Spoiled by Eight Uncles (Lily) novel Chapter 4

Stephen went around the hospital looking for people, trying to find out what was going on. However, everyone he encountered told him that they did not know what was happening either.

By now, the Hatchers were so cold they were shivering uncontrollably in the icy corridor. The Crawfords would not see them either. It was becoming unbearable to wait there.

Paula was the first to admit defeat. “I’m going to see Debbie…”

Debbie was also warded at this hospital, but she was in the maternity wing.

Stephen and Richard could not stand it any longer either, but they did not want to leave so they had no choice but to keep on waiting in the interminable cold…

Incessant complaints filled their minds. They had no idea, however, that this was only the beginning of their troubles!

…

Lilly could hear the quiet beeping of machines around her. There were also people talking, but very indistinctly.

However, there was one voice in particular that was very clear.

“Lilly…Lilly dear…hey, little Tulip! You have to wake up soon, okay? If you don’t, I’ll…”

Lilly felt as if a small swarm of bees was buzzing beside her ear and chattering to her. It was just a little bit tiresome.

Who was this person talking to her?

Lilly’s eyelids fluttered slightly and she finally opened her eyes, only to see a snowy-white wall right in front of her.

A group of people surrounded her bed. Pursing her lips, she carefully scrutinized them.

Gilbert reacted enthusiastically; he was also the first to speak. “Lilly! You’re awake now! I’m your Uncle Gilbert…”

The rest of the Crawfords did not even dare to breathe; they watched Lilly tensely.

Lilly found herself at a loss. “Uncle Gilbert?”

Her pretty little face was expressionless and wooden. She looked just like a fragile porcelain doll.

It sounded as if she were repeating a foreign phrase.

Hugh’s mouth tightened into a hard line. Lilly was very thin; she was so tiny that the hospital bed seemed very large.

It hurt to see her like that, so much so that it was hard to breathe.

Gilbert spoke more gently. “Lilly, I’m your mother’s brother. My name is Gilbert. You telephoned me earlier, do you remember?”

Lilly furrowed her brow. After a moment, she let out a soft “Ohh.”

She remembered now.

She had called Uncle Gilbert’s phone number.

He had ignored her though.

Didn’t her uncles want her?

“Did you…did you come to look for me?” Lilly asked in a thread of a voice.

All the men around the bed nodded vigorously. Bryson added, “Lilly, I’m your Uncle Bryson. We’re all here to take you back home with us.”

Hugh felt as if something were constricting his throat. He drew a deep breath, then said, “That’s right. We’re here to take you home, Lilly. In the future, no one will dare to bully you or harass you. If anyone tries, your Grandpa Hugh will have something to say about that.”

Lilly looked at each of the men in turn.

They were going to take her home?

She wasn’t sure if they would abandon her again once they brought her home.

Would they beat her and starve her?

Seeing how silent she was, the Crawfords felt even more tense than ever.

None of them had much experience handling children. One by one, they looked at Anthony and Liam.

Anthony was the eldest Crawford boy; he was 40 years old and had two children. Liam, the second son, was 38 and also had two young ones.

However, Anthony was not very good at interacting with children; after hesitating for a moment, he asked bluntly, “Lilly, what are you worried about?”

Since he said this in his customary inflexible, rather harsh way, his siblings all glared at him.

Liam coughed slightly in embarrassment. By nature, he was a taciturn person and found it difficult to say much.

The tension in the air was so thick one could cut it with a knife.