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?”

her brow. After a moment, she let out

She remembered now.

had called Uncle Gilbert’s phone

ignored her

her uncles want

me?” Lilly asked in a thread of

your Uncle Bryson. We’re all

if something were constricting his throat. He drew a deep breath, then said, “That’s right. We’re here to take you home, Lilly. In the future, no one

at each of

going to take her

abandon her again once

beat her and starve

silent she was, the Crawfords felt even more tense

of them had much experience handling children. One by one,

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

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

this in his customary inflexible, rather harsh way, his siblings all glared

embarrassment. By nature, he was a taciturn person and

in the air was so thick one could cut

very tenderly caressed her hair. In as gentle a voice as he could muster, he

while before replying, “I don’t have any other name

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

her. She didn’t have any other name besides

his heart. How had this child passed her days in

you tell

effort, staring at this person who called himself

had been so very dark but this man

Gilbert…when we go home, am I…am I

Crawfords were dumbfounded when they heard

was allowed to eat when she

could muster up a response, Lilly asked again in a tiny voice, “Will you

four words

girl was afraid she would be starved

she endured in the

was half-starved and inadequately

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

biting his lip until he almost drew blood so he could suppress the tears

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

out 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, and that’s your Uncle Bryson…All of them are tough, strong men. All of us will