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?”

After a moment,

She remembered now.

called Uncle Gilbert’s phone

ignored

her uncles want

for me?” Lilly asked

your Uncle Bryson. We’re all here to take you back home

a deep breath, then said, “That’s right. We’re here to take you home, Lilly. In the future, no one will dare to bully you or harass you. If anyone tries, your Grandpa Hugh will have something to

looked at each of the

to

abandon her again once they brought her

they beat her

she was, the Crawfords felt even more

them had much experience handling children. One by one, they looked at

eldest Crawford boy; he was 40 years old and had two children. Liam, the second

Anthony was not very good at interacting with children; after hesitating for

said this in his customary inflexible, rather harsh way, his siblings

embarrassment. By nature, he was a taciturn person and found it difficult to say

air was so thick one could

bed and very tenderly caressed her hair. In as gentle a voice as he could muster, he asked, “Lilly darling, why don’t you tell us all

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

a proper name; they’d discuss that when her stepmother gave birth to

She didn’t

his heart. How had this child passed her days in the

can you tell your

finally turned her gaze in his direction with an effort, staring at this person who called himself

entire world had been so very dark but this man had broken through that darkness

Gilbert…when we go home,

were dumbfounded when they heard

was

up a response, Lilly asked again in

four words almost

she would be starved and

sort of abuse had she endured

inadequately dressed for the

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

biting his lip until he almost drew blood so he could suppress the tears that threatened to spill

tightly. However, they did not

placing it against his cheek. Hoarsely, he murmured, “Lilly darling, when we go home, you can eat whatever you want, and no one will hit you. Look, that’s your Uncle Anthony there. That