Her Hidden Crowns (Suzanne and Austin) novel Chapter 8

Alan's illness made him crave blood and become aggressive. Leaving Suzanne alone with him seemed reckless.

Richard stepped forward with a worried look. "Dr. Smith, you don't understand. My son's condition is... complicated."

Shane chimed in, clearly disapproving, "Exactly. If he lashes out, you won't be able to defend yourself."

No matter how skilled she was as a doctor, to them, she was still a fragile woman.

But Suzanne's gaze stayed fixed on Alan. She shook her head and said calmly, "It's fine."

Shane wanted to argue more, but Suzanne raised a hand to stop him. "Trust me."

Shane froze, his eyes narrowing. He knew her temperament better than anyone. Once she decided something, there was no changing her mind.

Still, he couldn't shake his worry. "Fine, but be careful. I'll be right outside. If anything happens, call me immediately."

To Shane, nothing mattered more than her safety.

Suzanne saw the concern in his eyes and gave him a small nod, silently reassuring him.

Richard felt uneasy and looked at Alan, speaking in a firm but pleading tone, "You have to control yourself. Don't you dare hurt her!"

Their worry was palpable as both men reluctantly stepped out. They glanced back several times before the door closed behind them.

The moment the door clicked shut, Suzanne's gaze fell on Alan, who immediately growled, "You can leave too!"

His fists were clenched tightly, veins bulging on his forehead as he visibly struggled to maintain control. With fewer people around, the sweet scent of blood seemed stronger, teasing his senses and tempting him.

Especially Suzanne's delicate neck. He had an almost primal urge to sink his teeth into her.

Yet Suzanne didn't flinch. Instead, she moved to the couch and sat down gracefully, her demeanor calm and unbothered. Her eyes rested on Alan, her tone measured and steady. "I'm the only one who can treat your illness. Are you sure you want me to leave?"

Alan's breathing grew heavier, his anger simmering beneath the surface. However, she continued, her voice unwavering, "You crave blood. Your body can't resist the hunger. It's driving you mad—making you irritable, reckless, and even violent. Your appetite has likely disappeared by now. You can't eat normal food anymore, can you?"

Alan narrowed his eyes in surprise. Every word she had said was spot on.

He'd been relying on IV drips to keep his body functioning and was barely holding on. But then his expression hardened, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "You could've gotten all of that from my father. Why should I believe you?"

Suzanne leaned back on the couch, propping her elbow on the armrest and resting her chin in her hand. She raised a brow and said with confidence, "Then let me tell you something no one else knows."

Alan scoffed in disdain. How capable could a woman be anyway? She couldn't possibly know what others didn't.

But Suzanne's next words made him speechless.

"You're not working down there, are you?"

Her gaze landed on Alan, and he knew better than anyone else what she meant. His face turned stone cold.

How could she know? That shameful, humiliating issue was something he had told no one. Not even the best doctors he had seen had discovered it. Only he was aware of it. His fists clenched harder, his brows furrowing as he stared at her. He was suddenly at a loss for words.

Suzanne smiled and said softly, "These symptoms aren't the last of it. You'll start to feel numbness creep through your body. Eventually, you'll lose all sensation."

Alan's heart pounded, a chill spreading through him as he listened.

Just this morning, he had felt a strange numbness that lasted a few minutes before disappearing. He had chalked it up to poor posture, but now that she mentioned it, he remembered it had been happening more often. And in hindsight, his posture hadn't been any different than usual.