Chapter 1611

After a long while, Lily removed her fingers from the little girl's wrist. The child didn't protest as Lily took her pulse, only gazing quietly at her. Lily remained silent, then slowly rose. Dr. Blanc, sensing her sadness, simply asked, "Do you need a break?"

Before Lily could answer, the little girl timidly asked, "Am I going to die?"

"Nonsense! You won't," Dr. Morris interjected, breaking his silence. He hurried to tuck the blanket around the girl and replace her toy. "You just have a cough and fever. You'll be fine in a few days."

"But… my mommy died," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Tears welled in her eyes, betraying her attempt to suppress her grief.

Lily was shocked and looked at Dr. Blanc. The usually composed man averted his gaze. The girl's statement was clearly true.

Dr. Morris, unusually gentle, said, "Your mommy had a different disease. You'll get well soon if you're a good girl and take your medicine and injections. Did you forget what your mommy told you? That you must be strong and live well."

The little girl bit her lip and nodded obediently, her expression pitiable.

"You're not going to die, and you will get well," Lily reassured, gently stroking the child's head.

Her resolve hardened. If she had previously sought a cure for her family and friends, now she felt an even stronger determination. I must find a cure, no matter how hard it is. I can't let children like her suffer! Feeling detached, her legs weak, she left the ward, clinging to the walls for support as she exited.

The three remained silent during the disinfection process, returning to their workspace before removing their hazmat suits. Dr. Blanc then noticed Lily's prominent belly and frowned involuntarily. This job is too demanding for a pregnant woman. Even with their urgent task, he hesitated to let her overwork herself in such a dangerous environment.

"You saw it yourself," Dr. Blanc said. "That's the situation. We've gathered all known patients, but we're unsure if there are more. The sooner we find a cure, the sooner we can alleviate their suffering."

"Why are people dying?" Lily asked, her concern evident. She had never encountered such a situation. "I know the virus is spreading overseas, but not here. I've never heard of anyone dying from it here. How can anyone die from this virus?"

Agitation swelled within her, fueled by the memory of the child's fear. The little girl's plight made Lily think of Galen, her unborn twins, and millions of other children. She's so young and knows so little. Yet she lost her mother and is infected! What has she done to deserve this? Worse, this pandemic isn't a natural disaster; it's man-made!