Chapter 548: Chapter 548: Wait Obediently for Him to Come Home
Later, she kicked him to the sofa, refusing to let him back on the bed. She occupied the entire bed, sleeping deeply.
"The Archfiend said he has to go abroad for a while, at most a week, at least three days, and told Mommy to wait for him to come home obediently."
Kenny softly leaned against Ann Vaughn, continuing, "He also told Mommy not to run around or eat ice cream. If she violates this, he’ll have a good talk with her when he gets back."
Ann Vaughn: "..."
She automatically ignored the last thing Kenny said, pondering for a moment, "Did he say where he was going?"
"No, he just said for Mommy to take good care of the ring, and then he left."
The ring?
Ann Vaughn’s eyes widened, remembering the jade ring he gave her on her birthday.
A sense of unease suddenly shrouded Ann Vaughn’s heart.
He didn’t even have the time to say goodbye in person, showing that it was indeed an urgent matter, even beyond his expectations.
So... did he ask her to take care of the jade ring because it had a special use, or was it just a simple reminder?
Ann Vaughn gently clenched the hand wearing the jade ring bracelet, a feeling of indescribable panic weighing on her heart.
"Young Madam, are you awake? The family called from the main house to invite you to come over." Uncle Dexter stood at the door and inquired.
Ann Vaughn snapped back to reality, her chaotic thoughts preventing her from noticing the change in Uncle Dexter’s address, and replied in a muffled voice, "I got it, I’m coming down soon."
"Alright."
After helping Kenny wash up, Ann Vaughn went downstairs.
Kenny didn’t go to school today; a doctor was coming later to perform a routine check-up to ensure his condition hadn’t worsened.
Therefore, Ann Vaughn didn’t take him to the main house and drove there by herself.
However, as soon as the car reached the main house entrance, it was stopped by security personnel.
"Please wait, all visitors must be registered here. Once we’ve entered your details, you can go inside."
Ann Vaughn had been here before, always brought in by Mark Joyce and Bella Hawthorne, and didn’t know this rule existed. She waited in the car for them to input her personal information.
This wait lasted for more than half an hour.
"Is the registration done?" Ann Vaughn lowered her car window, leaned out to look into the security room, and saw the two people supposed to be registering her details lounging inside and napping.
Ann Vaughn furrowed her brows slightly, then pressed her palm heavily on the steering wheel.
"Beep—"
The piercing horn startled the birds perched on the branches, causing them to fly away.
The people in the security room immediately poked their heads out to look outside and saw the woman sitting in the driver’s seat looking at them with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, making their backs shiver.
"Your information has been successfully entered, you may proceed."
With those words, the ancient, ornately carved black gate in front of her opened in response.
"Thank you for your trouble," Ann Vaughn said clearly and drove inside.
The security personnel had initially thought she would be angry and question why they deliberately made her wait so long.
But Ann Vaughn didn’t ask anything and just left.
Of course, Ann Vaughn wouldn’t question them.
If no one had ordered them, they wouldn’t have the guts to purposely make the Young Madam of the Hawthorne Family uncomfortable.
...
"Third Master, the Young Madam has arrived."
Ann Vaughn followed Henry Hawthorne’s assistant to the study in the room, where she saw the elder in a wheelchair, eyes closed in faux-sleep, and said softly, "Third Great Uncle."
"You’re here." Henry Hawthorne opened his eyes, gestured for the assistant to help put on his glasses, and then said to Ann Vaughn, "Sit, don’t be formal."
Ann Vaughn nodded slightly and sat on the soft chair behind her.
The assistant brought over a cup of tea, placed it in front of Ann Vaughn, and said, "Please enjoy." Then he left the room.
"Why did you call for me?" Ann Vaughn initially thought it was Old Master Hawthorne who summoned her, but upon arrival, she realized it was Henry Hawthorne.
And since the family banquet, Laura Quinn had been kept at the main house for recovery, essentially to prevent her from causing further trouble.
Could it be that Third Master Hawthorne was seeking her for this matter?
Before Ann Vaughn could think further, Henry Hawthorne said, "I heard your medical skills are quite good, so I wanted you to come over and have a look, to see if my illness can be cured."
"Please extend your hand, and I’ll check your pulse," Ann Vaughn pondered.
It’s considered impolite to keep staring at an elder’s face, and last time she hadn’t closely observed what illness Henry Hawthorne had.
All she knew was that it wasn’t a mild condition.
Henry Hawthorne extended his hand to her as instructed.
After checking his pulse, Ann Vaughn also looked at Henry Hawthorne’s eyes and tongue, her fine eyebrows lightly furrowed, "Do you often experience dizziness, headaches, and have a lot of coughing and phlegm?"
Henry Hawthorne’s eyes showed some surprise, "Yes."
"If I may be bold, does your left side feel somewhat stiff and hard to move?"
"You can tell?" Henry Hawthorne’s surprise deepened, "It seems so."
But Ann Vaughn didn’t show any smile because she realized Henry Hawthorne was starting to have some cognitive confusion, relying on sheer willpower to stay upright.
She immediately stood up, walked over to Henry Hawthorne, and crouched down, rolling up his pant leg, and inserted the Golden Needle successively into acupuncture points like Zusanli, Jiexi, and Hegu.
"You..." Henry Hawthorne immediately felt a bit more clear-headed, surprised at what he saw.
Whether it was his imagination, the numb left side seemed to be regaining some sensation.
"I mean no offense, but your condition is gradually worsening, and if not controlled promptly, it might lead to liver heat flaring up, causing the Qi to reverse and threatening your life," Ann Vaughn explained calmly.
"In your opinion, can it be cured?"
"You don’t have an incurable disease, just a series of complications from high blood pressure and asthma, aggravated as you don’t restrict your diet. For your health’s sake, it’s better to eat lightly," Ann Vaughn glanced at the packaging sticking out of the drawer.
It was a package from a famous Imperial Capital braised meat shop, with the charcoal-grilled pig’s trotter being their signature dish.
Judging from the smell, there were likely other braised items as well.
A slight blush appeared on Henry Hawthorne’s old face, and he glared at Ann Vaughn in dissatisfaction, "Who said this is mine? My assistant bought them because of his cravings!"
"Perhaps you’d better wipe the oil from your mouth before making such claims," Ann Vaughn remarked helplessly. "Overindulgence leads to illness, thrashing your body into this state only worsens your affliction."
Many patients don’t follow medical advice, but for someone of Third Master Hawthorne’s age to mess up their health for the sake of food is something that made Ann Vaughn find it quite amusing.
"You’re good at coaxing me," Henry Hawthorne huffed, but inwardly he agreed with Ann Vaughn’s words.
When he was being treated abroad, he felt his body was as good as it gets, fearing that he wouldn’t have the chance to eat as he pleased in the future, so he indulged whenever possible.
Up till now, the doctors hadn’t discovered that while he appeared to be eating plain porridge and simple meals, he was secretly feasting.