Chapter 4
Nathan asked in disbelief, “What did you say? Liliana is dead? Three Christmases ago?”
The nurse nodded fearfully in confirmation, “The hospital system shows she passed away three Christmases ago in the spring from complications of late–stage lung cancer.”
Nathan shouted, “Impossible! That’s absolutely impossible!”
He lost control and slammed his fists on the nurses‘ station, causing patients nearby to turn and stare.
Soon, he forced himself to calm down.
As a medical professional, Nathan knew hospital records. wouldn’t be wrong, much less tampered with.
He gripped the nurse’s wrist tightly, his voice trembling as he asked, “How could this happen? Central Hospital’s oncology department is the best. How could she have died? And…”
Nathan suddenly remembered something, his face growing even paler.
He continued, “And I’ve been transferring money to her bank account every month. Maria told me just last week that Liliana was doing well, that all her indicators were improving.”
The nurse winced from his grip but quickly pulled up the system
She said, “Dr. Morgan, this bank card was unlinked three Christmases ago. According to the medical records, Liliana’s condition was consistently poor and never improved. During her hospitalization, she was given cheap substitute medications most of the time. A woman came by several times, saying they needed to save money, and switched the imported drugs the doctor prescribed to cheaper alternatives. Later, she stopped paying the medical bills entirely.”
Every word the nurse spoke cut through my heart like a knife.
Maria, that vicious woman! She knew perfectly well that was Liliana’s lifeline money, yet she dared to misappropriate it!
After hearing the nurse’s words, Nathan began to tremble.
He certainly knew who had done this. Besides Maria, no one else would dare touch his money.
I thought Nathan must have also remembered the condition. I set five Christmases ago when I took the blame for Maria–I demanded that he take good care of Liliana.
Nathan had firmly agreed at the time. And what happened?
Nathan covered his head and crouched down, his shoulders shaking violently.
He muttered, “How dare she? She clearly promised she would help me take good care of Liliana. How could she do this?”
2/4
21:21
Watching Nathan’s breakdown, I felt not an ounce of sympathy.
If he hadn’t constantly enabled Maria’s behavior, how would she have dared to do such a thing?
When it came down to it, they were the same kind of people.
Suddenly, Nathan shot up, a vicious gleam flashing in his eyes.
He pulled out his phone, his fingers shaking so badly he could barely dial the number.
Once connected, he said, “Jackson, I need you to investigate someone.” Jackson Scott was a private investigator.
I faintly heard Jackson on the other end asking who needed investigating.
Nathan said calmly, “Caroline. Find out where she is now. I need to see her immediately.”
Jackson asked, “Caroline? Is there a new development in Ms. Price’s case that requires urgently finding her?”
“No.” Nathan’s grip on the phone tightened.
After a long pause, he said quietly, “I just want to apologize to her.”
Nathan returned to his car and immediately sped off, the tires screeching against the pavement.
21:21
Sunlight streamed through the car window onto his face, and I could see the fine lines around his eyes.
So five Christmases had passed, and no one could remain unchanged.
But Nathan didn’t know that the person he wanted to apologize to had died in a pool of blood in that alley on a rainy night five Christmases ago.
The debt he owed Liliana and me could never be repaid in this
lifetime.
4/4
