Crushed Affections

Chapter 26 Beyond Saving

After speaking, Bella turned and walked away.

As she passed by Leonard, she asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Leonard lazily looked up at the sky. "Can't I look at the moon?"

Bella, feeling irritated, knew he had followed her on purpose but didn't have the energy for small talk. Well, enjoy your moon-gazing. I'm heading back."

Leonard casually followed her. "You really don't appreciate good intentions, do you? I was just worried you might run into trouble. You're my tenant, and if something happened to you, I'd be responsible." Bella shot back in annoyance, "Right now, you're the biggest danger to me. As a landlord, is it normal to stalk your tenant?"

Leonard was at a loss for words, forcing a grin through gritted teeth. "Yes, yes, I'm a creep. You should be careful around me from now on."

Over the next week, Simon sent Bella messages every day, urging her to leave the tiny, desolate town and come with him to Holha, where he promised her a great life.

Seeing that Simon wore all designer clothes, with a watch worth hundreds of thousands, Bella knew he had made something of himself over the years. But she had no intention of taking advantage of that.

Growing up in Miller Manor, she had seen it all. She was not someone who could be swayed by money or material things.

She never replied to his messages, but Simon persisted, sending them morning, noon, and night.

Finally, when he was about to leave the town, he sent her a farewell message. Bella glanced at it but ignored it as usual.

Working at the small town hospital was easy and stress-free. Most of the time, there was little to do. The escape from the pressures of the big city was pleasant If she could, she would live in the town peacefully until the end of her days. The only thing that troubled her was that she still occasionally thought of Dominic. Whenever that. happened, her quiet heart would be thrown into turmoil.

Would they ever meet again in this lifetime?

The tranquility was shattered on an otherwise ordinary morning.

A man who appeared honest and kind brought a swaddled infant into the hospital-where Bella worked.

By chance, the man found Bella's office. When she noticed that the baby's face was unnaturally flushed. and purple, her heart sank.

"I'm not a pediatrician," she said. "You should find another doctor quickly. There's an experienced one in the office next door!"

The man's eyes bulged like saucers. "I want you to treat him! If something happens to my child, you won't get away with it!"

Bella frowned. "If you keep delaying, something really will go wrong! He might even need to be transferred to another hospital!"

The man acted like he didn't hear her, thrusting the baby into her arms. "It's just a cold. Give him a shot, and he'll be fine. I'm going to the restroom, be quick about it!"

Chapter 26 Beyond Saving

Before she could react, the man had already disappeared.

Bella was furious, but saving the baby was the priority. She rushed to the office next door while holding the infant and asked the old doctor to take a look. "Please check this baby out. A man brought him in and went to the restroom. The old doctor took one glance and said, "The child's beyond saving. Get the family to take him away quickly, or they'll blame the hospital."

It dawned on Bella that she might have been set up. Some people deliberately use dying children to extort hospitals, often walking away with substantial compensation.

She gritted her teeth and unwrapped the baby's blanket and clothes to perform a quick examination.

The baby had severe jaundice and a distended abdomen. He was less than six months old and was barely breathing. It was likely a case of congenital biliary atresia. The old doctor was right-the child was beyond saving.