyard.
“She was in the courtyard just now, but she’s gone already.” Marino turned his head and glanced at the courtyard. “Maybe she went to play in the forest.”
