THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS

’Does that mean all my effort is now in vain? I can’t let her leave without seeing the Young Master.’

As a witness to their love and the obstacles they faced and overcame in the past just to be together, he felt it was not fair for them to just part ways like that.

"I have to do something," he said to himself and sprinted from his position at the back to the front.

Kathleen’s path was suddenly blocked by Butler Wallace and she looked up in disbelief.

"What is the meaning of this?" If not for the deep respect she had for him for his age, she would have just pushed him aside and continued on her way.

Aside from his age, he has always been kind to her when she was married to Shawn and even on the day Joanne and Linda drove her from her matrimonial home, he was there to offer her comfort.

She has never forgotten what he did for her that fateful day while she was in her lowest state.

After Joanne had shoved her out of the house and spat at her before slamming the door against her, she had staggered, lost her balance and fell to the cold marble floor outside the door.

She was still struggling to stand when she felt a strong hand support her up. When she turned around, she met the kind sympathetic gaze of Mr Wallace.

"Young Madam," he had said then, "please don’t be disheartened about what has happened. You are a good kid. I believe you are innocent and also know that God will give you the light to walk on the dark path before you. That light will lead you to your true destiny."

He didn’t stop there but continued to say that "Master Shawn is definitely hurt and confused at the moment, please give him some time to come around."

Who knew the next time they would cross paths again would be six years later.

"Mr Wallace, I appreciate what you did for me in the past," Kathleen began with utmost sincerity. "But, you can’t act recklessly now. I need to be somewhere at this very moment. I only rushed over because I thought something serious had happened to old Mrs Hudson."

Despite Kathleen’s attempt to be polite, Mr Wallace chose to remain adamant inorder to achieve his mission. "Whether it’s the old lady or the Young Master, it’s the same thing. All I’m asking for is that you just take a look at him."

"Please don’t leave him like this. He is in great pain at the moment although he is pretending to be strong."

Why does it sound as if Mr Wallace was referring to more than Shawn’s physical injury? Anyways, whatever he was referring to is his damn business.

"His pain has nothing to do with me. Like I told the maid, when he needs medical attention, he can go to the nearest hospital or invite a doctor over."

Butler Wallace was struck speechless, ’Are you not a doctor?’

Was that not why he did all he did to get her down here?

Although he didn’t get a chance to speak with her the first day Kathleen came to diagnose old Mrs Hudson’s symptoms, he knew then that she was a doctor.

From the gossip he heard and the description given by the nurses who were with Old Mrs Hudson when everyone left the manor, he was able to confirm that Kathleen was the mysterious doctor.

He was also able to understand the true reason why the Young Master had to send them all away after connecting the dots.

He had sent them all away because he didn’t want his mother’s interference with Kathleen’s work after the hard time Mrs Joanne gave her that first day.

He had witnessed with his own eyes what the Young Master went through after his mother and that green-eyed witch plotted against and drove the Young Madam from the house without his consent.

To make matters worse when he rushed back home to apologize for his actions, his wife was no where to be found. The last they heard was that she died in a plane crash.

He had broken down right in front of him and confessed to him that he never want her to leave in the first place but was momentarily blinded by fury.

Although the Young Master has been able to recover a bit, he could still see the hollow and emptiness in him.

However, because of his mother’s actions, the Young Master had created an invincible barrier between himself and his mother.

"I’m afraid I can’t afford to delay any longer," Kathleen’s peered through his thoughts bringing him back to the present.

Before he could come up with a better persuasion technique, Kathleen had found a way around him and escaped to her car.

"Don’t pull this prank on me next time if not it would end with just a warning."

Mr Wallace stuck a finger in his ears and shook it vigorously.

Did I hear her clearly? Was that a warning or a threat that she just dished out to me?

Can this really be the humble and affectionate Young Mistress he had grown to love over the years?

He exhaled deeply and said to no one in particular. "Time, indeed, changes everything and everybody."

Johnson, who had been waiting patiently for Mr Wallace and the doctor to show up at Shawn’s door, got tired of waiting and strolled outside to check what was causing the delay.

Seeing just the butler with no doctor beside him, two deep lines appeared across his forehead.

He clearly heard the sound of a car some minutes ago while he was waiting by his boss’s door. "Where is the doctor?"

Mr Wallace did not as much as spare the annoying Johnson a glance as he directly uttered, "She left."

He was in no mood for much talk, rather, he was more concerned about the Young Madam’s apparent transformation into a heartless woman.