Chapter 2: Lillian Smith poisoned

"How is my mother, is she fine, will she be okay?" Jillian Smith bombarded the doctor with a series of questions.

All the passing nurses leaving the operating room had dejected looks, this made Jillian Smith more anxious.

The attending physician called the family butler Mr James in the office to discuss the situation.

"What did you find?" Mr James asked.

"We found out that Mrs Lillian Smith medication had been contaminated with the most deadliest poison, the poison is rarely used and is sold in the black market."

The butler was shaken wondering how the most famous hospital in the east of Orwell could be so careless. The attending physician promised to give an explanation. The attending physician was scared of turnishing the hospital's reputation, he promised to uncover the truth behind the poisoning.

******

"Miss, Mrs Lillian has been transferred to the VIP ward, you can go visit her," the leading nurse explained to Jillian Smith.

The butler escorted Jillian Smith to the ward and found Mrs Lillian in a miserable state. It seems fate had played a cruel joke on her.

Meanwhile her father Harlond Smith was keeping her mistress and daughter company, he did not take the hospital director's words seriously concerning his wife's condition.

In the VIP ward

"The patient has only a few dailys to live, consider keeping the patient company when she wakes up, also make sure the patients emotional state is stable," the attending physician stated.

Jillian Smith was shaken wondering what had happened to her perfectly fine mother. The butler tried comforting her but it was of no use. "Mr James, could you please leave me alone with my mother to talk for a while?" She said.

The butler understood Jillian Smith intentions and left for a while and waited for her outside the ward.

After a while Mrs Lillian Smith woke up and found her precious daughter crying pitifully, she tried to comfort her that she will be fine but it was of no use. She looked everywhere but couldn't see her husband, dissapointment was written all over her face. Mrs Lillian Smith called the butler and asked her to take care of her daughter once they go back to the Smith family villa.

The butler arranged for some food to be brought to the ward and later Jillian left the room when Lillian Smith had eaten and slept.

The director had hidden the fact that Mrs Lillian Smith was poisoned from Jillian Smith to avoid worrying her.

Later after arriving to the Smith family villa, Jillian Smith found that her father Harlond Smith had not returned, so she decided to wait untill he returned home. The butler suggested that she should sleep early since it was already late and that the following day she would have to visit her mother, but she insisted on waiting.

Later that night Harlond Smith arrived at the villa with his mistress. Jillian asked her, "father why did you not visit mother at the hospital? Don't you love her anymore?"

The atmosphere in the hall grew awkward. "What good is your mother, she is so dramatic," Harlond snapped back to Jillian her daughter. He added, "go back to your room or I will have to whip you up and throw you out."

Jillian Smith felt saddend by her father's sudden change of attitude. She run back to her room crying.

"Wait!" He commanded, "your aunt and new born sister will be staying with us from now on," Harlond stated gently.

The following morning, Mr Harlond Smith left for the company while Camilla Robbinson and Jillian Smith were having breakfast. Mr Harlond Smith before leaving instructed, " make sure to take care of your aunt and the baby," and walked out. Suddenly the sound of a crying bady Celeste Smith was heard from upstairs. Camilla Robbinson commanded Jillian to go check on baby Celeste and wash her up and later feed her.

Jillian rebelled claiming that she had work to do and that she was going to visit her mother later, but her words fell on deaf ears. Camilla Robbinson pinched her delicate chin turning to purple. The maid servants in the villa tried to pursued Camilla that she should let Jillian be since she is still a child and the servants could take care of the child themselves.Camilla Robbinson sneered, "she will take care or her half sister."

What followed was a slap on Jillian Smith cheek which later swell.

Jillian was forced upstairs to take care of baby Celeste Smith. She thought to herself that if she could take care of her sister and aunt she could live freely and have a good life. Little did she know that she wad directly falling for the scheming woman plan.

She hurriedly took care of her half sister and left to the hospital with the Smith family butler.

When they arrived they found a nurse feeding her mother Lillian Smith and offered to feed her. The nurse agreed and left the ward, the butler was busy making a juice for the mother and daughter.

A nurse came to report that the patients condition has not improved but has worsened. She also said that they are trying their best to find a cure for the poison to remedy the situation.

Jillian Smith thanked her as the nurse walked out. "Do you think she will be fine?" Jillian asked the butler as tears streamed down her delicate face. The butler comforted her that everything will be fine but he knew that the situation could not be salvaged.

The butler was in a dilemma to tell her what she was to expect or not to tell her so that he can spare her the emotional burden.

In the ward Jillian Smith talked to her mother about her studies and making new friends in school.

******

In Mr Harlond Smith company, his assistant came to report to him about the pressing matter of his wife but he dismissed him. His assistant pressed further that his wife has been poisoned and had only a few days left to live.

Mr Harlond was shocked and asked his assistant if the news were correct. His assistant showed him the document at hand, "prepare my car, we are heading to the hospital," he ordered. "Yes, sir," the assistant replied fleeing the office.

*****

In the hospital, Mr Harlond's assistant had already searched with the hospital director which room his wife Jillian Smith was in. (Shocked) "What are you doing here," Harlond asked when he saw Jillian Smith sleeping by the bedside. " I'm keeping my mother company," She replied, "why did you not tell me?" He pressed. Jillian sneered, " I waited for you to inform you about my mother's condition but you did not here me out, Jillian responded tearfully.

"I'm sorry, I did not let you speak, how is your mother, how is she feeling." Harlond Smith asked. Jillian Smith believed her father's sincere apology and recounted what the nurse had told her early that morning.

Mr Harlond Smith expression turned sour for neglecting his family, "I'm sorry Jillian, dad is sorry," he apologized.

Later that evening, father and daughter went home and found dinner set. Mr Harlond Smith went straight to the study room to calm him sorrows.