Chapter 2 Hospital

Throughout her life, Clara never really knew which choice was wrong or right. She only knows how to save Anthony, her little brother. Therefore, Clara did everything—including selling herself for money. She will do anything for Anthony’s recovery because that little boy is her only family.

“Can you go faster?” Clara reached out to the taxi driver sitting in front of her,

“I can’t, miss. I have exceeded the set speed.”

Clara clenched her fists—a soft curse in her heart.

Once again she was in an unpleasant state. Her body still felt tired, but she needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

“Yes, ma’am? What’s going on?” Clara tried to normalize her voice when she received the call.

There was the sound of someone breathing on the other side of the line. “Dear, what are you doing? Why are you kicking your client? Do you know what trouble you brought me?” The woman’s soft voice sounded sinister. Behind her angelic voice, Clara knew there was something terrible about this woman.

Clara closed her eyes. “Maam, didn’t I already say that I hate BDSM?” she lowered her voice when she saw the taxi driver glancing at her with curious eyes.

“Dear, can’t you refuse it? You can call me and ask to be picked up. Now, where are you? I’ll have Alexo. He will pick you up.”

“How can I refuse it? Is BDSM done so gently that I can resist it?”

“I don’t care about your reasons. You have to come here as soon as possible to clean up the problem you created. Do you know who your client is today? He’s an important person. He’s my best customer and he’s not just anyone!”

Clara rubbed her forehead. “I can’t. I have to go to the hospital. Anthony got shortness of breath. Forgive me. I can’t.” Clara began to sob when she remembered her brother’s condition.

Her life has long been shattered, but the only reason she has survived is Anthony.

“Oh dear,” Rachel sounded confused. “I will try to take care of everything for you. You go to the hospital, I’ll send you money. After Anthony’s condition improves, come here immediately. I might punish you for the trouble you caused.” She sighed.

Clara nodded her head. Punishment—she didn’t care about the punishment she had to receive. She also didn’t care if she was asked to work harder—to work all day and night after this. However, the only thing he cared about was Anthony’s condition.

***

“Elena! What happened?” Clara ran over to Elena who was standing in front of the Emergency Room. She seemed to lower her head with a panicked face, which made Clara even more afraid.

“The doctor said that his heart condition is getting worse,” Elena answered while hugging Clara.

Clara took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.

“The doctor said in the next two weeks, he has to do heart surgery soon, Clara. If not, then the situation will only get worse.”

Clara closed her eyes. Can she afford heart surgery for Anthony? Where should she get the money? What other work should she do?

“Yes, he has to get heart surgery soon. I’ll talk to the doctor. I will also prepare the money.”

Elena looked at her with concern. She is Anthony’s caregiver and has been working with her for the past year. She would accompany Anthony when Clara was studying or working. Even if just a nanny, Elena is a good woman. Therefore Clara entrusted her with Anthony.

“Clara?”

A doctor came out of the room and walked up to Clara with a tired face.

Clara and Elena immediately ran to the doctor—hoping they would get some good news about Anthony’s condition. “How’s Anthony doing?” asked Clara.

The doctor blinked when he saw Clara’s messy appearance. An oversized shirt and a boy’s training pants made her look like she was drowning. Not to mention her hair is tied messy.

Clara lowered her head when she noticed her appearance. Because she was too panicked, she did not have time to go home to fix her appearance.

“Things are bad. As I explained before, if this had happened again before he had heart surgery, likely, Anthony would not have survived.”

Clara’s legs went limp when she heard the explanation.

Should she give up her brother, the only family she has, too?

“Anthony has shown good progress in the past month. However, now he’s getting worse. Luckily he was brought here in time.”

Clara hugged Elena again—thanked her without a word.

“That’s okay. He’ll be fine, Clara.” Elena said while rubbing her shoulder.

“If you’re feeling better, can we talk in my room? I have a few things to explain regarding the surgery mechanism for Anthony.” Said the doctor.

Clara nodded her head while wiping away the tears. She walked slowly to follow the doctor into a room at the end of the heart poly tunnel.

“Please sit down,” he said while handing her a tissue and a glass of mineral water. “Your face looks pale. Are you okay?”

Clara shook her head, “how could I be okay at a time like this? Tell me, how bad is Anthony?”

Caring for Anthony, who was born with a heart defect, made Clara familiar with several heart specialists in this city. One of them is Benjamin—a young doctor who is the chief heart specialist at this hospital.

“Worse than the last. However, you don’t need to worry. Things are getting better now. I will monitor his progress every day.”

Clara nodded her head, “thank you, doctor.”

“Even though the situation is getting better, we still have to prepare for heart surgery. I don’t know what to do if he has a second heart attack this week.”

Clara’s hands shook with fear. “Do the best.” She looked down, wiping the tears slowly, “how much money should I prepare?” she asked.

“I have consulted with the administration. And for this surgery, you don’t need to consider a medical expert’s cost. I’ll handle it myself. All you have to think about is the breakdown of other costs, such as medication, equipment, and treatment costs. I’ve also heard from the administration that you must pay all handling fees tonight. I’ve talked to them to give you until tomorrow night.”

Clara took a deep breath. “How much should I prepare?”

“About $100,000,” he muttered. “but you don’t have to own all those expenses now. The only thing you have to do is pay the handling fee tonight. He should stay at least for the next week. That’s the cost you have to think about.”

***

“Maam, I need money.” Clara bit her lip hard, clutching her phone tightly.

“Hey, honey. What is it? Why are you crying? Are you still in the hospital?”

Just as usual, Rachel Angela’s voice still sounded fresh even though it was now the middle of the night. That shows that Rachel, the brothel owner, is still awake all night.

“I need money right now. I can’t afford Anthony’s medical bills.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry, dear. You just need to come to me tomorrow evening, I’ve got work set up for you. And after that you can directly get money from me.”

Clara shook her head.

Anthony was threatened with expulsion from the hospital because Clara could not afford the medical expenses. She couldn’t take Anthony to another hospital in the current situation. Moreover, her brother needs heart surgery as soon as possible.

“I need it now. I really need money right now.” Clara was crying even more.

“Now? Wait, let me send the money to you as soon as possible.”

“Maam? Is that true?” Clara blinked in surprise.

To be honest, she often cursed her life after she met Rachel, but for a moment, she felt grateful for her help.

“Yes, honey. Anything for you. All you have to do is pay Anthony’s fees and come to me tomorrow night. You understand?”

“Yes, yes. I will do that, Maam. Thank you very much. I am very grateful.”

“You don’t have to do that. My job is to make sure that all of your needs are met, including the costs of Anthony’s hospital. Tomorrow morning I will send flowers to the hospital for Anthony. Tell him that I love him. I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Clara once again thanked her.

She don’t fucking care about her life. She don’t fucking care about the job she has to do. She don’t fucking care about the sin that she must bear. The only thing she knows is how to save her brother. Because if Anthony doesn’t survive, she doesn’t know how to survive too.