Even with her kind and innocent nature, Cherry wasn’t blind; she just couldn’t tell which man had caught Sophia’s interest.
Hera, hearing Cherry’s voice of recognition, lifted an eyebrow and turned toward her. She found Cherry smiling back with that sa innocent, rabbit-like sweetness, so harmless and pure that Hera couldn’t help but grow fonder of the sickly young woman.
That fondness only strengthened her resolve to pair Cherry with one of her subordinates. A faint smile curved Hera’s lips, though a glint of mischief flickered in her eyes.
Zhane, noticing where Hera’s attention had drifted, imdiately forgot his little bout of jealousy. Leaving Hera’s wheelchair for Rafael to handle, he strode over to Dr. Zigheart and the eldest Sullivan brother, who were deep in discussion about the upcoming procedure.
He wanted to contribute his own ideas to help refine their plan even further.
With Zhane gone, Rafael was left with Hera. Seeing her clear interest in Cherry, he gently wheeled Hera’s chair closer to Cherry’s bedside so they could talk comfortably. anwhile, the other Sullivan brothers remained seated around Cherry’s bed, quietly listening to the conversation between Dr. Zigheart, Zhane, and their eldest brother.
After all, if everyone spoke at once, the discussion would only turn chaotic, and none of them wanted to risk disrupting sothing this important.
So, they chose to stay quiet, only speaking when necessary. What mattered most was that this discussion remained strictly private, known only to them. The hospital staff couldn’t be involved, not yet, as they were still guarding against Sophia and keeping everything under wraps so she wouldn’t catch wind of their plan.
That was exactly why Zhane had joined the conversation. He was the only one who could schedule the operation and prepare the necessary equipnt and materials without following the hospital’s standard procedures or entering it into the system.
If he did, Sophia would imdiately notice. She could simply inquire at the nurses’ desk, pull a few strings, and slip in her usual tricks, sothing that could easily endanger Cherry’s life. None of them were willing to risk having her die on a cold operating table because of Sophia’s interference.
If Sophia learned of the operation and managed to kill Cherry, it wouldn’t just leave the Sullivans grieving; she could turn it into a scandal that would ruin Providence Everett dical Center.
Zhane couldn’t gamble on her ethics: Sophia might expose the procedure as "inhuman" dical practice, drag the hospital’s na through the mud, and use the controversy to force the Sullivans and Everett into a public conflict.
She could even twist Cherry’s death into proof of Zhane’s malice, claim it was a deliberate ploy to harm the Sullivans, and the devastated family, desperate for soone to bla, might accept that lie. In short, if Sophia got wind of their plan, she could weaponize the truth and destroy more than Cherry’s chance of survival.
It was only a possibility, but Zhane refused to gamble with a patient’s life. Even if he wouldn’t be Cherry’s primary physician, anyone treated within his hospital was under his care.
As a doctor, he couldn’t allow a patient’s safety to be compromised, especially because of the very people he had chosen to hire. Every life in his hospital was his responsibility, and any harm that befell them would also be his failure.
"Hello, we et again," Cherry greeted softly, her sweet voice cutting through the serious discussion happening around her.
While the others were deeply engrossed in talking about her condition — finalizing the schedule, treatnt plan, and the steps needed to strengthen her body before the bone marrow transplant — Cherry’s gaze lingered warmly on Hera, her tone carrying both recognition and quiet joy.
"Hi, you must be Cherry Sullivan?" Hera greeted gently, pretending as if they were eting for the first ti and as though she didn’t already know about Cherry’s condition. Fortunately, Cherry was around her age, which made it easier for Hera to talk to her, but at the sa ti, it was heartbreaking to see soone so young enduring so much.
Once radiant and full of life, Cherry’s face was now pale and drained of color. Her lips were almost white, and her eyes and cheeks had slightly sunken in. Hera’s gaze drifted to Cherry’s wrist; it was thin, fragile, and dotted with purple bruises.
A box of tissues sat beside her bed, a silent witness to her frequent nosebleeds, while the small trash bin nearby still held traces of blood-stained tissues. Her bones were almost protruding beneath her skin, likely from the loss of appetite and the pain in her joints and bones that made even eating a struggle.
Hera also noticed how carefully Cherry tried to move, the way she winced whenever her ribs or stomach shifted. She could only recline against the bed, which was raised at a gentle 135-degree angle, perhaps the only position that spared her a little comfort amid the pain.
Hera felt a swell of sympathy for this little ball of sunshine. It was clear that Cherry was deeply loved and cherished by her family, but more than that, Hera could tell Cherry wasn’t the kind of person who only accepted affection.
She gave it back wholeheartedly, and perhaps that was why her family adored her so much in return.
The thought of losing soone like her because of another person’s greed made Hera’s chest tighten painfully. It filled her with both compassion and anger, and reaffird her resolve to stop Sophia’s sches. It also reminded her that helping the Sullivans had truly been the right choice.
Still, guilt crept in as she rembered how she had initially treated her help as a calculated move, a way to gain the Sullivans’ trust and support when she eventually revealed her true identity.
Now, sitting beside Cherry and seeing her frail but warm smile, Hera felt undeserving of the girl’s trust. But since she was a good actress, she kept those feelings hidden behind her gentle smile, refusing to let the guilt show on her face.
Hera also understood that Cherry probably didn’t want anyone’s pity. The girl was doing her best to face her illness with quiet strength and unyielding willpower, and open sympathy might only make her feel weaker or more fragile.
So, instead of showing pity, Hera acted like a friend dropping by for a casual visit. Since they were close in age, it was easy for the two of them to strike up a conversation.
While they chatted, Rafael found himself a seat nearby, giving Hera and Cherry space to talk freely. The Sullivan brothers stole a few glances their way, and when they saw how naturally Cherry smiled at Hera, a hint of relief softened their faces.
They quietly gave the two young won privacy, respecting the rare warmth in the room. After all, ever since Cherry’s hospitalization for leukemia, they had beco wary of outsiders, too many people had tried to use Cherry’s condition to curry favor with the Sullivans, caring more about their own gain than Cherry’s well-being.
Because of that, the Sullivans decided it was better not to give Cherry false friendships that might break her heart later. Any disappointnt could dampen her spirits and hinder her recovery, so they kept her circle small and limited visitors as much as possible.
Unfortunately, that very caution gave Sophia the perfect opening to slip into their trust. Pretending to care for Cherry, she presented herself as a kind and compassionate doctor from the Providence Everett dical Center.
Since the Sullivans didn’t know her well, they assud her warmth ca from genuine concern for her patient. Only now did they realize just how deep Sophia’s deceit ran.
Since Hera seed close to Zhane and had left a good impression on them, the Sullivans thought there was no harm in letting her spend ti with Cherry. In fact, they could already see that their younger sister seed to like Hera too.
Soon, the two young won began talking, and it was then that Hera discovered Cherry was actually a small celebrity in the entertainnt world.
However, Cherry wasn’t the typical star; she was more like a young heiress from a powerful family who occasionally shared glimpses of her daily life on social dia.
Her followers were drawn to the elegance and charm of her world, the pink beaches of Indonesia she strolled on, the fashion weeks she attended in Europe, and the radiant smile she always carried in every post. Her content was simple yet captivating, filled with warmth and positivity.
Of course, part of that cozy atmosphere ca from her protective brothers, who ensured no harsh comnts ever appeared on her page. Still, most people genuinely adored her. With her gentle personality and kindhearted nature, Cherry had a way of making people feel at ease, even through a screen.
"Really?! You’re a celebrity? That’s amazing! What’s your social dia? I want to follow you!" Cherry’s weak yet cheerful voice filled the hospital room, her excitent bringing a rare brightness to the otherwise solemn space.
Hearing her so lively made the Sullivan brothers smile, their hearts softening at the sight of their little sister happily chatting with Hera.
Reviews
All reviews (0)