Roxanne tilted her head down and saw the kids surrounding her. They had heard what Larry said earlier, but they were still a little scared.
If possible, she wanted to treat the kids in person as well, but she had to stick to the schedule for the day. Being responsible for curing all the kids would mean that she likely wouldn’t be able to finish today, even if she worked all night.
She was still heartbroken, but seeing the bigger picture encouraged her to coax the kids sweetly, “The doctors there can cure you too, little ones. They’re nice. Remember how kind they were during the check-up?”
The kids turned to one another after hearing what Roxanne said, but no one wanted to take the first step forward.
Roxanne couldn’t help feeling a little defeated when she saw their reaction. “If you insist on waiting for me, then some will not be treated today, and that is not ideal. I really hope that everyone can get their treatment today.”
Hesitation engulfed the kids once more.
Just as Roxanne was struggling to find the words to convince them, the little girl, who was the leader, stepped forward. She obediently made her way to Larry’s side and requested, “Please be gentle.”
Larry smiled warmly at her and stroked her head. “Got it. Thank you for trusting me.”
The girl smiled sweetly.
Now that someone had taken the first step, more and more kids began leaving Roxanne’s side. They went to the other doctors.
Daniel was the only one left with absolutely no patient.
The kids might’ve claimed to have forgiven him, but they were still terrified of him, especially since he had a scowl on.
Daniel was even more infuriated when he saw how the kids were actively avoiding him.
He had been a traditional medicine practitioner for years, and that was the first time he wasn’t coveted,
There was no way he would ask Roxanne for help after what had happened earlier, so he had no choice but to stand there stiffly.
Quite a few kids were still hanging out around Roxanne.
She turned around and saw that Daniel was the only one without any patients, and that made her frown. Hesitation rose within her.
It was clear that the kids still feared him, but if no one went to him, the team’s efficiency would remain low.
Roxanne hesitated for a few moments before curving her lips into a smile. “You can go to the good doctor there as well. He was only scary earlier because he was eager to cure everybody. Now that he has learned his lesson, will you give him a chance to redeem himself? He’s very skilled and can cure you quickly.”
After that, Roxanne shifted her gaze and smiled at Daniel, signaling him to do something
Daniel was taken aback.
S-She’s actually speaking up for me? I was rude and mean to her earlier, but she’s still willing to help me…
Daniel turned his attention to the kids and saw them staring at him with teary eyes. A stiff smile remained on his face, and it took him some time before he could finally put on a warmer and more approachable expression. “I was too impulsive earlier, kids, and I am sorry. I promise I will be more patient and won’t hurt anyone anymore.”
Still, the kids remained wary.
Roxanne’s heart ached a little. She stood up and made her way to Daniel before gesturing for him to put his hand out.
He had no idea what she was planning, but he complied anyway.
A handful of colorful candies landed on his palm soon after.
“Come look! He has so many candies. If you behave and do as he says, you can have one,” said Roxanne with a smile to get the kids to listen.
Despite the candy Daniel was holding, his smile still seemed a little awkward.
That made the kids scared. Unfortunately, they couldn’t resist the sweet temptation, so they hesitantly made their way to him.
After a bit of coordination, all four doctors were given some patients.
Roxanne breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her post to work away.
Silence descended upon the cubicle. Occasionally, the sounds of the kids joking and playing around rang out, but they kept it soft. It was almost as though they were worried about disturbing the doctors.
The more Roxanne worked, the heavier her heart felt.
Their first round was a simple examination of the kids’ pulse and getting an idea of how their health was. Those with more complicated medical issues would have to receive extra treatment.
When Roxanne first saw the abandoned kids, she was already heartbroken for them. Actually treating their condition made her feel even worse.
Some of the kids had milder issues and could be cured with some medicine or via acupuncture. Unfortunately, the doctors on site couldn’t help those with more complicated issues. All they could do was send the kids to the hospital, where the Damaris family would pay for their medical fees.
The first few kids Roxanne treated all had mild issues, and she was just about to sigh in relief when she examined a kid with a more serious condition.
The kid was only about four or five years old and was around Archie’s and Benny’s age. His round, chubby face was tense with nervousness.
When Roxanne looked into those big, round eyes, her heart ached so much that she couldn’t speak for a moment.
“Am I very sick?” asked the kid fearfully.
A lump lodged itself in Roxanne’s throat. She didn’t have the guts to answer that question because she worried that her voice would be thick with tears if she spoke.
The kid ended up consoling her instead. “It’s fine. I’m just an orphan nobody loves anyway, so no one will be sad even if my condition is bad. Don’t feel bad for me. Your eyes are getting all red with tears.”
The place was quiet, so everyone heard what the kid said.
Feeling helpless, Roxanne dug her fingers into her palms before turning around to ask the others for help.
She had lost a kid once and couldn’t bear the situation before her now.
Lack paused. He made his way over to them and stroked the boy’s head. “Don’t worry. We’ll take you to the hospital, and you will be fine.”
The kid shifted his gaze and looked right at Roxanne. He wanted an answer from her.
Roxanne took a deep breath and suppressed her urge to cry. She made herself smile and promised, “You will be fine, and you are not a kid nobody loves. Once you’ve recovered, someone will come for you and adopt you. You will have a daddy and a mommy, and you will grow up happy and healthy. That is why you must be good and let us treat your illness, okay?”
The kid’s eyes glowed at the mention of a daddy and a mommy. Eager and filled with anticipation, he asked, “Is it true? Will I really have a daddy and a mommy? Even though I am so sick?”
Roxanne’s heart clenched in her chest. The kid’s words suggested that he knew exactly how bad his situation was. Yet, he was more worried about whether someone would love him
For a moment, Roxanne was tempted to take the kid away.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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