Chapter 60: Lost Memories
After what happened, Marianna didn’t hurt or maltreat Ephyra anymore. This was largely due to the nanny, Elma, who kept a close eye on her interactions with the little girl. For a while, things seemed to settle down. However, Ephyra’s health took a turn.
A few months later, Ephyra fell sick and was admitted to the hospital. She recovered after a short stay, but not long after, she fell ill again and was rushed back to the hospital. The cycle repeated—sick, admitted, treated, and discharged—until one day, Ephyra fell unconscious while both Elma and Eliot were out.
Left to her own devices, Marianna didn’t take Ephyra to the hospital. Instead, she called in a nurse who administered treatment without consulting a doctor. Surprisingly, the medication seemed to work almost immediately, and Ephyra recovered quicker than she had during her previous hospital stays.
When Elma returned and learned about the nurse’s intervention, she expressed her concerns. "Home treatments aren’t safe for a child this fragile. We need proper hospital care."
But Marianna argued, "We’ve been to the hospital twice, and she still fell ill again! This nurse knows what she’s doing. Her treatments are effective, even better than what the hospital provided."
Reluctantly, Elma conceded, and when Eliot returned and saw Ephyra looking visibly better, he gave his approval as well. "If the nurse’s treatment is working, we’ll let her continue," he said.
Over time, the nurse became a central figure in Ephyra’s care. Her kind, attentive, and cheerful demeanor won over Elma, and soon most of the caregiving responsibilities fell to her. The only tasks Elma retained were preparing Ephyra’s meals and helping her dress. Remarkably, Ephyra’s health seemed to improve under this regimen.
This arrangement continued until Eliot left for a month-long business trip.
From the depths of Ephyra’s body, Eira, who had been silently observing everything like a spectator in a play, felt a growing unease. She knew Eliot’s absence was far from good news for the child.
For the first three days, everything went smoothly. On the fourth day, however, the nurse administered an intravenous drip and injected a substance into it. An hour later, a burning sensation coursed through Eira’s entire being, followed by sharp, electric-like jolts of pain.
At first, the pain was manageable, but it soon escalated to unbearable levels. Eira screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks, calling out for Elma and the nurse. No one came. She writhed in agony until, mercifully, the pain stopped, and she slipped into unconsciousness.