The Invincible Mercenary King

Chapter 28

“What’s wrong, sis?” Haylan furrowed his brow as he looked at Floris with concern.

“It’s nothing. My husband is working overtime today and can’t come to take care of our child. I can handle it alone,” Floris forced a smile to hide her inner turmoil.

Despite her efforts, the smile on Floris’s face looked lonely and betrayed her inner turmoil.

Haylan’s frown deepened as he noticed it.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss between Floris and her husband, but since she didn’t elaborate further, he didn’t feel comfortable probing.

Just then, a nurse walked into the room and addressed Floris with a cold tone, “Floris Hammond, you need to pay the bill now.”

Floris asked politely, “Excuse me, how much is it?”

“4,600 dollars. And remember, you cannot give your child any food or water after 10 PM tonight. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow!” the nurse replied sternly.

“Now, please go and settle the payment.”

The nurse left firmly, without any hint of compassion in her voice.

ས

After the nurse left, Floris looked pale. Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the hospital bed, her eyes filling with tears.

“What’s the matter with Tracy? What sort of ailment is she grappling with that calls for surgery?” Haylan inquired, creasing his brows with concern.

At the sight, Tracy recoiled in terror and hastily sought refuge behind Floris, obstructing Haylan’s view of the nature of her affliction.

“She’s grappling with pneumonia and pediatric hernia. While the former can be remedied with injections, the latter necessitates surgical intervention. Floris conveyed with a troubled countenance.

The thought gnawed at her, causing her anguish as she pondered, “How on earth are we going to come up with the exorbitant sum of money required?”

“Having acquired some rudimentary medical knowledge over the past eight years, let me examine Tracy. Perhaps there has been a misdiagnosis.” Haylan suggested with earnestness.

Floris shook her head in dissent. “It’s unnecessary. We’ve already consulted with numerous medical professionals who have verified the diagnosis, and surgery is the only viable course of action,” she replied firmly.

“I’ll phone my husband and request him to transfer the requisite amount,” she added, determined to leave no stone unturned in securing the funds for Tracy’s treatment.

As she spoke, she stepped out of the doorway to place the call.

Tracy harbored a palpable apprehension about being alone with Haylan and hence endured the agony of her ailment to remain steadfastly entrenched in her mother’s comforting embrace.

was denied the opportunity to

Floris absented herself for a prolonged interval to avoid any chance encounter with Haylan

financial assistance. Could you kindly extend a loan to me?” she

Chapter 28

Hammond, but I’m currently experiencing a financial shortfall, came the regretful response from

humbly request your assistance in providing me with a loan.” She appealed, her voice laced with a sense of urgency and

me for financial assistance this month? I cannot oblige your request, so kindly leave!” retorted the individual on the

need of a loan. Would you

to pay your dues by tomorrow, you will be evicted!” bellowed

months’ rent? Outrageous! Begone!” sneered

to over thirty individuals, she was met with nothing but refusals and reluctance to extend

Floris slumped onto a chair in the hallway, overcome with a sense

I possibly manage this?” she contemplated, feeling utterly defeated and at a loss for a viable solution to her

is the day of my daughter’s surgery, and I have no means to fund it. Must I be forced to watch Tracy endure such agony?” Floris pondered, consumed by a sense of

It’s all

tight as tears flowed freely down

sobs and deliberately distanced herself from him as she wept, her despair weighing heavily on her

stood inside the hospital room, his eyes brimming with tears as he struggled to contain

emotions.

his hearing in particular honed to a remarkable degree,

sense of hearing, Haylan could discern even the slightest disturbance up to a distance of

it almost unbearable. The thought dawned on him that a mere lack of funds had pushed Floris into such dire straits, leaving

now compelled to conceal her predicament and cry privately to protect

as he realized the depths of her struggles and the challenges she had faced

Floris’s eye. During every New Year, Floris would set aside candies for him to relish, and when the family slaughtered chickens, she would snatch the coveted

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Chapter 28

legs for

in such dire straits filled Haylan with

room with determination. He made his way. directly to the hospital’s payment office, where he promptly paid

the medical expenses could be refunded, and Haylan was not deterred by the prospect of paying more if the need

he walked back, Haylan pondered over the situation, resolving to find

unless absolutely necessary.

Tracy’s diagnosis, determined to

aware that surgery entailed breaking the body, which constituted a form of injury regardless of the medical benefits.

that traditional medicine. offered a plethora of

his little niece was unbearable

didn’t

sooner?”

should not have allowed Tracy to follow you back then. You, a penniless and destitute woman with no accomplishments to your name. What means do you