“My son is still a minor, you can’t detain him!”

Mary struggled. Charlie was crying from fear. Snot and tears dripped down his face.

They no longer looked as smug as they did before.

I followed the police.

When I passed by Mary and Charlie, I stopped.

I whispered in Mary’s ear softly, “Just pray that it’s just red ink.

“Otherwise, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison.”

Mary looked up and glared at me.

“Just you wait, my husband is coming!

“Once he’s here, you’ll be begging for a mediation!”

I smirked and grimaced.

“Mediation? If this needle isn’t poisonous, I’ll eat my words up.

“However, if it’s infected, no one will be able to save you.”

I held my hand against my neck and strode out of the hall.

The sun was very bright outside, but I felt cold.

It was a bone-chilling feeling.

An ambulance was already waiting at the entrance.

Someone helped me into the ambulance, and the paramedic started to treat my wound.

I felt a little more awake after smelling the antiseptic.

However, I could only think about that needle, that unique blue mark, and that dark red liquid.

Mary had sounded very confident when she mentioned her husband.

If I recalled correctly, Greg would be the CEO of Kind Hospital, the biggest hospital chain in the city.

Greg’s son held a special puncture needle.

Greg’s wife was making a scene in a cinema.

I was afraid the incident would not be as simple as just a child acting up.

What secret did that needle hold?

A scary thought appeared in my mind.

Maybe I had truly been infected, but it was not AIDS.

It could be something even worse than AIDS.

The mediation room at the police station felt really tense.

My neck was wrapped in bandages as I held the preliminary medical report.

The wound was not deep, but the treatment had to be stopped.

The doctor said that the critical window would be 72 hours.

It would be life or death for me.

Mary was sitting opposite me with her legs crossed. She looked impatient.

Charlie was sitting next to her and drinking milk that the police had given him.

He was sucking the straw loudly as he looked at me tauntingly.

It was as if nothing had happened earlier.

“Alright, don’t act like you’re dead.”

Mary slammed her bag on the table. It was a limited-edition Hermes bag.

“Don’t you just want money? Name your price.

“Fifty thousand dollars, is that enough?

“Take the money and sign this mediation agreement. We’ll let this go.”

She took out her check book and hovered her pen over it. She looked disgusted, as if she was talking to a beggar.

I looked at her and did not say a word.

However, I was gripping the report very tightly.

“Too little? A hundred thousand then.

“Young man, don’t get too greedy.

“A hundred thousand dollars is basically an annual wage.

“Take the money and buy some supplements. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll go crazy.”

She snorted and wrote a string of numbers.

She tore the check and tossed it at me.

The check fell onto my shoe.

I did not move. I just stared at that piece of paper silently.

“I don’t need money.”

I finally said with a hoarse voice.

“I just want the truth.

“Where did that needle come from?

“What’s on it?”

Mary’s expression changed before she became even more smug.

“That’s none of your business! I’ve already told you it’s just a toy that I simply bought!”

“The police didn’t even manage to trace it. Who do you think you are?

“I’m telling you, don’t push your luck.

“Once Greg’s here, you won’t even get that hundred thousand dollars!”

Just when she said that, someone opened the door.

A middle-aged man dressed in a tailor-made suit walked in.

Two lawyers holding their work bags followed behind him.

He had a broad figure and looked imposing.

It was Greg.

“Greg! You’re finally here!”

Mary immediately put on a pitiful look and threw herself at Greg.

“This person is bullying me and Charlie! He’s threatening to send Charlie to jail!

“Help us!”

Greg patted her back and swept his dark eyes across the room.

Finally, his eyes landed on me. He looked at me as though I was just a bug he could squish.

“It’s you?”

He walked toward me and looked down.

“Young man, don’t be so rash.

“He’s just an immature child. It’s a small matter.

“I’ll pay for all medical expenses and give you another two hundred thousand dollars for emotional compensation.

“That will be the end of it.”

He was not trying to discuss matters with me. Those are directives.

It was the type of arrogance that stemmed from holding a high position.

The lawyer next to him immediately passed me an agreement.

“Just sign it, it’s for the better.”

Greg lit a cigarette and ignored the no smoking sign on the wall.

The police officer frowned. He wanted to speak, but Greg silenced him with a look.

It was obvious what money could do.

I looked at the family before me and studied the smug looks on their faces.

I was extremely furious.

“What if I don’t sign it?”

I looked up and met Greg’s eyes.

Greg was momentarily stunned. He had not expected me to reject him.

He blew a ring of smoke at my face.

“No?”

He laughed cruelly.

“Young man, do you know who I am? I’m the CEO of Kind Hospital.

“I have many ways to make life extremely difficult for you in this city.

“Do you believe that you’ll get fired by your company tomorrow? Do you believe that you won’t be able to even find a place to stay?”

He leaned in and lowered his voice as he said viciously, “The police won’t find any information on that needle. Even if they do, it’s just regular medical waste.

“I’ll give you some money, and you’ll just have to spend a few days in jail. If you don’t agree to it, I can assure you that you’ll regret this for the rest of your life.”

He was blatantly threatening me.

He did not care if that needle was infected.

He only cared about his reputation and his son’s freedom.

To him, an average person like me was nothing.

I clenched my fists as my fingernails dug into my palms.

The pain kept me thinking straight.

“Mr. Smith, how arrogant you are.”

I stood up and tore the check worth two hundred thousand dollars into pieces.

Then, I threw the pieces at Greg’s face.

“Save the money for your son’s coffin. I believe in justice.

“I don’t believe you’ll be able to cover up what’s in that needle!”

Greg’s face darkened immediately.

He raised his hand as if he wanted to hit me.

“How dare you?”

At the same time, someone knocked.

A forensic doctor walked in with a report.

His expression was solemn. He even seemed a little terrified.

“Officer Swift, the lab results of that needle are out.”