Chapter 336
She can’t be crippled.
She just can’t!
Ann is Amanda’s only daughter. If Ann ends up with a limp, how is Amanda supposed to handle it?
Gavin nodded in agreement, his voice urgent. “My wife’s right, Dr. Aaron. As long as you can fix my daughter’s leg, whatever it costs, we’ll pay it. Money isn’t an issue for us p>
Dr. Aaron shook his head slowly. “Mr. and Mrs. Templeton, I understand that money isn’t the problem. As a doctor, I want nothing more than to help Ann, but this isn’t something money can solve. What’s done is done. Even if the world’s best surgeon were here, I’m afraid there’s nothing anyone can do to fully restore your daughter’s leg p>
At those words, Amanda’s world went dark. She fainted on the spot.
“Amanda! Amanda!” Gavin panicked, rushing to catch her as she collapsed.
But Amanda was completely unconscious.
One moment, Ann was lying in her hospital bed; the next, Amanda was rushed to the emergency room herself.
Thankfully, Amanda’s episode was just a case of hyperventilation brought on by stress-nothing life-threatening. After emergency treatment, she gradually regained consciousness.
The moment she opened her eyes, Amanda looked desperately at Gavin. “Gavin, I was dreaming, wasn’t I? Ann’s fine, right? She’s still okay, isn’t she p>
Gavin’s eyes were red-rimmed. “Amanda, we… we have to face the truth. At least Ann’s safe, and her leg isn’t completely lost. She’ll still be able to walk-I just spoke with the doctor. It isn’t as bad as we feared. She won’t need a cane, just a slight limp… that’s all p>
Gavin knew, of course, that even a limp would change Ann’s life.
But right now, optimism was all he had left.
As her parents, they had no choice but to accept reality.
“She won’t need a cane? Just a limp?” Amanda’s anger exploded. She slapped Gavin hard across the face. “Gavin! How can you say that? Ann is your own daughter p>
The slap stunned Gavin; he pressed a hand to his cheek, at a complete loss for words.
What else could he do?
He was the son-in-law who never quite fit in, always swallowing his pride.
He wasn’t technically living in his wife’s family’s house, but he was treated as if he were no respect, no dignity, certainly not from Amanda.
Just then, Keira and the others walked in, catching Amanda mid-slap.
“Amanda, what are you doing? How could you hit Gavin like that?” Keira’s voice was sharp.
Gavin glanced back at his mother-in-law with a forced smile. “It’s nothing, Mom. Amanda’s just upset, that’s all p>
Keira’s brows knitted with anger as she glared at Amanda. “What’s going on? Ann’s still in the hospital room! Can’t you control yourself p>
He was a grown man, after all. How could Amanda just hit him—especially in front of their child?
Amanda broke down, clutching Keira’s hand, nearly hysterical. “Mom, it’s over! The doctor said Ann will have a limp because she didn’t get emergency care in time. What are we going to do? Ann’s still so young p>
At that, Tammie Gonzales froze, glancing over at Caitlin.
He’d thought Caitlin was just being dramatic last night, but now he realized she’d understood exactly what would happen.
No one could imagine how much Amanda regretted everything in that moment.
Hannah arrived and couldn’t hold back. “Amanda, I hate to say it, but Ann’s limp is your own doing! I heard all about what happened last night. If you hadn’t stopped Freya from giving Ann emergency treatment, this never would have happened p>