Three Years After They Abandoned Me novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

‘Oh lord, how could this happen to my granddaughter!” Eleanor cried, looking like she’d aged ten years in seconds.

The report was three pages long. Each page detailed what Stella went through for three years. Even strangers couldn’t read it without cringing, let alone family.

Anna passed out right away.

“Anna!” Fiona rushed over.

Andrew looked worried. Seeing Max lost in thought, he barked, “Call Dr. Dewitt now!”

Max turned to Martin. “Dr. Dewitt, check Anna first. Stella can wait. Anna’s always been sickly.”

Martin frowned a bit.

Eleanor saw the favoritism and snapped, “Stella can wait? She’s dying! Can’t you see?”

Fiona hated how Eleanor favored Stella, especially since she came back. Fiona said, “Mom, care about Anna! She’s your granddaughter, too. Dr. Dewitt is here. Let him see her.”

Andrew added, “Mom, Anna’s in bad shape.”

Eleanor snorted, “It’s not that I’m being unreasonable, but she faints all the time. Who knows if it’s real or fake?”

“I’ll check her,” Martin said, walking over. He hadn’t seen Stella yet, so he couldn’t be sure, but Anna needed help, so he went to her first.

To his surprise, as soon as Martin reached Anna, she woke up, sobbing. “Stella, how could she suffer like this?”

Fiona asked worriedly, “How are you feeling? Any pain?”

“Mom, Stella looks so awful,” Anna said, hugging Fiona tightly.

Max stared at the three pages, his face angry. “I don’t believe it! This can’t be real.”

Eleanor held back her anger. “How can it not be real? It’s a police report. Can it be fake?”

Max’s eyes were red. “Who knows if Stella teamed up with the cops? Just to make us feel guilty, like we owe her. Grandma, you know she’s always been sneaky.”

Eleanor argued, “Damn it! Don’t talk about her like that. Stella is sneaky, but she’s not bad. She’s a good kid. Maybe she hid what happened these past three years.”

Max stayed quiet. Eleanor trusted Stella completely but he didn’t. He’d make sure to expose Stella.

Lionel just arrived and noticed Anna’s teary eyes. “What’s wrong?” he asked gently.

“Stella, it’s because of Stella,” Anna cried, thinking about the report.

Lionel frowned, “Is she bullying you again? She just got back and already?”

Eleanor looked serious. “Lionel, watch your words. Stella hasn’t left the room since she got back.” Then, she turned to Martin. “Dr. Dewitt, sorry to waste your time. Please come with me.”

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Chapter 13

Martin, being a doctor, quickly figured out what was going on and followed Eleanor upstairs.

The Hayes followed suit. Stella’s room was spacious, but with everyone crowded in, it felt tiny.

Eleanor spoke to Stella softly. “Stella, let Dr. Dewitt check you. He’s great and will help you heal fast.”

Stella looked around the room.

Eleanor stood tall. “All men, out!”

“No need,” Stella said. “Just don’t freak when you see it.”

Max frowned at Stella, “Stop pretending. Let Dr. Dewitt check you now. If I hadn’t pulled strings and paid a fortune to get him here, you’d wait till next year. He’s got other patients; once he’s done, he leaves.”

Fiona patted Max on the back, telling him to hush.

Stella slowly pulled up her pants. Her legs, once her pride, were now skinny and bent out of shape. They looked scary.

Anna was terrified and hid her face in Fiona’s arms. Fiona was shocked, too, forgetting to comfort Anna as she stared at Stella.

Even Martin, who had seen tough stuff, frowned a bit.

Eleanor pointed at Stella’s leg. “What happened to her?”

Martin stepped in, checked the joint, and said, “This is long-term joint pain.”

Eleanor blurted out, “Joint pain? At her age? How?”

Martin explained, “She was stuck in a cold place all year, couldn’t move. This is what happened. Can’t imagine how she felt on rainy or cloudy days.” Even with his experience, he felt bad for Stella.

“Oh no, they’re so mean,” Fiona cried.

“Can she get better?” Eleanor’s voice shook.

Martin shook his head. “Full recovery? Unlikely. But I can help her get as good as possible. She’ll walk fine. But no heavy lifting. No running or jumping. No hard stuff.”

Eleanor almost cried. “Stella’s only twenty-one!”

Martin told Stella, “I’ll do acupuncture first, and then give you some meds. You also need to do daily exercises with me, okay?”

Stella nodded.

Inside the room, Martin did acupuncture on Stella. Fiona and Anna stayed with her.

Max came out of the room with Lionel. He had seen Lionel put some croissants on the table before leaving her room. Max knew Lionel had brought them from Stella’s favorite shop. Max whispered to Lionel, “Don’t think this will make her forgive

you.

“Remember, she always thought we liked Anna more. But you, you were so nice before. Then, at her worst, you said those things. She probably hates you more than us now.

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“I know,” Lionel replied. He’d seen it himself. Stella’s eyes, first shocked, and then dull after he spoke. His heart sank, and he wasn’t sure if he’d misjudged her.

Max complained, “Since you’ve picked Anna, don’t mess with Stella. I’ll tell you straight. She’s different now. Last night, I tried to be nice, but she ignored me completely. Don’t I care about her pain? Yet she? Shows no thanks at all.”

Max stopped. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I bet she’ll come after you this time-to steal you away, hurt Anna, and cause big trouble. Watch out.”

Each acupuncture session lasted thirty minutes. For Stella, it felt like torture. Fiona and Anna cried beside her, making her feel half-dead. But with Eleanor there, Stella couldn’t say a thing.

After thirty minutes, the treatment was done. Fiona and Eleanor went to see Martin out, leaving Anna in the room. Stella glanced at Anna, and then slowly put her clothes back on.

Anna cried even harder, “Stella, it’s all my fault. I made you suffer so much. I’m terrible. I really am.” With that, Stella started slapping her face hard.

Stella didn’t say a word.

Anna had slapped herself a few times and felt terrible. She peeked at Stella, and then stopped. But she cried even harder, “You know what? We just read your statement at the police station. It hurt me so much.

“I keep blaming myself. Why am I so weak, making you go through all this? If only they had taken me instead, wouldn’t all this be happening to me?”

Stella said flatly, “Stop acting. If they had taken you, do you think things would be better for me at home?”

Anna saw Stella finally talking to her and quickly stepped closer. “Stella, I told them not to pick favorites. When we were in the womb, we were both tiny. No one knew what would happen. I never blamed you, but they just won’t listen.

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