“How dare you ask for such a generous sum!” Torah looked upset, but still took out a few wads of notes from a drawer.
“Whatever. I can’t trust anyone else! At least your child will have some blood relations with me. Thirty is thirty. Remember, do not expose this secret! If the secret gets out… just say you have a crush on Harold so you are his bed partner!”
Jenny was speechless. It was really the perfect solution. Jenny reached out for the money, and quietly put it in her bag. Once her mother gets this money, she will be able to start her surgery.
…
In the hospital, there were people moving about, coming and going.
Everyone’s expressions were different. Some were happy, like those whose family members have recovered and are celebrating, but most are glum. After all, here, money is like paper. And you have to willingly throw your money in!
She’s walked the way to room 103 a thousand times, she can even get there with her eyes closed! She knocked on the door, and opened the door with a smile.
“Mom! I’m here! How are you feeling today?”
Patricia’s face was pale as a sheet, but still managed a smile.
“Mom’s fine!”
“I just discussed with the head doctor, you can have your surgery on the first of next month, how is that?” Jenny picked up a mandarin and started peeling it. The fragrance of the mandarin quickly spread through the hospital room.
“No!” Patricia suddenly shook her head.
“Jenny darling, don’t make mom do another surgery, please?”
“How can you get better without surgery?”
“I can’t get any better, I can only be your burden if I continue to live. Don’t organise another surgery for mom, please just let me see you a few more times!”
Jenny pouted and stubbornly said, “Can you not say such depressing words? I’m expecting you to live to a hundred! Or if not a hundred, at least eighty or ninety!”
“Jenny, you’ve been tired enough.” Even though Patricia is bed-bound, there’s nothing she doesn’t know.
“The Andrews wouldn’t give you money for my medical bills for no reason, I know what kind of person he is! I misjudged a person once this life. I can’t believe that not only did I destroy my life, I also caused you a ton of trouble. I am so sorry…”
“Not at all!” Jenny took the thirty thousand out from her bag. “Look, Torah gave me this! I said you need thirty thousand for your medical treatment, and she immediately gave it to me! The Andrews are actually really nice to me!”
“Your mom’s not stupid.” Patricia wiped her eyes, not wanting to cry in front of her daughter. “Just let me quietly enjoy the rest of my time, then you can leave the Andrews, and do what you want to do, understand? Don’t arrange any more surgeries, mom really can’t withstand another surgery.”
Jenny suddenly knelt to the ground, grabbed her mother’s writes and begged, “Mom! I want you to live, you are the only person I can rely on in the world!”
“Silly child, you will get married later!” Patricia forced a smile. “Actually, Dr Yard is pretty good, he’s a nice guy, just be with him. You guys were classmates too, and have known each other for several years.”
“Mom!”
Jenny hasn’t finished speaking, when the sound of door knocking interrupted their conversation. Patricia quickly wiped her daughter’s eyes, and pretended nothing happened.
“Come in!”
The door opened, a man dressed in a white lab gown came in. It was James Yard, the eldest son of the hospital’s director, and a top neurologist.
“Jenny, you’re here too!” James moved around her, and gave her a weak smile. “I was just thinking of calling you.”
“What’s wrong?” Jenny stood up quickly and straightened her hair.
“I’ve applied for medical fee assistance, you can go to the concierge with your ID to collect it! Thirty thousand is perfect for the surgery fee.”
Dr Yard looked at the medical records, and had a look at Patricia’s thumb. “Patricia! You’re doing great! It’s really a medical rarity for someone to recover so well! If the next surgery goes well, you’d be able to get up and walk!”
“Really?” Patricia widened her eyes, unable to believe her ears. “I… I still have the chance of getting up and walking?”
“Of course, just trust the doctors.”
Patricia nodded, and gave out a sigh of relief. With the released tension, she went to sleep. Jenny and Dr Yard quietly tiptoed out of the room and closed the door for Patricia.
“Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?: Dr Yard smiled, he didn’t look like a man in his thirties at all, he looked more like an older brother, apart from the few very fine crow’s feet. “II’s my responsibility to help patients!” he said, nodding towards Patricia’s door. “Hurry off to collect your financial aid!”
“I won’t collect it.” Jenny pursed her lips. I know it’s not the financial assistance, it was from your own pocket.”
“How did you ….”
“When I went to, I heard the nurse say it.”
Jenny lowered her head. “I will pay you back! I still remember the fifty thousand from last time.”
Dr Yard frowned, and stood in front of her.
“Now is not the time to quibble about money, treating your mom’s condition is priority!”
“But you shouldn’t be the one to pay…”
“If you feel like you owe me, then why don’t you just… marry me!”
Dr Yard was even stunned by his own words. He could not believe he let it slip.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
He rubbed his eyebrow. It’s already out, might as well say it!
“I’m not joking. I’m not a dubious person! When I say I want you to marry me, I am being serious.”
Jenny was not prepared for his words, and was shocked speechless.
“I don’t mind your mom is sick. I am happy to pay the fees with you! It’s not like we’ve known each other for just one day, I used to like you back at university, it’s not a secret.”
“No. I can’t.”
“There’s nothing we can’t do! I can accept any of your troubles, and I want to share the burden with you. Be with me!”
Jenny looked at his eyes, the secret in her heart swelling all the time.
She knows James is a great man, and knows he’s being serious, but…
He’s not Harold Quarrington.
He’s too good for her.
Just as she was about to open her mouth, a familiar voice sounded nearby!
It was Harold himself!