The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 25

**TITLE: One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**

**Chapter 25: The Hidden Genius**

As the evening settled in, Venus extended her hand, offering Jim three sigils without a moment’s hesitation. “Keep your money,” she said with a warm smile. “You traveled all this way after a long day at work just to deliver these. I truly appreciate it.”

Jim stood momentarily speechless, taken aback by her unexpected kindness as he accepted the protective sigils she had crafted with such care.

In that moment, he gazed at Ms. Oracle, her demeanor calm and poised, and it finally clicked for him. This young woman, with her fearless spirit, was living alone in a house that many would consider haunted. It was a testament to her strength and resilience.

His mind began to wander, conjuring up vivid scenarios of what would happen if the Burns ever discovered that Venus was not just an ordinary woman; she was a force to be reckoned with, a true powerhouse. The thought of their faces contorting in disbelief, realizing they had mistaken a precious pearl for a mere pebble, brought a smirk to his lips. They would be furious, perhaps even faint from the shock of their misjudgment.

When that truth finally emerged, it would be nothing short of a spectacular scene—one for the ages.

Meanwhile, at the holistic medicine conference, Rowan leaned casually against a table, a glass of champagne in hand, savoring the bubbly drink as he scanned the crowd. His eyes lit up when he spotted Neil arriving fashionably late. With a playful grin, he made his way over. “Dr. Burn! Weren’t you supposed to be covering my shift today? What brings you here so late?”

Neil rolled his eyes, the frustration evident on his face. “I’ve been waiting months for this conference. If it weren’t for Venus, I wouldn’t have had to cover your shifts in the first place.”

To make it to the conference, he had to negotiate with a colleague, agreeing to work three overnight shifts in exchange for this opportunity.

Three night shifts! Just the thought of it twisted his chest in pain, but he knew it would be worth it for this event.

Rowan sighed dreamily, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “You’re absolutely right. Dr. Blanton is a legend in holistic medicine. It’s a rare blessing to have the chance to learn from him.”

As they exchanged thoughts, Herb took the stage, commanding the audience’s attention. Behind him, a large screen flickered to life, displaying an herbal prescription that instantly caught Jim’s eye.

To his astonishment, it was the same prescription that Venus had given to Darcy. Herb had sought her permission through Jim before deciding to showcase it publicly, a testament to his respect for her work.

As the image filled the room, a wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“That dosage is outrageous,” one doctor whispered incredulously. “There are conflicting herbs in there—it could kill someone!”

“Absolutely! Dr. Blanton’s probably going to use it as a cautionary tale,” another chimed in. “Whoever concocted this must be a quack.”

Herb raised his voice, cutting through the chatter. “So, you all believe this prescription could endanger a patient’s life, do you?”

A few heads nodded in agreement. “Of course! Too high a dosage, conflicting herbs. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Herb smiled knowingly. “Not quite.” He clicked to the next slide, revealing a medical record. The patient’s identity was obscured, but the diagnosis was clear.

As the audience compared the diagnosis to the prescription, gasps erupted throughout the room.

“The combination may seem aggressive,” one doctor remarked, “but the actual effect is gentle and restorative. It stabilizes both the mind and body.”

Neil’s eyes widened, curiosity piqued. “Who authored this formula?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify