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?”

brow. After a moment, she let out a soft

She remembered now.

called Uncle

ignored

her uncles

look for me?” Lilly asked in

I’m your Uncle Bryson. We’re all here

to take you home, Lilly. In

of the men

were going to

they would abandon her again once they

her

the Crawfords felt even more tense than

One by

he was 40 years old and had two children.

very good at interacting with children; after hesitating for a moment, he asked bluntly, “Lilly, what

inflexible, rather harsh way, his siblings all glared at

he was a taciturn person and found it

so thick

bed and very tenderly caressed her hair. In as gentle a voice

for a while

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

She didn’t have any other name

had this child passed her days in the Hatcher household without

his anger, he asked, “Well then, Lilly, can you tell your Uncle Gilbert

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

but this man had broken through that darkness like a ray of

mouth trembled slightly and she asked, “Uncle Gilbert…when we go home, am I…am I allowed to

were dumbfounded when they heard

she was allowed to

asked again in a tiny voice, “Will you hit

four words almost made

she would be starved

abuse had she endured in the

half-starved and inadequately

her when she awoke in fright, and in summer no one would bother when she was drenched in sweat

so he could suppress the tears that threatened to

brothers were so enraged they clenched their fists tightly. However, they did not

and 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,