Chapter 272
Susan roughly estimated her current financial situation. While her salary was high, her expenses were high too. She had to repay her car loan and mortgage, not to mention Oliver's expensive international kindergarten tuition fee. Her bank savings did not exceed $5,000.
The house was under a loan, and there was no way to use it as collateral. If she were to sell the house, she would first need to have enough money to pay off the mortgage and complete various procedures. It was impossible for her to gather the surgery fee within a month.
$100,000 was too much for her. This money was like a mountain pressing down on her.
"Mommy, you fed it into my nose," Oliver shouted. "Mommy, what are you thinking?"
Susan snapped back to reality. She quickly used a tissue to wipe Oliver's mouth.
"Mummy, I finished my oatmeal. Can I be discharged now?"
Watching Oliver's impatient expression, Susan felt even more distressed.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Oliver asked, noting Susan's distressed expression.
"The doctor said you still need to stay for another week," Susan explained, forcing a calm tone.
"Huh? Another week? I don't want to stay even for one more night. It's just a bit of a nosebleed. It's not a big deal, and I don't feel dizzy anymore... I want to be discharged," Oliver pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Oliver," Susan said, feeling uncomfortable. Her throat felt sore and swollen.
Oliver froze for a moment, seemingly realizing something. A trace of unease quickly flashed through his mind.
But he quickly exclaimed, pretending not to care, "Okay, okay. Anyway, the oatmeal here tastes pretty good. I'll stay for another week.
"Mommy, look at me. I'm strong. I'll be better soon," Oliver vigorously waved his fists, trying to make Susan laugh, but his laughter only made her heart ache even more.
Parents would rather be the ones who fell ill themselves than have their children suffer even a bit of pain, especially considering Oliver was only three years old. He was still just a child. Why did he have to suffer from such a serious illness?
Destiny was too cruel.
At the Eilish Group's design department office, Alice asked several times, "Mrs. Susan, is there anything wrong? Mrs. Susan? What needs to be changed?" before Susan snapped back to reality.
She signed her name and handed the document back to Alice. "Everything is fine."
"Mrs. Susan, your eyes are red. Do you want some eye drops? I have some." Alice noticed that something was off with Susan's state, but she didn't want to pry into Susan's personal affairs, so she didn't ask.
"It's nothing. Don't be worried about me," Susan said.
Susan leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes, thinking about the 100,000 dollars.
100,000 dollars
Who could give her that kind of money?
In the darkness, she thought of one person.
Susan suddenly opened her eyes.
In the afternoon, at the top floor of the Eilish Group.
"Hello, I would like to see Mr. Caleb," Susan said to the secretary.
This was her most reluctant choice under the circumstances.
"Do you have an appointment?" the secretary asked.
Susan shook her head.
"Well, please wait." The secretary then went into the office and came out two seconds later. "Mr. Caleb is busy. He's not available right now."
"Then I'll wait here," Susan responded.
The secretary didn't pay her any more attention.
Susan waited for several hours. Soon, it was already 9 pm, and Susan kept checking her phone. She still had to rush back to the hospital. She didn't have any more time or energy to wait, so she had to get up and ask the secretary, "Can you please ask Mr. Caleb if he has any time now?"
She had been sitting for so long, looking very anxious. So, the secretary made another call. "Mr. Caleb says if you don't want to wait, then leave."
Susan felt a little embarrassed, feeling like a beggar in need of his help.
He told her to leave, and she realized continuing to wait would only be a waste of time. 'Let's come back tomorrow,' she thought.
With a heavy heart, Susan silently left.
As soon as Susan entered the elevator, the secretary received a call. "Yes, Mr. Caleb?"
"Tell Susan to come in," Caleb instructed, his voice cold.
"Mrs. Susan has already left," the secretary responded. Then, the secretary heard the sound of the phone being slammed down.
Immediately after, the secretary saw Caleb storming out of the office. "Mr. Caleb..."
Caleb didn't stop and went straight to the elevator.
Just as Susan stepped out of the company and reached out to hail a taxi, her hand was forcefully grabbed. Startled, she turned around and saw Caleb standing in front of her, his face filled with anger as if she had committed some unforgivable sin.
"Have I told you to leave?" Caleb said.
"Didn't you tell me to get lost?" Susan had waited for hours and felt wronged. Right now, she was anxious every minute.
"You just leave when I tell you to leave? When did you become so obedient?" Caleb remarked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
'Who gave him the right to be so harsh?' Susan thought. She felt so vulnerable now. She really wanted to cry, but she had to hold it back. Even the strongest person would become exceptionally fragile in her situation.
Seeing her eyes turning red, Caleb felt a little uncomfortable. "Stop pretending to be wronged. It doesn't affect me."
"I'm not pretending."
"Then why did you come to find me?" Caleb asked.
Susan hesitated. It was more embarrassing to ask him for money than to ask anyone else.
"Forget about that for now. Let's find a place to eat. I'm starving," Caleb interjected. To intentionally keep her waiting, he hadn't left the office and hadn't eaten anything. He was in pain from hunger.
He casually pulled her into a nearby restaurant, his grip firm on her wrist.
"Let go of me. It's not good if we're seen like this," Susan protested, twisting her wrist, but unable to break free. She realized her strength was no match for a man's.
Despite her resistance, she was dragged into the restaurant like that.
Caleb ordered two steaks and a bottle of red wine.
"Weren't you looking for me for something? Speak up," he said.
Susan's hand writhed under the table, with cold sweat forming in her palm.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Caleb looked at her expressionless face for a few seconds, then burst into laughter, looked away, and then turned his gaze back on her. "Susan, am I hearing things incorrectly? You were the one who didn't want it in the first place. What did you say? You didn't want my dirty money? Did I force you? Now suddenly you want my dirty money? Huh? What happened?"
Before coming to see him, Susan had already mentally prepared herself to be humiliated.
"I hope... to receive my share early," she said.
"What!" Caleb burst into laughter again, rubbing his chin. He laughed for a while and then asked her, "And why would I do that?"
Yes, why would he?
The villa project would take at least three months, and receiving a commission usually took half a year. Her request was indeed unreasonable.
She swallowed hard, her voice low, and her posture humble. "I need money."
"I don't care if you need money. Susan, why don't you go rob a bank? Who was the one that said you wouldn't have to beg me? Huh? You looked so confident. You even treated me like a bad person. Now that you need money, you come to me. What are you offering in exchange?" Caleb's voice was laced with bitterness and accusation.
"What do you want to exchange?" Susan looked into his eyes and asked directly.