Chapter 569
As Hank had said, it was clear upon entering that this was indeed a small hospital. Compared to the medical environments in many places in Clusia, this one was much more basic.
There were several small rooms, with a reception desk, consultation rooms, examination rooms, a pharmacy… the space was limited. After all, Astamia’s economic conditions were restricted.
Lucy, who had been walking ahead, stopped as they neared the stairs. “Cherise, your mother is upstairs. The stairs are a bit narrow, so please follow me.”
“Okay,” Cherise replied softly. She followed Lucy carefully, step by step.
Soon, they reached the second floor. In contrast to the simplicity of the first floor, the second floor was surprisingly pleasant. It was warm, bright, and had a decor style similar to Clusia’s, with everything neatly arranged and very clean.
It was evident that the person living here was someone who loved life.
At a glance, it looked like a typical three–bedroom, two–living–room apartment. However, one of the rooms was separated by a large white glass door.
From inside, the unmistakable sound of medical equipment beeping could be heard, along with the strong scent of disinfectants and various medications.
Cherise spotted the door immediately. She said nothing, standing still with a solemn expression, staring at it.
Hank, who was walking ahead, turned around and saw Cherise’s expression and eyes. He pointed toward the door. “Our mother is inside that room.”
“How about we don’t disturb you and give you some space to be alone with her? You can go in first and take a look,” he suggested.
Lucy added, “Cherise, go in. I’m sure your mother will be so happy when she knows you’re here.”
Cherise still didn’t speak or respond, standing there quietly.
Morris knew what she was thinking. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go in, but at this moment, her heart was more fragile than anyone else’s.
He tightened his grip on her hand and then, lowering his head, whispered to her, “Cherise, let me go in with you.”
Morris’s words were just what she needed. At that moment, Cherise was seeking someone to provide the emotional strength she lacked. She turned to Morris, nodded slightly, and gave him a faint smile in agreement.
Together, they walked hand in hand to the door and pushed it open.
Inside the all–white room, a white surgical bed, raised high, faced away from them. Beside the bed was the medical machine that emitted constant beeping sounds.
As they entered, Morris glanced outside and casually closed the sliding door behind them.
At that moment, Cherise let go of his hand and continued toward the white surgical bed. Each step she took was heavy.
Morris stood by the door, stopping where he was, quietly accompanying her in the space.
Finally, Cherise reached the front of the white surgical bed. Lying there was her mother, Claire, who had left her when she was just a child.
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14:37 Thu, 20 Feb
Chapter 569
Claire’s eyes were tightly shut. Perhaps due to spending so many years indoors without much exposure to sunlight, her skin was extremely pale, with a noticeable sheen.
Despite lying there year after year, her hair still had a healthy shine, and even in sleep, her facial features still conveyed grace and beauty. Compared to others of her age, she appeared remarkably young and beautiful.
Cherise studied her carefully. As a medical student, she could easily tell that Claire’s breathing was steady and her sleep was deep and undisturbed.
She murmured, “You really do look just like I remember–no change at all. And look at me now, all grown up and even married. Do you remember me?”
“Oh, right. I almost forgot–it’s been so long since we’ve met. I should introduce myself first. I’m Cherise, your daughter, the one you carried for ten months.” She took a step forward and said softly.
It was obvious that her hands, hanging at her sides, were tightly gripping the hem of her chiffon skirt.
However, Claire, still lying on the bed, seemed unaffected by Cherise’s presence. She didn’t respond to the question at all and continued to sleep soundly.
Actually, Cherise had a lot she wanted to say, many questions to ask, and many things to challenge Claire about. But seeing her mother in this state, all the words she had prepared disappeared.
Morris, standing by the sliding door, watched every subtle movement Cherise made. He wanted to step forward but feared it might disturb her emotions. In the end, he could only silently keep his gaze on her.
Looking at her mother still fast asleep, Cherise let out a light laugh. “I wonder if you can even hear me.”
She paused for a moment, then slowly continued, “Hank told me about you. I–if you don’t mind, I’d like to check on you. My medical skills are decent.”
She lowered her head, took a deep breath, and then raised it again. Stepping forward, she pressed down on the disinfectant beside the bed and carefully sanitized her hands.
After disinfecting, Cherise didn’t hesitate at all. She opened Claire’s eyes to examine her pupils, followed by checking her heart rate, pulse, palms, nails, and so on.
Once the examination was complete, she walked over to the machine on the right side of the bed that was making noise. She flipped through the previous test results and records.
Cherise furrowed her brow slightly, as if she had an idea of what direction to take. After nodding, she sighed and glanced at Morris.
Coincidentally, Morris had been watching her all along. Their eyes met. “Do you have any clues?” he asked softly.
Cherise nodded. “Yes, but it’s a bit difficult. The medical conditions in Astamia are too poor, and relying solely on traditional medicine won’t work. I want to take my mother back to Clusia, but I’m not sure what she thinks about it.”
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