Chapter 26 The Checkup

“Alexia.” Chaim knocked on the office door.

Alexia looked up, wearing thick, black-framed glasses, seeing Chaim standing in the doorway. “Mr.

Lancaster?”

“Why are you wearing glasses?” Chaim asked in slight disgust.

Alexia stood up and took off her glasses. “I have a bit of astigmatism.”

“How long have you had this problem?”

“I’ve had it for a long time now.” Alexia smiled casually.

There was more about Alexia that Chaim didn’t know, but she remembered everything about him.

“Alright, come with me.” Chaim said in an icy voice, throwing the matter aside.

“Where are we going?” Alexia asked, looking at him in confusion.

“The hospital.”

“For what?”

Chaim sent a brief message to Assistant Chiao asking him to arrange a car while responding. “We’re getting you a checkup to determine whether there will be any side effects after you donate bone marrow.”

Alexia’s heart fell once again. Yes, he had brought this up two months ago, but Alexia was just happy for his attention and care. However, in the end, he still only cared about her bone marrow.

Thinking about all of that, Alexia spoke up. “If there are side effects, are you still going to ask me to donate?”

Chaim paused mid-typing, his thumbs hovering over his phone as he looked at her pale face with no words.

Experience told him not to respond. However, he didn’t want to watch Eve die, either. He didn’t want to see harm come to either of them.

“Let’s go to the checkup first.” He suddenly felt powerless in a way he had never felt before.

“okay.” Alexia took a deep breath and forced down the urge to cry. “Are we going to the hospital now?”

“Yes.”

“But I have so much work left to do, can I—”

“Wood will take over.” Chaim interrupted, not leaving room for Alexia to argue.

Knowing she couldn’t avoid it, Alexia silently packed her bag, and followed him out of the office.

*****

In the car, Alexia looked blankly out of the window without a word.

Chaim thought that she was worried about the side effects, so he offered her some rare comfort. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Alexia didn’t respond.

“Alexia, I’m talking to you.”

“I heard you.” Alexia said, refusing to look away from the window. “There is something though. That you say something will be fine doesn’t mean it will actually be fine.”

Chaim finally fell silent. The air between them was heavy and quiet when they arrived at the hospital.

Chaim parked the car and got out to open Alexia’s door before she got out. For the first time, Alexia was flattered by Chaim’s special attention. She even considered the idea that he actually cared about her until she saw the hospital gate.

“Let’s go,” Chaim said, tossing the car keys to the valet and looked back at Alexia.

In the office, Nathaniel asked the nurses around him to leave when he saw Chaim and Alexia approaching.

“You’re here!”

“Nate, she’s in your hands.” Chaim said pushing Alexia toward Nathaniel.

Nathaniel smiled, “Sister, come with me. The first is the blood test.”

“… Wonderful,” Alexia said through a false smile.

In the blood test room, Nathaniel drew a full vial of blood from Alexia’s arm. Seeing her calm face, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Sister, you’re quite brave.”

“I’ve gotten used to it,” Alexia said, holding the cotton ball on her arm and giving him a small smile.

“The pain?” Nathaniel asked, handing the vial of blood to the nurse to be tested, Nathaniel sat down to chat with her.

Alexia nodded, “My mom has beaten me since I was little. I’ve gotten used to pain.”

“Your mother treats you badly?”

“She prefers boys to girls and didn’t bother to hide it.” Alexia threw away the cotton ball after the blood had stopped flowing.

“Sister, you’ve had a hard time.”

“It’s all in the past,” Alexia said, shrugging carelessly.

When she was younger, Alexia was extremely upset that her parents loved her brother more. As she grew up however, Alexia had just grown tired of their endless greed for money.

“Doctor Hardy, can you come here for a moment?” the nurse who was testing the blood asked, concerns on her face.

Nathaniel pushed up his glasses. “What’s wrong?”

The nurse looked at Alexia hesitatingly.

Alexia realized there might be something wrong with her blood and concerns flooded her. “Is there something wrong with my blood test?”

“Sister, don’t worry. I’ll have a look,” Nathaniel reassured her before leaving with the nurse.

“What’s going on?” he asked with a serious look as soon as he entered the laboratory.

“Just compare Ms. White’s blood test report with Ms. Chi’s.”

The nurse handed two blood test results to Nathaniel.

After reading the results, Nathaniel stood there in shock. “How could this happen? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“I’m sure! I’ve confirmed it several times.”

Nathaniel was silent for several moments before crumpling the reports and staring at the nurse in warning.

“You’re not allowed to disclose this matter to anyone, let alone mention you ran the test. Otherwise, you will regret it immediately!”

The nurse nodded repeatedly the blood draining from her face.

Seeing Nathaniel entering the room with a frown, Alexia stood up while trying to keep herself calm.

“Dr. Hardy, is there a problem?”