Grace walked into the Chairman's office not knowing what would be waiting for her. When Jack saw her, he happily approached her and gave her a warm hug.
'' Grandma, you look great, why does it seem like you are getting younger every day? I saw you this morning but now, it seems you already look prettier than this morning''
''Jack your tongue is getting sweeter'', Grace smiled, '' Richard what have you been teaching my son?'' Grace turned to face Richard who who was already standing beside her to get a warm hug. Aunty Grace Jack is a fast learner but this, I can proudly tap my chest, he didn't learn from me''
Grace gave Richard a warm hug.
''Thomas how are you? She asked as she glanced around the office. Grandma Grace, I'm doing just great.
''I can see that Grace replied. She sat.
Jack, you never told me you intend to open an entertainment office in the hospital complex, Grace kept looking around the office, everyone in the office couldn't hold their laughter in.
''Richard was the loudest, his laughter was contagious
Grandma, you noticed too? Absolutely! '' Whose office is this? he or she should be sacked, Grace added, frowning in a very dissatisfied manner.
Jack told Grace all that happened, what made him fire the three doctors and their allies, the patient, and how he intends to change the hospital management.
Interesting, I'm glad you made quick decisions, your Mum's labor cannot be in vain'' but Jack cut in without allowing her to finish.
'' However Grandma, I want to appeal to you, to return to your field, I know you have retired from active Nursing duties, but I'm appointing you as the overall chief Medical doctor of all R. Mason hospitals in the country. Please don't refuse me, without you I wouldn't be here today; If Mother was here she would have given you the same duty.
Grace was so stunned, she wasn't expecting to receive an appointment from her son, before she could utter a word, everyone in the office clapped endlessly, and shouted congratulations Aunty Grace.
Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks, tears of joy! All she could recall was the day she saved Jack, the day he was born, although he lost a mother, she gained a son and today, although she was driven out of her matrimonial home, she could proudly say she has a successful son who has made her proud,
Jack leaned forward and hugged Grace on her chair, wiping her tears with a tissue,
''I did not do this to make you cry, I did to make you understand you are still very relevant in your field and will always be, All those years you gave it up for me, now you will return to the same field, stronger, greater, and better Grandma.
She held his head in her palms, and pecked his forehead, looking at him straight in the eyes, '' Jack you don't need to pay me back, I chose the sacrifice and it was worth it. I have no regrets.
Looking at them, Selena felt Lydia may never be able to have this deep connection with Jack and if Lydia sees this open display of mother and child love, how would she feel?
Selena felt pity for Lydia just in these few moments of mother and child display of family love, now she understood why Jack wasn't willing to see Lydia yet.
He just will never be ready.
Grandma and I chose to make you the head of all the Chief Medical Officers in all the branches. No decision will be made without your consent. When patients are too hard to treat, you can interfere and see if you can treat them. I'm leaving this to you and Uncle Richard to handle
Jack thank you, she stood up and knelt on one knee and Richard joined her,
'' Your Majesty, we serve and we will always serve''
''Why will my Grandmother kneel to me? You may stand. Grandma from today I command you to only bow your head to me in respect, if you ever kneel to me again, I will pass a decree on you'' Jack spoke angrily,
Richard and Grace quickly stood up, '' Same applies to you Uncle Richard,'' Jack pointed a finger at Richard, Both bowed their head in respect.
Selena had never seen such a scene before, he would pass a decree if she and Richard ever knelt to him. This family bond far exceeded her understanding.
So who is the in-patient you brought in? Any information about her yet? Grace asked Jack, Jack quickly walked to a laptop on the table, tapped on some buttons, and her information was displayed on the screen.
Name / Vera Zu chon, Age/17 plus, on the 16th of next month she will be 18. She attends the Great City University, Department of Communication The only child of the Zu Chon family but her mother is late, father remarried another woman who is currently Vera's stepmother, her name is Sandra Zu Chon, childless since moving into the Zu Chon family. 9 years to be precise.
Known for her extramarital affairs and extravagant lifestyle, she is currently not on good terms with her husband who woke up paralyzed after seven years of marriage.
Vera's mum left her wealth to Vera alone both her father and stepmother have no access to her wealth. Her mother died of cancer of the lungs and the will states until Vera is legally married, she wouldn't have access to the will. From the Information gathered, Sandra has been arranging suitors for Vera but none has caught the eye of Vera, who rejects every one of them.
'' It feels her family would want her to live to have access to the wealth, but why the blow to the head after being poisoned '' Grace asked.
Jack continued; '' So Grandma here is the interesting part. The will, also has a clause, that only if Vera dies will her mother's wealth be accessible to her father or Vera's biological Mum's only surviving brother. So we have a killer at large from the immediate family or extended family.''
''Richard, Jack called out what do you think?'' ''But Jack, why are you interested in the case?''
'' I was the last person who saw her walk towards the stream and her hair color is very remarkable.
Everyone looked confused at the mention of the hair color
'' Okay I give up Richard raised both hands as a sign of surrendering. '' Jack let Selena investigate this. It's under her jurisdiction. Jack walked to the window, both hands in his trouser pocket, after giving it a thought, he refused '' Selena has other things to do. ''Thomas, get me the results''
'' yes Your Majesty, replied Thomas.
Grandma, this is your new office but by tomorrow everything here will be replaced by what you need. Uncle Richard will do a makeover of your office. Grace nodded in agreement.
Can we see the patient, Grace was curious to see if the girl had been saved, Jack had told her the doctor was more interested in money than saving the girl, although a retired nurse she was also a divine traditional Chinese/Japanese doctor. She was good at English and traditional medicine.
Arriving at the ward, they met the two bodyguards at the door of the ward, Jack and his group walked into the VIP ward where Vera was. The room was very spacious, tidy, and well-decorated with the smell of antiseptic everywhere. It was an all-white painted ward, an ideal place for a patient to recover fast. A TV screen was on the wall, an A/C split unit, and a very large orthopedic bed.
The room also had small dining and parlor settings, with a kitchen attached to it. Inside the kitchen, a fridge, microwave, and beverage maker. Pots, pans, plates, and cutleries, were also in there, it had a hidden camera capturing the full view of the ward excluding the bathroom.
Vera was on the bed, one would assume she was deep asleep with an infusion attached to her both hands, she looked peaceful, her long brown hair well arranged to fall on both sides of her face.
When Grace walked into the room, the color of Vera's hair was remarkable, it looked the same as Rita's Hair. One who saw Rita would think she and Vera were made from the same flesh and blood. Grace smiled inwardly, understanding why Jack was particular about Vera.
Richard, Thomas, and Selena stood steps away from Vera as instructed by Jack.
'' Let me and Grandma get close to her, you can wait here, he was afraid she would be infected by their presence
'' Okay
Jack stood by her bed watching Vera closely, as Grace wore her hand gloves inspecting Vera's hands, suddenly Grace frowned, she noticed Ver's pulse was not counting and her skin color was changing, getting very pale.
Get a nurse here fast, Selena quickly pressed the bell on the wall, and within seconds three nurses came in. Richard and others left the room, including Jack.
Grace, '' Get me a pint of blood. Do you have silver needles? One of the nurses rushed out and came back with fourteen silver needles while another returned with a pint of blood.
Vera had a rare blood type and Jack had already deposited so much money so her rare blood type was stocked up at the hospital blood bank.
The blood was connected to her hand, and then Grace asked the other two nurses to leave, allowing the one who brought the silver needles to remain. Grace removed the clothes on Vera's body and examined her, she realized Vera had dark patched small lumps all over her body, it was something Grace was familiar with, they were caused by long periods of small poison potions being consumed by her.
It can be more than ten years or even twelve years, the longer periods of consumption, the darker the patches on the skin. It could be mistaken for skin discoloration if not well-examined.
She took out the needles and turned on the small gas burner to sterilize the tips of the needles, when she was satisfied she walked back to Vera, who was lying down, standing at the foot edge of Vera's bed. The nurse watched Grace with astonishment.
'' Whatever you see here today stays here, no word should leak out of this room
The nurse nodded her head. She had heard about energy and silver needle treatment but had never witnessed it before.
Grace rubbed her palms together and released an energy never seen before, not even Jack had seen her like this.
To the ordinary eyes, a harmless rainbow flame appeared on top of Vera's head when Grace stretched out her arms, the first needle flew into the air as Grace controlled it with her energy inserting it into Vera's forehead, and the second flew into her neck gently, any place the needles were inserted dark brownish drops of blood flowed out with a foul smell. The other nurse noticed they pierced the patched small lumps on Vera's body.
Slowly the rainbow moved to the part of Vera's body that the energy inserted the needle into, till it got to the fourteenth needle, Grace was sweating due to the consumption of her energy inserting the needles.
The nurse, watched Grace with admiration and attention, almost holding her breath, fear of the needle falling to the ground if she exhaled air. After the last needle, the rainbow energy settled on Vera's toes and then the rainbow-colored energy turned to grey-colored energy, which Grace channeled into a glass-like opened box that she had placed close to Vera's toes, the nurse quickly covered the box.
Grace sank into a nearby chair, sweating and panting heavily. This took about two hours to complete. She was drained and looked very pale. Outside, Jack paced about the hospital corridor, he was very restless, he couldn't describe the feeling he was getting.
He was worried about everything. Vera, and most especially his Grandma, and even the last nurse, what was going on inside? He made attempts to enter but Grandma Grace had sealed the door with her energy from within, so nothing could break or open the door from outside.
Another hour passed before Grace recovered fully, and the nurse stood watching over her carefully, after cleaning the brownish blood that came out of Vera's body.
Get me a glass of warm milk, she insisted.
The nurse dashed into the kitchen and made a glass of warm milk for her, Grace drank it and felt her life coming back to normal. What she just did was called 'The Kodokushi: (孤独死) A Japanese phenomenon where people die alone and go undiscovered for a long time, Vera was on that journey of being undiscovered for a long time.
The slow poison that had been fed to her for years was a deliberate act, to kill her but who is responsible? Was the question Grace couldn't say
The nurse gently tapped on Grace's shoulder and pointed to the bed unable to speak loudly because she was surprised that Vera was moving her body slowly.
'' Call the Young Master in, she ordered. The nurse turned to get Jack.
As soon as the door opened, Jack dashed towards it like he was a man expecting the birth of his newborn baby.
He almost slammed into the nurse, who quickly stepped back and bowed her head to speak but she was too slow before she could say a word, Jack had pushed past her and walked hastily into the ward.
Glancing at his Grandma, Jack was struck with shock, at how pale and drained she appeared, he wondered what happened within the past few hours he was outside.
''Grandma, are you okay? Are you the one sick or Vera, why do you look this pale and drained? He sat next to her on the chair, forgetting Vera was the reason he was at the hospital.
'' Jack, I am okay, I just did a traditional treatment for Vera, I am fine, don't turn this on me.''
'' Traditional...wait Grandma you are into traditional treatment too?
Richard was about to go in as well but Selena stopped him. They may need some time just be patient, please. Richard sat back on his chair.
Yes! I am into traditional medicine too, her case wasn't an English treatment case but a traditional treatment.
'' Grandma, you had all this in you, yet you kept it aside? All just for me, I am blessed. How is she?
'' Where am I? Who are you? '' Vera's silent whispers of questions cut through Jack and Grandma's discussion, both turned to look at Vera who was struggling to sit up but the nurse quickly assisted her by placing a pillow on her back to support her.
Grandma was the first to speak '' How are you doing dear? You are at the VIP ward of R. Mason Hospital, you were brought here by Jack. She pointed at Jack. Vera's gaze landed on Jack's face, struggling to recognize the young man standing before her but it was a wasted effort.
''where?'' Vera asked again still looking at Jack.
Jack spoke this time'' At the R. Mason Hospital VIP ward.
'' Why can't I remember anything?
Grace knew this was bound to happen. In most cases, some never get their memory back because they were already in the afterlife and were forcefully brought back so the memory they have are few of the afterlife and none of the present world they live in.
'' With time you will. Do you remember your name?'' Grace asked holding Vera's palm gently as she sat close to her on the bed to make her relax her guard.
'' My name? Vera struggled a little then remembered, Yes I do, My name is Vera Zu Chon but my head hurts badly. Can you tell me how I got here Jack? I can't remember anything aside from my name.
'' Nothing at all? Jack asked curiously, Vera shook her head, Not able to recall anything aside from her name.
Do I know you Jack? she asked, I mean, are we friends, how did we meet? Where did you find me? I just can't remember knowing you or meeting you before now.
Grace had to step in, speaking gently, Vera you don't need to be in a hurry to remember anything right now or you may cause damage to your brain. Just get better physically and then we can start investigating who you are.
Vera nodded and lay back, Can I have something to eat, please? I'm hungry
You can only consume fluid, for now, no solids Grace chimed in. Vera was a little unhappy she was very hungry and wanted food, noticing the frown on her face, Jack whispered to Grandma Grace
'' Can't she eat Oatmeal porridge, that's a little in-between, she looks hungry Grandma,
'' Well she can but the quantity should be little. Jack walked into the Kitchen and checked, luckily there was oatmeal in the cabinet, he took it out, put on an apron, and decided to make a small bowl of oatmeal for Vera.
Some minutes later he came out with a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal porridge. He relaxed the bed stool attached to the bed and placed the bowl on it.
Vera glanced at Jack, shy to ask him to feed her, she was extremely weak and needed help. Jack understood. He picked up the spoon in the bowl and asked.
'' May I?
Grace knew it was time to leave, so she called the nurse into the room and left some instructions with her on when to administer some injections and fluid to Vera. Then she and the nurse closed the door behind leaving Jack to feed Vera.
Outside Grace explained to the others how Vera was feeling and her loss of memory when Victoria arrived.
She looked a little roughed up, '' How is Jack doing?
Richard and others turned to face her. '' Jack is okay and why are you here? It's getting quite late.''
'' Oh, I called Thomas when I realized no one was home so he mentioned you were all at the hospital. I assumed Jack wasn't feeling fine Victoria replied,'' as she glanced looking around for Jack, then it struck her that this was the female ward.
'' Why are we at the female ward?
Jack is inside with someone so he asked we stay outside.
With who? Victoria had a frown on her face and she walked to the door ready to push in, Grace glanced at Selena, Selena understood and immediately blocked Victoria's movement.
'' Your Majesty is busy and instructed, no one is allowed to come in.
'' Well I am not no one, I am Victoria, and you have no right to stop me. ''
'' I'm sorry you can't go in, Selena spoke softly not wanting to use force on Victoria at the same time looking pleadingly at Richard to get his sister under check.
'' Victoria please stay with us for a while Jack is busy inside, Richard reached out and held Victoria's hand, to pacify her but this move seemed to anger Victoria the more. Everyone looked at her in surprise wondering what was wrong with her.
Selena had a chat with Victoria earlier in school, so she knew Victoria had openly declared war on any girl she saw close to Jack because she had feelings for him. However, not only Jack but all the other members of the family weren't aware of the route Victoria was embarking on
She flung Richard's hand away and tried to push the door, Selena stood her ground still blocking Victoria from entering, when Grace spoke up, Let her in Selena.
Selena bowed her head in respect to Grace,
'' My Queen, as the mother of the King, I acknowledge your power but my loyalty is to protect the King and listen to his orders, unless I hear from him, Victoria will not be allowed in ''
'' How dare you speak to me like that, Victoria raised her hand about to slap Selena but Richard gripped her hand faster than the flipping of a book. He knew who Selena was, and knew she would kill Victoria within seconds if that hand touched her face.
Victoria! Richard yelled, what is wrong with you? Get hold of yourself, you are in the hospital why are you acting like Jack is your husband or boyfriend?
Selena glared at Victoria, her eyes cold and frozen filled with killing intent,
Let go of my hand, I want to see who is inside that ward, I have a right to know.
Meanwhile, inside the ward, Jack had just finished feeding Vera, and was about to feed her water, although the VIP ward was soundproof, they could hear voices and commotion getting louder by the door, he and Vera glanced toward the door, and he picked up a tissue and wiped a stain of oatmeal on her lips, placing the bottle of water on the table.
'' Vera excuse me, I will be right back soon, let me check what the commotion is about. Vera nodded, watching Jack walk to the door.
Jack opened the door wondering what the commotion was about and Victoria took the chance and rushed towards Jack, who was still trying to figure out what was happening.
She hugged him tight pointing at Selena. '' Jack she is stopping me from seeing you. I've been trying to come in but even Richard refused
'' Victoria that's enough,'' Richard shouted.
Victoria continued ignoring Richard's orders; '' Despite Aunty Grace giving Selena orders to allow me, she politely refused me.
Richard walked to Victoria, trying to pull her away from Jack so she could stop talking but she held on to Jack the more, without stopping, she continued speaking;
'' Saying she acknowledges Aunty Grace as your mum but her loyalty is to you. To protect and guide you. Do I look like I am here to cause you harm Jack? She pouted her lips, acting like a baby with tears rolling down her cheeks, but Jack could now understand what Victoria was up to
'' Your Majesty,'' Selena was about to speak but Jack gestured to her to remain silent.
Selena, Uncle Richard, and Victoria you may come in. Vera is awake and I just finished feeding her. Jack turned around but not without glancing at his Grandma who waved that she was going home. Thomas turned and took Grace away, leaving all the drama behind.