Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
9 min left
Victoria’s persistent claims completely dispelled the last remnants of unease gnawing at Eleanor’s heart.
Eleanor sat there, absentmindedly twiddling her fingers as she recalled Kenneth’s previous change in demeanor towards them -the frosty coldness, the stony indifference, and even the outbursts of anger.
With a disdainful snort, she spoke up, “Alright then, let’s see how
long he can keep this act up!
“Going abroad? I’m not buying it. There’s no way he’d just vanish
without a word!
“He’s lived at my place for years. I know his personality inside out
and whether he can make it on his own. He’ll be crawling back to
us in no time!”
As Lucas listened to the two girls bicker and observed their reactions, the heavy knot in his chest finally began to loosen. Yet, an embarrassed smile still played on his face.
Meanwhile, Victoria had already drifted off into a daydream of Kenneth coming back with his tail between his legs to apologize.
“Yeah, just wait for him to come back. Let’s see if he has the nerve
1/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
9 min left
to face us! He really needs to get a taste of his own medicine!”
Seeing Victoria all riled up, Eleanor slowly let the tension ease from her features.
With another soft scoff, she deliberately pushed aside the faint unease and panic gnawing at the pit of her stomach.
After all, over the years, Kenneth had been like a constant shadow
in their lives.
She just couldn’t bring herself to believe that a mere
misunderstanding could make him so heartless as to vanish
without a trace.
But deep down, only she knew that she didn’t even have the courage to peek into the guest room where Kenneth used to stay.
Eleanor was terrified that opening the door would expose an empty space, shattering the last shred of her ability to delude
herself.
Just then, the shrill ring of the landline in the living room cut
through their train of thought.
Tracy emerged from the kitchen and quickly snatched up the
phone.
2/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
| 9 min left
“Hello, who’s this?”
“Hello, is this the number for Kenneth’s place? This is the cardiology department at the hospital. I’m his attending doctor.”
Hearing this, Tracy instinctively shot a glance at the three people lounging on the sofa and gave a quick nod.
“Go on.”
The doctor said, “Well, we’ve re–examined the X–rays and diagnostic reports of the patient from his previous hospitalization. Although he’s young and has had few episodes, we still
recommend that he come in for another check–up to prevent any potential emergencies.”
Eleanor noticed that Tracy looked a bit pale.
She got up and walked over, raising an eyebrow. “What’s going
on?”
Tracy quickly covered the receiver, looking worried and nervous.
“Ms. Blackwood, it’s the hospital calling, asking Kenneth to go for
a follow–up.”
Hearing this, Eleanor frowned even more. In contrast, Victoria rushed over, fuming with anger.
3/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
9 min left
She snatched the phone from Tracy’s hand and shouted indignantly, “You’re a doctor from the hospital? How much did Kenneth pay you to put on this act and fool us?!
“I’ve never seen such an over–zealous doctor! It’s been over half
a month, and now you’re asking the patient to come back for a check–up?!
“Besides, he was perfectly fine. Does he really need a follow–up? This excuse is just too far–fetched!”
Although Eleanor was also annoyed, she thought Victoria was being too rash.
Eleanor was about to stop her, but it was already too late.
On the other end of the phone, the doctor’s voice suddenly turned cold, tinged with anger.
“Miss, before you conduct a proper investigation and have solid. evidence, please show some basic respect and don’t make
baseless accusations.
“It’s common practice for us to follow up with heart patients.
“I still remember that there were two girls making sarcastic remarks when Kenneth was in the hospital. Are you the ones? As
4/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
(19) 9 min left.
a doctor, I really advise that boy to stay away from friends like
you.”
The doctor’s scolding was like a double–whammy, coming from both a professional and an elder’s perspective.
Eleanor and Victoria felt a tingle on their scalps. They stood there with their mouths agape, utterly at a loss for words.
After a few seconds of silence, the doctor hung up the phone. In that fleeting moment, Eleanor and Victoria clearly caught the background noise on the other end–the mechanical voice of the
hospital’s call–out system.
Lucas couldn’t sit still any longer. He edged closer, sizing up the
two girls.
He knew it was better to keep his mouth shut at this moment, but his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out
of his throat.
Victoria ran her fingers through her hair, speaking with a hint
of unease, “Eleanor, did you hear that? Was that the hospital’s
call–out system, or am I just hearing things?
“All this hassle with Kenneth has made me feel like I’m on the
verge of a nervous breakdown.”
5/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
Eleanor didn’t reply because she had heard it too.
(~~) 9 min left
If it was confirmed that Kenneth had really suffered a heart attack, the consequences were more than she could bear.
Without a second thought, Eleanor grabbed the phone and dialed
the number back.
This time, it was a nurse from the cardiology department who picked up.
“Excuse me, is this the hospital?” Eleanor managed to steady her
voice.
After getting an affirmative answer, her face turned even paler. She propped herself up on the counter with one hand, trying to
control her trembling body.
“I’d like to ask if Kenneth is registered in your department. Did he really have a heart attack last time?”
Out of Eleanor and Victoria’s sight, Lucas hung his head, his eyes
filled with gloom.
Lucas never expected that even after Kenneth had left, he could
still stir up trouble.
The nurse, assuming Eleanor was Kenneth’s family member,
6/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
→ 9 min left
explained the case.
“The doctor from our department should have contacted you just now, right?
“The patient is young, but his current condition is still quite risky without real–time monitoring. For his health and future life, I suggest you bring him in for another check–up. It’ll give you peace of mind.”
Now that it was confirmed that Kenneth had truly suffered a heart attack and wasn’t faking it, Eleanor felt as if her blood was boiling.
She simply couldn’t accept it.
Victoria felt the same way. But when she turned her head, she saw Lucas standing there nervously.
Victoria had no inkling of what was swirling in Lucas‘ head. All
she assumed was that he was fretting over his father. With that
thought in mind, she reached over and took the phone right out of
Eleanor’s hand.
“Um, there’s another patient in your department named
Gabriel Thompson, right? How’s he doing? How come we
haven’t received a call from the doctor asking him to come for a follow–up? Did you guys forget about him?”
7/8
16:32
Chapter 15 A Sudden Call
(9 min left
Victoria had come to realize that Kenneth was truly ill, and a pang of gullt tugged at her heart.
Yet, there was still a subtle undertone in her words, insinuating
that Kenneth might have greased the hospital’s palms to receive such preferential treatment.
In essence, she was trying to advocate for a square deal for
Lucas.
But the moment those words left her lips, Lucas felt as if his head
was filled with a deafening buzz. He nearly blacked out.
→Write your comment
Gifts
8/8
