Chapter 156
Chapter 156:
Elliana couldn’t make out Hailee’s boyfriend’s face at first—the oxygen mask blurred his features. But as she studied him more closely, a chill ran down her spine. His facial features bore a striking resemblance to Trinity’s.
“Hailee,” Elliana said slowly, not taking her eyes off Hailee’s boyfriend. “What’s your boyfriend’s name p>
Hailee glanced at her boyfriend, her expression frozen in disbelief. Her voice was barely a whisper. “His name is Boris Craig p>
Hearing this, Elliana’s gaze sharpened. One could have dismissed the resemblance as a coincidence, but his surname was Craig—and that changed everything. There was no doubt that Boris was somehow tied to Trinity. But then why had Hailee mentioned that Boris grew up in an orphanage, alone in the world with no family ties? Something didn’t add up.
With suspicion tightening in her chest, Elliana fired off a quick message to Matthew. “See if there’s a Boris Craig listed in the Craig family registry in Ublento p>
Matthew’s reply came in seconds. “Got it p>
Not long after, Elliana’s phone buzzed again—this time with Boris’s full profile. The file listed his name, age, and background in crisp, clinical detail. At the bottom, a photo stood out.
Elliana studied the photo and then looked at the man lying seemingly unconscious in the hospital bed. The match was undeniable. Boris was the heir to the Craig family and Trinity’s elder brother. And most damning of all? He was perfectly healthy. Exactly as she had suspected the moment she laid eyes on him—his so-called illness was nothing but a sham.
Elliana narrowed her gaze, lips curving into a frosty, contemptuous smirk as she looked down at Boris. The Craig family had spent the past few years rising fast, thanks in no small part to their strategic alliance with the Evans family. Their partnership had funneled resources and power in both directions, catapulting them into the ranks of Ublento’s six most powerful families. So what reason could a man like Boris—wealthy, aristocratic, and privileged—possibly have for lying to a girl like Hailee? What game was he playing?
As Elliana mulled over the implications, she caught the faint flicker of Boris’s eyelashes—he was stirring. She slipped out of the room without a sound, not…
Hailee leaned in just beyond the door, watching through the narrow slit as events unfolded, not wanting to disrupt the performance she suspected was coming.
𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 gᴀʟɴᴏᴠᴇʟꜱ﹒ᴄᴏᴍ
Inside, Boris’s eyelids fluttered open. His voice came out faint, barely more than a breath. “Hailee p>
Hailee instantly clasped his hand, her face alight with relief. “Boris, you’re awake! Are you in pain? Is something making you uneasy p>
“I heard what the doctor said,” Boris whispered, a note of feigned sorrow in his voice. “You should walk away, Hailee. I don’t want to be a burden to you p>
Her grip on his hand tightened. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said softly, her eyes fierce with conviction. “We’re a match, Boris. I can donate one of my kidneys to you p>
Boris blinked at her and blurted, “You’d really give me one of your kidneys p>
“Yes, that’s right,” Hailee answered with a firm nod. “I’ve already consulted the doctor. Humans have two kidneys, and I can live a normal life with just one p>
Silence stretched for a beat. Then, Boris added with calculated hesitance, “But the surgery costs a lot p>
“Leave the money to me—I’ll handle it,” Hailee stated with forced cheer, trying to sound confident for Boris’s sake. “Don’t worry about it, okay p>
She glanced at the screen of her old phone and then looked back at him. “I’m heading out now to raise the funds. The doctors and nurses will take good care of you. Just focus on resting—don’t think about anything else p>
Boris gave a faint nod and let his eyes drift shut, as if sleep had reclaimed him.
Hailee gently pulled the blanket up to his chest, smoothing it with quiet care before rising to her feet. She stepped out into the hallway, easing the door shut behind her. The moment she was alone, the facade cracked. Her shoulders sagged, and a long, weary sigh slipped out. “Half a million for the surgery…” she murmured, a deep sigh escaping her lips. “Where am I supposed to find that kind of money p>
As Hailee brushed a tear from her cheek, her eyes caught a flicker of movement. It took her a moment to realize she was staring at Elliana, the famed Rosa. Elliana could easily afford to lend her half a million dollars. But they’d only known each other a handful of days. Could she really ask? She hesitated, every instinct screaming at her to stay silent. She bit her lip, torn between desperation and pride.
Elliana had sensed Hailee’s intentions. She said nothing, merely pressed her lips into a neutral line and looked away, giving Hailee space to wrestle with herself.
After a long silence, Hailee finally found her voice. “Elliana, could you lend me five hundred thousand dollars?” she asked, her tone trembling with both anxiety and resolve. “I swear I’ll pay you back. As soon as the transplant is done, I’ll do whatever it takes to earn the money—even with interest p>
“Money’s not the issue,” Elliana replied calmly. “The question is—have you really thought this through? You’re seriously planning to give a kidney to Boris p>
Hailee’s gaze dropped. “I don’t have another option. If I don’t do it, he’ll die. I can’t just let that happen. He saved me once—how could I turn my back on him now p>
Elliana tilted her head slightly. “And what about your father? Have you thought about how he’d feel if he knew p>
“I have,” Hailee responded, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m his only child. I know how much I mean to him. That’s exactly why he can’t ever find out. If he knew I gave up a kidney, it would destroy him p>
A beat of silence stretched between them before Elliana spoke again—gently, but with grave insistence. “Hailee, even the simplest surgery carries risks. If something happens to you, and if you don’t make it through—how do you think your father will survive that p>