Suzanne called her mother’s number.


    The dial tone went on for a long time. Right before it ended, the call went through. A loud noise


    followed


    “Higher… higher… Fuck me, I’ve bust!


    “Hello? Who is this?”


    Suzanne felt uneasy listening to her mother’s vulgarnguage. She


    said slowly, “It’s Suzanne, Mom.”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Betty Burns’ tone immediately became loving. “Oh, my darling daughter. How are you? Is that olddy


    doing alright?”


    Suzanne hadn’t told her family that she had married Nathan. They thought she was still working as a


    caretaker at Shovale.


    “We’re all okay,” Suzanne said faintly.


    Betty sighed long and hard. “I’m personally not doing very well here My blood pressure and sugar are


    both high. My rheumatism has rpsed too, making it so difficult to sleep through the night.


    “That damned alcoholic of a father you have always abuses me when hees home drunk too. Oh,


    Suzanne, things are so difficult for me


    here.


    “That foolish brother of yours has gone into hiding after getting at buttload of debt. He hasn’t given me


    anything to sustain myself with


    all this while.


    “I can’t even get out of bed to go to work because of how painful my rheumatism is, Suzanne. Your


    father isn’t helping either with how much he drinks. I don’t even know how I can continue living like this!


    “Oh, Suzanne-”


    Suzanne couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She cut her mother off, saying, “I understand, Mom. I’ll


    transfer some money to youter.”


    “Thank you so much, dear!” Betty said excitedly.


    “There’s something I need your help with, Mom.”


    “You don’t have to be so polite with me. What happened?”


    “Can youe to the hospital with me?”


    Betty grew anxious. “Are you sick?”


    “Mom, I…” Suzanne’s words stuck in her throat.


    Betty had always praised Suzanne for being obedient, kind, and understanding. She was always very


    fond of Suzanne because of this.


    If Suzanne suddenly brought up the DNA test, Betty would never agree to it. After all, how could Betty


    let go of a daughter who was so obedient to her and took care of her?


    Suzanne quickly changed her narrative. “Mom, I’m worried I might have a hereditary immune disorder.


    The doctor isn’t 100% sure so needs to do a test to look at our gics before he can properly


    diagnose me.”


    “Oh, my poor daughter! Why did you suddenly get ill?” Betty began weeping on the other end of the


    call.


    Betty was earnestly upset. But whether it was because she worried about Suzanne as a person or as


    her personal ATM was another story.


    “I’ll send you a locationter on, Mom. We can set a time to go to the hospital.”


    Betty quickly answered, “Alright, dear. Hurry up and get this treated. Don’t drag this out.”.


    “I know, Mom. Bye now.” Suzanne hung up the call.


    Afterward, Betty sat in a dark corner of the casino she was in and started thinking. She crossed a leg


    over the other, a cigarette between her teeth.


    Betty suddenly recalled a very rich man. That man was always very generous in paying her whenever


    she told him news about Suzanne.


    The moment Betty imagined getting all that money, she began flipping through her contact list.


    “Hello? Is this Dr. Hoffis?”


    “Yes,” Oliver replied.


    “My daughter Suzanne just gave me a call…”


    Betty then told Oliver every single thing that had gone on with Suzanne as ofte in the loud and dingy


    casino.