Lost Me Gained Regret

"...Okay."

Later that evening, Ramona was transferred from the emergency room to a VIP ward. Her face was pale, but she was fully conscious.

Before I could even get close, Bella, Herbert, and Abdul had all arrived.

"Jane!" The moment Bella heard the news, she rushed over, her eyes brimming with urgency and redness. Upon seeing me, she enveloped me in a hug. "You scared me to death! Why didn't you contact me directly when something happened? Taking risks on your own, what would I do if something happened to you?"

"Mom..." I clenched my hand, unused to asking for help after dealing with everything myself before. "I'm sorry, I panicked and didn't think things through."

"Silly girl!"

Bella released me, gently cleaning her tears, and earnestly warned, "From now on, you can't handle things like this on your own, do you hear me?!" My eyes welled up, and I nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

Then, feeling a bit guilty, I looked towards Herbert, "Herbert..."

"Why the guilty look? I'm going to scold you."

After introducing me to Abdul, Herbert didn't waste any time and respectfully said, "Mr. Abdul, the patient in need of your expertise is my niece's grandmother, Ramona. Could you please examine her?"

"Of course."

Abdul seemed to have a deep connection with the Taylor family and didn't hesitate. He sat down beside the hospital bed and placed his hand on Ramona's wrist.

As soon as he felt her pulse, his kind expression turned grave, and his white eyebrows furrowed.

However, since Herbert had briefed him earlier, Abdul didn't immediately reveal anything after withdrawing his hand. He only asked Ramona, "Ma'am, have you been feeling any dizziness or numbness in your fingertips?"

"There's a little, but it's not severe. I should be fine, right?"

Ramona had heard of Abdul and smiled, looking at me, "I just took a fall. I guess my granddaughter was worried, that's why she called you." Abdul's expression remained calm as he said, "It's nothing serious. I'll administer a few acupuncture treatments, and the symptoms will disappear." Ramona looked at me uncertainly but, seeing my nod, she agreed.

Abdul took out his acupuncture needles and with swift and precise movements, despite his age, began the treatment.

When the last needle was inserted, Ramona drifted into a deep sleep.

My heart instantly seized with worry, but Abdul spoke at the right moment, "The lady will be alright for now."

Herbert asked, "Mr. Abdul, how is Ramona's condition, really?"

"It's not good."

Abdul's tone was more serious than the previous doctors, his demeanor grave, "She's been poisoned, hasn't she? This poison is dangerous. In the early stages of poisoning, all organ function tests won't show abnormalities, which is deceiving. In reality, the poison will spread to the organs and even the nervous system within a few days. By then... it'll be too late."

I pressed, "What do we do?"

"We need to identify the poison before an antidote can be formulated."

Gregory furrowed his brow, "How long can we delay it?"

"Two weeks, at most."Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Just then, a message popped up on my phone. I opened it hurriedly.

"Ms. Webster, you don't have much time left."