Chapter 124
Caden looked at Hank and said bluntly, "Dream on." Hank wasn't sure how to react, but soon cheered up and continued his tasks. "Mrs. Ward has rescheduled her visit to Warrington for next month. I've pre-selected a few houses and bodyguards for her. Would you like to make the final decision?" Hank informed him. Caden agreed. The prospect of Ciara's arrival, however, offered little comfort; her unpredictability already gave him a headache.
Meanwhile, Alice diligently followed the doctor's instructions, completing her treatments and medication schedule. After a week, she was ready for discharge, with Monica arriving to assist with the paperwork. Meanwhile, Alicia and Caden had reached an agreement, and she had gathered substantial evidence of Joshua's infidelity during their marriage. Joshua, preoccupied with his company's IPO and Lilliana's return to the spotlight, hadn't contacted her. Lilliana, with his financial backing, was diligently crafting a public image as a caring mother-to-be.
Monica scoffed at the news. "So the lip-sync scandal has vanished? The internet's got a short memory." Alicia, calmly scrolling through her phone, replied, "Showbiz made her, and it'll break her just as quickly. We just have to be patient." The more evidence Alicia gathered, the greater Lilliana's potential downfall. She put away her phone, prepared to pay Alice's medical bills.
Suddenly, a desperate voice cut through the hospital noise: "Please, doctor! I beg you to save my sister. I swear I'll find the money in three days. Please help her now!" Alice turned to the commotion. A young woman clung to a doctor's coat, her desperation mirrored in the doctor's helpless expression. "I'm very sorry, but your medical expenses are considerable. I can't cover them," he explained. The woman, begging desperately, fell to her knees. A crowd gathered, their reactions ranging from curiosity to indifference to genuine compassion.
Alice frowned and started toward the distraught woman. Monica grabbed her arm. "Alicia, are you really going to help?" Alice replied, "It seems familiar. I want to see what happens." Monica, seemingly moved, agreed to accompany her. Alicia pushed through the crowd, recognizing the woman as Lilliana's assistant. She helped the woman up; though supported, the assistant remained clinging to the doctor's coat. The doctor offered to help start a fundraising campaign, then left. Exhausted, the assistant collapsed. Alice, noticing the onlookers, guided her to a quiet hallway. Monica soon returned with water. Alice comforted the assistant, eventually calming her, though she continued to cry.
"Thank you… I have to go back to my sister. Thank you for comforting me," the assistant said, preparing to leave. Alice gently took her hand. "What illness does your sister have?" she asked. The assistant, seeming to recognize Alice, avoided eye contact, unwilling to share details. Alice, uncertain of her character, sensed genuine desperation and saw an opportunity to help. The assistant, overwhelmed with guilt, hurried away; Alice didn't stop her. "If you need help, don't hesitate to ask. I'm sure you know how to reach me," Alice called after her.
The assistant hesitated, then ran, avoiding eye contact. Alice sighed. Monica broke the silence. "I remember now. She's Lilliana's assistant. I've seen her in pictures online. If she's ever kneeled before a doctor, she must be desperate. Either Lilliana knows nothing about this, or she's refusing to help. Alicia, are you going to do something?"
Alicia felt torn, needing to speak with Caden. "I'll check on your sister first," Alice said. "Monica, thanks for being here. You can go if you have things to do. I'll just take a quick look." Monica declined.
The assistant's name was Gina Mendoza, and her sister, Harley, had a brain tumor causing nerve compression, making surgery risky. An emergency now necessitated immediate, exorbitantly expensive surgery—hundreds of thousands of dollars Gina couldn't afford. This explained her earlier plea. After wiping away tears, Gina attempted to feed her sister, but Harley vomited. Harley, though young, was pale and weak. Gina stood with her back to the door, silently crying. Alicia watched, her heart heavy. The hospital had begun a fundraising campaign, and Alicia made a contribution. Harley was innocent in this.
Later, Alicia and Monica parted ways. Alicia immediately messaged Caden: "I need to see you immediately." He responded: "Come to the apartment." He then went to buy condoms.