48 Hours a Day

The horse carriage had parked outside Hyman Manor when Carina opened her eyes again. Carina was the kind of woman that could move on once she realized that her goal was a lost cause. Although she felt upset for some time after she knew that relationship between Zhang Heng and Annem, she snapped out of it and focused solely on her business. Time had washed off the sadness that she had within her heart.

She was reminded of some of the memories that she had since she was in a small space with Zhang Heng. After taking a short nap, she felt that her energy was rejuvenated. Once Carina got down from the horse carriage, she stretched her back and looked around the place. This place was different from Malcolm’s Terrance Manor. Carmen’s Hyman Manor was not as huge as Terrance Manor. Its size was only one-tenth of Terrance Manor’s size. There were no plantations around the mansion. The mansion was surrounded by a huge garden and grassland. Carmen had inherited this place from her late husband, Smith. Only one year after they were married, Smith fell from the horse carriage and died.

“How can I help you both?”

A black man was cutting grass in the garden. He put down the scissors and walked toward them when he saw them standing in front of the mansion.

“I heard the master of this mansion is an expert at Guanahatabey’s healing skill. I’m here to ask for her help,” Zhang Heng said after he got down from the horse carriage.

“You are right about that. Mrs. Smith is very talented at Guanahatabey’s healing skills. I can say that her healing is better than all the Guanahatabeys on this island. However, you will need to make an appointment if you need her help. We need time to prepare herbs and the right medical tools for you. Other than that, Mrs. Smith will need to go into meditation one night before she uses this healing skill on others.”

“Is that right. But we are here right now. Can we at least experience her healing skill a little?”

“About that…” The black man looked sheepish. “You came at the wrong time. In half an hour, a patient will come and meet up with Mrs. Smith. So…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a woman.

“That’s alright. Drew, let them come in.”

“As you wish.”

Drew then moved aside and welcome Zhang Heng and his people into the mansion. Zhang Heng and Carina followed behind him, and they passed by a small garden before then entered the main entrance. After that, Drew went to the kitchen to make tea for them. About five minutes later, the woman that talked to Drew earlier finally came down from the second floor. Before that, she was standing in front of the window on the second floor. Zhang Heng managed to take a quick look at her. Finally, he had the chance to meet her officially.

According to the information that Zhang Heng gathered about Carmen, her age should be similar to Eugene’s—around forty years old. However, it was hard to guess her age from the way she looked. It seemed like she had a great method of taking care of her skin, as her entire being was emanating an aura that was mixed with maturity and innocence. Zhang Heng could finally understand why Eugene was so attracted by her.

“Drew, did you know who you stopped from entering my mansion?”

“Forgive me for not knowing, madam.”

“Who is the most famous person on this island recently?”

“Mr. Malcom that formed the black-market alliance. Black Prince Sam becomes the pirate king of Nassau. And the most recent famous person on Nassau is the captain of Jackdaw, Zhang Heng.”

It was at that time that Drew realized the person sitting in front of him was Zhang Heng. After all, the characteristics of Easterners stood out amongst all the people in this mansion. At the same time, he was astonished by this realization.

“No matter what, you can’t ask the most famous captain in Nassau to leave this mansion right now. Drew, I need you to cancel my next appointment. Tell Mr. Buffon that his treatment has changed to tomorrow night.”

Drew nodded his head and served the tea to Zhang Heng and his people before he left the house.

“I hope that my man didn’t offend you.”

Carmen extended her hand. All these while, Zhang Heng did not like European’s hand-kissing gesture. This was a tradition passed down from the Vikings. It spread to Europe, and it became a polite gesture used by the aristocrats. Usually, this gesture was used by men to show their respect to married women. In modern society, it was still commonly used amongst the royalties in Europe. Still, it did not hide the fact that it was an unhygienic move. Considering the people that lived in this era showered only once every week, there were surely a lot of bacteria on their hands. So, Zhang Heng extended his hand and chose to shake her hand instead of kissing it.

Carmen was embarrassed by it, but she managed to conceal her emotion before anyone realized it. She then turned around and smiled at Carina.

“Let me guess. Since the captain, I’m pretty sure you are Anne. No, Miss Anne has red hair that everyone is envious of. You are Miss Carina. Though the things that you’ve done are not as famous as Captain Zhang, your name had spread across the entire Nassau. Especially the women on this island. A lot of them are always talking about you and Miss Anne. The two of you have proven that women can still rule in the world that is dominated by men.”

“You think too highly of me. I’m just a businesswoman that wants to earn more money.”

After a while, the three of them were done with complimenting each other.

“I have never thought that Captain Zhang Heng knows me. How can I help you?”

“There is something I need your help urgently, Madam Smith.”

“That would be my honor. Might I know which part of your body is unwell?”

Carina lifted the cup of tea in front of her and asked.

“Madam Smith, I heard that you are very close to Mister Eugene.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“We have no ill intention towards Mister Eugene. Actually, we know that he is being stuck in a helpless situation for many years. We wish to help him to solve his problem. But I need you to tell me the things that are threatening him right now.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m just a doctor that knows Guanahatabey healing skill…”

“We know the relationship between you and Eugene. He always comes here to look for you in the middle of the night, and he would leave the next morning. His wife is not on this island, and you have remained a widow for so many years,” Carina interrupted.

“Forgive me for being straightforward. You know nothing about being a widow. If you are here for this matter, I’m afraid I have to end the conversation here. Drew, the guests want to leave.”

Carina’s tone had changed. She was no longer as polite as before. Drew came into the mansion, but Zhang Heng and Carina did not get up

“I heard that you are not in a good relationship with your late husband’s family after he passed away. They want to reclaim all the properties that he owned, especially this mansion. I think we can provide you with some assistance.”

Carmen was moved by it, but she still rejected them in the end.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I can’t help you even if I want to. Whether you want to believe in what I say or not, Mister Eugene is just a patient to me. If you are here to seek my healing skill, I welcome you. As for all the things that you have just mentioned, forgive me for not being able to help you.”