The doctor called over a nearby nurse. "Christine, please accompany this gentleman to the payment desk to check the details."

This nurse happened to be the one overseeing Charlie's room. She already felt sympathy for Jamie and her son, and now, assuming Ben was Charlie's father, she couldn't help but share Jamie's hardships with him. "She's been raising her sick child alone, working multiple jobs just to cover his medical bills. It's really not easy for her."

"I even suggested she upgrade to a VIP room. The room has two beds, one for a family member to rest. But she turned it down because the VIP rooms are too expensive."

Ben's heart twisted as he listened. So, this was how Jamie had been living all these years.

And this child-who was his father? Could it possibly be his own?

No, that couldn't be. Jamie had left him years ago for the sake of money, cutting him off entirely, severing every line of contact. She had left so coldly. How could she possibly have kept his child?

Before long, they reached the payment desk. The nurse provided Charlie's name and room number, and Ben was handed the medical file.

If there was one word to describe Ben's reaction, it was shocking. The extent of Charlie's condition, the amount of medication required, it was overwhelming.

"I'd like to visit the child's room," Ben said, closing the file and turning to the nurse.

"Of course," the nurse replied readily. "Take the elevator on the left, up to the fifth floor. Once you're off, turn right, and you'll replace the room just down the hall." The distance wasn't far, but for Ben, every step seemed to drag on.

Finally, he reached the door, his hand hesitantly resting on the handle. Taking a deep breath, he gently pushed the door open.

Hearing the door, Charlie looked up excitedly expecting to see his mother But as his eyes landed on Ben, the excitement drained from his face, replaced by a wary expression. "Who are you?" en Narugi

Ben searched Charlie's features, trying to replace any resemblance to himself.

But he found none. Everyone who had ever met Charlie remarked on how much he looked like his mother, especially his nose and mouth. He was a spitting image of Jamie.

"I'm an old friend of your mother's," Ben said carefully. "Where's your dad?"

They say children don't lie, so if Charlie spoke up, Ben would believe him.

But Charlie had never seen this man before and didn't know if he wase friend or foe, so he certainly wasn't about to share any information. Just because he called himself an old friend didn't make it true.

It wasn't the first time someone had tried to approach him with claims like this. Jamie often had to bring him along to work, and there had been a few "bad uncles" who tried to trick him, offering him candy in exchange for his mother's contact information or to follow them. Charlie wasn't about to fall for it now.

"Why should I believe you?" Charlie sat up straighter, his small face full of distrust. "If you really know my mom, where is she? Don't think you can fool me!" Looking at him, Ben felt like he was staring at a small cactus, bristling with defensive spikes.

His voice softened. "Your mom is downstairs. She'll be back up soon."

"Then I'll wait until she gets here," Charlie replied, his guarded expression not easing one bit.

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