Chapter 5

When Lily woke up, she found Adeline and Frank beside her. A weak smile spread across her small, pale face.

"Mommy, Dr. Nelson."

Frank spoke gently, "Lily, don't be afraid. I want to ask you some questions about your body. I need you to answer honestly."

Lily nodded obediently.

"Have you been eating properly?"

"Yes, at preschool."

"What do you usually eat?"

"Cabbage, potatoes, cucumbers..."

"No meat?"

Lily shook her head.

Adeline wanted to say something but ultimately swallowed her words, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.

Frank asked a few more questions before letting Lily rest and stepping outside with Adeline.

"I want to schedule an endoscopy for her."

"Of course, Dr. Nelson. Whatever you think is best."

Adeline was terrified inside.

But she knew she couldn't fall apart.

Frank moved quickly, arranging for the endoscopy that same night. Adeline waited anxiously through the night.

The next morning, the results came in.

"I thought something was off when I reviewed her medical records. She had symptoms beyond acute gastroenteritis, but there was no record of an endoscopy, so I couldn't be certain." Frank took a deep breath.

He handed the report to Adeline.

"Lily doesn't just have acute gastroenteritis. Her gastric mucosa shows atrophy and mild intestinal metaplasia—these are precancerous signals. If we don't control the H. pylori infection and repair her stomach lining now, it could progress to severe dysplasia in 5-10 years, significantly increasing her risk of cancer."

At these words, Adeline's mind went blank, followed by darkness closing in.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital bed next to Lily's.

Frank was adjusting her IV drip.

"You're awake."

Memories of what happened before she fainted gradually returned. She forced herself to sit up.

Her face was ghost-white.

"Dr. Nelson, Lily..."

"Take care of yourself first. If you collapse, who will look after your daughter?"

Frank readjusted the needle in the back of her hand.

The injuries on her body had shocked even the nurses.

He asked seriously, "How did you get so many injuries? Did someone hurt you?"

"We were in a car accident on the way here... I'm fine, just some cuts and bruises."

Her entire body ached.

But Adeline couldn't focus on herself, "Dr. Nelson, please tell me about my daughter's treatment. She's so young—we can't let this become terminal."

"We've caught it in time. Don't worry."

Hearing this, Adeline finally felt some relief.

But new concerns surfaced.

"How much will it cost?"

"This condition requires long-term treatment. The expenses may be considerable."

Frank thoughtfully explained similar past cases to her.

And the approximate costs during treatment.

The initial phase would be manageable, totaling around several thousand dollars.

For an average family, this would be bearable, but for Adeline, it was another blow to her already precarious finances.

Yet she had no choice.

"I understand. I'll work hard to earn the money, Dr. Nelson." She hesitated, then asked, "Will you be leaving again?"

"No, I'm staying."

Frank understood her concern. "I'll request to personally oversee Lily's case. I've already reprimanded that young doctor for discharging her before she was ready and abandoning a patient. As for the treatment costs, if you have difficulties, you can tell me. I can lend you what you need."

He wanted to say she wouldn't need to repay him.

But he knew she wouldn't accept that.

Adeline spoke sincerely, "You've already helped us so much. Just knowing you're treating Lily gives me peace of mind."

Frank sighed, "You're still as stubborn as ever."

They had first met three years ago when she was struggling financially and couldn't afford her child's medical bills. He had lent her money, which she had repaid immediately after receiving her paycheck.

"I thought you had found a stable job after that. What happened?"

Adeline lowered her head, changing the subject, "Dr. Nelson, I want to check on Lily."

She hurried back to the hospital room.

Her daughter was awake, a tiny, frail figure in the large hospital bed.

"Mommy, where did you go?"

Lily's eyes held fear.

As if afraid of being abandoned.

"Mommy went to get you breakfast." Adeline held up a bag with steamed buns and rice porridge. "Dr. Nelson says your stomach is weak now, so you can only have gentle, soothing foods. When you're better, Mommy will make you something delicious."

She set up a small table on the bed and placed the porridge on it.

Lily suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Mommy, you're hurt!"

Adeline quickly pulled down her sleeve to hide the injuries. "It's nothing, don't worry about it."

She tried to feed her child, but Lily wouldn't open her mouth.

Adeline asked, "Why aren't you eating? Don't you like rice porridge?"

She coaxed patiently, "You're sick right now, so you can't eat other things. When you're better, Mommy will make you something tasty. Please eat a little now, okay?"

Lily looked up, tears falling.

"Don't want Mommy to be hurt."

Her soft little hands took Adeline's arm, gently blowing on it. Through the fabric, Adeline could barely feel the warm breath.

But her heart melted completely.

"No pain. Mommy feels no pain."

Adeline's heart trembled as she held her daughter close. "Mommy doesn't hurt, and you shouldn't be sad either, okay? Be good and eat your food. When you get better, Mommy won't hurt anymore."

Lily nodded obediently.

As Adeline fed her child, another thought formed in her mind.

In that pouring rain, she hadn't seen who was in the car, but she knew it was an expensive vehicle.

If someone hit a person, they should discuss compensation.

She still remembered the license plate.

JA.5K7M3.

Frank created a detailed treatment plan for the child, along with a dietary regimen. Adeline took these documents to Lily's preschool teacher.

Upon learning of Lily's condition, the teacher immediately promised to follow the dietary plan, but with additional fees.

Adeline didn't want to argue. She believed in choosing her battles, especially since Lily would continue attending the school.

Antagonizing the teacher wouldn't help.

Fortunately, she still had some money left from the ten thousand dollars. She paid the preschool a portion, leaving her with a small cushion.

With Lily at preschool, she could focus on her part-time work.

That evening when she returned home, Lily stayed in her room without coming out. Her voice sounded strong when they spoke, not like someone who was ill.

Adeline prepared dinner, but Lily still wouldn't emerge.

Something felt wrong. Adeline knocked on the door. "Lily, Mommy's coming in."

She pushed the door open.

Lily hid under the blanket. "Mommy, I'm sleepy."

"If you want to sleep, I won't stop you, but you need to eat first."

Adeline didn't believe her.

With gentle yet firm movements, she pulled back the blanket.

Unexpectedly, the injuries on Lily's face were exposed.

It looked like someone had hit her.