Chapter 12

Esther's phone rang in the ward, displaying an anonymous number. Without hesitation, she answered the call. "Hello?" A sweet voice spoke from the other end. "Hello, is this Ms. Esther Quill?" "Yes, who's calling?" "I'm a hematology doctor at People's Hospital. According to the result of your first test for bone marrow donation with us, you're preliminarily confirmed to match one of our patients. Please come to the hospital for a second, more comprehensive test as soon as you can..." "Okay, I'll be right there." Ecstatic to receive a call from People's Hospital and knowing her bone marrow might be a match for Tinkerbell, Esther hurriedly got ready to go for the second test. When she reached the balcony, she noticed a female bodyguard sitting in the garden on the first floor. "Ms. Quill?" The bodyguard greeted Esther when she spotted her on the balcony. She simultaneously pressed the emergency contact on her phone. Esther realized that the balcony wasn't going to work and rushed to the door. However, the female bodyguard entered before she could open it. "Ms. Quill, is there something I can help you with?" After some thought, Esther decided to be honest. "I want to go to People's Hospital. I just received a call from them saying that the result of my first test matches one of their patients..." The bodyguard listened patiently but firmly rejected her request to leave. "I'm sorry, Ms. Quill. Without Mr. Warner's order, you cannot leave this room." Thinking of Tinkerbell still waiting for her bone marrow transplant, Esther quickly added, "I understand this is your job. Don't worry. I won't run away. If you're concerned, you can accompany me. I promise—" "Ms. Quill, please don't make things difficult for me." Esther had previously used Felix to leave the hospital, causing the bodyguard to face the consequences. This time, she wouldn't allow Esther any chance to leave. "Alright, I understand." Helplessly, Esther sat back down on the bed. The bodyguard replied politely, "I'll leave you to rest then. Good night, Ms. Quill." Once she left, Esther took out a photo of Pixie and Tinkerbell and stared at it for a moment. She then took a deep breath and decided to call Jasper. "Jasper, it's me." Jasper woke up groggily from sleep. His voice was still drowsy. "Esther? What's going on?" "Jasper, People's Hospital called me just now. They said my first test results show my bone marrow matches a patient. This means my bone marrow is compatible with Tinkerbell. I want to go to the hospital now for the second round of tests, but I'm stuck here because of Bradley. Can you help me leave?" Jasper replied, "Let me see what I can do. Wait for my update." "Thank you, Jasper." After ending the call, Esther found herself no longer sleepy. She couldn't help but imagine the joyous life she would have with her daughters once they were reunited. She would look for a house, not necessarily huge—just four rooms would suffice. Each daughter would have her own room, and the extra one would become a study room. She'd create a cozy and warm home. If her daughters enjoyed playing the piano, she would buy one. If they liked dancing, the living room would become their practice space. Esther envisioned preparing delicious meals and making sure they were well-fed. She would even learn tailoring to create unique dresses for them. Daily, she'd braid their hair in different styles. She would dote on them, making them the happiest little princesses in the world. - In another part of the hospital. Felix remained in emergency care, his condition not showing any improvement. The doctors on duty, even those on leave, and pediatric experts from People's Hospital and other cities had all rushed to his side. Despite the multitude of experts, they all reached the same conclusion. Felix urgently needed a bone marrow transplant. The sooner it happened, the better. Delaying the procedure could risk further organ deterioration, and the transplant might not be able to save him. After listening to the experts' opinions, Bradley's expression turned deadly and icy as he asked, "When will Esther's second test result be ready?" A doctor, wiping sweat from his forehead, stammered, "In about an hour." Bradley took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination. "Prepare the operation ward immediately. Conduct the surgery as soon as the test result is out." All of Bradley's hope hinged on Esther's second test result. What if it turned out to be less than ideal? "Cole." Bradley's assistant, Cole, responded promptly. "Yes, Mr. Warner?" "Update the reward online. Offer $1,500 to anyone willing to sign up and become a bone marrow donor. For those who completed the first round of tests, pay them $15,000, and for those who undergo the second round, pay them $150,000. Once the test confirms a match, reward them with $15,000,000 in cash and offer them a permanent position in the Warner Group, with an annual salary of $150,000 after taxes and a bonus package equivalent to that of the company's GM level." "I'll post it right away," replied Cole. Bradley's hands clenched into fists, his forehead veins pulsing with tension. He exuded an aura of cold determination. No matter the price, he would save Felix. Jasper saw the online information immediately. Instead of reading the comments, he dialed Esther's number. "Esther, I saw Bradley increasing the reward online. Do you know what that means? It means his son's condition has worsened. He probably won't let you leave the hospital now." Upon hearing that Felix's condition had deteriorated, Esther felt as if the air was being squeezed out of her chest, causing her pain and suffocation. "Jasper, come and pick me up. I want to take the second test at the hospital. If it matches, I'll donate to Felix and then Tinkerbell." Jasper was taken aback and concernedly asked, "Do you think bone marrow donation is as simple as giving blood? Considering your current state, how can you undergo two bone marrow transplant surgeries in such a short time?" "Felix is just a child. It's not his fault that Liliane is his mother," Esther said with self-deprecation. "Besides, we can't be sure if my bone marrow is compatible with him." "I'll figure something out. Just be ready." Jasper hung up, leaving Esther to cope with the heavy weight of Felix's worsening condition. She placed her hand over her chest and rubbed away the pain and suffocation that seemed unreasonable. "Jasper, I pray that everything will turn out well," she whispered to herself. Shortly afterward, Jasper received a call from Camila, the director of Sunflower Welfare. "Mr. Searle, it's Camila Jenner from Sunflower Welfare." She sounded distressed. "I have bad news for you."