Bella knelt on the floor, begging her aunt to help her.
"Please, Aunt, my little brother is sick and needs treatment. Can we take him to the hospital?" Bella begged.
"No, we can't afford it. And besides, he's not our responsibility. We've already done so much to help with his treatment, and it's been a waste of money," her aunt replied coldly.
"But he'll get better, Auntie, I promise. I'll do anything to help him. We just have to take him to the hospital," Bella pleaded.
"Anything? Like what? You're just a burden to us, Bella. You and your brother. Cindy is going out with her friends, and the other cars are under maintenance. There's nothing I can do," her aunt sneered.
Cindy, her cousin, chimed in, "Yeah, Bella, you're so beautiful, but what's the point when you're just a charity case? I could have helped, but I've got plans."
Bella felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "That's not fair, Cindy. I work hard to help out around here. Just please, help me get him to the hospital."
"Hard? You think you work hard? You have no idea what it's like to be part of this family," her aunt snapped.
"Please, can't you just help my brother?" Bella asked again, desperation creeping into her voice.
"No, Bella. Now stop asking," her uncle said, his voice firm and unyielding.
Bella looked at her uncle with tears in her eyes. Her parents weren't rich, but they were able to provide for their needs. Unfortunately, her parents were gone, and she was now under the care of her uncle. At first, he used to treat her and her brother nicely, but over time, his behavior changed. He began to maltreat them and hit her for small mistakes.
Knowing no one would help her, Bella rushed to her room, which she shared with her brother, who was sweating profusely.
"Don't worry, Ken. I'll take you to the hospital," she said, trying to hold her tears in. She carried her 13-year-old brother on her back, running out of the house without sparing her so-called family a glance.
***
At the Hospital
Dr. Lee's expression was somber as he led Bella to a quiet corner of the hospital. "Bella, I need to be honest with you. Ken's condition is critical. The leukemia has progressed, and we need to act fast."
Bella's heart raced as she clutched the doctor's arm. "What can we do? Can we still get him a transplant?"
Dr. Lee nodded. "We can try, but it's not going to be easy. We need to find a matching donor, and even then, there are no guarantees. Ken's body is weak, and the treatment will be grueling."
Bella felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "How much time does he have?"
Dr. Lee hesitated before answering. "Honestly, Bella, we're looking at weeks, maybe months. We need to move fast if we want to save him."
Bella's world crumbled around her. She felt like she was drowning in despair.
"What about... what about the bone marrow registry?" she asked, grasping at straws. "Can we find a match that way?"
Dr. Lee nodded. "We can try, but it's a long shot. And even if we find a match, there's no guarantee the transplant will work."
Bella took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "Do it," she said. "Try everything. I'll do whatever it takes to save Ken."
Dr. Lee's expression turned grave as he looked at her. "Bella, I need to be honest with you. Ken's treatment is going to be very expensive. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars."
Bella's eyes widened in shock. "That much? But... how can we afford it?"
Dr. Lee shook his head. "I'm afraid your family's insurance won't cover it all. We need to find a way to raise the funds quickly, or... Ken's chances of survival will dwindle."
Bella felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She knew her family didn't have that kind of money. Even if they did, they wouldn't help her.
"What can I do?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
Dr. Lee hesitated before saying, "You can talk to the hospital administrator. He might have a payment plan for you."
Bella thanked him and walked off to find the administrator.
"I'm so sorry, miss. Your brother needs immediate attention, but the treatment will cost $500,000," the hospital administrator said, his expression sympathetic but firm.
Bella's eyes widened in shock. "I don't have that much money. Is there anything else we can do?"
The administrator shook his head. "I'm afraid not. We need the payment upfront before we can begin treatment."
Bella felt a lump form in her throat. "But my brother will die if he doesn't get help!"
A nurse beside her spoke up, "Maybe there's a charity program or financial aid available?"
The administrator nodded. "Let me check. But I must warn you, it's a long shot."
Bella's heart sank as she waited for what felt like an eternity. Finally, the administrator returned, shaking his head. "I'm so sorry, miss. There's nothing we can do without the payment."
Bella felt tears streaming down her face. "What am I going to do?" she whispered, feeling dejected.
As Bella rushed out of the hospital, tears blinding her eyes, she collided with a tall, imposing figure in a black suit. His piercing gaze narrowed as he steadied her by the shoulders.
"Watch where you're going," he growled, his deep voice firm but controlled.
Bella gazed up at him, taking in the tailored suit, the expensive watch, and the air of confidence surrounding him. "I'm so sorry, sir," she said, hurrying past him.
The man turned to watch her go, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be taking in every detail of her appearance, from her disheveled hair to her worn shoes.
As Bella disappeared into the crowd, the man's gaze lingered, his eyes narrowing slightly. Then, he turned and entered the hospital.