Chapter 28

“What’s wrong, sis?” Haylan furrowed his brow as he looked at Floris with concern.

“It’s nothing. My husband is working overtime today and can’t come to take care of our child. I can handle it alone,” Floris forced a smile to hide her inner turmoil.

Despite her efforts, the smile on Floris’s face looked lonely and betrayed her inner turmoil.

Haylan’s frown deepened as he noticed it.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss between Floris and her husband, but since she didn’t elaborate further, he didn’t feel comfortable probing.

Just then, a nurse walked into the room and addressed Floris with a cold tone, “Floris Hammond, you need to pay the bill now.”

Floris asked politely, “Excuse me, how much is it?”

“4,600 dollars. And remember, you cannot give your child any food or water after 10 PM tonight. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow!” the nurse replied sternly.

“Now, please go and settle the payment.”

The nurse left firmly, without any hint of compassion in her voice.

After the nurse left, Floris looked pale. Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the hospital bed, her eyes filling with tears.

“What’s the matter with Tracy? What sort of ailment is she grappling with that calls for surgery?” Haylan inquired, creasing his brows with concern.

At the sight, Tracy recoiled in terror and hastily sought refuge behind Floris, obstructing Haylan’s view of the nature of her affliction.

“She’s grappling with pneumonia and pediatric hernia. While the former can be remedied with injections, the latter necessitates surgical intervention. Floris conveyed with a troubled countenance.

The thought gnawed at her, causing her anguish as she pondered, “How on earth are we going to come up with the exorbitant sum of money required?”

“Having acquired some rudimentary medical knowledge over the past eight years, let me examine Tracy. Perhaps there has been a misdiagnosis.” Haylan suggested with earnestness.

Floris shook her head in dissent. “It’s unnecessary. We’ve already consulted with numerous medical professionals who have verified the diagnosis, and surgery is the only viable course of action,” she replied firmly.

“I’ll phone my husband and request him to transfer the requisite amount,” she added, determined to leave no stone unturned in securing the funds for Tracy’s treatment.

As she spoke, she stepped out of the doorway to place the call.

Tracy harbored a palpable apprehension about being alone with Haylan and hence endured the agony of her ailment to remain steadfastly entrenched in her mother’s comforting embrace.

were foiled, and he was denied

to avoid any chance encounter with Haylan and then whispered furtively on

need financial assistance. Could you kindly extend a loan to me?” she implored in a

Chapter 28

Ms. Hammond, but I’m currently experiencing a financial shortfall, came the regretful response from the other end of

hospitalized and scheduled for surgery tomorrow. I humbly request your assistance in providing me with a loan.” She appealed, her voice laced with a

Hammond, are you here to solicit another loan from me? How many times have you approached me for financial assistance this month? I cannot oblige

a loan. Would you be

to pay your dues by tomorrow, you will be evicted!” bellowed

me three months’

from anyone. Despite reaching out to over thirty individuals,

a chair in the hallway, overcome with a sense of

I possibly manage this?” she contemplated, feeling utterly defeated and at a loss for a viable solution

my daughter’s surgery, and I have no means to fund it. Must I be forced to watch Tracy endure such agony?” Floris

It’s all my fault. I’m

tight as tears flowed freely

her sobs and deliberately distanced herself from him as she wept, her despair weighing heavily on her as she

hospital room, his eyes brimming with tears

emotions.

to a remarkable degree,

keen sense of hearing, Haylan could discern even the slightest disturbance up to

almost unbearable. The thought dawned on him that a mere lack of funds had pushed Floris into such dire straits, leaving him

predicament and cry privately to protect her self-esteem and pride, fearing that he might discover her dire straits.

realized the depths of her struggles and the challenges she

set aside candies for him to relish, and when the family slaughtered chickens, she

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Chapter 28

legs for

such dire straits

of the room with determination. He made his way. directly to

of the medical expenses could be refunded, and Haylan was not deterred by the prospect of paying more if

he walked back, Haylan pondered over the situation, resolving to find

unless absolutely necessary.

to avoid

was acutely aware that surgery entailed breaking the body, which constituted a

knew that a hernia was essentially a misplaced intestinal tract and that traditional medicine. offered

of inflicting any harm upon his little niece

Hammond, have you no conscience? Why didn’t you inform me of

sooner?”

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