Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 767

Maybe it was because she truly had no other choice left that Dahlia Sutton pinned all her hopes on Eric Morris.

She handed over a stack of medical reports she had prepared in advance. “Here are Hamlin Sanders’s recent test results. Could you take a look?”

Eric didn’t hesitate, immediately accepting the papers. As he reviewed them, Camila Davis leaned in as well, reading over his shoulder.

Eric glanced up, asking as he read, “Has Hamlin been coughing up blood from the start? Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”

Hamlin’s voice was rough and weak. “The blood only started this past week. That’s why I didn’t come right away. Honestly, I never thought a simple cough could get this bad. I’m at my wit’s end now, so I reached out to you right away…”

Dahlia’s eyes pleaded with Eric, her words earnest and desperate. “Eric, please—you have to help Hamlin!”

Eric immediately reached out to steady her, his tone gentle but firm. “Dahlia, there’s no need for such formalities. If Hamlin’s unwell, of course I’ll do everything I can. Don’t worry—if there’s a way for me to help, I’ll do my utmost.”

At his promise, relief flooded Dahlia’s face, tears welling up in her eyes. “Thank you, thank you both so much…”

Wasting no time, Eric began his examination. First, he checked Hamlin’s pulse, then asked him to open his mouth so he could examine his tongue and throat.

Eric was a master of the old ways—keen observation, careful listening, thorough questioning, and precise touch. He was meticulous, leaving nothing to chance. Still, once he finished, he didn’t give an immediate verdict. Instead, he turned to Camila. “Camila, come check his pulse as well. Let’s see what you make of it.”

Camila didn’t hesitate, reading her mentor’s calm expression as reassurance. She followed his instructions, examining Hamlin with practiced hands.

After a few minutes, Camila had a clear idea of the situation. She turned to Dahlia, who was watching anxiously, and explained Hamlin’s condition.

“From the test results, his pulse, the nature of his cough, his breathing, the blood, as well as the condition of his throat, eyes, and complexion—everything points to a rare pulmonary illness. It’s the kind of complicated case we read about in old medical texts.

Dahlia, eyes red with gratitude, murmured, “If only we’d come to you sooner, Hamlin wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.”

Eric waved her worries away with a warm smile. “It’s not too late. From here on out, let Camila handle Hamlin’s treatment. She’s inherited nearly everything I know—and her skills in acupuncture are even sharper than mine these days. My old eyes can’t keep up anymore.”

When he entrusted Hamlin’s care to Camila, Dahlia hesitated. Like most people, she instinctively trusted experience—and Eric was hardly frail or elderly. He moved with energy, looked younger than his years, and carried himself with a refined, almost scholarly air. His eyes were bright, his skin healthy, not the least bit dimmed by age.

But Hamlin was quick to agree. “Let Camila take over. She figured out my condition in no time, even before Eric said a word. That says enough about her skills. Besides, I’ve watched her grow up—I know what she’s capable of. Dahlia, you can trust her.”

Hearing his certainty, Dahlia’s doubts faded.

With the decision made, Camila wasted no time getting to work. Dahlia, unfamiliar with this kind of treatment, watched nervously from the sidelines, her hands twisting together in anxious hope.