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 remembered now.

Uncle Gilbert’s

ignored

uncles

come to look for me?” Lilly asked in a

your Uncle Bryson. We’re all here

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

to

sure if they would abandon her again

her and

silent she was, the Crawfords felt even more

handling children. One by one, they looked at

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

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

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

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

so thick one could cut

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

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

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

named her. She didn’t

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

then, Lilly, can you tell

an effort, staring at this

entire world had been so very dark but this man had

slightly and she asked, “Uncle Gilbert…when

the Crawfords were dumbfounded

was

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

simple four words almost made

little girl was afraid she would be starved and

abuse had she endured in the

inadequately dressed

awoke in fright, and in summer no one would

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

Crawford brothers were so enraged they clenched their fists tightly. However, they did not dare give vent to their anger for fear

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 protect you and no one