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Novel Catalog
Chapter_25
A Business Trip in Operose
I redialed Matthew’s number, but the call wouldn’t connect. A mechanical voice informed me that the number was unreachable. Frustrated, I squatted down in the hospital lobby, feeling helpless. Ava’s fever was still high, and I could feel my anxiety rising. I forced myself to stand, thinking of my daughter’s condition, and headed back to the lobby.
I tried calling Ivanna next, but her phone was off as well. Panic settled in. Where could they both be? Matthew and Ivanna, both unreachable when I needed them most. I could feel the weight of the situation growing unbearable.
Reluctantly, I called my in-laws. It was past one in the morning, and I hated disturbing them, but I had no other option. My mother-in-law answered immediately, her voice laced with concern. “Chlo? What’s wrong? It’s so late. Is something wrong?”
I struggled to speak, choking back tears, but I managed to explain Ava’s fever and my inability to pay for the hospital. My in-laws didn’t hesitate. They promised to rush to the hospital and hung up quickly.
When they arrived, the doctor had already placed Ava on an IV drip and diagnosed her with acute pneumonia. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. My in-laws had rushed over in the middle of the night to help, and here I was, feeling utterly helpless.
“Why did you come? You could’ve just sent Melanie with the money,” I said to my mother-in-law, my voice strained.
“She said she went to Operose with her brother for business,” my mother-in-law explained, then hurried to Ava’s bedside. “How did it get this severe? What’s her temperature?”
I stood in the corner, wracked with guilt. “It’s 39.5 degrees. She has acute pneumonia,” I answered. “Can you stay with her while I pay the bill?” I asked, still feeling uneasy.
My in-laws nodded, and I rushed to the counter, cursing Melanie in my mind. What kind of business could she possibly have with her brother? She could have at least stayed out of trouble.
Once I paid the bill, I insisted my in-laws go home. My mother-in-law, however, was determined to make us some food before leaving. After they left, I sat by Ava’s bedside and watched as her color slowly returned. A massive weight lifted from my chest as I saw her face brighten.
Still, the feeling of unease lingered. The money was gone, and I couldn’t shake the thought. Something wasn’t right. The possibilities swirled in my mind, each one more unsettling than the last.
Just as I was lost in thought, Ivanna finally called me back. It was five in the morning, and I had nearly given up hope on reaching her. “Chlo, what’s going on? Why’d you call me so late? My phone died last night,” Ivanna’s voice came through urgently.
I quickly explained everything—the fever, the hospital, and the missing money—tears rolling down my cheeks as I relived the helplessness of the night.
“Damn it. Which hospital are you at? Wait for me there!” Ivanna’s voice was filled with concern.
“Klinein Hospital,” I sniffed, wiping my eyes.
Within half an hour, Ivanna arrived, and as soon as she stepped into the room, she checked Ava’s temperature. “Is she getting better?” she asked, concern etched on her face.
I nodded, still shaky. “The fever’s going down.”
Ivanna seemed relieved, but then her eyes narrowed. “Then why are you crying?” she asked, looking at me skeptically.
I wiped my eyes and explained everything, especially about the missing money. Ivanna’s face darkened as I laid out my suspicions. Once I finished, she cursed under her breath, her anger palpable. “Damn it. We’re a step behind that asshole,” she muttered.
I felt utterly helpless. Ivanna was right. The money was gone, and I had no idea where it went or how it had disappeared without any notification from the bank. My hands trembled as I covered my face, trying to hold back tears. I couldn’t let Ava see our family falling apart. She was too young to understand this chaos.
Ivanna held my trembling shoulders, trying to give me strength. After a while, I looked up, my eyes bloodshot and determined. My fists clenched. “I have to confront him. I need to find out what he’s doing! This was nearly a decade’s worth of savings, our safety net for Ava. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Ivanna shook her head, her expression stern. “Now isn’t the right time.”
“But I can’t just sit back and let him get away with it!” I shot back. “That money is mine and Ava’s. We saved it together, and he gave me that card to make me feel secure. He even set up WhatsApp notifications for it. But where was the notification when the money disappeared? What does that mean?”
Ivanna fell silent, her eyes narrowing as she processed everything I said. She looked at me with understanding, but her tone remained calm. “Chlo, you need to be careful. Don’t act rashly.”
Just then, my phone buzzed. I grabbed it without thinking. It was Matthew calling.
I froze, anger building in me as I stared at the screen. I was ready to answer and confront him, but Ivanna was quicker. She grabbed the phone from me.
“Give it back!” I shouted, my fury boiling over.
Instead of handing me the phone, Ivanna stared at me, her gaze intense. “Chlo, do you want to get that money back?” she asked solemnly.