By Zephyria 
“Why did you bring me to your house? Even if you have a medical license, wouldn’t most people go to the ER in a situation like this? Or do you always bring sick people home?”
Knowing full well that Nathaniel Miller couldn’t possibly possess such an overflowing sense of humanity, I had no choice but to ask. Because other than that, I couldn’t find any answer as to why he brought me here. As expected, he let out a scoff, as if the question were absurd.
“Hardly. You’re the first person I’ve brought to my house.”
But that made it even less convincing. Unable to hide my confusion, I asked.
“Then why did you…?”
After a brief glance around the room, he repeated what he had said earlier.
“Didn’t you hear? Your mouse hole was too narrow for me.”
Of course I heard. It was just hard to believe that was the only reason.
Still, it was a relief that he hadn’t taken me to the hospital. With debts already piling up from car repair costs and such, I might have actually gone bankrupt if ER fees had been added to the mix.
“…You’re not planning on charging me for the treatment, are you?”
Thinking of the worst-case scenario, I asked warily. I didn’t think this man was petty enough for that, but couldn’t he do such a thing simply to mess with someone? After all, lawyers are the type to relentlessly harass someone in that manner to get the result they want.
At those words, Nathaniel wore a strange smile.
“Well, I wonder.”
I unconsciously held my breath. In my head, I was hurriedly calculating the price I would have to pay this man. What Nathaniel Miller wanted, and what I could give.
That would be…
Suddenly, Nathaniel raised his hand. Caught off guard, I froze, my entire body stiffening in an instant. As the large hand approached me, I braced myself. I could feel my heart racing wildly and the blood draining from my face. The memory of that hand trying to sear my eyes once flashed back vividly. Even the scorching heat I had felt through the thin cornea. As a chilling fear raced down my spine, my whole body locked up.
…Huh?
Unexpectedly, his hand touched my forehead. Looking down at me as I blinked in bewilderment at the action—which was completely different from my expectation—Nathaniel spoke in a casual tone.
“The fever has gone down.”
I was momentarily flustered by the fact that the hand of this cold-blooded man, who felt as if blood wouldn’t even flow through his veins, possessed an unexpected warmth. Actually, thinking about it, it was obvious. Regardless of Nathaniel Miller’s trait or how cruel his nature was, he was still a ‘human.’ It was natural for him to have body heat, yet I felt such a strange sensation.
As I remained speechless due to the brief chaos, he continued.
“The IV will be finished in three hours. Is there anywhere else you’re feeling particularly uncomfortable?”
Nathaniel asked, but I couldn’t answer immediately. After hesitating for a moment and finally returning to reality, I shook my head.
“No, I’m fine.”
It was the timing to say thank you, but the words wouldn’t come out. Instead, I threw out a random question.
“Why did you become a lawyer? When you have a fancy medical license and all.”
I asked sarcastically. In truth, it wasn’t even a proper question. I simply spat it out because I found this man’s arrogant demeanor irritating, and Nathaniel twisted one corner of his mouth into his characteristic cold sneer.
“Because it wasn’t very interesting.”
As I stared at him, frowning without a word, he spoke nonchalantly.
“Cutting and stitching an unconscious person is far less interesting than watching a living person cry. Is this what they call an aptitude?”
Nathaniel then added, as if he could see right through my inner thoughts.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Crazy bastard.”
I spat it out without hesitation and added harshly.
“With a personality like that, I bet you defended the bastard who committed gang rape and murder. Did you feel a sense of kinship because he’s trash just like you? You must feel great having obtained the result you wanted by even threatening the victim’s bereaved family, right? That’s why you became a lawyer, isn’t it? To enjoy watching the victims cry!”
The anger I had been suppressing exploded. Because I poured it out so relentlessly, my head suddenly spun, perhaps from the excitement. I bit my lower lip to endure the dizziness and glared at the man with all my might. I expected a sarcastic retort or, at the very least, an annoyed shout.
Unexpectedly, Nathaniel let out a short laugh. In the moment I paused in confusion, he spoke.
“Living while seeing only one side of the world sometimes blurs one’s vision.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Despite the verbal abuse, his attitude remained completely unchanged, which only made my anger flare further. However, Nathaniel continued calmly.
“I’m saying that Anthony Smith might not be the pure victim you think he is.”
Of course, that was obvious. Who is without flaws?
“Even so, he didn’t commit a crime great enough to be gang-raped and murdered.”
Despite my stubborn words, Nathaniel only wore an inscrutable smile.
“Well, I wonder.”
I couldn’t help but grimace. What on earth was this man talking about?
Just as Mrs. Smith’s face flashed before my eyes, Nathaniel spoke.
“I’ve done everything I can for you. You can leave whenever you want.”
At that moment, I saw it clearly. His hand, adjusting the clamp of the IV line as if doing me a favor. The IV drops, which had been falling at a steady pace, suddenly began to pour out rapidly. Immediately after, I felt the eerie sensation of cold liquid climbing up my vein, and the moment I shifted my gaze toward him, the tray he had brought entered my field of vision. And the empty syringe resting upon it.
Only then did I realize why this man had acted uncharacteristically kind, even checking my fever by touching my forehead. Even though he must have had a thermometer, the reason he pretended to measure the fever with his hand was to distract me so I wouldn’t notice him mixing medication into the IV line.
I glared at him, filled with horror and rage, but I couldn’t hold out for long.
“You son of a…”
Before I could even utter the words ‘You son of a bitch, what are you doing,’ my consciousness plunged into blackness.
* * *
“…Ugh.”
I woke up to the sound of a groan escaping my lips. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, but darkness had already fallen. The day had ended.
How many hours did I sleep?
As I struggled to sit up, I suddenly realized something was dangling from my arm. Recalling what happened before I lost consciousness, I hurriedly looked up to see the IV bag, which was nearly empty.
“…Ha.”
A short sigh of disbelief escaped me. My headache and fever were gone, as if the cold had already completely healed. I felt a surge of annoyance and self-loathing at the fact that I had been forced to rely on that man.
In the first place, this wouldn’t have happened if Nathaniel Miller hadn’t come looking for me.
Having thought that far, I didn’t linger any longer and got out of bed. I had to take a taxi and get out of here quickly. Before Nathaniel Miller caught me.
After locking the clamp and holding the IV bag in my hand, I carefully stepped out of bed, muffling my footsteps, only to freeze again. My pants were gone.
“…This.”
For a moment, a curse rose to the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t let it out. Suddenly, all my energy drained away, and I slumped back down by the bedside.
What the hell is that bastard thinking?
Something similar had happened before. I suppose I should be grateful that I’m at least wearing a shirt and underwear.
But whether then or now, the situation where I couldn’t go outside was the same. No, it’s worse now since I can’t see where my clothes are at all. In the end, is the only way to face Nathaniel Miller?
“Sigh…”
After letting out a deep sigh, I soon pushed myself up from the bed. Suddenly, the events just before I lost consciousness came back to me. And the man’s enigmatic smile.
‘I’m saying that Anthony Smith might not be the pure victim you think he is.’
‘If a trial is held, everything will be revealed to the world. I cannot do such a thing. I must protect Anthony’s honor.’
Honor.
The honor of the deceased Anthony Smith.
…The reason why the bereaved family had no choice but to settle, even in such a favorable situation.
What on earth could it be?
An ominous premonition seemed to crawl down my spine. Without any more time to think, I stepped down from the bed and rushed outside.