Inside the ICU, the room was quiet save for the soft hum of machines and the steady beeping that marked each heartbeat. Lucas Williams sat beside the hospital bed, his hand gently holding the delicate fingers of his five-year-old daughter, Ella.“Daddy…” Her voice was a mere whisper, weak but filled with a maturity no child should have to bear. “Can… can you stop this? It hurts so much.”Lucas’s chest tightened. “Sweetheart, don’t say that. I’ll do everything I can to help you feel better. Just hold on a bit longer, okay?”Her tiny fingers trembled in his grasp, but she managed a small, tired smile. “But… it’s so expensive, Daddy. And… I don’t want to make things harder for you. Maybe… maybe it’s time.”“No, Ella,” he said firmly, his voice wavering. “No, you’re my baby girl. I won’t let you go through this alone. I’m going to get you the best treatment. I promise. Soon, we’ll be back home, and I’ll make you all the fried chicken you can eat. Just hang on.”Her gaze softened, almost p

The hospital room was filled with a stunned silence, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. Dr. John Stevens and the nurse stood frozen, their expressions locked in disbelief as Ella’s eyelids fluttered open.“No… this can’t be,” Dr. Stevens muttered, his mouth agape. “She was… gone.”The nurse beside him shook her head, her eyes wide. “This isn’t possible. She had no vital signs!”Lucas barely heard them, his entire focus on Ella as she opened her eyes, her voice a faint whisper. “Daddy… don’t… leave me…”He dropped to his knees beside her bed, tears streaming down his face. “Ella! I’m here, sweetheart. I’ll never leave you again. I promise.” He clasped her tiny hand, feeling warmth rush through him, filling him with a joy he thought he’d never feel again.Ella’s small fingers curled around his, her voice a little stronger. “Your hand… it feels warm… and safe.”A soft laugh escaped him, mixed with tears. “You’re safe now, Ella. I’m going to take you home, just like

The tension in Liam’s hospital room was suffocating, and Lucas’s voice cut through it like a knife. “This isn’t just leukemia, Mr. Elliott. Your son has been poisoned.”The accusation hung in the air, met by a stunned silence before exploding into anger. Dr. Luca Atkinson’s face twisted in disbelief and fury. “How dare you?” he spat. “Are you suggesting this hospital poisoned a child? This is preposterous!”Adam Ellis, torn between desperation and indignation, glared at Lucas. “You walk in here and start throwing wild accusations? Do you even know who you’re talking to?” His voice rose, echoing off the sterile white walls. “You’re a nobody—a dog, taking advantage of Ms. Lewis’s generosity. And now you’re making baseless claims against a respected doctor?”Lucas held up his hands, calm but unyielding. “I’m not attacking anyone. I believe the poisoning was unintentional. It’s possible that a combination of certain foods reacted negatively, creating a toxin that’s worsened his condition.

Lucas scanned the morning market, taking in the bustling crowd and the tempting aromas filling the air. He quickly found his way to a popular fried dough stand, greeted by the familiar smell of fresh, hot dough sticks sizzling in the fryer.“I’ll take ten orders,” Lucas said, handing cash to the vendor.The vendor, an older man with a skeptical look, raised an eyebrow. “Ten orders? You sure about that?”“Positive,” Lucas replied, his stomach already rumbling. “I’ll pay upfront.”As he waited for his order, a small group approached the stand. An elderly man, pale and frail but with a lively gleam in his eye, led the group. Beside him was a handsome young man with an air of impatience, a stern-looking middle-aged man, and a little girl, who looked no older than seven, clutching the elderly man’s hand.“Grandpa, maybe skip the fried dough,” the young man urged, glancing worriedly at the elderly man. “Greasy food isn’t good for you.”The elderly man waved him off with a laugh. “A few stic

Lucas stood outside the Cottage, checking his watch when he heard a familiar, mocking voice behind him.“Well, well, look who’s slumming it at a place he can’t afford,” Ashley sneered, her tone laced with satisfaction. Dressed provocatively, she looked him up and down, her eyes filled with contempt. Tom Brooks, her wealthy husband, stood beside her with a smug smirk, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist.Lucas sighed, his patience thinning. “Ashley, I’m here for a meeting. It has nothing to do with you.”She scoffed, folding her arms. “Oh, please. Don’t tell me you’ve actually managed to raise money for Ella’s treatment. I thought you’d come crawling, begging for help.”Tom chuckled, pulling Ashley closer and pressing a kiss to her cheek, a deliberate display meant to taunt Lucas. “Looks like you’re still a ‘poor bastard,’ Lucas. Hard to believe you thought you could keep up.”Lucas clenched his jaw, refusing to be baited. This is about Ella, he reminded himself, not them.As