Susan Shelby picked up the phone.
A young and naive sobbing voice came from the receiver.
“Aunty, aunty…”
That voice…
Susan reacted to the situation at once and asked in an exploratory manner, “Is that you, Luca?”
The voice obviously belonged to little Lucas Jenkins.
“It’s me.” Lucas started crying even more profusely. “Aunty, I’m begging you. Will you please save my mother?”
“Mandy? What happened to her?” Susan could not help asking.
“Lucas! Who are you calling? You’re not allowed to make calls!” All of a sudden, a stern female voice was heard from the other end of the line. Then, it was followed by a violent coughing sound.
“Mommy, please don’t be sick…” shouted Lucas while crying.
“It’s none of your business. I’d rather die than beg for help,” said Mandy Ainsley.
Susan figured out the situation over there roughly, so she said right away, “Luca, don’t listen to your mommy. Tell me, what is your house address? I’ll come over immediately.”
There was a series of clamorous noises over there, as if Mandy had tried to snatch the phone. However, it seemed that her body was so weak that she was incapable of getting up to take the phone.
Lucas managed to read the house address out loud smoothly.
Susan took a pen and paper to write down the address and then said, “Don’t be scared, Luca. I’m coming over now.”
She hung up the phone, ready to grab her handbag and head out.
“Something happened to Mandy?” Julian Shaw could not help asking upon hearing fragments of the conversation.
“Yes, I’m going over to check on them now,” said Susan right away.
“Let’s go together.” Julian picked up his coat.
Susan hesitated for a moment but did not say no.
There was no telling what the situation over there was like. Having one more person by her side would mean more strength as well.
“I want to go too, I want to go too!” called out Chessie.
At last, the family of three departed together and drove to the address provided by Lucas.
The further the car drove, the more desolated the road was.
As Susan started wondering if Lucas had given her the wrong address, a few rows of old and shabby-looking bunkhouses appeared before them.
It was very hard to imagine that buildings like this existed in an international city.
The ground was messy, and the walls were stained. The people walking around everywhere had a fatigued look on their faces from working in the labor sector.
As soon as Julian and Susan took Chesney and got out of the car, people immediately shot greedy glances at them.
In fact, someone looked even eager to make a move on them.
Julian scoffed coldly and pulled out a gun right away. He said expressionlessly, “Would you like to give it a try?”
Those people weighed the pros and cons for a while and then retreated in silence.
As she met these pairs of greedy eyes, Susan felt like she had yet to recover from the recent shock.
She was feeling upset with herself, but while she rejoiced about having Julian with her, she should not have brought Chessie.
If she had been all alone, perhaps she really would have been in trouble.
The bunkhouse neighborhood was not very huge, so Julian and Susan found Mandy’s residence soon.
Susan stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Mandy’s expression turned slightly more pleasant, and the corners of her lips cracked into a faint smile. “Susan, you’re still the same woman as before. You’re just as softhearted! Your weakness will be the death of you sooner or later.”
Susan let out a bitter laugh. “A person only has one life to live. It’s too tiring to remember something for the rest of one’s life. That is why it’s better to forget what should be forgotten most of the time. Only then can a person live a happier life. For example, I’ve already forgotten most of the things that happened between us in the past.”
Mandy looked at Susan in a daze. “I suddenly realized why Luke has not let go of you all this time. You’re better than me, Susan.”
“What are you talking about? Let me take you to the hospital first.” As Susan was speaking, she was about to help Mandy stand up.
“No need for that. It’s just an old illness of mine. I…” Mandy wanted to decline.
“Don’t you want to meet Luke again?” Susan looked at her. “I know where Luke is. If you’re willing to treat your illness properly, I’ll let you meet him.”
“Really?” Mandy’s ashen face lit up with unprecedented brilliance at once.
“Really.” Susan nodded solemnly.
“Alright. I shall seek treatment for my illness,” Mandy said without the slightest hesitation. “Susan, I will owe you a favor for this. Even though you may not necessarily need me to return the favor, I will still do it if I have the chance.”
Although Susan definitely did not think that she would need Mandy’s help, she still acknowledged this with a smile. “Alright, I shall wait for you to return the favor.”
At the best hospital in the States, Mandy was given a comprehensive medical check-up.
The results of the check-up came out soon.
“Madam, you came in too late.” The doctor held the test report and said in a regretful manner, “The test results are out. You have late-stage lung cancer.”
A confused look flashed past Lucas and Chessie’s eyes.
Julian’s brows furrowed tightly.
Susan’s body shook ever so slightly.
On the contrary, Mandy was the calmest of them all.
She asked nonchalantly, “Doctor, how much time do I have left?”
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