“My son’s business has nothing to do with her. What does she know?” Helena muttered from the side. The doctor clearly had no interest in arguing further and gave a few casual instructions before walking out. Helena looked annoyed. “How dare he treat us like that? When exactly is Jackson’s surgery going to happen?”

“They have to wait for the swelling to go down before operating,” Kelly said. Just as she was about to run after the doctor, Kelly frowned and said, “Mom, didn’t you hear what the doctor just said? The surgery timing depends on how quickly that happens. If you don’t trust the hospital and think they’re trying to scam us, then let’s transfer him somewhere else.”

Helena shot Kelly a glare. “Transferring hospitals isn’t that easy. Moving him around is only going to make the pain worse!”

“Then wait for the doctor to make the arrangements. If you keep pestering them, they might be more reluctant to treat him.” Helena fell silent at that.

From the bed, Jackson started groaning in pain. “It hurts!” Helene rushed to his side, concern evident on her face. “Jackson, does your leg hurt? Didn’t they just give you a painkiller? Why isn’t it working yet? Maybe they gave you the wrong medicine.”

“William, what are you standing there for? Go get the doctor!” William immediately turned to leave, and Kelly’s head throbbed. She couldn’t help thinking that if she ever became a doctor and ran into family members, she might just wish the ground would swallow her up.

“It’s pain relief, not magic. It takes time to work. Calling the doctor again won’t help. You still have to wait.”

“You can say that because you’re not the one hurting! Your brother’s hurt, and you don’t even care. I called you ages ago, and you’re just now showing up.”

Kelly retorted flatly, “I was in class.”

“What’s more important? Your classes or your brother?” Helena snapped. “You need to take a few days off and take care of him at the hospital!”

Kelly stared at them in disbelief. “The school…”

“All you care about is your studies! You already got into college, so what’s the point of even still studying? Your brother is in high school. It’s a crucial time of his life. He needs to get discharged and back to school as soon as possible.”

“Aorm’i, you and Dad already barre?”

Your dad has to work, doesn’t he? Do you think money grows on trees? And I just received a big batch of orders I need to finish now. You’re the only one with free time. Starting today, you’ll stay at the hospital with your brother, and I’ll bring meals.” Helena’s tone left no room for discussion. A sense of helplessness washed over Kelly. It felt like her parents were weights pressing down hard on her, and she couldn’t push them off, no matter how much she tried.

Kelly ended up asking for a few days off. She knew there was no way she could take care of Jackson long-term, but if she refused now, her parents would never let her live in peace. In the dorm, and your parents didn’t lift a finger to help you. Why is it your job to upend everything and look after him?

When Melissa found out, she immediately called. “You were practically lying from the start. Your brother being in the hospital is a serious matter.” It was obvious that Melissa was furious. After two years of friendship, she knew exactly how Kelly’s family treated her, which only made her angrier on Kelly’s behalf.

Kelly stood on the hospital room’s balcony with a bitter expression. “You know how it is with my family. Reasoning with them won’t work. I’ll take the few days off.”

Melissa sighed, “What about the quiz competition on the eighth?” Kelly had been chosen to represent their course in the quiz competition thanks to her excellent grades. The event was set on the eighth.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there,” Kelly said.

“Did you tell Professor Butter about all this?” Melissa asked.

“I don’t want to bother him with family stuff. He’ll be pissed when my leave ends.”

Kelly leaned slightly, and through the glass door of the balcony, she could see Jackson inside, refusing to eat as Helena tried to coax him. Worse since he broke his leg, and he angrily waved off every attempt to feed him. His temper had gotten worse.