Twisted Ties of Love

When Rachel heard about the risks of the surgery, she started freaking out. Despite Dr. Zack's reassurances, her worry didn't lessen. It felt like there was a massive rock hanging over her heart. "Have you managed to scrape together the money for the surgery?"

Rachel nodded, replying, "I've got it."

"Then go and pay some of it today to make sure there's enough balance in your insurance card."

Rachel walked into the ward, looking at her mom lying on the bed, hooked up to an IV. Her mom used to have beautiful long hair, but now it was all shaved off. She was skin and bones, the veins on her arms sticking out like old tree branches. Her hand was swollen from the constant infusion of drugs.

Her mom was still asleep, and Rachel didn't want to disturb her. She quietly sat by the bed, reaching out to cover Mrs. Lewis's hand with her own, warming her.

However, this small movement still woke Mrs. Lewis.

"Rachel, you're back?" She opened her eyes to see Rachel's face, her eyes wide in surprise, "What happened to your face? Did someone mess with you?"

Rachel reflexively covered her face, "No one messed with me. I just had an allergic reaction to some skincare product. It'll be fine in a couple of days. By the way, Mom, how are you feeling now? Any better?" "Just the usual. I've grown used to it." She'd grown used to the torment of illness.

Rachel held her cold hand, "Mom, we'll be able to do the surgery soon. After you recover, after you're all better, I'll take you abroad."

"Silly girl, where are you getting all that money? A kidney transplant costs hundreds of thousands, doesn't it?"

"Don't worry about the money, and I'm now the assistant to a big star, and she lent it to me. I'll just pay her back slowly."

"Is it that Izabella who gave you a raise, the one you always mention over the phone?" Mrs. Lewis asked.

Rachel's face froze. Faced with Mrs. Lewis's question, she didn't know how to answer.

"Mom, if someone does something wrong, does that mean they can never be forgiven by the victim?"

"You need to understand that there's no such thing as 'putting oneself in others' shoes'. You can never truly understand the pain experienced by another person."

Rachel fell silent.Content © NôvelDrama.Org.

"Rachel, did something happen?" Mrs. Lewis looked at her worriedly, trying to lift her hand to place it on Rachel's head, her voice weak, "I'm holding you back. If I weren't sick, you wouldn't have to work so hard. But remember, Rachel, a person can be poor, but they can't lose their spirit. Don't do something against your conscience for money. I won't be happy with that kind of money. The one thing I hope for in my life is that you live well and live happily. If you do something wrong, apologize. Whatever you do, there will be consequences, good or bad. A person's heart can't hold too much, especially guilt."

Rachel felt her nose sting, the sourness she'd been suppressing welling up. She turned her head, tears rolling straight down from her eyes.

"Mom, don't think too much. Just focus on getting better. Only if you're okay can I be okay. You rest, I'll go pay."

Rachel got up and left the ward, heading to the payment window. She took out the bank card Kristin had given her. A couple of days ago, she'd confirmed at the bank that there were indeed one hundred thousand dollars in the account.

Rachel handed over the card and entered the password. After waiting a while with no response, she started feeling uneasy.

The staff handed her back the card, "You need to get a new card. This one's been frozen."

Rachel asked anxiously, "Why was it frozen? It was fine when I checked a couple of days ago."

The staff looked at her, puzzled, "You don't know why it was frozen? You should call the bank and ask."

Rachel took the card. How was she going to call the bank? The card wasn't hers.

She stood in the lobby, calling

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Kristin. When the first call didn't get through, she made a second, then a third, until on the fourth call, probably bothered by her, Kristin finally answered.

"Kristin, I wanted to ask why the bank card you gave me was frozen?"

A chuckle came from the other end of the phone, "Rachel, you think I'd give you a hundred thousand dollars for that little thing you did? You're too full of yourself." "Kristin, you didn't say that initially. You clearly said that as long as I took Izabella's cat out, you'd let my mom go, and you'd give me a hundred thousand dollars."

"Didn't I already let your mom go? As for the hundred thousand dollars, that was hush money I was planning to give you, but now that I've been exposed, why should I give you money?" Rachel was shaking, feeling dizzy and cold. She felt like she'd entered a void, with people coming and going around her, and all sorts of sounds in the lobby, but she couldn't hear anything.

She pleaded uncontrollably, "Kristin,

please save my mom. I need that hundred thousand dollars, and treat it as a loan. I promise to pay you back. My mom's surgery is the day after tomorrow. If it gets postponed, there'll be a risk to her life. Please help me."

"What's it got to do with me if your mom's life is in danger?" After saying this, the call was hung up.

Rachel dialed again shakily, but Kristin had already blocked her. No matter how much she called, she couldn't get through.

Rachel's mind suddenly flashed back to Izabella's words when she left.

"You'll pay for everything you've done."

The bank card slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. She stared at it blankly.

The bank card was mocking her. She was a joke, a complete joke.