Unloved Unwanted Unstoppable (Seraphina and Dominic) novel Chapter 89

Seraphina nodded.

The doctor held the medical chart out toward her. His tone wasn't outright hostile, but it was thick with reprimand. "The child is severely malnourished. How exactly are you parents taking care of her? If this continues, it is going to permanently stunt her growth and development. You need to enforce a balanced diet and immediately stop feeding her empty calories."

Seraphina froze completely.

She slowly took the chart, her eyes locking onto the rows of data, and her stomach plummeted.

Her voice carried a frantic edge. "Doctor, she is definitely a picky eater, but it shouldn't be this bad..."

"Being a picky eater is only part of the problem. The core issue is a prolonged lack of actual nutrition," the doctor stated firmly. "At her age, her protein, calcium, and vitamin intake needs to be optimal. You parents need to start taking this seriously. A child's physical health cannot afford this kind of neglect."

Seraphina gripped the edges of the chart until her knuckles turned white, nodding stiffly. "Okay, I understand. Thank you, doctor."

The doctor delivered a few more stern warnings before turning on his heel and leaving the room.

The nurse followed him out. As the heavy door clicked shut, an oppressive silence settled over the hospital room.

Seraphina stared down at the brightly red-flagged numbers on the chart, feeling a sharp, agonizing twist in her chest.

She had only been away from the Lockwood house for a matter of weeks, yet her daughter had already spiraled into severe malnutrition.

Before she moved out, she had meticulously written down every recipe, cooking method, and dietary restriction, handing the entire binder over to Janice Miller. Janice was incredibly detail-oriented; there was absolutely no reason she should have let things get this bad.

But the lab results staring back at her didn't lie.

Before she could even process the information, Lily started screaming at her.

"This is all your fault!"

Lily glared viciously at Seraphina. "It's all your fault. You wouldn't cook for me, and that's why I'm sick. Since you left, I haven't had a single good meal."

Seraphina's fingers dug into the plastic cover of the chart.

Seraphina stood completely paralyzed, the medical chart in her hands crushed and wrinkled beyond recognition.

After a heavy silence, she suddenly let out a dry, hollow laugh.

"Lily." She finally spoke. "If you think Lauren is so amazing, and Cynthia is so amazing, then you can have them cook for you. Have them take care of you."

Lily froze.

She fully expected her mother to coddle her like she always did, to crouch down, wrap her in a hug, beg for forgiveness, and promise to make her favorite shrimp dumplings and steamed egg custard the very next day.

But her mother didn't do any of that.

A lump formed in Lily's throat, and a fresh wave of tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"You're just cheap!" she wailed hysterically. "Lauren buys me the best snacks, and Cynthia buys me beautiful dresses! You are supposed to make me delicious food! Why are you trying to make them do it? They have real jobs, and you don't! Why won't you just cook for me?!"