Chapter 2: worsening situation

"How is my father currently?" Alex inquired about the health of his father.

The sound of the emergency room door "scrrrr" drew Mary's attention. The doctor's gaze met her own. She recognized him and immediately rushed up to him. Alex, who was following up, came to a halt as he observed his father from a distance. He was wearing an oxygen respirator and lay motionless. He rushed over to Mary and the doctor.

 "Good day, sir. Could you please tell me how you are related to the patient?"  The doctor inquired.

"He is my father, my last living relative. " Alex answered.

"I discovered a metastatic cancer. This is a stage 4 cancer that must be treated right away. I recommend that you make payment to the account department as soon as possible so that we can commence the surgery." The doctor addressed Alex and Mary.

"How much will the operation cost?" Alex enquired of the doctor, eager to hear what he had to say.

"The surgery will cost $300,000, while chemotherapy will cost $100,000 to $450,000, depending on his monthly progress. Please make a deposit of at least $500,000 as soon as possible." The doctor reacts quickly.

"We Should deposit $500,000?" Alex told himself that even if they sold everything, they wouldn't be able to reach this figure.

"He's in a very delicate situation; you have deposit it before tomorrow," the doctor explained as he returned to the operating room.

Alex Benjamin's face was deathly pale after the doctor left, and his big eyes were filled with fear. 

His father's disease reminded them of their daughter, Samantha suffered from respirator disease, which depleted their life savings. 

While watching Marry cry, Alex became physically and mentally exhausted. Looking at his wife's red and swollen face, Alex clenched his fists and growled in pain for subjecting her to this.

"It's all my fault, Mary; Please stop crying; all we need to do now is figure out how to pay for the surgery."

"Where are the funds coming from?" Mary burst out crying loud again as she terrified people in the hospital, Alex dragged her to the corner. His face collided with Mary's the moment he raised his head.

"We're going to my parents!" Mary stated.

"I…" Alex stammered, his words stuttering in his troath.

"We have to do it," she cut him off before he could argue. Alex exhaled a helpless sigh. 

Mary took out her phone and dialed her father's number. 

"Hello. I'm in need of your assistance, Dad." Mary, who was sobbing, said. 

"Are you all right? Stop crying, I'm at the villa, and I'll be waiting for you there." Mary's father stated. 

They arrived at the Smiths Villa. Mary's family lives in a massive mansion. It was 5,000 square feet in size and had six bedrooms. The lawn was well-maintained, with decorative flowers and a Cockatiel parrot. The Smiths' villa is one of the most stunning in the area. Alex parked his bike outside, not daring to park his old and filthy bike in such a lovely home.

They both dashed into the building's main entrance as soon as the gate opened. The living room was brightly lit by chandeliers, and Alex sat at his usual spot, while Mary instructed the maid in the kitchen to notify master Smith of her arrival.

"Alex!!!" When Georgia Smith, his mother-in-law, saw him, she let out a scream. Mary rushes over to her.

"I asked him to accompany me here, Mum. Please do not cause a commotion." Mary begged her to listen to her.

"Okay, you don't have to beg me for this filthy garbage." Georgia Smith said angrily. She turned to Alex, "Why don't you get us some water from the kitchen?"

Alex knew that his position in this family was similar to that of a servant. He resigned himself to it. However, as he returned with a tray of water and was about to open the door, he heard his father-in-law, Willam Smith speaks.

 "I didn't like how you sounded on the phone." said Master Smith.

"Dad, my father-in-law, is unconscious and in a critical condition. The doctor discovers he has stage 4 cancer that necessitates immediate surgery. The surgery will cost $1,250,000, but the doctor requires a $500,000 deposit to begin the procedure." Mary quickly informed her father.

"I knew that piece of garbage was coming back to ask for money." Georgia interrupted Mary before she could continue.

"Even the doctors were aware that he would be unable to pay such a large sum. Your father-in-law is most likely in a vegetative state right now. He's no better than his son's trash. We can no longer provide him with financial assistance. Just thinking about it makes me so angry. Divorce him immediately." Grorgia Smith elaborated.

"You can simply give him money. That poor Alex will accept the divorce for three or two hundred thousand dollars."

"Consider this. Even a hundred of that ineffective Alex can't compete with Daniel James. Besides, you and James have been seeing each other recently, and your bond is so strong that I don't believe nothing has happened between you two." Georgia stated calmly.