A pregnant nun came to the bank to collect her inheritance, and after asking her the first question, the banker ran to the safe deposit box…

Amanda took a few deep breaths and entered through the gates. She rang the doorbell, and shortly after, Andrew appeared at the doorstep. He recognized her, it was evident in his eyes.

Didn’t think I’d see you again. Hello, Andrew. Will you let me in? We need to talk.

They entered his house. Amanda noticed that little had changed inside. Andrew was conservative.

He fervently preserved memories of their father. This was exactly what brought them together. Amanda told her stepbrother about her son’s illness.

He carefully inquired about her family, and Amanda recounted what had happened three years ago. She saw pain in his eyes, as if he were experiencing it all over again. And that was a first.

Somewhere deep within her, a glimmer of hope appeared that they could mend their relationship. I’m sorry, I don’t have the money right now. It’s a crisis, I’m barely making ends meet.

But I’ll still help you. Andrew pulled out a few bills from his pocket and handed them to Amanda. She felt embarrassed, but she accepted.

Thank you. I understand. Call me if you need anything, I’d be glad to talk.

You can visit your nephews. Andrew nodded briefly. It was clear he wasn’t planning on reconnecting.

As Amanda got up and was heading to the door, Andrew called out to her. You know, there’s something I could do for you after all. If you agree to sell me your shares in the company, there would be enough money to cover the surgery, he said.

Amanda sighed. She hadn’t even thought about that packet. She only heard about it during her father’s well-reading when she inherited shares in the company.

She was 18 then. It was another anniversary of her parents’ death, the 10th one. Benjamin, the family lawyer, came to her and handed over numerous valuable documents, a bank account, and the keys to the safety deposit box that ultimately led to her husband’s downfall.

Amanda knew those were bloodstained riches. She went to the church to pray for her father’s sins and had no intention of using his wealth. Only when rumors started circulating in the area about the church being in a state of disrepair and possibly needing to close until funds were raised for repairs did she decide to take what her father had bequeathed to her.

I don’t need anything, you know that. If you want to buy the shares, I’ll sell them to you. But you said times were tough and there’s no money, Amanda said.

Andrew hesitated. Other shareholders will help me. They asked about it.

We’ll come up with something. Amanda agreed, brought the documents, and although she hadn’t been trained for this, she understood financial matters excellently. For some time, she had been handling them at the church, assisting the priest with accounting.

He had always said Amanda would have made an excellent economist. When she went to Andrew, she handed him the papers and he had already prepared the transfer agreement for the shares. A gift deed? You promised to buy the shares from me.

Of course. Here’s the money, it’s yours. It’s exactly the amount you requested for the surgery, Andrew said.

Amanda quickly read through the documents. The shares are worth ten times more. Andrew sighed.

These are tough times now, as I told you. I can’t give you more for them. No, if you don’t want to, you can keep them.

Amanda nodded quickly. I don’t need them, even for free. Thank you, you’ve helped me.

She smiled at him, genuinely thanked him, and left his house with the money. He could have just lent her that amount, but he needed her father’s company shares. Andrew managed to keep the company afloat and even opened a subsidiary in a neighboring city.

Amanda believed she had done the right thing. He might have compelled her to do it this way, but those shares were of no use to her. After what had happened with Darren, she was even afraid to touch her father’s inheritance.

Soon, the operation for her son was scheduled. The second child was being cared for by the matron. Amanda gathered Horace and went with him to the city hospital.

Your son’s tests are good. Shall we proceed with the surgery tomorrow? The surgeon cheered her. For every mother, a surgery for their child is terrifying.

She was very anxious and cried almost the whole night. When she walked into the corridor, she bumped into a man. He was tall, blonde, and had a gentle appearance.

Excuse me, Amanda apologized timidly. Is something wrong? He asked. No, nothing.

Everything’s fine, Amanda replied. It’s just that my child is having surgery tomorrow, and I’m nervous. The man sighed, my daughter had surgery today.

Is it the same type of surgery? I overheard a conversation with the anesthesiologist. Later in the evening, a doctor approached Amanda. While all the other doctors reassured her that everything would be fine and the surgery would only take half an hour, this doctor began to scare Amanda, telling her they would induce a state of artificial coma.

It was almost like dying. She said they wouldn’t provide good anesthesia and suggested she buy an excellent drug that’s easier for children to tolerate. Amanda emptied her wallet, and from that moment on, she couldn’t stop worrying.

Remembering that conversation, she let out a sigh. Do you know that there is no other drug? They take this money and that’s it. They intentionally scare parents, she said.

Didn’t you pay? She asked. I paid. But then a nurse told me, he replied.

But that’s terrible. Why do they do this? I can’t calm down now. The man sighed.

The cafeteria doesn’t close at night. Let’s have some tea. I have some with Melissa.

He showed a box with tea bags and smiled. Amanda nodded. She looked into the ward to make sure Horace was sleeping soundly and followed the stranger.

The cafeteria was quiet, sterile, and empty. During the day, someone was always around, but at night, there was a different atmosphere. My name is Austin, the man introduced himself.

Amanda. Nice to meet you. Austin told her that he had been raising his daughter alone since her birth…