Chapter 2: The Humiliation And Devastating News

"I've trans…" he swallowed back the words almost immediately as he was about to spill out the truth.

He wanted to tell them that he'd paid for the surgery fee, but on second thought, there was no need to tell them since they wouldn't appreciate his efforts. They were going to mock him instead. They could lay false allegations on him that he stole to pay for his wife's surgery.

He couldn't forget how the entire family humiliated him last year during Olivia's birthday because he gave her a second-hand necklace from a store.

She poured expensive wine on him, made him undress, and forced him to clean up while the family and guests watched.

He snapped out of his thought and his gaze met with the cold and hateful glares on their face. He ignored their expression like it was nothing and shoved his old mobile phone into his pocket.

"What do you want to show us, you good-for-nothing human?" Madam Kate cursed under her breath. She glared at him with anger seething through her.

She couldn't hide her anger and hatred for the poor man before her. She wouldn't have let her granddaughter marry someone like him if it wasn't because of the contract.

She was going to change that soon because she couldn't afford to be an in-law to someone as wretched and poor as him.

"What do you expect him to show us? He only wants to show you that he has nothing on his account."

"I'm sure that the bank would have probably frozen his account because he has no money there," William said mockingly.

All Smith could do was watch as they mock and humiliate him in the presence of his weak-looking wife at the sick bay. He knew better than anyone to keep quiet. He wouldn't want to make madam Kate angrier than she was.

"I regret being a mother-in-law to someone as poor as you. You can't even afford to pay the hospital bill for your wife not to talk about the surgery fund," Olivia spat out angrily.

It was disgraceful that her daughter's husband couldn't afford to cater to her beautiful daughter. She couldn't be proud of her daughter's husband among the family and friends.

She couldn't wait for her daughter to get on her feet so that she could make her leave Smith for a better man. She wanted someone wealthy and influential for her daughter.

"But I've…" he paused as a hot slap landed at the left side of his cheeks.

He was shocked and taken aback by Madam Kate's action.

"Whenever the rich talk, wretched people like you keep shut and listen," she warned and rolled her eyes at him.

Smith bit his lower lips and tightened his knuckles, forcing back the tears that threatened to pour down from his eyes.

"She's right. Until you're able to pay your wife's surgery fund, then you're allowed to talk to us," William chimed in.

What if they knew he'd paid for the surgery fund?

"You'd better leave my daughter if you know what's good for you," she warned, her voice cold and hostile.

"I can't leave her," he suddenly said adamantly. They turned to him in disbelief.

He could afford their humiliation and mockery, but he couldn't afford to leave Georgina, not even now. She was the reason he was enduring their humiliation.

They were shocked and taken aback by his outburst. They couldn't believe that he could still be interested in their daughter despite what they'd done to him.

Madam Kate gritted her teeth in anger and disappointment as she stared at Smith.

"You have the time now, and if you choose to be adamant. I promise you that you'll regret your action eventually," he scoffed inwardly as he listened to their threats.

He was unfazed by it. He didn't care anymore.

"I don't care," he muttered with a sigh, his voice sounding cold.

He breathed out in relief as madam Kate and Olivia stormed out of the room, leaving William, who was leaning on the wall with a smirk on his face.

"Try to take your bath with good soap. You stink." William patted his shoulder and walked out of the ward.

Georgina, on the other side, shook her head with a sigh as she watched as her family humiliated Smith. Although she didn't have feelings for him, she wouldn't deny that she didn't like the way he was being treated by her family.

Smith forced out a smile as he turned his gaze to his beautiful wife, who was lying weakly on the bed.

He walked closer to her, sat on the chair beside the bed, and stroked her cold and pale hand. It was so soft and succulent.

He couldn't remember when last he had body contact with her.

He shook his head with a sigh as she slowly withdrew her hand from his hand. Although he was sad, he made sure to maintain a smile on his face.

He could sense it in her face that she was ashamed of him, even though she tried to hide it.

"I'm sorry about…" he interrupted her, knowing where she was heading to.

"It's fine," he muttered.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm fine," she replied. Even though her voice came out weak, it still sounded melodious and sweet to his ears.

"You don't have to worry about anything. I promise that I'll raise the surgery fund for you as soon as possible."

"Where would you get such an amount of money between now and next week?" she asked. He knew she was underestimating him like her family did.

"I…" he shuddered since he didn't know what to say.

If the wife he trusted underestimated him in such a way, what else did he have to say?

Though his conversion didn't turn out the way he wanted, it was the longest conversation he had ever had with her after two years of being married to her.

The door pulled open with a creaking sound, snapping him out of his deep thoughts.

"The doctor wants to see you."

*

"Good afternoon, doctor Lincoln," he greeted and extended his hand for a handshake.

To his demise, the doctor only smiled and sat down on the swivel chair without shaking him.

It did not surprise him since her family had humiliated him countless times in the presence of the doctor. The doctor no longer respects him.

Lincoln stared at him for a while. He couldn't believe that someone looking so dirty and poor like him could afford to pay 500 thousand dollars within a few hours.

Smith bit his lower lips, dropped his hand, and sat down on the chair at the front of the doctor.

"May I know the reason you called for me?" He asked in a bitter tone as he placed his hand under his clenched jaw.

"Yes. Firstly, I would like to commend your effort over your wife, Miss Georgina, even though it's surprising you paid sooner than expected."

Though he knew that Lincoln was indirectly mocking him, he nodded his head gently without saying anything as he listened to the doctor.

"I contacted you regarding the surgery operation that is scheduled to take place on her in the next two days."

"What's the problem? You can go ahead."

"Or is there a problem?" He asked as he noticed the skeptical look on the doctor's face.

"Yes, there is," he looked up in an instant.

"What is it?" He asked eagerly, and worries filled his voice.

"After running a series of tests on her, we found out that her chance has dropped from 60 percent to 40 percent," the doctor said, and worries washed over his face.

"And it's because of the fetus in her." he blinked his eyes as he heard the doctor's last statement.

"Fetus!?" Although he didn't know much about medical terms, he knew that a fetus referred to an unborn baby.

"Yes, the unborn baby in her," the doctor cleared his doubts.

"What baby!?" He asked in shock.