THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 451: Still Making Up For Six Years Of Separation

Talking about sorting out something, there’s someone I urgently need you to meet."

"Why do you sound as if it is a matter of life and death?"

"It is, pleae come with me before your husband shows up," Cheryl said and dragged Kathleen to one of the rooms in the building.

"Ms Moore, I never knew you’d still come," came the excited voice of the man who was alone in the room as hiw eyes darted from Cheryl to the angelic being that accompanied her into the room.

"I’m sure by now you should know that I do keep my words," Cheryl smirked as she closed the door behind them.

"I know ... it’s just ... I was so worried and got confused," Mr Callaghan admitted apologetically.

Cheryl ignored him and went ahead to do the introductions, "Mr Callaghan, meet Dr Janice, Sis, this is my colleague, Mr Callaghan... it’s his mother’s case I mentioned over the phone.

"Good evening, Sir," Kathleen greeted him with a polite nod.

"G-good e-evening," Mr Callaghan stuttered with eyes almost popping out of their sockets. He seemed almost dumbfounded as though Kathleen’s youth and elegance defied his expectations.

Obviously he never imagined the renowned Dr Janice would be this young and beautiful. If not that he believed that Cheryl wouldn’t play such a terrible prank on him, he might’ve thought he was staring at a top model instead of a doctor.

And with those piercing eyes which seemed to diagnose his very thoughts as she smiled knowingly, he was held spellbound.

Kathleen, who was already used to having this effect and reaction from people who haven’t met her as Dr Janice, offered a calm smile as she said, "So how’s your mother?"

Mr Callaghan blinked, clearly struggling to collect himself. Cheryl had to nudge him. "Mr Callaghan?"

"Yes... sorry... I...I..."

"How is your mother?" Kathleen repeated understandably.

"Yes... sorry! Sh.. She’s in the van outside. I wasn’t sure if I should bring her in, so I left her there with her nurse."

"Take me to her," Kathleen said.

"You mean... right now?" Mr Callaghan asked in surprise.

"I still have other things to attend to, so if you want me to put off seeing her for now, I don’t mind doing..."

"No...no... this can’t wait...please. I mean... I’ll take you to her immediately... if it’s okay with with. You can see her now," Mr Callaghan quickly said and practically leapt towards the door, despite his large frame.

Halfway through the door, he suddenly remembered his manners and stopped, held the door open for the ladies to walk out before closing it gently after him. At the same time he didn’t forget to bow in deep appreciation to Cheryl.

Not far from the events hall, a white van was parked in the parking lot.

As they stepped into the van, Kathleen’s gaze softened as she took in the frail, elderly woman lying on the bed inside the van, her breathing shallow and labored.

The woman’s skin was pale, her body limp as if every ounce of strength had drained from her.

Kathleen leaned over, pressing two fingers against her wrist to check her pulse... it was steady but weak.

She closed her eyes on concentration for some minutes and when she finally opened her eyes, her expression was solemn.

"It’s cardiac amyloidosis," she murmured, mostly to herself but loud enough that Mr Callaghan heard.

"It’s a rare form of heart disease where abnormal protein deposits are building up in her heart tissue, affecting its ability to function. Left untreated, it could be fatal soon."

Mr Callaghan’s eyes widened, disbelief etched on his face. "But... how can you know that just by checking her pulse? We’ve done multiple tests, scans, blood work, you name it... and... the doctors suspected things but never pinpointed this. None of them mentioned cardiac amyloidosis."

Kathleen didn’t look up as her fingers gently pressed over different points on the woman’s chest and took note of the faint tremor of an irregular heartbeat.

"Sometimes, the body reveals its secrets more clearly through the hands than through machines," she said in a steady voice but laced with quiet authority. "Traditional methods teach us to feel what technology often misses. I’ve encountered this condition before... and I’m certain of it. We can treat it, but timing is very critical."

Mr Callaghan, who was visibly rattled, struggled to regain his composure. "What... what can we do? Please, Dr Janice, I can’t lose my mother. Tell me what needs to happen."

Kathleen sighed, clearly in no doubt of what needs to be done. "The best treatment would be a combination of diuretics to relieve fluid buildup, medications to stabilize her heart rhythm, and some additional supportive therapies. But she’ll need a thorough regimen tailored to her specific case, and we have to act quickly."

Mr Callaghan’s face broke with both fear and relief. "Please... help her. I’m begging you. Just do whatever can be done to save her life. She’s all I’ve got after my father passed away," he said with a desperation he didn’t try to mask.

After a long pause, Kathleen nodded, her face softening just a fraction. "I’ll help. I’ll oversee the initial treatment while I’m in town. But after that, she’ll need long-term care, and I’ll recommend a specialist who can continue with what I’ve started."

Mr Callaghan exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Impulsively, he reached out to clasp Kathleen’s hand briefly as gratitude overwhelmed him.

His voice was thick with emotion as he said. "Thank you... thank you. I can’t express how much this means to me."

Kathleen gave him a reassuring nod. "I’ll leave you to arrange an appointment with my sister in-law."

As they exited the van, Mr Callaghan’s happiness seemed to renew his energy, his relief was unmistakable as he watched them head back toward the banquet hall.

With a final word of gratitude to both Kathleen and Cheryl, he turned back to take his mother to the hospital where he’d brought her from. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

As Kathleen and Cheryl stepped into the banquet hall, Shawn was immediately at her side.

"Where have you been, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice barely concealing the edge of worry as he snaked a possessive hand around Kathleen’s waist

Kathleen gave him a small, tired smile, glancing back at the van. "Just saving a life," she replied, "...and I’d very much appreciate some loving right now."

"Shall we head back home?" Shawn asked, clearly more than willing.

Kathleen gave him a sweet smile. "Not yet, my love, a kiss would do for now," she said as she tilted her head up to meet Shawn’s halfway.

"Hello?! I’m still here, you two, in case you’ve forgotten," Cheryl interjected, feeling like an awkward third wheel.

"And who is stopping you? Go find your man and stop being so noisy," Shawn teased before drawing Kathleen closer as if he wanted to merge her body into his.

Cheryl sighed and rolled her eyes. "Seeing you two, anyone would think you’ve been starved of affection for years."

She still had something to discuss with Kathleeen and here she was smooching with her husband in public glare like a rebellious teenager. Didn’t she have any shame?

Kathleen smirked as Shawn finally released her. "We’re still making up for the six years of separation, duh. So yes, we’re a bit overdue."

Cheryl: "..."

Realizing she was fighting a losing battle. Cheryl walked into the hall and went directly to look for her husband to report his sister to him. Not that it would be of any help since Jason also doted on his sister to a fault.