Chapter 126
Anna had disappeared. Stella didn’t even know until the hospital called her. She didn’t know how the hospital got her number. That was Lionel’s doing. As to how Lionel got it, a quick check would’ve cleared that up.
On the phone, the doctor said, “Stella, are Max and Andrew your relatives?”
Stella didn’t miss a beat. “Sorry, I don’t know either of them.”
“That’s odd,” the doctor replied. “We’ve done our homework. We know you’re Anna’s twin sister. She’s missing, and we haven’t been able to reach anyone else from the Hayes family.
“Max and Andrew’s hospital bills are way overdue. If no one pays, we’ll have to discharge them.”
Stella’s brows drew together. “Anna’s missing?”
“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “She told us earlier she was working on getting the money and would bring it soon. However, it’s been two days, and she hasn’t answered any of our calls. That’s why we reached out to you.”
“You got my number from Lionel, didn’t you?” Stella asked.
The person on the other end didn’t give a straight answer. “Ms. Hayes, you need to come handle this. Your brother Max is still unconscious. If he doesn’t get proper treatment soon, it could be life–threatening.”
“What’s the point in telling me all this? You should try calling someone else,” Stella said, and then hung up.
Eleanor had heard everything. She looked at Stella. “What’s going on?” Jordan happened to be home, peeling apples for the two of them while he waited for Stella to speak.
“The hospital just called,” Stella said. “Max and Andrew’s bills haven’t been paid. Anna’s been missing for two days, and they can’t get in touch with her. So they called me, hoping I’d cover the cost.”
Eleanor stared. “Wait, Anna’s missing?” Stella nodded. She didn’t look surprised at all.
Then Eleanor let out a small laugh. “They pampered Anna all these years, and now that they need something, she bails? This is the golden child they loved so much?”
Stella couldn’t argue with that. No one knew where Anna had gone. But if she couldn’t afford those massive medical bills, it pretty much meant she hadn’t done much with her life after all.
What comforted Stella was that Eleanor didn’t even ask her if she planned to help. She just let Stella decide. Stella held Eleanor’s hand. “Grandma, even if I end up walking away from this, it wouldn’t be my fault.
“They treated me like garbage. Still, I wanna do something. If they die, they’ll never find out what Anna did. So I wanna move them to a common hospital. If they make it, it’s great. If they don’t, there’s nothing more I can do.”
“Do what you feel is right. I’ll always back you,” Eleanor said.
Stella gave a small nod. She started to get up, and Jordan handed Eleanor the apple he’d just finished peeling. “Grandma, here, eat this. I’m going with Stella.”
“Go on,” Eleanor said with a kind smile, taking the apple.
Stella and Jordan walked out, one after the other. Mary watched them go, smiling. “See what I mean?” Mary said. “Ms. Stella Hayes and Mr. Erwin have something special. No matter what’s happening, Mr. Erwin always takes her seriously.”
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Chapter 126
“Stella deserves a good life,” Eleanor added. “She’s been through hell. She has survived something terrible, so good things will follow.
Stella’s due for a little peace.”
Eleanor took a bite of the apple Jordan had peeled for her. It tasted sweeter than she’d expected. At her age, chasing fame and fortune didn’t matter anymore. All she wanted was a happy, peaceful family. And that was more than enough.
Stella and Jordan walked into the hospital and bumped right into Lionel, who was on duty. Lionel glanced at Stella, then Jordan. He turned
to leave, but Stella stopped him.
He froze for a second and frowned. When he tried to walk away, Stella followed him. “Seriously, Lionel? You see us and try to bolt? What, feeling guilty?”
Of course, Lionel knew what had happened to the Hayes family. Even if Stella wasn’t directly involved, everything that happened to them was basically karma.
And Lionel had his history with Stella. He figured he’d get his karma, too. He just wanted to keep his distance, maybe delay the
consequences.
But Stella blocked his way. Her stare was ice cold. It freaked him out enough that he couldn’t even meet her eyes. “What, can’t look at me now?” Stella said, pressing him.
“I’ve got work to do,” Lionel muttered and tried to move past her, Jordan stepped in his way.
“She’s talking to you. Why are you trying to run off?” Jordan wasn’t even trying to be intimidating, but his presence made Lionel tense up.
He felt that way every time he saw Jordan. And honestly, he had no idea why. “Stella, I really gotta-” He didn’t finish. Stella slapped him hard. Lionel just stood there, stunned.
“You’re lucky that was all I did,” Stella snapped. “Weren’t you Anna’s fiancé? Now that she’s gone, you called about the Hayes family? You know they cut me off, right? You think tossing that on me will make me feel guilty if I don’t help?
“Your family didn’t lift a finger for them before, and now you won’t even step up when they’re in the hospital? Max was your best friend. Andrew practically raised you. This is how you pay them back?”
Lionel said nothing. He didn’t even know where to start. He was drowning in debt himself.
“I haven’t come after you yet, Lionel, but don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten,” Stella told him. “I’m here to move them to another hospital. But your turn’s coming.”
Then she walked straight to the doctor to sort out the transfer. When the doctor found out she was transferring them to a common hospital, he looked surprised.
“Ms. Hayes, I should tell you upfront that the place you’re taking them doesn’t have the kind of equipment or level of care we do here,” the doctor said.
“I know,” Stella replied. Her face gave nothing away. The doctor didn’t say anything else.
“Alright, then I just need you to sign this transfer release,” he said. It basically meant the hospital wasn’t responsible anymore once the transfer happened.
Stella signed her name without hesitation. As the staff watched them leave, one doctor leaned in and whispered to another, “You think she’s just letting them go?”
“Doubt it. If she wanted them dead, she wouldn’t bother moving them. She’d just stop treatment altogether. I think she just doesn’t want them to get premium care. Remember that girl?”
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Chapter 126
“Of course. When she first came here, everybody was talking. She’d been through hell.”
“Word was it was all because of her family. Maybe this is her way of getting even.”
Family drama wasn’t their business. All they could do was watch. Stella had Max and Andrew moved into the same room at the new hospital. Andrew had woken up, but he still couldn’t talk. He just lay there, staring at Stella the whole time.
