Susie was more than just Ernest's sister; she had become like a daughter to him., Their bond was so profound, it's no wonder it turned Ernest, a man as tough as nails, into someone so cautious and protective., Susie shared countless stories about her and Ernest, including how Ernest himself had built their cozy little backyard brick by brick., She reminisced about how Ernest used to catch fish and grill it for her, boasting about his exceptional cooking skills, honed purely to pamper her., Through Susie's tales, I gained a deeper understanding of Ernest, an understanding that tugged at my heartstrings., I began to understand that his unconventional ways were a result of both his sense of duty and his solitude., As Susie drifted off to sleep mid-conversation, I found myself longing to call Ernest, to tell him that moving forward, I wanted to be the one taking care of him instead of the other way around. But that impulse quickly faded; after all, actions speak louder than words., I didn't end up calling Ernest, but I did reach out to Fanny Willis.,

"Where have you been?

" Fanny asked, her voice laced with exhaustion., I could tell something was off.

"What's wrong, just got off a long shift? You sound worn out.

",

"I'm sick,

" Fanny confessed, catching me off guard., Given her notorious workaholic tendencies, her admission, while surprising, still made sense., After all, even doctors aren't immune to illness.,

"What happened? Have you taken any medicine?

" I asked, genuinely concerned.,

"Yeah, it's nothing serious, just the result of overworking,

" Fanny replied before curiously asking,

"You haven't said where you've been. You're not running away from something, are you?

" I chuckled,

"Do I look like someone who runs away when things get tough?

",

"No,

" Fanny knew me too well.,

"Listen, Fanny, I need a favor,

" I said, explaining Susie's situation. There was a long silence on her end, which made me wonder if I was asking too much.,

"Is it that you don't have the right connections?

" I ventured.,

"...I do,

" Fanny finally responded after a noticeable pause, indicating she might be able to help.,

"Then I'm really counting on you,

" I said, oblivious to Fanny's hesitation.,

"I'd rather not contact that person,

" Fanny suddenly admitted, catching me by surprise., I paused for a moment before asking,

"Is there some bad blood between you two? Or is it more personal?

", Fanny laughed off my speculation,

"No bad blood.

",

"So, it's a romantic thing?

" I guessed, suddenly remembering how Fanny had once harbored a crush on a senior during her college days., Her crush was a silent chapter of her youth, never disclosed, never acted upon, with Fanny reasoning,

"He was with someone more suitable.

" Fanny loved, but she loved with limits.,

"Did your senior ever get married?

" I curiously asked., There was a brief silence on her end,

"I don't know. After graduation, I stopped keeping tabs on him. I've only seen his published papers; he's now a world-class expert in cardiology.

" Hearing this made me even more hopeful for Susie's condition.,

"Fanny, just ask him, will you? Saving a life is the highest virtue,

" I pressed her for the first time, feeling a bit selfish., I harbored a small hope that perhaps her senior wasn't with his 'suitable partner' anymore, and that rekindling contact over Susie's situation might lead to a new beginning for Fanny. Fanny sighed,

"Felicia Hudson, you really know how to prioritize love over friendship.

", Her words confirmed she had agreed, despite my cheeky approach., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.