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Chapter_86
For the past three days, Faye had been diligently following the medication Arabella prescribed, but there had been no sign of improvement. Her fever raged on, and her condition worsened by the hour. Faye was incredibly weak, constantly vomiting, and suffering from diarrhea. Bertha and Doreen were growing increasingly anxious as they watched their daughter’s health decline.
The family doctor, Dr. Marcus, had just finished administering fever reducers when Bertha urgently asked, “Dr. Marcus, how is Faye? Can her fever be brought down?”
Dr. Marcus, his face grave, responded, “Ms. Faye’s condition is very serious. She’s been running a high fever for three consecutive days. Normally, after a fever subsides, she shouldn’t get another so soon. But only seven or eight hours after taking the medicine, her temperature rises again. The fever reducers aren’t working today.”
His concern deepened as he continued, “She’s also been vomiting and having diarrhea nonstop. If this continues, Ms. Faye’s life could be in danger. I strongly recommend taking her to the hospital.”
Doreen, looking at her daughter’s weakened form on the bed, felt a deep sense of worry. Yet, she remembered Arabella’s instructions. “But Ms. Hawthorn said this is normal. The toxins in Faye’s body are being expelled. She told us to focus on reducing the fever first. Only after that could we apply the ointment to treat her face.”
Despite the pain she felt seeing Faye suffer, Doreen couldn’t ignore the importance of her daughter’s appearance. Ever since her disfigurement, Faye had endured unbearable humiliation. The prospect of her face being restored was a glimmer of hope, and Doreen didn’t want to give up just yet.
Bertha, growing impatient, scolded her daughter. “Are you still worried about her face at a time like this? Her life is the most important thing right now. I think Arabella is no doctor. How could she treat anyone without a medical license? We may have been tricked by her.”
Doreen, though torn, was reluctant to give up. “That can’t be true. There were so many people present that day when Arabella treated Isolde. They all said it was her work. Mom, I really want to give it one more chance. Faye’s life is like death right now. If her face recovers, she can be happy again. Let’s wait a bit longer. If the fever doesn’t subside, we’ll have Arabella come back.”
In truth, Doreen had been calling Arabella for the past two days. At first, Arabella had patiently explained the situation, saying the fever was part of the healing process. But soon, her responses became more impatient, and then she stopped answering altogether. Doreen was frustrated with Arabella’s coldness, but she still held hope for her daughter.
Bertha wasn’t convinced. “You’re being foolish! Faye is already in this state, and you’re still waiting for Arabella? Do you want her to die just so she can fix her face?”
“Mom!” Doreen cried out, her voice breaking, “Faye is my only daughter. How can I bear to see her die? But I can’t watch her suffer like this either. This is her last chance. I don’t want to give it up.”
As the tension between mother and daughter grew, Dr. Marcus spoke up. “Could you show me the prescription Ms. Hawthorn gave you? If there’s no issue, we can wait a bit longer to see if the fever subsides.”
Doreen quickly retrieved the prescription, her hands trembling. Dr. Marcus examined it carefully, his expression thoughtful.
After a long pause, Doreen couldn’t help but ask, “Is there a problem with the prescription?”
Dr. Marcus shook his head. “I don’t see any problems with the prescription itself. It’s primarily for clearing heat and detoxifying the body. But something feels off. I can’t quite pinpoint it.”
He sighed before continuing, “Let’s wait for another hour. If the fever doesn’t subside, we’ll need to rush her to the hospital. Ms. Faye’s condition is critical. We can’t afford to waste any more time. I can assure you that her life isn’t at risk in the next two hours, but beyond that, I can’t make any guarantees.”
Doreen’s heart sank. She turned to Bertha, hoping for support. “Mom, did you hear that? Dr. Marcus said we can wait another hour. Let’s wait a little longer!”
Bertha was visibly frustrated, her patience wearing thin. “Whatever,” she muttered, clearly done with the back-and-forth. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could bear seeing Faye like this, but she walked away, unwilling to argue further.
Bertha was consumed by worry. She hoped Faye’s face could be restored, but if her granddaughter didn’t survive, what good would that restoration be?
Meanwhile, Doreen remained hopeful, though her heart felt heavy. She continued to cling to the belief that Arabella’s treatment might still work.
Downstairs in the hall, Bertha, still distracted by the situation, was sipping water when the maid entered with some news. “Ma’am, Clara is here.”
“Clara? Has she been discharged? Please, let her in!” Bertha exclaimed, eager for some distraction.
When Clara entered, Bertha greeted her warmly. “Clara, you should be resting after your discharge. Why did you come here?”
Clara smiled. “I was bored at home, so I thought I’d come and chat with you.”
Bertha smiled back and motioned for Clara to sit down. “Is your son and daughter-in-law out on another business trip? They should make time to take care of you. Your three sons are always busy. Who’s left to look after you?”
Clara sighed, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. “I’m used to it. My sons are all busy. We’ve arranged for them to take turns looking after me, but with my youngest son Anthony being so occupied, it’s just me and the maid at home now.”
Bertha, ever empathetic, added, “I understand. Since my husband passed, I’ve been alone too. At least my daughter and granddaughter are back home with me now, keeping me company.” She paused, her face growing somber. “I had planned to visit you a few days ago, but Faye fell ill with a high fever. I just couldn’t leave her.”
Clara’s eyes widened. “Faye has a fever? Is it serious? Where is she hospitalized? I’d like to visit her.”
Bertha hesitated. “It’s quite serious. I wanted to rush her to the hospital, but Doreen insisted we wait. She believes the fever is normal.”
Clara frowned, her concern growing. “She’s burning up, and they still haven’t taken her to the hospital? That’s a gamble with her life.”
Bertha sighed deeply. “Yes… Doreen is focused on Faye’s facial issue. She believes Ms. Hawthorn can treat her, but after Faye took the medicine, her fever spiked, and she began vomiting and having diarrhea. Now she’s bedridden, and Doreen still refuses to take her to the hospital, insisting that the fever is part of the process.”
Clara’s eyebrows knitted together. “Ms. Hawthorn?” She was taken aback before letting out a soft laugh. “She’s actually quite skilled. I can vouch for her. I fainted recently, and Ms. Hawthorn saved my life.”
Bertha was surprised by this revelation. “Really? You were saved by Arabella?”
Clara nodded. “Yes. She’s a kind-hearted person. If it’s her medicine, I trust that it’s the right treatment.”
Bertha gave a dry, bitter laugh. “I think she might have a soft spot for you, Clara. But when it comes to Faye, she’s been cold. We’ve reached out multiple times, but she refused to come and even stopped answering our calls.”
Clara was incredulous. “No way! The Arabella I know is incredibly kind.”
After a pause, Clara suggested, “Should I give Ms. Hawthorn a call and ask her to come over?”
Bertha’s face brightened. “That would be a big help, Clara.”
