CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: THAT JERK LIED TO HER AGAIN

"What did you say... aplastic anemia?"

Henry Willow held the vase he had just arranged flowers in with a look of astonishment. Even he didn’t know Pop had this illness. He had only heard from Anna that the child needed to be hospitalized for some rest time, but he didn’t expect Sweetheart’s condition to be this serious.

Earlier, Anna Thornton exchanged secrets to get Henry Willow to take her to see Aunt Murray, only telling him about the entanglement between her and Conrad Sterling four years ago. She hadn’t mentioned that the main purpose of her return this time was to find a suitable bone marrow for Pop’s surgery.

No matter how others viewed her, whether saying she was unscrupulous and shameful for trying to climb the social ladder, Anna Thornton didn’t care.

But no child should be born to suffer the torment of illness, and Anna Thornton didn’t need those who speak without hurting to express sympathy.

"Miss Ford, we’ve only met a few times so far, and our relationship is still shallow. Just a bit of concern is enough. Too much, and neither I nor the child can handle it, considering I still vividly remember being blocked by reporters at the hospital entrance."

Upon hearing Anna mention the last time with the reporters, Marilyn Ford’s expression remained unaffected, as if it had nothing to do with her: "Rest assured, I’ll discuss with Conrad to strengthen the hospital’s confidentiality work, ensuring no oversights like last time. After all, this surgery involves Conrad as well, and while his bone marrow donation is well-intentioned, I don’t want the outside world to speculate excessively about your relationship."

Marilyn Ford even knew it was Conrad Sterling donating bone marrow to Pop?

Indeed, that man must have told her yesterday.

He must have attributed everything to the child, saying every compromise was because of Pop’s condition, leading Marilyn Ford to agree to reconcile with him.

Yet he returned and told Anna Thornton he had said nothing - big pork chop... he deceived her again!

Henry Willow noticed Anna Thornton’s face wasn’t looking good, so he intentionally stepped forward and spoke with Marilyn Ford, changing the subject: "By the way, your birthday is coming soon, right? Your Ford Family must have a grand celebration; will you invite me?"

Marilyn Ford smiled upon hearing this: "That’s the second reason I came today."

Speaking, Marilyn took out an invitation from the bag she carried, but not for Henry Willow: "I gave your share to Sarah. This one is for Miss Thornton."

Marilyn Ford handed the invitation to Anna Thornton: "My twenty-fourth birthday banquet is in over a month, held at the Ford Family’s grand mansion. If Miss Thornton has time, you’re welcome to come; there will be a piece of good news announced at the banquet."

The words ’good news’ made Anna Thornton seem to sense a not-so-great trend.

Could it be that Marilyn Ford is going to announce her engagement to Conrad Sterling then?

Anna Thornton took the invitation, opened it, and looked at it twice repeatedly, ensuring it was currently just a birthday party invitation, before barely curling her lips to say: "I will be there."

"Then I won’t disturb you. There’s a script discussion meeting later, and Conrad is taking me there."

Marilyn Ford’s purpose today had been achieved.

Last time, when she and Anna Thornton talked in a café, Anna Thornton got the upper hand.

This time she finally gained ground, showing a bit of pride between her brows.

Henry Willow saw that Anna Thornton didn’t intend to send anyone off, so he voluntarily stepped up to assume that task: "Marilyn, I’ll see you off."

"Alright."

After that woman left, Anna Thornton looked at the flowers and fruits she had brought, really wanting to throw them out the window.

But thinking again, it seemed wasteful, so she decided against it.

Anna Thornton went to wash an apple, intending to cut it for Pop to eat.

After washing the fruit, she suddenly noticed a small head peeking outside the hospital room, trying to take a look inside.

It was a small boy; Anna Thornton recognized him; he had come yesterday for a check-up too.

A mother brought her twin children, and one of them had the same illness as Pop, but Anna Thornton couldn’t distinguish whether the one at the door was the older brother or the younger one.

She waved her hand, inviting the child in: "Do you want to play with your sister? Come in."

The little boy was initially a bit shy, although he looked like he wanted to enter; once noticed by Anna Thornton, he immediately withdrew his head, hesitating at the door.

Pop, on the other hand, was quite generous, tilting her head to look outside the door, stretching out her little arms to wave him in.

Only then did the little boy cautiously step inside, carefully inching his way over.

Anna Thornton chuckled, slicing a piece of apple for him as he approached her.

"Thank you, Auntie."

"You’re welcome, what’s your name?"

"Timmy!"

Timmy politely accepted the piece of apple with both hands but didn’t eat it.

Instead, he turned and moved towards Pop’s bedside, offering it to the little one on the bed.

Pop glanced up at him and unceremoniously took a bite out of the apple when offered.

"Timmy, aren’t you going to eat?" Anna Thornton asked him.

"Let my sister eat first."

This child was quite good at taking care of girls, prompting Anna Thornton to tease: "You’re being so nice to your sister, do you like her?"

Upon being asked, the little boy’s porcelain-white face rapidly turned red from his forehead to the roots of his ears, shyly pursing his lips without speaking. Yet he steadily kept holding the apple for Pop to continue nibbling.

Anna Thornton burst into laughter and stopped teasing him.

But after a while, Timmy actively asked her: "Auntie, does my sister have the same illness as my brother?"

"Yes."

"Then I’ll donate my bone marrow to her. My mom said my bone marrow could cure illnesses."

"Bone marrow needs matching. If it’s suitable, then it can treat illnesses. You and your brother are twins, so your bone marrow can save him, but it might not suit others. But don’t worry, your sister already has someone donating bone marrow to her."

"Oh."

The little boy nodded, seeming to half-understand.

He seemed genuinely fond of Pop, not only feeding her apple but also gently cupping his hand under her chubby little chin, fearing he might dirty her pretty Flora dress.

It seemed Pop’s popularity with boys was just like Anna Thornton’s from a young age.

...

That day, Conrad Sterling arrived at the hospital in the afternoon.

When the man came to Pop’s arranged ward, he found no one inside. Anna Thornton and Pop were not there.

He tried calling, but there was no answer, worrying they had encountered an unexpected situation.

Conrad Sterling gathered nurses and doctors to ask, each saying they thought Miss Thornton and the child were in the ward.

"How are you doing your job? People were brought in the morning, and by the afternoon you don’t know where they’ve gone?"

Whenever President Sterling came, hospital staff held their breath in fear, yet still couldn’t avoid a reprimand.

"President Sterling, Miss Thornton instructed us not to stress the child too much before the surgery, so there’s no need for frequent ward entries."

"She said not to enter frequently, not to abandon your primary duties. Medication should be timely, make thorough checks, maintain twenty-four-hour monitoring, and report any situation to me at once."

Conrad Sterling spoke unusually much, showing his genuine concern for this surgery.

The man glanced at the ward’s four white walls and frowned slightly: "As for relaxing their mindset... can’t you work on other aspects?"