CHAPTER 489: CHAPTER 489: COUGHING BLOOD

It turned out that these five children were all from the same village. The man and Joan had rented each child for a thousand yuan a year, saying they would bring the children to the big city to learn how to make money.

The five children come from a remote and impoverished place, where a whole family’s annual income is only two thousand. Now, having a child taken away is worth half a year’s income for their family, plus the promise of learning a money-making skill, so the ignorant and naive parents believed them.

This led to the children’s tragic fate of selling flowers to passersby on the streets.

"President Kane, Young Madam Kane, you are remarkable. You helped our bureau crack a major case of exploiting children for illegal profits," a certain leader recognized Leon Keane.

He came over with a smile, praising Leon Keane.

"I didn’t intend to get involved; it was my wife who is too kind and righteous and insisted on meddling in this affair."

"Young Madam Kane, you are beautiful and kind-hearted, a modern-day heroine."

A certain leader flattered Ivana Monroe with a thumbs-up.

Ivana blushed from the praise, glancing at Leon Keane beside her, wondering why all the credit was being shifted onto her. She couldn’t have rescued the children on her own.

Thanks to Leon Keane’s involvement, the five children were rescued.

Leon Keane smiled at Ivana, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and whispered, "We are one, as husband and wife."

Ivana’s face turned red again.

"Young Madam Kane, President Kane, I will make arrangements to send these five children home."

"Hmm."

Leon Keane nodded, holding Ivana as he said, "Wife, let’s go!"

"Aunt, please don’t."

"Auntie, don’t leave."

"Auntie, Nia doesn’t want you to go either."

"..."

The five children, with tears in their eyes, looked up sorrowfully at Ivana.

This place was undoubtedly unfamiliar to them, and they were frightened. Coming from remote and backward areas, no one had told them to look for the police when in trouble.

So, the children didn’t know that these people in blue uniforms were kind-hearted. The only person they trusted now was Ivana.

Leon Keane frowned, finding these five kids a bit bothersome. Ivana had already helped them, why were they still clinging to his wife?

Not a chance.

They already had two sons at home and weren’t going to adopt any more kids. Even if he wanted a daughter, he would have one with Ivana, he preferred his own.

A certain leader noticed Leon Keane’s impatient expression and instructed the nearby police officers, "Help get the children away, don’t waste President Kane and Young Madam Kane’s time; their time is precious."

A few people stepped forward to pull the children away.

Tiger and Joy were pulled away while crying.

Nia and Tonia each clung to one of Ivana’s legs, holding on tightly and refusing to let go, while Little Bug hugged Ivana’s arm and also wouldn’t leave.

"Auntie, Tonia doesn’t want you to go; Tonia is scared."

"Nia doesn’t want it either; Nia doesn’t know them."

"Auntie, can you send us home? Please, Little Bug doesn’t want to fall into the hands of bad people."

Some of the five children sobbed uncontrollably, while others cried and pleaded.

Ivana felt very uncomfortable hearing their words.

The children hadn’t established trust with the police, so they were scared. If left behind now, Ivana couldn’t bear it and said to the police pulling the children.

"Stop it."

The police stopped, and Tiger and Joy broke free, running back to Ivana’s side and crying out "Auntie."

Ivana gently stroked the children’s heads and glanced at Leon Keane’s not very pleased expression.

"Husband, they are so pitiful, can I take them back home?"

"No."

"Husband~"

"Calling me husband won’t work."

Leon Keane coldly refused. By bringing these children to the police station, he and Ivana had already done their utmost duty, and had no obligation to send them home.

Derrick Stern saw this and smiled, saying to Ivana, "Madam, President Kane has a lot of work to handle at the company, please understand him!"

Derrick thought these kids were being a bit unreasonable. Just because you’re small doesn’t mean you can ask the lady to take you home, without considering how far and remote your place is!

Ivana knew how busy Leon Keane was; she didn’t intend for him to accompany her to send the kids home!

She only wanted to do it herself.

"Wow~ cough cough cough cough..."

Tonia suddenly started coughing violently, and a moment later, she coughed up blood.

Everyone was frightened by this scene.

Ivana quickly picked up Tonia and said urgently, "Take the child to the hospital quickly."

"My car is just outside."

Derrick Stern led the way ahead. Once outside, he opened the rear car door, and Ivana, holding the child, got in, followed by Leon Keane.

About ten minutes later, they arrived at the hospital.

After the examination.

The doctor looked at the scans and said, "Bronchial rupture causing bleeding. A hemostatic injection will suffice."

Hearing the doctor’s words, Ivana placed her palm on her chest, relieved that it’s nothing too serious.

A hemostatic injection was administered, along with some herbal medicine.

Ivana asked the doctor, "After taking these medications, will she still experience symptoms of coughing up blood?"

Doctor: "I can’t give you an accurate answer for that. After you return home, make sure she’s well-nourished. Don’t let her get too tired. You see how thin she is; her immunity is low, making her prone to illness."

"Okay."

Leaving the hospital, Tonia hung her head.

"Auntie, Tonia has troubled you."

Tonia’s voice was small, but Ivana heard it.

"It’s no trouble, Tonia. Don’t overthink, just focus on getting better, okay?"

Tonia said nothing, burying her small head in Ivana’s embrace, her gaze dim.

It’s hard to recover.

Once back in the village, she still has to work every day....

Ivana temporarily brought Tonia back to the villa.

"Mommy, my brother and I are back from school."

"Mommy, who is she?"

Timmy Monroe and Ian Keane returned home and were elated to see Ivana and Leon Keane.

Timmy curiously examined Tonia, curled up on a separate sofa.

Ian Keane frowned slightly, his eyes flashing with disdain.

So dirty, sitting on his home’s sofa. This sofa will be thrown out tonight.

"She’s Tonia, staying with us for the night," Ivana said with a smile.

Tonia, seeing two little boys who looked almost identical, was suddenly stunned. They looked so handsome, more than anyone she had ever seen. Their clothes were also so clean, unlike other little boys.

Timmy ran over to Tonia and said with a smile, "Hi Tonia, I’m Timmy Monroe and he’s my brother... Ian Keane."

Tonia lowered her gaze, a bit afraid to look directly at Timmy’s bright little face.

They were all so clean while she herself was dirty, her face was dirty, her hair hadn’t been washed for a long time, Tonia felt unworthy to be their friend.

Little children also experience feelings of inferiority; Tonia felt deeply inferior at that moment.

Timmy, seeing Tonia not speaking, glanced puzzledly at Ian Keane, "Brother, what’s wrong with her?"

Ian Keane said with disdain, "Ignore her."