Chapter 18
“How is the J.T. takeover progressing?” Ethan inquired, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward in his
leather chair. He had summoned the former COO of the recently acquiredpany, which was ted
for aplete overhaul starting next month.
“We have already engaged a design firm, and we’ll have the contracts. officially signed by next week,”
the man replied, his voice quivering slightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Ethan’s imposing
presence made it difficult to even breathe.
Ethan arched an eyebrow, a glimmer of mild surprise dancing in his piercing gaze. “Already? I was
under the impression that the final decision. was scheduled for today,” he said, casually picking up a
Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
document from his meticulously organized desk. His fingers traced the title: “Starlight.”
“It’s a newpany, but theye highly rmended,” the man hurriedly assured him, eager to
regain Ethan’s favor.
Ethan’s l*ps curled into a half-smile, but it held no warmth. “Withdraw the contract. I’ll personally
oversee the selection process,” he dered, disdainfully tossing the Starlight folder aside. His business
empire was renowned for its architectural designs and exquisite taste, and he was far from impressed
with the notion of inexperienced designers handling his
Still at the school, Hazel and her kids were given a thorough tour, leaving Hazel feeling genuinely
satisfied with what she had seen. The
atmosphere was warm and inviting, and she believed this was a good. ce for her children.
Daisy, her energetic daughter, vanished like a wisp of air the moment she spotted a ss of children
around her age. She joined them instantly, leaving Hazel and Liam to explore the school on their own.
As Hazel continued the tour with Liam, she couldn’t help but keep an eye out for Daisy. It wasn’t long
before she found her, alreadyfortably seated in a ssroom, eager and excited to be there.
Hazel stood by the ssroom door, silently watching her daughter with a heartwarming smile. The sight
of Daisy so engrossed in the ssroom activities melted Hazel’s heart; it was evident that her little girl
loved
Chapter 18 school.
The teacher, a friendly-looking woman, approached Hazel, warmly weing Daisy into the day’s
activities. “Daisy, honey,e,” Hazel called to her daughter who was deeply absorbed in her
surroundings.
Daisy broke into a run, her eyes lit with excitement, and joined her mother. “I weally like it here,” she
said in her sweet, babyish voice.
Hazel’s smile was gentle and filled with pride as she replied, “We’lle back, but right now, we have
to go somewhere. To the hospital, okay?”
Daisy’s cheerful demeanor took a sudden turn, and she whined, her eyes welling up with tears. “No!”
she protested, nearly on the verge of tears. The teacher, empathetic to Daisy’s desire to stay,
approached them.
“Hello, ma’am. She really seems to enjoy it here. You should let her stay for the day,” the teacher
encouraged, adding, “We have everything she needs, and there are enough stationery supplies to go
around.”
Hazel sighed, considering the teacher’s kind offer, but she knew she couldn’t change their ns now. “I
know, but we already have arrangements, and we didn’t bring her school things,” she exined to the
teacher.
“Well,” the teacher continued gently, “there’s enough stationary to go around, and Daisy seems to be
having a wonderful time with her new. friends.”
Daisy chimed in with her own plea, “I don’t wanna go to the hospital. I want school, her eyes filled with
tears. She loved the colorful ssroom, the friendly children, and the warm atmosphere. It felt like a
world away from the hospital, which she detested for its stark white walls and strange smells.
Hazel looked down at her daughter, torn between the need for a hospital check-up and Daisy’s genuine
desire to stay at school. Daisy would potentially spend months in the hospital once she met with the
doctor, and Hazel decided to let her enjoy her time at school while she could. Crying could worsen
Daisy’s condition, and she didn’t want to see her daughter suffer.
Okay, okay, fine, Hazel surrendered, giving in to Daisy’s heartfelt wish. She wiped away Daisy’s tears
and managed a small, reassuring smile. Daisy squealed with delight, nting a k*ss on her mom’s
cheek before running back to her seat. The teacher returned to her duties with a
knowing smile, recognizing the bittersweet nature of the moment.
Liam, who had been observing the entire situation, had already made up his mind. “You’ll stay in
school; I’ll go by myself,” he dered, standing by the exit door, ready to leave. His expression was
one of mild disapproval, as he had a small frown on his little face, making it clear that he wasn’t thrilled
about the school.
Hazel addressed her son, trying to exin the situation calmly. “I’lle with you, my darling,” she
said, attempting to convince him to stay. However, Liam had a determined look in his eyes; he was not
keen on remaining in school.
“I don’t wanna. We agreed to start school tomorrow,” he reasoned with the wisdom of an old soul
trapped in a five-year-old’s b*dy.
Hazel sighed, recognizing theplexities of the situation. She attempted to strike apromise with
her son. “Well, Daisy doesn’t want to go to the hospital today, so we’ll go some other day. Okay?”
Liam, disying an unusual level of maturity for his age, raised his concerns. “Why did you give in to
her? You’re the adult.” He furrowed his brows and crossed his arms, looking more like a tiny professor
than a typical five-year-old. Hazel sighed once more.
As she observed Daisy, she saw her daughter seated, holding a coloring book, giggling with another
adorable little girl who sported yful ponytails. The cheerful atmosphere and Daisy’s newfound friends
seemed to make school an appealing ce for her, and Hazel hoped her daughter would cherish these
moments before their hospital long stay.
“Now, Liam, you’ll stay here for a few hours, not the entire day. I’ll be back soon, I promise,” Hazel
reassured her son, noticing his dejected expression.
Liam’s head drooped sadly, but Hazel had a special way of cheering him up. “We’ll have ice cream
afterwards, and I’ll even take you to the park to y, she bribed, spoiling her adorable kids. She
couldn’t resist their
cuteness.
“Do you promise you’lle back?” Liam asked with a hint of skepticism. Hazel nodded sincerely.
“Yes.”
Before lunchtime?” he inquired, raising his small pinky as a gesture of
trust.
“Yes,” she replied, intertwining her pinky with his. “Pinky promise. Mom promises not to leave you at
school the whole day.”
Liam, with renewed enthusiasm, strutted into the school, his backpack filled with snacks. Hazel
watched her little man enter the ssroom
before she turned to leave.
Once settled back into the car, Hazel directed the driver to take her to Clevnd Hospitals, relieved
that it wasn’t too far from the school.
Inside the hospital, Hazel clutched Daisy’s medical reports in her hands. as she approached the
reception desk. “Hello, does Dr. Gomez still work here?” she inquired of ady at the front desk.
Thedy eyed her with a calm demeanor and asked, “Is there a problem?”
Hazel quickly assured her, “No, no. I need to consult with him about my daughter’s case. I have a note
here directed to him, as he was
rmended by our previous doctor.
“Alright, ma’am. But he’s currently performing surgery,” thedy informed her.
Hazel sighed in relief and replied, “Okay, I’ll wait.”
Hours passed as she sat in the waiting area. Finally, a group of surgeons exited an elevator close to
where she sat, and Hazel overheard one of the nurses call out “Dr. Gomez.”
She approached him briskly, catching him just as he removed his face. mask and gloves. “Dr. Gomez?”
she inquired, though she couldn’t hide her surprise. The man before her appeared much younger than
she had expected. The Dr. Gomez she anticipated was supposed to be a professor and former lecturer,
but this man couldn’t have been more than thirty years old.
“Yes?” he replied calmly, his eyes curious.
Hazel hesitated momentarily before expressing her surprise. “You’re Dr. Gomez?”
With a hint of humor in his voice, he teased, “You’re not an assassin sent to kill me, are you?”
Hazel chuckled lightly but then grew serious. “Is there a problem?” he asked, picking up on her
disappointment.
“I thought you would be older. Are there two Dr. Gomezes here?” she inquired, seeking rification.
The young doctor rified, “That would be my father. He’s retired now. I’m the only Dr. Gomez around.”
“Retired?” Hazel’s hopes began to fade.
“Is there something I can help you with?” he asked, his tone kind and understanding.
“My daughter, she…” Hazel’s voice faltered as she struggled to exin Daisy’splex medical
history.
“Is that her medical history?” Dr. Gomez inquired, taking the papers from her hands.
Hazel recounted the entirety of Daisy’s health challenges from birth, the frequent rpses, and the
reliance on medication. Dr. Gomez also read the note provided by their previous doctor, summarizing
Daisy’s case.
“I see,” he said thoughtfully. “Where is she?” he inquired.
“She was supposed toe, but she insisted on staying in school. She loves it there,” Hazel exined
with a light chuckle.
A small smile crept onto the doctor’s face. “She’s only five; it’s risky at that age. My father was
renowned for cases like this, but he retired a few months ago. In most cases, we let the child grow up a
bit. She’s quite healthy now, right?” he asked.
Hazel nodded in agreement.
“However, rpses are unpredictable and high risk,” Dr. Gomez cautioned. “But, for now, we’ll have to
wait.”
Hazel’s heart sank at the prospect. “I understand,” she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
“Bring her to the hospital. We’ll monitor her until the surgery at least,” he advised.
“Although that would mean confinement,” Hazel sighed. That doctor was the only hope for a normal
childhood for Daisy. Daisy would soon be a permanent resident at the hospital, waiting for years
for her enucial surgery.
Hazel sat there with her head bowed, her heart heavy with concern.
Watching the doctor walk away, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness. for her daughter’s,
uncertain future. It was evident in her downcast expression.
However, the doctor, seemingly touched by Hazel’s distress, made his way back to her. His voice
carried a soothing empathy as he spoke, “I was also a very sick child, one that loved school, and I
hated hospitals, just like your little girl. I understand the desire for a normal childhood for her. Let her
take her medication, attend school, and engage in all those kid’s activities. Allow her to be a child for
the remaining months before her surgery and afterward, as it will be a challenging journey.”
He then offered his professional advice, “But make sure to bring her to the hospital regrly for check-
ups.”
Hazel éxpressed her gratitude with heartfelt sincerity, saying, “Thank you very much, Dr.”
“You’re wee,” he replied kindly.
After some moments of contemtion, Hazel resolved to give Daisy the best possible childhood she
could provide. Despite her health challenges, she was determined to ensure her daughters happiness
to the fullest.
Just as she was gathering her thoughts, her phone rang suddenly, jolting her from her reverie. On the
other end, her superior’s stern voice barked, “Hazel! Come down to work immediately!”
Hazel was taken aback, as she wasn’t scheduled to return to work until the following week. Her
superior’s urgency left her bewildered and anxious.
Momentster, Chloe’s panicked voice cra c k l e d through the phone, “It’s concerning the contract
offer with J.T. They’re canceling on us, offering it to someone else!”
Hazel’s heart sank further, feeling as though nothing was going as she had hoped. It was one
unfortunate turn of events after another, and she couldn’t help but wonder what else could go wrong.