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?”

moment, she

She remembered now.

had called Uncle Gilbert’s phone

had ignored her

uncles

for me?” Lilly

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

“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 say about

looked at each of

to take

sure if they would abandon her again once they

her

how silent she was, the Crawfords

One by one, they looked at

and had two children. Liam, the second son,

Anthony was not very good at interacting with children; after hesitating for a moment, he asked

inflexible, rather harsh way, his siblings all glared

By nature, he was a taciturn person and found it

air was so thick one could cut it with

to Lilly’s bed and very tenderly caressed her hair. In as gentle a voice as he could muster, he asked,

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

she didn’t need a proper name; they’d discuss that

had been what Mommy named her. She didn’t

this child passed her days in the Hatcher household without even

asked, “Well then, Lilly, can you tell your

direction with an effort, staring at this person who called himself her Uncle

man had broken through that darkness like a ray

slightly and she asked, “Uncle Gilbert…when we go home, am I…am I

the Crawfords were dumbfounded

was asking if she was allowed to

Lilly asked again in a tiny

words almost made

was afraid she would be starved and

of abuse had she endured

half-starved and inadequately

her when she awoke in fright, and

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

clenched their fists tightly. However, they did not dare give vent to

took Lilly’s tiny hand, 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 one’s your Uncle Liam, and that’s your Uncle Bryson…All of them are tough, strong men. All of us