The next day, Anna went to Nina's house to meet Nina and her mother before visiting the hospital together. She supported her sore waist with a hand on her hip the entire way. "Nina, Nina. You don't know how much I've sacrificed for you!"

Anna walked up the stairs, the pain from her sore waist causing her to sigh at every step.

Nina lived in an old, run-down neighborhood. The staircase was old and rusty from age and in urgent need of repair.

Anna looked carefully before taking every step, worried that the staircase would give way and cause her to her fall.

She followed the address Nina gave to the school, found her way to Nina's house, and pressed on the doorbell.

"Anna!" Nina opened the door, she seemed depressed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Come on in."

The inside of the apartment was clean. There was not a speck of dust in sight, but the air was filled with the overpowering scent of herbal medicines.

Melissa Baker, Nina's mother, sat on the sofa clicking through the channels on the television.

"Mom! Anna is here. She's the one I always talk about. My best friend, Anna Hamilton. Nina knelt in front of her mother and said quietly.

Melissa lifted her head slowly and glanced towards Anna, "You're Anna Hamilton? Melissa often talks about you."

Melissa studied Anna from head to toe, "You're so beautiful."

This was the first time Anna was met Nina's mother. Although she knew she was suffering from a mental illness, she didn't expect her condition to be so advanced. Mellissa stared at her with empty, expressionless eyes, she couldn't help but feel chills down her spine, slightly afraid.

Nina bowed her head, "Anna, take a seat."

"Aren't we going to the hospital?" Anna was confused.

Nina shook her head at her, indicating for her to lower her voice, then said to her mother gently, "Mom, Anna is here to take us out for a walk. Why don't we go and get changed? After that, we can leave." Melissa continued staring at Anna with her empty, listless eyes, "So pretty, such a pretty girl. You must have many suitors?"

"You're pretty too Aunt Melissa," Anna said with a smile.

Even though the years had been tough on Melissa, her thick brows and defined features remained. A testament to her beauty as a young lady.

Melissa smiled kindly, "Anna is such a kind child!

Let's go out and have fun!"

Melissa stood up, one hand pulling at Anna and the other pulling at Nina, "Let's go."

"Mom, we need to change. Come on, let's go get changed first, ok?" Nina coaxed patiently.

Melissa nodded, "Ok, ok! Change and go out!"

Mellissa changed into a one-piece, even putting extra care into her appearance. She filled her brows and put on a smudge of red lipstick. She held both hands in front of her, smiling gently at Anna, elegant and refined.

Melissa didn't look like a heavily ill middle-aged lady, she exuded an air of charm and elegance that came all too naturally.

Anna frowned, confused.

With a family background like Nina's, why did her mother exude the air that only wealthy socialites had?

Anna was all-too-familiar with such postures. When she was younger, her parents specifically hired a tutor to teach her all these.

Nina could read Anna's confusion from the expression and whispered to her, "I heard from Mom, she was from a rich family, but unfortunately later on they lost their wealth."

"Oh, I see."

The three of them left together, Anna opened the car door and helped Melissa into the car.

"Nina, your mom looks fine to me, I don't think her condition is too serious."

Nina sighed, "There are some good days and some bad days. We're relying on medication to keep her symptoms under control. When it hits, I can't stop her even if I wanted to. It's easier to trick her into going to the hospital now, that's why... you have to cooperate with me. She hates hospitals."

"I understand."

Anna started the car and started their slow drive.

When they approached the hospital, Melissa saw the hospital building and started to panic.

"Where are we going? Nina, are you bringing me to the hospital?" Mellissa tugged at the door handles.

Nina immediately tried to comfort her, "No, Mom! It's Anna, her stomach's hurting. She's not feeling well, she's here to get her medication."

Anna hurriedly placed one hand over her stomach," Ouch, she's right, my stomach hurts so much!"

Melissa grew worried, "Anna, did you eat food that had gone bad? Why would your stomach hurt all of a sudden? Could it be something else?" "I'm fine, Aunt Melissa. I ate some expired food this morning for breakfast." Anna parked the car in a hurry.

"We'll go get my medicine together, and then we'll go play."

"Ok, ok." Melissa didn't doubt them at all.

Dr. Hart had received instructions from Liam requesting him to arrange for Melissa's admission.

Everything was pre-arranged, the hospital merely awaiting their arrival.

The moment Anna saw Dr. Hart, she hurriedly said, "My stomach hurts so much, please prescribe me some medicine."

Anna wiggled her brows at Dr. Hart, motioning for him to start the plan. He understood her signal and led them into a consultation room.

Melissa was anxious, following Anna close on her heels. "Is she having a miscarriage? She's pregnant."

UH

UH

Anna was speechless, she held a hand to her forehead in helplessness.

Nina's lips curled into a smile, "Mom, shush, the doctor is here. Keep it to yourself." "Ok, ok, I won't say anything more." Melissa sat to the side obediently.

"Everything's fine, don't worry. Take a seat," said Dr. Hart.

Anna pointed at her stomach, then pointed at Nina and Melissa, and the doctor understood.

"Many cases of gastroenteritis have been reported recently, it's best if you both get examined too, just to be safe."

At the thought that she would be examined too, Melissa grew anxious, taking a few steps back.

"Mom, don't be afraid, we're just following the doctor's orders. See, Anna is in so much pain. What do we do if we ate food that had gone bad and our stomachs hurt?" Nina was worried her mother would run off, so she held onto her tightly.

Melissa was still suspicious, but she followed Nina and stood in front of Dr. Hart.

"Dr. Hart, thank you." Nina looked at him gratefully.

"Someone already ordered me to try my best, how could I slack off?" Dr. Hart said with a smile on his face, gaze drifting towards Anna suggestively.

Anna blushed, coughed dryly, and turned her back towards them.

Melissa saw the stethoscope he held in his hands and grew agitated again. She shook her head furiously, fear and anguish written all over her face. "I'm not sick, I'm not sick! Don't think of harming me!" "You want to kill me!"

"I'm not sick! I'm not a patient!"

Melissa released herself from Nina's grip and dashed towards the door, Anna pulled her back in a rush.

"Aunt Melissa, don't worry, this is just a routine check. No one will harm you."

Melissa grabbed at Anna, eyes widened by fear, "Who are you? Why are you here? Who are you, who are you?!"

"Aunt Melissa, I am Anna, Nina's best friend!"

"No! No! You're not! Why are you still alive! You whore!!!"

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