The atmosphere was unusually dull, save for the occasional clink as a fork or a knife met the plate.
James broke the silence, raising his glass and toasting Martin. “Thank you for coming all the way here to help.”
“Oh, it’s what we should do,” Martin replied. “Transportation here is convenient anyway.”
“Well, without Lulu finding out that Dennis Turner had been poisoned, we wouldn’t have resolved the case so soon.”
James was unenthusiastic, while Martin could not turn him down.
As such, they had a few more drinks, while the rest finished dinner and scattered.
Abigail walked with Lulu to the car, and had her old chauffeur drive them to the hotel.
Erin was driving James since he had drunk a little. “May I have a room here? I’ll be back after I send James home.”
Diarmuid was leaving as well, probably to check on Zachary.
He was driving alone, but Abigail stopped him. “Let Eagle drive. I’m not going out this late, so he doesn’t have to guard me.”
“Fair enough,” Diarmuid said, and Eagle drove him out of the mansion.
Returning into the mansion, Abigail helped clean up the table, but Mrs. Watson smiled and said, “You don’t have to do it. Your mom and I would be done soon anyway.”
Abigail refused. “Tommy is watching TV, and the baby is sleeping. I have nothing to do, and helping would make things quicker!”
Mrs. Watson gave in, but just as she headed to the kitchen, she suddenly fell.
Crash!
Every plate and bowl she was holding shattered into pieces on the floor!
“Mrs. Watson!” Sheryl cried.
At the same time, Abigail was already beside Mrs. Watson and examining her.
Seeing that she had trouble breathing, Abigail promptly applied first aid while saying, “We have to get her to the hospital.”
“But there’s no one around…” Sheryl murmured. “What should we do?”
“Calm down, Mom. I can drive,” Abigail said, turning toward Sheryl. “We can get her in the car, and I’ll take her to the hospital while you stay here.”
Sheryl nodded, and they quickly got Mrs. Watson into the car.
“Remember to call me and give me an update,” Sheryl said. “You’re a doctor. You have to save her.”
“I know, don’t worry,” Abigail replied.
…
Mrs. Watson was wheeled into the emergency room once they arrived at the hospital.
Abigail had to wait outside, and time seemed to stretch on forever as she did.
Fortunately, Mrs. Watson was still fine when they reached the hospital—it was just fainting from respiratory distress, caused by aortic blockage.
Abigail already applied first aid and they managed to reach a hospital in time. They hence easily saved Mrs. Watson, though she would need rest and medication in the future.
Naturally, Abigail heaved a long sigh of relief as Mrs. Watson would be fine.
Abigail remained in Mrs. Watson’s ward, waiting for the latter to wake up.
Mrs. Watson slowly stirred after an hour.
Her condition was not serious, but it certainly hit out of the blue.
The surgery she had to take was not major, but it would leave her drained.
Abigail got up and pulled her blanket over her shoulder just then, asking, “Are you feeling uncomfortable in any way?”
Mrs. Watson checked and soon decided that she felt fine aside from feeling lethargic.
“I’m alright.”
Abigail smiled. “Good. As long as you’re fine.”
Looking at her just then, Mrs. Watson said, “Your mother won’t be able to manage the whole mansion alone…”
As she spoke, she tried to get up, but Abigail held her back, keeping her blanket in place. “Don’t worry, and just rest. I can help out at home too, and I can get more help if I can’t. Either way, you don’t have to worry about home—just take your time to rest for now.”
Mrs. Watson sighed. “How could I not worry? I can’t stay here for so long…”
“You have to anyway,” Abigail told her. “You have to get better before you can help.”
As such, Mrs. Watson had no choice but to lie down. “Oh… I’m really getting old, getting sick out of the blue.”
“I’ve looked through your CT scans—you’re fine,” Abigail assured her. “Just have to take your medicine. You have nothing to be afraid about.”
“I’m not.” Mrs. Watson smiled. “You should go home—someone has to stay there. I don’t need anyone with me anyway.”
However, there was no way Abigail would not worry, not to mention that it was very late and she could not get a suitable care worker..
After much consideration, she called Finn Crowe, who quickly answered.
He somehow got the news of what was happening and asked as soon as he answered her call, “Director Bernstein? The police are investigating New Suns Pharma at the moment. Does that mean you’re in the clear?”
“Yeah,” Abigail replied. “Right now, I need a favor—”
“Sure. What is it?” Finn asked, cutting her short.
“It’s personal,” Abigail explained. “I’m not sure if you’re alright with this…”
“Well, you have to tell me for me to decide, director.”
Abigail knows that it was inappropriate, but she was in a bind and there was no one else she could ask. “Someone close to me has fallen ill and she just had a minor surgery at the hospital. I can’t leave her alone now, so could you come take care of her? I’ll be back in the morning.”
“Sure,” Finn answered without hesitation.
“Thanks!”
Abigail headed home only after Finn arrived at the hospital, and when Sheryl saw her, she asked, “Is Mrs. Watson alright?”
Abigail nodded. “Yeah, she just needs a little rest for now.”
Sheryl was also holding a towel and she was making Tommy’s bed after bathing the boy.
Abigail’s baby then started crying and Sheryl hurried to his room while Abigail headed to the kitchen.
It was still a mess, so she dropped to a crouch, picking up the shattered plates and throwing them into the trash can.
Everything else was put in the basin, and anything that did not fit was placed next to it.
After wiping the dining table and the floor, Abigail put on an apron and did the dishes.
It was midnight when Diarmuid returned.
He headed over to the kitchen since the lights were still on, where he found Abigail washing a plate.
Stacks of bowls and plates still stood beside the basin.
As he entered, he asked, “Why are you doing the dishes? And it’s already this late.”
Abigail turned toward him and said, “Mrs. Watson was sick and I sent her to the hospital. My mom had to take care of the children, and I’m almost done here anyway. You can go to bed now.”
“I’ll help,” Diarmuid said as he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms.
“You’re no help,” Abigail laughed. “Anyway, how’s Zachary doing?”
Diarmuid was silent for a while. “He’s quite tough. He’s finally giving up this time.”
Abigail was slightly relieved at that.
Diarmuid started to reach for a plate just then and she nudged him with her elbow. “I’m going to be done soon—you’d just make things worse. Just take a shower and go to bed. I’m coming upstairs soon.”
“I’ll have Stan hire two good maids to help around the house tomorrow,” Diarmuid told her.
“Sure,” Abigail replied—there was too much to do without Mrs. Watson around.
Just as Diarmuid was about to step out of the kitchen, he remembered something and turned to ask, “Erin’s not back yet, is she?”
Abigail never saw Erin after she came back from the hospital.
She would notice her if she returned—Erin was not the type who would shut herself in her room.
“Probably not,” she told Diarmuid.
Diarmuid nodded.
After Erin drove James home and gestured for her to get down, he said, “I think I’m sick. Must have drank too much.”
As such, Erin parked the car and helped him back to his home.
“Lie down on the couch. I’ll get you something for your hangover.”
James caught her wrist. “Just stay with me.”
He was not drunk at all—that bit of alcohol would not leave him intoxicated and he could hold his liquor.
Erin saw through him then and exposed him too. “You tricked me?”
James chuckled, his lips curling into a smile as he pulled Erin toward him, holding her firmly by her waist.
“I don’t expect you to visit,” he said. He was certainly surprised to see her.
Erin lowered her gaze and whispered, “Love goes both ways. I shouldn’t make you do all the work alone.”
James rested his chin on her shoulder in turn. “I’ll talk to Mr. Althoff tomorrow and apply for leave.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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