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.

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.

foiled, and he was denied

Floris absented herself for a prolonged interval to avoid any

I urgently need financial assistance. Could you kindly extend a loan to me?” she implored

Chapter 28

came the regretful response from the other

assistance in providing me with a loan.” She appealed,

financial assistance this month? I cannot oblige

need of a loan. Would you be able to extend your

months behind on your rent! Let me warn you, if you fail to pay your dues by tomorrow, you will be evicted!” bellowed the landlord, his voice resonating

loan while you owe me three months’ rent? Outrageous! Begone!”

thirty individuals, she was met

a chair in the hallway, overcome with a sense of hopelessness and despair.

defeated and at a loss for

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

sorry, Tracy. It’s all my fault. I’m sorry…”

wept inconsolably, holding her daughter tight as tears flowed

with emotion, Floris feared Haylan overhearing her sobs and deliberately distanced herself from him as she wept, her despair

brimming

emotions.

with his hearing in particular honed to a

even the slightest disturbance up to a distance of three kilometers as long as he listened with focused

an overwhelming sense of discomfort, as if a heavy boulder had been placed atop his chest, rendering it almost unbearable. The thought dawned on him that a mere lack of funds had

predicament and cry privately to protect

was overcome with heartbreak, particularly for his sister, as he realized the depths of her struggles and the challenges she had faced alone.

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

18:39 1

Chapter 28

for him.

in such dire straits

with determination. He made his way. directly to the hospital’s payment office, where he promptly paid 20 thousand dollars

portion of 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,

unless absolutely necessary.

diagnosis, determined to

was acutely aware that surgery entailed breaking the body, which constituted a

misplaced intestinal tract and that traditional medicine. offered a

inflicting any harm upon his little niece was

conscience? Why didn’t you inform

sooner?”

not have allowed Tracy to follow you back then. You, a penniless and destitute woman with no accomplishments

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255