The Return Of Lee Young

CHAPTER 6

*******

At the Wales mansion, Cathrine was busy handling company matters when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and noticed it's an unknown number. For a second, she hesitated before answering it.

When the call ended, Catherine's finger loosened around the phone. It slipped from her grasp and hit the floor with a soft thud.

Her vision blurred, and her stance wavered. Before she could steady herself, her knees gave out, and she collapsed.

In the living room, Dev and Bianca were absorbed in their phones, scrolling endlessly that none of them noticed.

When Susan returned from the gym, she dropped her bag on the couch and stretched loudly.

“Where's Catherine?” She asked.

“She's in the study.” Dev replied without looking up.

“You should talk some sense into her.” Bianca scoffed.

“She's been locked in that study for hours, probably thinking of ways to save that loser's ass again.” She blurted. “I don't care if she breaks down, but I think you will.”

Susan didn't respond, she simply turned and walked toward the study. The moment she opened the door, she froze.

“Catherine?” Her voice trembled.

Cathrine lay on the floor, unmoving. Her phone poised a few inches away from her hand.

Panic surged through Susan as she rushed forward and dropped to her knees. Her hand shook as she quickly checked for a pulse. It was faint.

“Cathrine! Wake up.”

“Seems like something is wrong.” Dev said worriedly as the sound of Susan's voice cut through the mansion.

“She's probably being dramatic.” Bianca frowned as she replied casually.

“Where the fuck are those shitty servants? I haven't seen them all morning.” Dev grits his teeth in frustration.

“Your sweet charming cousin, Catherine let them off for two days simply because a maid is getting married. Mother will skin her alive.”

“What! How could she do that without getting permission from aunty? If the loser should get a job, who would cook and clean for two days?”

“Don't ask me.”

“CATHERINE!” Another scream cut them off.

“Shit! I knew something was wrong.” Dev bolted upstairs and Bianca trailed behind him.

When they reached the study, the scene hit them instantly.

Susan was performing CPR.

“Move aside.” Dev shoved Bianca aside, causing her to stumble and fall on her butt.

Dev lifted Catherine into his arms. When they got to the car park, Dev laid Catherine carefully on the back seat.

“I'm coming with you.” Susan said, already climbing in.

“Get in.” Dev ordered as he slammed the door and jumped into the driver's seat.

“Open the damn gate.” He yelled at the security guard who was rather slow at his job.

The gate swung open slowly, and he sped out without hesitation.

Blanca still remained at the same spot, wincing in pain.

At the hospital, Catherine was immediately rushed in on a bed. Nurses surrounded her, pushing her toward the intensive care unit.

Susan and Dev were left behind in the room, pacing and hoping to hear good news.

Dev's phone rang suddenly, cutting through the silence in the waiting room. He glanced at the screen and stiffened.

“Aunty…”

He answered quickly.

“What happened to Cathrine?” Lady Wales' voice roared from the other end.

“Don't worry Aunty. The doctors are attending to her, she'll be fine.”

“Send me the hospital's address, I'm on my way.”

The call ended abruptly.

Moments later, the ICU doors slid open. Both Susan and Dev rushed forward.

“Doctor, how is she?” Susan asked urgently.

The doctor removed his gloves, a serious expression plastered over his face.

“She's still stabilizing.” He said. “She suffered a cardiac arrest. If she had been brought in a minute late, we would've lost her.”

“What?” Susan staggered backwards, but Dev caught her before she dropped to the ground.

“Do you know what caused it?.” Dev asked, forcing himself to stay calm.

“Something triggered it. Emotional stress, most likely. How long was she unconscious before you found her?”

Susan shook her head as tears spilled over. “I don't know, I found her like that.”

“She got a call,” Dev said suddenly. “After that, she went completely quiet.”

“Then whatever she heard must've been severe. If the source of that stress isn't resolved… she may not wake up.”

A lush of tears poured over Susan's face at the thought of losing Cathrine.

Dev fell quiet for a brief second, thinking. “That must be Lee.” He said abruptly.

Susan nodded in correspondence. “She's always been like that when it comes to him.”

The doctor sighed. “Then you need to reach him. If he's connected to this incident… then his condition might be critical too.”

“For now, we'll do everything in our power to keep her alive. I'll let you know when you can see her.”

*Thank you doctor.” Susan said weakly.

The doctor walked away to attend to other patients.

“I think you should call Lee.” Susan said worriedly.

Dev clenched his jaw and grumbled, “I'm not calling that idiot.”

“Drop your fucking pride! Someone's life is on the line.” Susan snapped.

Dev exhaled sharply and dialed Lee's number, but it did not connect. He tried it again, still nothing.

“Something is wrong,” Susan whispered. “How do we reach him?”

“Her phone.” Dev's gaze shifted.

“Do you know her password?” He asked Susan.

They unlocked Cathrine's phone after several attempts. When it finally opened, Dev went straight to her call history. He froze at the slight of the last number.

“It's an emergency number.”

Susan's heart skipped. “We need to go to the police.”

“We can't leave Cath all on her own.”

Just as Susan and Dev were still contemplating on who'll stay with Cathrine, a middle-aged woman in black loose suit appeared. Her sharp jade eyes turned dark the moment she walked into the hospital.

“Mother.” Susan hurried off to where Lady Wales stood in daze, tears pouring out from her eyes.

Susan was always known to be very emotional and get affected at the slightest trace of pain.

“Don't do that here.” Lady Wales said coldly, pulling away from Susan's grip.

“How did this happen? What did the doctor say?” Lady Wales asked worriedly.

“She was unconscious when Susan saw her lying lifeless on the floor.” Dev sighed.” She had a cardiac arrest.”

“Cardiac arrest? How did it get to that?” Lady Wales stiffened, gripping her chest slightly. Cathrine would be the death of her.

“Mother!” “Aunt!” Susan and Dev called out.

Dev held Lady Wales, leading her to a seat beside them.

“I'm fine.” She intervenes, straightening herself.

“She was triggered after receiving a phone call.” Susan explained.

“When we went through her contact, the last call she received was from an emergency. I think this is connected to Lee.”

“That Lee again?” Lady Wales scowled. “He's always bad news.” She felt a trace of pain, but it faded off as fast as it appeared.

She has never treated Catherine well since she got married to Lee. Not that she'll ever accept Lee as her son-in-law, but if Lee's safety could ensure Cathrine's safety, then she really hopes nothing bad has happened to him. The thought of losing her was terrifying.

“Go on.” She shoved them as she realised that they were going to look for Lee.

“Take care, and make sure nothing happens to her.” Susan warned. She could be really emotional, but she's tough and very difficult to handle.

“She's my daughter, I won't kill my own blood even if they deserve it.” Lady Wales words always seemed excessive.

They both looked at each other worriedly, knowing fully well that she's capable of taking someone's life, even if she hasn't.

Dev took hold of Susan's hand, and walked out of the hospital.

It's been hours, and no one heard from Lee. They both drove to the police station, hoping they could find him.

“If it's not for the sake of my dear cousin, I would never go through this stress for that loser.” Dev grumbled.

“Stop talking and drive. Don't get us into an accident.” Susan shot a dagger glare at him, causing the man to shudder.

She didn't exactly hate Lee, but did not like him either. Lee has dragged the Wales family through the mud, and he turned Catherine to a stranger in her own home.

These were enough grounds to dislike him, but for an unknown reason she finds herself worried a bit over him. But it did not matter, he is still a loser and losers don't shine overnight.

When they arrived at the police station, Susan ordered Dev to remain quiet. He would run his mouth and only make their work more difficult.

Susan and Dev stride into the 14th precinct.

“I need to report a missing person.” Susan told the officer at the desk.

“Name?” The officer asked lazily.

“Lee, 29. He went off for a job interview this morning, and he's yet to return.”

“How can you be so sure he's missing? He grunts.

“We're sure of that,” Dev interrupted their conversation. “Why do you think we'll be here if he isn't missing? If you're this terrible at your job, you can just remain at home.”

Susan had clearly warned him not to say a word, but his temper really can't be controlled. She turned and glared at him fiercely.

“Don't listen to him.” She turned back to face the furious officer. “He’s under a lot of pressure not having his best friend around.”

Dev noticed a playful smirk that appeared in Susan's lips. ‘That's not true,’ he muttered. His face had gone sour at Susan's attempt to mock him.

“I can't help you ma'am. We usually wait 24 hours before filling out a formal report, especially for adults.” His tone lightened a bit.

“Try reaching him again, and if he doesn't turn up within 24 hours, come back and we'll file a report and get a BOLO out.”

After they both left the precinct, they drove back to the hospital.

Cathrine was still in intensive care, and was placed on a ventilator machine. The beeping sound of an ECG monitor was the only thing that could be heard.

Lady Wales squeezed Cathrine’s tiny hand into hers, realizing how lean she was. She really had ignored Catherine all these time, but she has herself to blame. If she would just divorce Lee and get married to Cole, her life won't be this miserable. She's better off without that washout husband.

Susan and Dev were given a blue gown and a mask. Susan enters the intensive care unit where Cathrine was with Lady Wales seated beside her. Dev stood outside the ICU entrance, staring at Catherine through a glass wall.

A trickle of tears escaped the corner of Dev's eyes. He and Cathrine were really close while growing up, and that changed when Lee came into her life. He ruined the perfect and quiet girl he once knew.

Now she's someone he can't recognize. She always took Lee's side even when her life was at risk. His attempt to protect her failed repeatedly as Cathrine shunned him. In his own defense, he made up his mind to treat her like everyone else. He'll make her regret why she ever chose Lee over him.

But seeing Cathrine in this state, all the anger he held toward her melted away. With full resolve in his heart, he promised to make Lee's life more miserable than he had done to Cathrine's. He would do anything to separate them even if it would make Catherine hate him forever.