Eight Uncles' Beloved Treasure (Lily)

Chapter 4 Would They Abandon Her Again?

Stephen went around the hospital looking for people, trying to find out what was going on. However, everyone he encountered told him that they did not know what was happening either.

By now, the Hatchers were so cold they were shivering uncontrollably in the icy corridor. The Crawfords would not see them either. It was becoming unbearable to wait there.

Paula was the first to admit defeat. “I’m going to see Debbie…”

Debbie was also warded at this hospital, but she was in the maternity wing.

Stephen and Richard could not stand it any longer either, but they did not want to leave so they had no choice but to keep on waiting in the interminable cold…

Incessant complaints filled their minds. They had no idea, however, that this was only the beginning of their troubles!

…

Lilly could hear the quiet beeping of machines around her. There were also people talking, but very indistinctly.

However, there was one voice in particular that was very clear.

“Lilly…Lilly dear…hey, little Tulip! You have to wake up soon, okay? If you don’t, I’ll…”

Lilly felt as if a small swarm of bees was buzzing beside her ear and chattering to her. It was just a little bit tiresome.

Who was this person talking to her?

Lilly’s eyelids fluttered slightly and she finally opened her eyes, only to see a snowy-white wall right in front of her.

A group of people surrounded her bed. Pursing her lips, she carefully scrutinized them.

Gilbert reacted enthusiastically; he was also the first to speak. “Lilly! You’re awake now! I’m your Uncle Gilbert…”

The rest of the Crawfords did not even dare to breathe; they watched Lilly tensely.

Lilly found herself at a loss. “Uncle Gilbert?”

Her pretty little face was expressionless and wooden. She looked just like a fragile porcelain doll.

It sounded as if she were repeating a foreign phrase.

Hugh’s mouth tightened into a hard line. Lilly was very thin; she was so tiny that the hospital bed seemed very large.

It hurt to see her like that, so much so that it was hard to breathe.

Gilbert spoke more gently. “Lilly, I’m your mother’s brother. My name is Gilbert. You telephoned me earlier, do you remember?”

furrowed her brow. After a moment, she let out a

She remembered now.

had called Uncle Gilbert’s phone

had ignored her

uncles

come to look for me?” Lilly asked in a thread of

around the bed nodded vigorously. Bryson added, “Lilly, I’m your

take you home, Lilly. In the future, no one will dare to bully you or harass you. If

of the men in

going to take

if they would abandon her

her and

how silent she was, the Crawfords felt even more

had much experience handling children. One

old and had two children. Liam, the second son, was 38 and

was not very good at interacting with children; after hesitating for a moment, he asked bluntly, “Lilly, what

this in his customary inflexible, rather harsh way,

embarrassment. By nature, he was a taciturn person and found

was so thick one could cut it with a

very tenderly caressed her hair. In as gentle a voice as he could muster, he asked, “Lilly darling, why don’t

silence for a while before replying, “I don’t

she didn’t need a proper name; they’d discuss that when her stepmother gave birth

her. She didn’t

had this child passed her days in the Hatcher household without even a

“Well then, Lilly, can you tell

his direction with an effort, staring at this person who

had been so very dark but this man

she asked, “Uncle Gilbert…when

dumbfounded when they heard

was asking if she was allowed to

they could muster up a response, Lilly asked again in a tiny

simple four words almost

girl was afraid she would be starved

had she

and inadequately dressed for the

one would be there with her when she awoke in fright, and in summer no one would bother when she

blood so

fists tightly. However, they did not

no one will hit you. Look, that’s your Uncle