Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I yanked my arm free, struggling to control the churning in my stomach.

"You should worry about yourself first. Don't let someone's wife catch you again and beat you up in school. You won't just lose your future; you'll lose your dignity too."

To further confirm Brayden's injury, Joyce and I also got into the ambulance and headed to the hospital.

As soon as we arrived, a well-dressed elderly woman rushed out from the crowd. She ran to the stretcher, her withered hands clutching Brayden's chest as she wept.

"My precious grandson, how did you end up like this after just two days without seeing Grandma?"

She said Brayden had been showing symptoms of coughing and fever for two weeks, but she had thought it was just a common cold. She never expected it to be this serious, leading to him fainting today. If she had known, she wouldn't have let him go to class.

Out of a sense of duty, I quickly pulled her aside and tried to comfort her.

"Don't worry too much. Kids at this age can faint from low blood sugar or lack of exercise. It shouldn't be anything too serious."

Despite my words, Brayden was immediately transferred to the emergency department as soon as we entered the hospital.

After waiting all night, the hospital's examination report finally came out. To our shock, Brayden was diagnosed with acute interstitial pneumonia, a severe lung disease. This is a disease with an unknown cause, rapid progression, and characterized by alveolitis and fibrosis. Its mechanism is still unclear.

Brayden's fainting during running was due to the stiffening of his lungs, which made breathing difficult. According to the doctor, the damage to his lungs was almost irreversible. This meant Brayden would never be able to live like a normal person again.

Upon hearing this, the elderly woman fainted on the spot, causing chaos. Within moments, two members of the Stevens family had collapsed.

Joyce and I, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly called Jenifer's brother and his wife, who were on a business trip in Faeburg, to inform them of Brayden's condition. They booked their flight immediately and arrived at Harmony Hospital by late afternoon.

As soon as they arrived, they rushed to the doctor to inquire about Brayden's condition. The doctor informed them that Brayden was now a patient with a rapidly worsening condition, having only one to two months left to live. The family needed to brace themselves for the worst.

Jenifer was overwhelmed with grief upon hearing this. She knelt on the ground, begging the doctor to save her son, looking utterly heartbroken. She even said that if domestic treatment wasn't effective, she would hire the best doctors from abroad, no matter the cost.

In contrast to Jenifer's agitation, Brayden's father, Phil, remained calm. After understanding the situation, he didn't even glance at the unconscious Brayden. He simply said, "Do your best to treat him. If the money runs out, come to me."

Then, ignoring Jenifer's sobs, he turned and left.

From the moment Phil entered the hospital, I noticed the way he looked at Joyce. His first glance was one of surprise, the second was lingering, and the final look was filled with a flirtatious, ambiguous look.