Chapter 114 Misfortune From KindnessAfter Joanna got back home she didnt even take a moment to sit down Instead she made her way directly to Silver Boulder Private HospitalAt that time it appeared Norah was still buried in her workIt had been a good while more than a couple of weeks since Joanna had last laid eyes on Norah The absence had left Joanna feeling quite lonesome She found herself puzzled over how Norah had navigated the challenges after Norah tied the knot with DerekvcJoanna arrived at the hospital just as the day was nearing its close only to discover that Norah was still caught up in surgeryDr Wilson is still in the operating room Im sorry to sayWith a nod Joanna settled herself on a bench in the hospitals lobby bracing for the wait aheadDoctor I implore you to save my father I will sort out the finances Just proceed with theoperation You cannot simply stand by and watch him die That would be too cruel PleaseThe corridor was soon filled with the sound of a heated exchange drawing the attention of manyThe issue isnt that we refuse to perform the operation Its that even with surgery your fathers chances are slim Our facility is not equipped to handle such a complex procedure a doctor explained devoid of empathy to a man overcome with despairGo back and cherish the
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remaining moments with your father Thats all you can do the doctor added his voice heavy with a false sense of compassionThe man in a state of utter desperation clung to the doctors legs sobbing Doctor please My dad can still be saved I beg of you dont give up on himThe doctor unmoved freed himself from the mans grip Im sorry but I have otherresponsibilitieswcThe onlookers exchanged whispers their eyes filled with pity as they watched the scene unfold Joanna approached the man extending a tissue Are you alrightThe mans tears continued to fall too engulfed in grief to acknowledge Joannas gestureIf theres anything I can do to help please let me know Joanna offeredLifting his head the mans face was etched with lines of sorrow and eyes reddened fromcrying My dads critically ill Theyre saying he doesnt have much time left But how Just a few months back he was healthy Its only been a short while and now thisTears soaked his delivery uniform as he shared his struggles to provide for his aging parentsJoanna touched by his plight offered a solution Is it the surgical fees youre worried about I can lend you what you needUpon hearing Joannas offer the man halted his tears dropped his hands and gazed at her with a flicker of hope Really Do you have that kind of money The surgery is incredibly expensive I couldnt even raise enough by selling my apartmentIn his moment of vulnerability the man took note of Joannas necklace He remembered seeing a similar one before which had been dropped by a woman in a wealthy neighborhood That necklace was worth a fortuneAs he spoke he couldnt help but observe Joannas attire recognizing the brands that adomed her It dawned on him that her outfit alone was worth a significant sum Could it really be possible to borrow enough from her to save his fatherHeres my number Call me whenever you need the loan Joanna said offering him a business card with her detailsThe man accepted the card but was then distracted by an urgent call His expression darkened and he ended the call looking devastatedJoanna leaned closer concerned Whats wrongAn accident had occurred to the mans parentsThe man withdrew a long fruit knife from his bag his expression wild with desperation Ha theyre all gone Whats the point of me living
He turned toward Joanna his frustration boiling over Why do people like you live in luxury while we struggle in poverty I know your necklace and those clothes are worth more than my fathers surgery Why exactly whyAs he brandished the knife Joanna recoiled instinctively With quick reflexes honed from prior training she retreated and began calling for help Security Are there no guards in this hospitalThe commotion in the lobby escalated quicklyTheres someone with a knife RunRun Run Theres a murdererThe mans focus remained locked on Joanna driven by a mix of envy and despair Whyshould the rich enjoy lives of ease while I chase pennies I wont stand for this inequality If Icant have peace nobody willHe fixated on Joanna with a chilling intensity Lets die together he threatened with a twistedsmileBrandishing the knife the man chased after Joanna his pursuit relentless Their chaotic path through the hospital corridors elicited screams from bystandersEventually hospital security arrived equipped with shields and batons and began evacuating the areaDrop the knife We will take action if you dontThe police are on their way Surrender nowJoanna silently thanked her stars for the selfdefense training she had received Without it the man would have surely overtaken herAs she noticed a line of security guards offering a chance to escape a childs cry pierced the air She turned to see the man gripping a young boy of about six or seven years oldmmThe boys parents were nearby frantic with worry Carl Carl Please save our sonFacing the man squarely Joanna demanded What do you wantThe mans grip on the child tightened the knife dangerously close to the boys throat A single move could end in tragedyI want you deadI was trying to help you just now Joanna protested in utter disbelief Her intentions to help had spiraled into this nightmareThe mans voice was raw with fury Because youre filthy rich You deserve to die With all your wealth why not help those who are suffering Those starving and freezing Instead you spend lavishly on jewelry My father has passed away and Ive lost my will to live I want you to die with me If not this child will suffer the same fateThe boys mother was beside herself with grief barely able to speak No not CarlLet him go Take me instead Joanna offered herself stepping closer her resolve clear in front of the gathered crowd She was determined not to let an innocent child suffer because of herAll right Come here the man commanded turning his attention back to the child Stay quiet or Ill end you nowThe boy froze terrorstrickenJoanna took a deep breath and lunged at the man managing to throw the child to safety She then aimed a kick at the mans hand hoping to disarm himAt that moment shock registered on Joannas face as she felt the knife pierce her abdomenGo to hell with me the man whispered coldly his words a haunting echo