THE SON-IN-LAW THEY LEFT TO DIE

CHAPTER 2

Johnson remained frozen on the hospital bed long after the call ended. His hand still held the phone tightly while his mind replayed Mrs. Clifford’s words again and again.

“Preparing for her wedding tomorrow…”

How was that even possible?

Bethany was already married to him.

Johnson swallowed hard and shook his head weakly.

“No,” he muttered to himself. “That woman is lying again.”

He knew how much his mother-in-law hated him. Ever since he became Bethany’s husband, she had never hidden her disgust toward him. She always mocked his poor background and constantly told Bethany she deserved a richer man.

Johnson closed his eyes tiredly.

“She is just trying to hurt me,” he whispered. “She saying all those lies just to make me feel bad. That is all,” he said bitterly.

He was still lost in thought when the door suddenly opened again.

The doctor walked back inside the room with a serious expression. The doctor sighed deeply before speaking.

“Mr. Harford, I have some bad news.”

Johnson’s heartbeat instantly increased.

“The hospital management has made a decision,” the doctor continued carefully. “If payment for your surgery is not made within the next thirty minutes, the surgery will be canceled.”

Johnson’s face turned pale immediately.

“Canceled?” he repeated weakly.

The doctor nodded slowly.

“You will be discharged from the hospital and thrown out on the streets.”

Johnson’s eyes widened in shock.

“What?” he gasped.

“I am very sorry,” the doctor said softly. “But the management says they can no longer keep you here without payment.”

Johnson felt cold all over.

“No surgery…”

If the surgery was not done, then he would never walk again; he would become paralyzed. Forever!

Fear gripped his chest tightly.

“Doctor please,” Johnson begged immediately. “Please give me a few more days. My wife will definitely come.”

The doctor looked helpless.

“Mr. Harford—”

“She promised me,” Johnson interrupted desperately. “She said she would return with the money. Maybe something delayed her. Please just give her more time.”

The doctor sighed heavily.

“I understand your situation,” he said honestly. “But this decision is beyond me.”

Johnson stared at him hopelessly.

“I am only a doctor here,” the man continued. “I do not own the hospital. The management made the decision themselves.”

“There must be something you can do,” Johnson pleaded.

The doctor slowly shook his head.

“I am sorry. It is out of my powers.”

Johnson’s breathing became shaky.

“Please…”

The doctor looked away sadly.

“You have thirty minutes,” he said quietly before turning around and leaving the room again.

The room became silent once more.

Johnson stared blankly ahead. His mind was in complete chaos.

Thirty minutes. Only thirty minutes stood between him and total ruin.

He grabbed his phone again with trembling hands.

“Bethany…” he whispered painfully.

He dialed her number once more hoping she actually picks this time and not her cruel mother.

But this time, the line was completely unreachable. The phone was switched off.

His hands slowly dropped dejectedly.

Johnson leaned back weakly against the bed.

“So this is it,” he muttered to himself. “Maybe I am fated to be paralyzed.”

Not too long after, the door opened again.

Johnson’s heart skipped violently as he looked up immediately.

The doctor had returned, but this time, he was not alone. Three nurses followed closely behind him.

Johnson’s heart sank instantly and his face turned pale.

“They are here to throw me out already…” he thought painfully.

One of the nurses immediately began preparing the bed, causing Johnson to panic even more.

“Doctor please—”

Before he could finish speaking, the doctor suddenly smiled.

“Relax, Mr. Harford,” he said calmly.

Johnson blinked in confusion. “…What?”

The doctor adjusted his glasses before saying, “Your medical bills have been cleared.”

Johnson froze completely.

“My… bills?” he repeated blankly.

The doctor nodded. “Yes. Full payment was made just a few minutes ago. The surgery can now begin immediately.”

Johnson’s eyes widened in total shock.

“What?”

He could barely process the words. Someone actually paid? But who?

“How is that possible?” he asked weakly.

One of the nurses spoke up kindly.

“The person didn’t say their name,” she explained. “After making the payment, they left immediately.”

Johnson’s breathing slowed.

Deep inside his heart, only one person came to mind.

“Bethany…” he whispered softly.

His eyes became moist instantly.

“She came…”

Even though she did not see him personally… Even though she ignored his calls… She still paid for the surgery.

Johnson’s chest warmed with relief.

“I knew she wouldn’t abandon me,” he whispered to himself.

The doctor smiled slightly.

“We need to prepare you now.”

Soon, the nurses wheeled Johnson toward the operating room.

The surgery lasted several hours.

When Johnson finally opened his eyes again, it was the next morning. The first thing he saw was the doctor standing beside him.

The doctor smiled warmly.

“Welcome back, Mr. Harford.”

Johnson blinked weakly.

“The surgery…” he whispered.

“It was successful,” the doctor replied happily.

Johnson’s eyes widened slightly.

“Successful?”

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “You can now walk again. But you must rest properly.”

Relief flooded Johnson instantly.

“You are now free to go but I will advise you remain in the hospital for three more days before discharge,” the doctor continued. “Do not stress yourself.”

Johnson nodded weakly.

“Thank you, doctor.”

The doctor smiled and left the room quietly.

After the room became silent again, Johnson slowly stared at the ceiling.

His thoughts drifted back to Bethany.

She paid such a huge amount for his surgery, yet for four whole days now, she never visited him. Not once. She never even answered any of his calls.

Johnson frowned deeply as an uneasy feeling settled heavily inside his chest. Something about everything felt wrong. Very wrong.

“If she paid the money…” he murmured softly, “then why didn’t she come see me?”

The more he thought about it, the more restless he became.

“I need to see her myself,” he finally decided firmly.

He needed to see her. To thank her personally for paying the bill. And most importantly, he needed to know why she didn’t answer any of his calls.

With determination, Johnson slowly pushed himself out of the hospital bed.

Pain shot through his body immediately.

“Ahh…”

He gritted his teeth tightly but forced himself to stand.

Carefully, he changed out of the hospital gown into the dirty, blood-stained clothes he was wearing during the accident.

His legs trembled badly. But somehow, he managed to walk slowly.

Johnson grabbed the wall for support as he painfully made his way toward the hospital exit.

No matter what, he had to see his wife.