Chapter 52 The Cost of Survival
1/5
Upon hearing Troy’s words, Abigail froze, her pupils trembling slightly. Troy, on the verge of an emotional collapse, buried his head in his knees after speaking. His back was hunched, and he cried silently, without a single sound.
Abigail’s heart stirred. The thought that the person on the brink of life and death was her biological mother, someone she had never even met, filled her chest with a bittersweet ache.
Hesitating for a moment, Abigail lifted her hand and gently patted Troy’s back. Her voice was soft as she comforted him, “It’s okay, it’s going to be okay.” She tried to reassure herself, too, thinking that with how advanced modern medicine was, maybe there was still a chance.
But Troy couldn’t hold it together anymore. Tears streamed down his face as if he were releasing all the grievances and helplessness he had bottled up over this time.
When they reached the hospital, the inpatient department on the third floor, Abigail followed closely behind Troy. Ast he rushed in, they saw his father, William Yannis, gripping a doctor’s hand in desperation. “Doctor, please, you have to save my wife. She needs to keep receiving treatment. You can’t give up on her!”
William’s face was pale, his hair seemingly grayed overnight, and his eyes brimmed with despair. His voice was raw, and he
Chapter 52 The Cost of Survival
clung to the doctor’s hand with an iron grip. When the doctor refused to relent, William even bent his knees, about to fall to the ground in front of him.
“Dad…” Troy’s voice was choked with emotion as he rushed forward in a few strides to support his father’s trembling arm.
2/5
The doctor grabbed William’s other hand, his voice heavy with a sigh. “Mr. William Yannis, please don’t do this. Even if you begged me, there’s nothing I can do to save your wife with my medical skills.”
Hearing this, both William and Troy showed visible pain in their expressions. William, exhausted and defeated, stared at the doctor with hollow eyes, his voice raw with grief as he pleaded, “Doctor, please… please think of something else. My wife, she’s only in her forties… she hasn’t even had the chance to enjoy life
yet…”
The doctor’s eyes showed a trace of sympathy, but he spoke the truth, “Mr. William Yannis, I don’t mean to be blunt, but your wife’s condition is already critical. Another surgery would only put her through more suffering. It might be better to take her home and let her spend her last days in peace.”
“No… No, that’s not an option…” William’s body gave out, his knees nearly buckling. If not for his son holding him up, he would have collapsed completely. His voice cracked as he wondered in agony, “I just want to save my wife… Why is it so wondered in agony. “I hard?”
The doctor, clearly moved, hesitated before offering a
Chapter 52 The Cost of Survival
3/5
suggestion, “If you truly don’t want to give up, you could try Reginald Hospital at Claudia. Their director, Dr. Charles Weber, is an expert in this field.” William and Troy then turned to the doctor with desperate hope in their eyes.
But the doctor, after a pause, added cautiously, “I should warn you, though. Reginald Hospital is a private facility, and their fees are three to four times higher than ours. Plus, Dr. Weber holds a very high position in the medical field. For ordinary people, it can take months, even years, to secure all appointment. Given your situation, even if you go, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to see him.”
“Reginald Hospital…” William’s eyes regained a hint of vitality. He then asked eagerly, “Can Dr. Weber really treat my wife’s
illness?”
The doctor replied, “I can’t guarantee it, but Dr. Weber is currently the best oncologist in the country. There’s always some hope, isn’t there?”
William couldn’t wait any longer. “Alright, let’s transfer my wife. Let’s do it now.” Fortunately, the hospital had already planned to discharge them that day, so the procedures were completed. quickly.
Before they left, Abigail overheard Troy talking to William in the ward pantry. “Dad, isn’t our money already-”
William interrupted him firmly, “Don’t worry about the money. Even if I have to sell my blood, I’ll make sure your mom gels treated. Why haven’t you been going to school these past few
Chapter 52 The Cost of Survival
4/5
days? Don’t skip classes. You need to focus on your studies. Once your mom’s transfer is settled, you’ll go back to school and study properly.”
Troy hung his head low, letting clear tears drip onto the shiny floor. “Alright, I will.” He didn’t even have the courage to tell his father that he had sought out Caroline. He knew neither his father nor his mother could bear that kind of blow right now.
When Abigail heard their conversation, she lowered her eyes, hiding the storm of emotions brewing in them.
Soon after, the door to the pantry opened, and William came. out carrying a basin of hot water. He used a towel to gently wipe down his wife, Adela Yannis, who lay on the hospital bed. Then, with Troy’s help, they carefully moved her into a wheelchair. But Troy turned back to fetch their belongings from the room.
William, now gaunt and haggard, struggled to push the wheelchair by himself, his strength clearly failing him. Seeing this, Abigail stepped forward to help, taking hold of the wheelchair to push it with him.
Only then did William notice her. He looked up at her, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes. “You… you are?” He paused, thinking to himself, “Why does this young woman seem so familiar?”
Abigail’s expression froze for a moment. She hesitated, biting her lip slightly as she wondered, “Should I tell them who I really am?”
Married Ex–Fiancé’s Uncle
1
