In that moment, Mr. Row’s heart trembled. But upstairs, Barnaby Row smiled and said, “Thelma, my dear sister, why bother? It should’ve been big brother’s responsibility from the start. The old man barely cared for you. He sold his house, and you didn’t get a penny. Why take care of this guy? And with your family’s situation, still taking care of the old man, save yourself. Give him to big brother, isn’t that better?”
Forrest Row’s face darkened, “I don’t have as much money as you, second brother. I won’t take care of him.” Among the three, Barnaby Row was clever, earned the most money, and had the coldest temperament. “I have money, but I won’t do it. It’s not my job,” he said. “I’ve said I’ll do it. You two are heartless, have you forgotten how father raised you? Ungrateful, selfish wolves,” Thelma Row’s face turned stern as she helped Mr. Row leave.
The two brothers were also displeased by Thelma Row’s words. Barnaby Row said, “Thelma, I assume you came to borrow money today. I’ll transfer ten thousand dollars to you now. You don’t have to repay the thirty thousand you owe me. Use the forty thousand to care for the old man. But don’t come looking for me again. I don’t want you to eventually dump a sick old man on me. I don’t have the heart for that.”
Ding. Barnaby Row transferred the money and then blocked Thelma’s contact in front of them. “Fine,” Thelma Row gritted her teeth.
“Thelma, I’m the same,” Forrest Row also blocked Thelma’s contact. “Don’t come to me about the old man,” he said. “You’re shameless,” Barnaby Row glanced at Forrest Row, did nothing, yet had the nerve to cut ties. Forrest Row’s face darkened. But he couldn’t help it; this was the household wife’s words.
“Okay,” Thelma Row gritted her teeth. She then helped Mr. Row down and, once downstairs, Robin Bailey suggested, “Or, let me take care of him?”
“You?” Thelma Row looked at Robin Bailey, he didn’t seem like a wealthy person, no big gold chains, no green watch.
Moreover, he was an outsider. She was afraid Robin Bailey wouldn’t treat her father well. “Let’s forget it. My father, let me take care of him,” she decided.
“Mr. Row has done me a great favor. This is my thank you, what he deserves, otherwise I’d have a big loss,” Robin Bailey took out a bank card and handed it to Thelma Row. Thelma Row hesitated, then accepted it. After all, it was what her father deserved.
But she knew from Robin Bailey’s appearance that there probably wasn’t much money in the card, just a few tens of thousands. “Mr. Row, this is my phone number. Call me when you want to come back,” Robin Bailey gave her a piece of paper with his number.
“Okay,” Mr. Row’s face was smiling, with a hint of warmth. After being alone for so long, meeting a relative brought joy and happiness that can’t be contained. “Thank you,” Thelma Row said before taking Mr. Row back home.
Her home was in a very ordinary area, not owned but rented, as they didn’t have enough money to buy. When they arrived home, there was a man there, looking simple and honest, like a laborer.
“Honey, this is my father. I found my father and brought him back to live with us,” Thelma Row introduced Mr. Row. The man’s face changed, pulling Thelma Row aside, “Bringing your father back is fine, but we can’t afford to raise him. You know about our son’s illness, we still haven’t raised enough money.”
They were also in difficulty, and it was severe. Their son had bone marrow inflammation and needed an immediate bone marrow transplant, but they simply didn’t have enough money for it.
They tried everything, but it wasn’t enough, which was why Thelma ended up at Barnaby Row’s place, to borrow money. “But he’s my father,” Thelma Row felt wronged. “He’s my father, I’m his daughter. How can I watch him being treated like a burden after finally finding a relative? He’s our father who raised us.”
“But…” the man tried to reason. But then a call came to him, making him pale, “Thelma, something’s happened, our son’s illness has worsened.”
They rushed to the hospital. In the operating room, a nurse said, “Hurry, sign here, pay up. We need to operate now, delay might cost your son his life.”
“Okay, sign, sign, sign,” they rushed to sign. But when it was time to pay, the nurse frowned, “Doctor, they don’t have enough money. It’s thirty-five thousand. They only have fifteen thousand, they’re twenty thousand short.”
“Doctor, can we please do the surgery first and we’ll gather the remaining money immediately,” they pleaded.
But the doctor shook his head, “No, hospital rules state payment before operation. That’s policy.” Hospitals function that way. If not followed, the hospital would eventually shut down. No place to save lives anymore, money aside. “You have five minutes,” the doctor said, checking his watch.
The couple was now sweating, desperately trying to borrow twenty thousand in five minutes. The man made calls but soon realized, “It’s no use. I’ve borrowed from all the brothers at the construction site.” It was no use.
Thelma Row also smiled bitterly, “My big brother… Second brother, they’ve blocked me, won’t answer.” The couple felt dizzy. No way. Can’t borrow the money! What about their seven-year-old son? So young. “Wait,” Thelma Row suddenly pulled out a card and handed it over, “Use this card.”
It was Robin Bailey’s bank card. “Where did this come from?” the man asked. “The man who brought my father back gave it to me. There’s probably not much money on it, just a few thousand,” Thelma Row said anxiously.
“A few thousand won’t help,” the man said, hope extinguished once again. Until they heard the nurse’s voice, “You’ve paid in full. The doctor can proceed with the surgery now.” “Okay.” The doctor prepared and went in.
At that moment, the couple were stunned, especially the man. Tears streamed down his face as he watched the doctor enter.
He turned to the nurse, who had affirmed the payment with the card, “Nurse, was it the card just now?” “Yes,” the nurse nodded.
The man then turned to Thelma Row, full of regret, “Wife, I’m sorry, I was wrong this time. It’s because you brought dad back that our son had a chance. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”