The Enigmatic Return (Neera and Jean) novel Chapter 729

After Neera settled all the matters at the research center, she called Auntie Zuniga and gave her a few instructions.

The triplets were in school. She didn't have time to say goodbye to her friends and hurriedly headed to the airport.

That night, Jean did wake up once.

Instinctively, he looked around the hospital ward and searched for a familiar silhouette. However, she was nowhere to be seen.

Osbert knew he was looking for Neera. He helped Jean up and fed him a few sips of water.

He filled him in on the situation, "Neera's aunt had been hospitalized. She has left the country."

This news surprised Jean.

He asked, "When did this happen? Is Aunt Adriana's condition serious?"

Osbert shook his head and detailed, "She took the flight this afternoon. I'm not sure about her aunt's situation, but judging by her looks, I think it's quite serious."

He sighed a little. His words were laden with his deep concern for Neera.

"Recently, Neera has been going through a rough patch. One thing after another happened to those around her. Between taking care of you, attending to that boy, and now having to travel overseas for her aunt, she's been stretched thin.

"Just watching her makes me tired; I can't imagine how she's holding up. I just hope she manages to keep herself healthy and doesn't break down."

"Oh, before I forget, Neera left a message for you. She wanted to ensure you weren't overly concerned about her. She also emphasized that you should avoid overworking and prioritize your health. She made it clear that she'd be distressed if you neglected yourself."

Jean pressed his lips together and gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

…

After a thirteen-hour flight, the plane touched down at Liaford Airport in Essley.

Having been informed of Neera's impending arrival, Adriana dispatched the family's trusted chauffeur, Ulric Walters, to pick her up.

"Ms. Neera, welcome back."

As Neera exited the arrival gate, Ulric quickly identified her amidst the crowd and approached promptly.

Noticing the triplets, he extended his courteous greetings, "Ms. Penny, Mr. Sammy, Mr. Harvey, it's good to see you again after so long."

The triplets, consumed by concern for their Grandaunt, had little patience for small talk and merely acknowledged, "Uncle Ulric."

Neera swiftly handed Ulric her bags and walked briskly out. With urgency in her voice, she instructed, "Drive us to the hospital!"

In less than thirty minutes, they arrived at Liaford's most prestigious medical facility.

Upon entering the ward, Neera was met with the sight of Adriana. She spotted her worn-out face, and she felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping her heart.

How could Aunt Adriana change drastically in such a short time?

"Aunt Adriana..." She mumbled and approached her.

Words stuck in her throat, and the overwhelming surge of emotion upset her.

Despite her condition, Adriana's gentle nature remained intact. She looked at her beloved niece and greeted her with a lovely smile. "Why the hurry to come back? It's a minor illness, but all of you are so worried about me."

Tears welled up in Neera's eyes, and she couldn't speak.

The triplets, too, were visibly distraught.

Sammy and Harvey stood on either side, clutching her hands and struggling to hold back their tears.

"Grandaunt, you didn't listen to us! You didn't take good care of yourself. We are upset!"

Penny was a girl, and she failed to hold back her emotions. Tears started rolling down her face, and she urged, "You have to get better. I want you to go out with me for fun outings."

Adriana was heartbroken when she saw her tears.

"Oh dear, why are you crying? Come here, let me wipe them for you."

While they talked, Neera's attention was drawn to a corner of the room.

From the moment she stepped in, she recognized the sophisticated middle-aged man. It was the same individual she had come across previously in Kingsview. This man had to be Chad.

Their eyes locked, and without words, they both understood the need for a private conversation. The two quietly moved out of the room.

"Mr. Gordon, what's wrong with Aunt Adriana?"

A somber expression clouded Chad's face.

He paused before murmuring, "She's been diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctors believe her condition has deteriorated. They're scheduling further tests to determine the severity. If it's advanced, it could be malignant."

Her complexion changed dramatically.

She was in disbelief and stuttered, "How...how could this happen?"

Neera reasoned, "Aunt Adriana has medical checkups every year. She never experienced any of the typical breast cancer warning signs. Why would she develop a tumor all of a sudden?"

Neera was extremely concerned about the well-being of her loved ones. She had personally conducted a medical checkup on her aunt before they boarded the flight home. However, she did not uncover any signs at the time.

Chad tightened his lips and replied, "The doctor mentioned that an emotional outburst could accelerate the growth of breast cancer. This explains why it grew so quickly after that."

Neera was a doctor. She understood what was going on right away.

The problem probably occurred during their time at Kingsview. The Garcias planted the seed of emotional distress in her aunt, which eventually manifested as physical symptoms.

Her condition deteriorated further because she couldn't stop thinking about her father, even after she'd returned to Essley.

Susan and her daughter's disturbances were the final straw that caused her to lose it.

Neera's anger erupted suddenly.

She worked hard to keep her cool and fight off the impulse to confront Susan and Roxanne.

"Right now, there's no indication of malignancy, so things aren't quite as dire. She needs surgery, but as long as her condition doesn't worsen, we should be fine.

"That's what the doctor said," Chad nodded, "but I thought you should know. As a medical professional, you certainly have Adriana's best interests at heart.

Neera nodded. She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself down.

"Relax. I will ensure that nothing bad happens to her. I appreciate your timely notice and care for her."

"It's the least I could do," Chad said, shaking his head. "I don't want to miss out on spending the rest of our lives together with her, considering I already missed out on the first half."