Chapter 7 Stephen's Promise
"What do you plan to do?" Jenny asked.
"I need to find whoever framed my mother, so I won't be able to come to Cascadia for now."
"That's truly unfortunate, but I believe you're making the right choice. Whatever happens, I'll be waiting for you in Cascadia. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."
"Thank you, Jenny."
After hanging up, Isabella took a deep breath. On the other end of the line, Jenny smiled at the nurse administering her treatment—her gifted student could divine that her mother's illness was witchcraft, yet remained oblivious that her mentor was also fighting for her life.
Meanwhile, Laura and Hazel climbed the stairs to find only Raymond and Brandon standing by the door.
Laura glanced around before asking, "Brandon, where's Miss Thornton? Doesn't she care about her mom's condition at all? I suppose that's what you get from a foundling—no blood ties, no real concern for family."
Isabella had just opened her door when she overheard Laura's venomous words, her temper flaring instantly.
She tucked her tarot cards into her bag and approached Laura, looking her up and down with calculated disdain. "If I, her real daughter, don't care about my mother, what right do you have—as someone who isn't even related—to pretend you care?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Laura shot back defiantly. "I've been by Aunt Gloria's side since childhood. Of course I care more about her wellbeing than you do."
"Is that so?" Isabella raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me, why did my mother collapse earlier?"
"She was obviously overwhelmed with joy seeing you," Laura blurted out.
"Exactly. You just admitted she was so happy to see me that she fainted, which proves that in my mother's heart, I'm the most important person—not you."
"How dare you speak like that?" Hazel interjected, linking arms with Laura. "You're nothing but a spoiled brat from some backwater family, sharp-tongued and cruel to your own relatives. If Grandfather were here, he'd wash your mouth out with soap."
Isabella turned her calm gaze to Hazel, who was clinging to Laura's arm. "If my memory serves me correctly, Laura and I are cousins through our mothers, while you and I are cousins through our fathers. By blood, you have no relation to Laura whatsoever—you and I should be closer. Yet here you are, siding with an outsider against your own family. Tell me, who do you think Grandfather would really punish—me or you?"
Hazel was rendered speechless, acutely aware of Raymond and Brandon's presence and not daring to escalate further.
"Enough," Brandon's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Dr. York is treating our mother inside. If you're here to show concern, stand quietly by the door instead of picking fights with my sister."
"Brandon, I'm your family too," Laura whimpered.
"So am I!" Hazel chimed in petulantly.
Brandon's laugh was cold as winter steel. "Indeed, but didn't you just lecture us about knowing one's place? The Miss Thornton you're so fond of disparaging is my flesh and blood, born of the same mother. You two are merely distant cousins. To avoid your accusations of favoritism, I'll naturally protect my full sister."
Laura's composure finally cracked, her eyes brimming with tears. Brandon didn't spare her a glance, instead beckoning to Isabella. "Didn't I tell you to rest inside? Why are you out here—too much noise to sleep?"
"I couldn't sleep. I'm worried about Mother."
Just then, the door burst open with a sharp bang. Stephen emerged, wiping sweat from his brow as he carefully packed away his silver needles one by one.
On the bed, Gloria's complexion had visibly improved, though she remained unconscious.
Raymond waved everyone away with an authoritative gesture. "All of you, out. I'll stay with Gloria alone."
Seeing Isabella also dismissed by Raymond, Laura smirked with vindictive satisfaction, thinking smugly—so much for blood being thicker than water. In Raymond's eyes, Isabella was still nothing but trouble.
Isabella wasn't about to take that lying down. She linked arms with Brandon and swept past Hazel and Laura with regal indifference, planning to intercept Stephen in the garden where they could speak privately.
The Tudor Manor Gardens
"Dr. York! Dr. York, wait!" Isabella called out, emerging from behind a topiary like a conspirator.
Stephen turned to find her beckoning mysteriously from the shadows. "What's the matter, Bunny?" he asked with genuine warmth.
This girl had always been special to him—vibrant and spirited in a way that set her apart from the hundreds of babies he'd delivered. Even as a newborn, she'd been tiny and wrinkled but possessed a cry powerful enough to raise the roof.
When he'd heard she'd gone missing, his heart had broken. Her safe return was nothing short of miraculous.
Stephen's natural affection for Isabella was palpable, and sensing his genuine care, she abandoned all pretense. "Dr. York, you're not entirely certain about my mother's condition, are you?"
"What makes you say that?" Stephen's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What have you observed?"
"I sensed you had things you couldn't say in front of everyone, so I wanted to ask you privately."
"What could I possibly be hiding? I told your father everything—your mother simply can't handle emotional stress. Fainting upon first seeing you is perfectly normal. It won't happen again."
"Dr. York, you're not telling the truth." Isabella's gaze was unwavering. "This illness of my mother's—it's new, isn't it? She never had it before."
Taken aback by her certainty, Stephen studied her carefully. "Do you have medical training?"
"No," Isabella shook her head, producing her tarot deck. "But I practice divination."
"Ah, divination. That's beyond my expertise," Stephen chuckled, then grew serious. "But since you've pressed the issue, I'll be frank. Your mother has myocardial ischemia causing purpura—symptoms of congenital heart disease. However, when I examined her during Brandon's birth, she showed no signs of heart problems."
"So you're saying this heart condition only appeared in recent tests, not before?"
Stephen nodded gravely. "Precisely. But congenital heart disease isn't like food poisoning or age-related ailments. The very term 'congenital' means present from birth..."
"Which is why you couldn't speak freely earlier. Admitting she has this condition now would contradict your previous diagnosis—and you were the one who declared her healthy before."
"Clever girl, you've seen right through me," Stephen sighed in resignation. "If your mother isn't ill, then what do you think is happening?"
"Witchcraft. Someone has cursed my mother with dark magic."
"I see. What do you need from me?"
"Nothing for now," Isabella said with quiet intensity. "But I hope that when the time comes for the truth to be revealed, you'll stand with me."
"You have my word," Stephen nodded solemnly. "I am, above all, a physician. I believe in facts and evidence. You can count on me."