Chapter 15

Mildred followed Ava out of the front hall. Beyond it stretched a long covered walkway, its deep burgundy columns lining the path. The floor was paved with aged slate tiles, smooth and cool beneath the feet. Mildred glanced down and noticed a series of old coins embedded between the stones, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "The idea is that every step brings wealth. Get it? Like, walking on money," Ava said with a wry smile. "A bit tacky, isn’t it?" Mildred shook her head. "Not at all. It's actually kind of clever." At the end of the corridor stood a rounded garden arch framed in carved rosewood. A string of delicate wind chimes hung from the top, and as a breeze passed through, they rang out in a crisp, clear tone. Stepping through the arch, the view opened wide. A tranquil lily pond spread out across the courtyard, with a gently winding stone bridge crossing over it. The railing was adorned with floral carvings. Beneath the bridge, ornamental fishes in hues of red and white swam lazily, their movements shattering the sky's reflection into rippling shards of light. At the center of the pond stood a hexagonal pavilion. Its eaves curled upward in elegant curves, and its glazed roof tiles shimmered gold under the sunlight. Inside, a chessboard sat on a low table. The game was half-played, black and white pieces still locked in silent battle, as though someone had just stepped away mid-match. "It's a puzzle," Ava said. "My husband used to be obsessed with chess. He'd play for days without sleeping. Ever since he came across this position, though, he never played again." "Why?" "He couldn't win. He's been fiddling with it for years, but still can't solve it. Gave up entirely, and now he avoids it like the plague." Mildred stared at the board for a few seconds. It looked like a complete mess. "Mrs. Sheppard, let me check your pulse. I'm sure Dorian told you about me, right?" Ava smiled. "Of course. He told me you know traditional medicine. Hear me out, Mildred—no matter what your diagnosis is, tell Dorian and Zoey that I'm curable." Mildred frowned. "Is that all he's said?" Ava nodded. "Yeah." "And you trust me to diagnose you?" Ava laughed. "Why not? Dorian mentioned that you two are good friends. In that case, he should believe in your words more. Just tell him there's hope for me." She reached out and placed her fair arm beside the chessboard. Mildred rested her fingers gently against the pulse point, eyes narrowing in focus. The rhythm beneath her touch was tight, uneven, and faint in places. She pressed again. A subtle tremor pulsed under her fingers, like a string stretched to its limit. "Your nervous system's overstimulated. Circulation's out of sync, too. Your body's practically fighting itself," she remarked. At last, Dorian had made his way over. It wasn't until Mildred finished that he inquired, "So?" She answered truthfully, "There is a way." Ava gave her a small smile, satisfied with how thoughtful Mildred was. However, when locking eyes, the latter immediately knew the former had misunderstood her. "Mrs. Sheppard, please stick out your tongue and let me take a look." Ava did as told. Mildred studied her carefully, then said, "You get headaches often, don't you? Sharp, stabbing pain—usually hits in the middle of the night, right?" Ava was taken aback. "Did Dorian tell you that?" Mildred continued, "Last time you had a scan, they found a minor brain bleed, right? But the doctor probably told you it's from the headaches, not what's causing them." She paused. "You've taken all kinds of painkillers, but nothing really helps. And it's been getting worse these past few years, hasn't it?" Ava was in disbelief. "How did you know? Wait—are you actually skilled?" Dorian frowned. "Mom, did you think I was lying to you?" A hint of awkwardness surfaced across her eyes. "No… She's just so young, and I didn't… It's not what it sounds like, Mildred. Can you actually treat my headache? "It's been a consistent trouble of mine for over a decade. At times, I even feel like cracking my skull against the wall." Mildred nodded in response. "I can treat you. After lunch, I'll apply acupuncture for you and reduce the pain for your next episode." "Can it not be cured for good?" Mildred answered, "What I mean is—whatever happened last time can get you into a life-threatening position again; for instance, a stroke. Acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms, but it won't address the underlying cause. "I'll prescribe you a formula. Take it three times. After that, the frequency of your episodes should start to ease up. Then, I'll adjust the dosage as needed." "Perfect!" Ava got up just as Mildred did. She was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling—Dorian, too. Mildred pursed her lips, then requested, "Can I get a pen and paper to write down the prescription?" Ava urged, "Oh, right. Dorian, what are you standing there for? Bring Mildred to your study!" Dorian laughed. "Follow me, Dr. Ginger." … After writing down the formula, Mildred set down the pen. "Just follow this prescription. If you'd like, you can get it directly from The Elmwell Practice—more business for Mr. Quirke." Dorian raised a brow. "Do you not give him enough gold bars?" She shot him a sharp look. "How do you know that?" He quickly explained, "I saw him looking for you when I sent you home the other day. Didn't you also mention you were practicing at his clinic under his name?" The caution in Mildred's eyes slowly dissipated before she said, "I'm telling you, Dorian, that the poison I gave you is no joke. If you're hiding something, you'd better speak up before it kills you." Dorian chuckled. "I'm just someone who met you a little earlier than the rest. That night, just staying alive took everything I had; I barely had the chance to understand you, let alone hide anything from you." She pointed out a flaw in his words. "You said I was a heartless monster unless with someone I acknowledged—did you conclude that after just a night of knowing me?" He walked over to Mildred and grabbed her hand. She instinctively wanted to pull back, but he tightened his grip and pinned her hand against his chest. "It was bleeding here back then, but you pressed your hand against it and told me to tattoo 'Private Property' on it once I was healed. If I didn't obey your instructions, you would tear my heart out and feed it to the wolves." She was speechless. Feeling the awkwardness, she licked the corner of her lips and withdrew her hand. "Well, the wolves would've enjoyed that." He didn't say another word. At that moment, Mildred's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and said, "Consultation's over. I gotta go." Dorian scrunched his brow. "Have lunch with us before you do." She shook her head. "I can't. I gotta move now." "I'll see you out, then." She pondered briefly, then said, "Instead of doing that, why don't you get me a toxicology report?" … By the time Mildred returned to the Ginger residence, Arthur had regained consciousness. "He's up! Arthur's up!" "Oh my! We've actually got a miracle doctor with us in this room!" Margaret looked suspiciously at the old man who had appeared out of nowhere. She wanted to rebuke the claims. Though she hadn't met the miracle doctor in person, she knew for a fact that the doctor was a young woman. How did it become a random old man? However, Arthur clutched her hand and slowly shook his head. "Grandma, let's focus on the matter at hand first…" Margaret turned grim and chided, "What on earth happened? Why did Arthur pass out at the bridal boutique?" Tamara meekly spoke up. "Relax, Mrs. Luzon Senior. I was caught off guard when Arthur suddenly collapsed at the boutique, but I managed to get the miracle doctor's address out of him before he passed out. "That's how we got Mr. Quirke to come save him. Thankfully, he arrived in time, and Arthur's fine now." Good thing Kieran was sharp enough to make her carry one of Adrian's experimental formulas. She had only slipped two drops into Arthur's drink, and he nearly passed out on the spot. When one was on the edge of life and death, they would spill everything. She hadn't even started pressing him yet when he begged her to hurry to The Elmwell Practice to get help. Who cared how tight-lipped the Luzons were? As long as the Ginger siblings worked together and played their cards right, it was only a matter of time before the miracle doctor showed up! Tamara turned to Mildred, who had just entered the room. The smugness in her eyes was unmistakable. "As you wished, I found the miracle doctor for Kieran, Mildred! Here—let me introduce you to the legendary miracle doctor, Bread Roll, Dr. Hermes Quirke!"