Chapter: 243

"Go back and cherish the remaining moments with your father. That's all you can do," the doctor added, his voice heavy with a false sense of compassion.

The man, in a state of utter desperation, clung to the doctor's legs, sobbing. “Doctor, please. My dad can still be saved. I beg of you, don't give up on him..

The doctor, unmoved, freed himself from the man's grip. "I'm sorry, but I have other responsibilities..."

The onlookers exchanged whispers, their eyes filled with pity, as they watched the scene unfold.

Joanna approached the man, extending a tissue. “Are you alright?"

The man's tears continued to fall, too engulfed in grief to acknowledge Joanna's gesture.

“If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know..." Joanna offered.

Lifting his head, the man's face was etched with lines of sorrow and eyes reddened from crying. “My dad's critically ill. They're saying he doesn't have much time left. But how? Just a few months back, he was healthy. It's only been a short while, and now this..."

Tears soaked his delivery uniform as he shared his struggles to provide for his aging parents.

Joanna, touched by his plight, offered a solution, “Is it the surgical fees you're worried about? I can lend you what you need."

Upon hearing Joanna's 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 couldn't even raise enough by selling my apartment."

In his moment of vulnerability, the man took note of Joanna's necklace. He remembered seeing a similar one before, which had been dropped by a woman in a wealthy neighborhood. That necklace was worth a fortune.

As he spoke, he couldn't help but observe Joanna's attire, recognizing the brands that adorned 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 father?

“Here's my number. Call me whenever you need the loan," Joanna said, offering him a business card with her details.

The man accepted the card but was then distracted by an urgent call.

His expression darkened, and he ended the call looking devastated.

Joanna leaned closer, concerned. "What's wrong?"

An accident had occurred to the man's parents.

The man withdrew a long fruit knife from his bag, his expression wild with desperation. “Ha, they're all gone! What's 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 father's surgery.

Why, exactly why?"

As 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 hospital?"

The commotion in the lobby escalated quickly.

"There's someone with a knife. Run!"