Chapter Five

Elizabeth's point of view; 

It all became a blur. The last thing I could register was the CEO’s son yelling through the door before everything else faded to blankness—the misunderstanding, his insults, none of it registered in my head until I was in the cab.  

As soon as I settled into the cab, his words echoed in my mind. How could he talk to me like that? What did he mean when he said he knew me? I wondered, trying to recall his face. I had no idea who he was, but I had seen him before. 

“We’re here, ma’am,” the taxi driver said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I paid him and stepped out of the cab.  

As I got out, my phone buzzed with a notification. I pulled it from my purse and saw an email from Scarlet Tech. My heart raced as I opened it:  

"Dear Elizabeth James,  

We are pleased to inform you that, after careful consideration, you have been selected for the position of Project Assistant at Scarlet Tech International. Your official offer letter will be available for collection tomorrow."  

A huge grin spread across my face. Relief washed over me—the misunderstanding hadn’t cost me the job after all.  

I took a deep breath, letting the excitement of the job offer wash over me. I was finally going to get the loan—now all I needed was five grand to complete the money.  

My smile grew wider as I walked toward the hospital. It had become almost like my new home, and I only left when I needed to freshen up or was looking for ways to make money.  

I walked into the reception area, and as soon as the receptionist set eyes on me, she sighed in relief. "Oh, Elizabeth! Thank God you're here." She rushed to me, pulling me aside, her eyes filled with worry.  

“What is it, Irene? What’s going on?” I asked, noticing her eyes darting around as she began to whisper.  

“The management wants to discharge your sister!” she revealed, and my heart sank.  

“What?” I exclaimed, panic flooding me. "But I thought I had until tomorrow?"  

She nodded, her face a mask of sympathy. "I'm sorry," she said softly.  

"What! That's not possible, I had until tomorrow. What am I supposed to do?" I said, my head scrambling with thoughts. I could see Irene’s eyes soften slightly as she took my hand.  

"You can speak to Roseline, beg her," she said, her voice low. "She made the decision. If you’re sure you can get the money tomorrow, you can plead with her to give you 24 hours."  

I nodded, already searching the room. “Who is Roseline? Where is she?”  

As if on cue, Roseline walked to the admin desk, a file in her hands.  

“Irene?” she called out, her eyes scanning the room.  

“I have to go! She is Roseline, speak to her,” Irene rushed back to her desk.  

As soon as Irene got back to her desk, Roseline handed her the discharge form. “Here’s the discharge form for Jessica James. Make sure her guardian signs it.”  

I intercepted her as quickly as I could, stepping in front of her. “Roseline, please,” I started, my voice shaky. “I’m Jessica’s sister—I’m begging you. I’ll have the money tomorrow. Please don’t discharge her from the hospital.”  

Roseline didn’t look at me; instead, she walked toward Jessica’s room. I followed. As soon as she entered, she stared at Jessica’s unconscious form. She had been unconscious for over 24 hours.  

"Nurse, get ready to take her off the oxygen," she said to the nurse before looking up at me.  

“I’m sorry, but we have to take her off the machines now," she explained, her eyes finally meeting mine with an expression of empathy. "The management has given strict orders. We can't keep your sister here any longer."  

My world tilted at her words. “But... you’re the management! You have the power to change this. You can't be this cruel,” I said, my voice rising in desperation.  

“I’m sorry, I truly am. But the decision has been made. We can’t keep her here without payment. It’s hospital policy,” she said, and my legs weakened, my mind swirling with thoughts as I felt my heart race.  

“You can’t do this!” I cried out, gripping her dress tightly. “You took an oath! You can’t let my sister die just because of money!” My voice was frantic, the desperation overwhelming me.  

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” she repeated, trying to pry my hands off her dress, but I held on with everything I had. “Please, let me go,” she pleaded.  

But I was beyond reasoning, lost in a whirlwind of pain and fear.  

“Please, save my sister,” I begged, my voice cracking. “I promise I’ll get the money tomorrow. Please.”  

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” she reiterated, her empathy gone entirely.  

Stunned by her coldness, my grip loosened, and I let her go. “Is this just business to you?” I wondered aloud, my voice thick with disbelief and crushing disappointment.  

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” she repeated, handing me a file. “This is your sister’s medical record for the next hospital you take her to.”  

I stared at the file in her hand, my vision blurry with tears, the weight of it pulling me down deeper. We both knew there wasn’t enough time for me to take Jessica anywhere else.  

After a long, suffocating silence, I finally took the papers from her, my heart sinking as I muttered under my breath, “You and I both know the moment she’s off the oxygen, she’s gone.” My words barely escaped, weak and hollow.  

Her eyes softened for a moment, but she said nothing. I stood frozen, watching as she turned to the nurse behind her and whispered something that made my soul break further.  

“Please take Ms. Jessica James off the machines and release her to her family,” she instructed, her words so final they felt like a death sentence. My heart shattered as the nurse nodded, walking toward the machines keeping Jessica alive.  

I closed my eyes, bracing for the inevitable, when suddenly, a commanding voice rang out across the room. “Hold on, Roseline. That won’t be necessary.”  

I turned in shock, my heart racing as I saw the man I met earlier today, the CEO’s son, step into the room, his presence dominating everything. “You’ll treat her sister here,” he said firmly, his gaze locked on Roseline. “I’ll cover the costs.”