The Original Son-in-law

Chapter 9: Henry Meets the Doctor

Chapter 9

As Henry got to the hospital, walking through the hallway, heading to the room where his mother was, something caused him to suddenly halt in his tracks.

His face contorted with a heavy frown as he watched the scene.

It was an old man with his two daughters, grovelling and begging one of the hospital nurses as if she was their Savior.

Tears were streaming down their cheeks uncontrollably.

“Please, you've to save my wife! We may not have the money now, but we promise to pay later! Just attend to her and let her be fine!" The old man dressed in a shabby, baggy cloth was sobbing like a kid abandoned by his mother.

“We don't want to lose our Mum!” His two daughters were also begging, their hands clasped together in front of them. "Please, attend to her; our Dad will pay if not now, later!"

The nurse glanced down at them and answered helplessly. “I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. I'm only acting on order. It's the doctor who has the final say."

"Then take us to him. We'll beg him, and he'll listen to us!” The trio simultaneously said as if planned.

Henry watched with extreme dismayed expression. The memories of how he was once in this kind of situation flashed through his eyes.

The experience was terrible. It wasn't something to be wished on anyone.

“I have to do something," Henry mumbled. Following that, his mind shifted.

He turned and began to head toward the doctor's office.

***

Luckily, he met the doctor inside his office, but had a conversation.

Both the doctor's and the other figure's faces twitched with extreme disgust as they saw him. However, they were about to wrap up the conversation.

The figure stood alongside the doctor, and they both exchanged a brief handshake before the figure exited.

The doctor turned to Henry and shot him a glare. "Why? Why did you have to come here? You should have waited for me in the hallway!”

Judging from his voice, Henry knew the doctor was disgusted by his presence here.

He bit his lips. "I just wanted to discuss something with you, so I thought I should see you privately.”

The doctor frowned. "You're here, anyway. Come inside.”

As Henry entered, the doctor didn't offer him a seat, but the latter pulled out a seat and sat on it.

The doctor's expression didn't change. "So, tell me, what do you want to discuss with me?” He asked, almost sounding rude. He leaped through the pages of a voluminous document, clearly showing a lack of interest.

Henry hesitated, cleared his throat before starting. "On my way down here, I saw an old man and his two daughters crying and begging one of your nurses to attend to their mother, but the nurse declined their plea.”

The doctor halted. He looked up and glared at Henry. "That's because they have made no deposit!” He uttered curtly and then went back to leaping through the document’s pages.

Henry swallowed hard. "That's why I'm here to—-"

The doctor's gaze shot up at him instantly. “To do what?” He cut Henry off before he could even finish. "To beg? That his wife or their mothers should be attended to when they hadn't made any deposit?"

He closed the document as his face tightened. “Do you think this place is some kind of charity home, huh? Or is it because someone, out of pity, paid for your mother's treatment that you think you can waltz into my office to tell me what I should do?"

Henry was taken aback by the doctor's attitude. He hadn't even given him the chance to explain himself, and he was already ranting.

Who does that?

The doctor shot up immediately. "In fact, you have overstayed your welcome here.” He pointed his finger at the exit door. "Leave now before I call the security guards to throw you out!”

Henry forced a smile as he stood up. He opened his mouth and tried to explain, but the doctor cut him off again and shouted.

"Leave! Now!”

His voice rose.

When Henry, who had been enduring the insults all this while, could no longer take it, he shouted. “You, cocky fool! I'm here to pay the bills of everyone currently in your hospital and not to beg you to be considerate to anyone!"