Chapter 55
“I already told you that I’ll take care of the fees. There are so many people here, and the place is a mess. What if someone bumps into your wound? What will happen then?”
Calista looked around with deep concern, clearly feeling uneasy.
“I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m more concerned about…”
Anthony had wanted to ask about Calista’s situation, but before he could, she spoke first. “Where’s Mom? Why don’t I see her?”
Anthony shook his head. “I don’t know. These past few days, she steps out as soon as she arrives. She says it’s too stuffy in here and that she needs to step out for some air.”
Calista was taken aback. The hospital wards at Riverview Medical Center were divided across several floors, and each floor required clearance to access.
Just a few days ago, she had accidentally taken a wrong turn during her rounds and ended up getting scolded by the floor supervisor
Rebecca had never been here before, and there wasn’t exactly any nice scenery outside. Besides, Calista had just arrived and hadn’t seen any sign of her.
“Get some rest. I’ll get you some warm water.” Calista walked out with a head full of questions.
The maintenance on this side of the hospital was noticeably worse than on the other. In addition, the hallway was haphazardly lined with hospital beds.
Hearing the constant moans and groans of the patients, Calista felt a pang in her chest.
She continued down the hallway, lost in a daze. When she finally reached the water dispenser, she realized that the hot water on the first floor had already run out.
After pondering for a bit, she took the nearby stairwell and headed straight up to the second floor. Yet just as she reached the entrance of the ward, a familiar voice rang out from inside.
“Mr. Irvin, please don’t move around. I’ll fetch you the urinal immediately.”
Calista had already walked past the ward, but as soon as she heard that voice, she couldn’t help but turn back. She peeked inside, only to see Rebecca busy tending to a patient.
Despite her old age and graying hair, she was still running back and forth, carefully tending to the man in bed. She was even holding his urinal, a courteous smile plastered on her face.
Calista had so much she wanted to say, but knowing Rebecca’s temperament, she swallowed the anger boiling inside her and quietly stepped back, pretending she was never there.
Yet, the overly servile voice from inside went on, grating on Calista’s nerves.
She knew exactly how proud and headstrong Rebecca truly was. Yet, here she was, forced into such a humiliating and desperate position.
Calista instinctively clenched her fists. She was just about to leave when Rebecca walked out, nose wrinkled, the urinal still in her
hands.
Just like that, they came face to face with one another.
Rebecca stiffened. She had wanted to hide what she was holding behind her back, but it was already too late.
Calista tried her best to remain calm.
“Mom… I…” She was about to say more when her phone suddenly rang, cutting through the tension between them.
Seeing Calista hurry off to the side, Rebecca turned to the restroom, her eyes red with tears.
“I’m busy today.”
The person who had called was Astrid. She didn’t say much and only asked Calista to return home. Calista didn’t want to argue with her, so she immediately turned her down.
