Tears streamed down Kari''s face as she looked up at her brother. "Ronald, what do we do?"


    Ronald wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into aforting hug. "Don''t be scared, I''m here." He had made up his mind; he was going to get Wi the treatment she needed.


    That very day, Wi started her first round of treatments.


    Ronald withdrew $50,000, handing it all over to the hospital to cover the initial medical expenses.


    Kari had never seen so much money in her life. The thought that it was Ronald''s savings made her heart ache even more. "Ronald, I''m so sorry."


    This money was Ronald''s schrship funds.


    He was always frugal, hardly ever spending on himself.


    "Wi has looked after me all these years, just like my own mother would have. She deserves this," Ronald reassured Kari, pulling her close. "Wi''s going to get better. You just focus on your studies, got it?"


    Kari couldn''t shake a bad feeling. "But Ronald, after spending all this money, how will you afford school?"


    Ronald took a deep breath. "I''ve found a job out of town, it pays well."


    "I''ll earn enough for my tuition."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The situation drained Kari too. "Ronald, I promise, I''ll study hard and make money for you."


    When Wi woke up and learned about Ronald''s decision, she felt a mix of gratitude and guilt.


    "Wi, you have to get better," Ronald said gently, his patience evident. "You''re like my real mother. If you don''t get better, Kari and I will be all alone."


    Wi''s eyes welled up with tears.


    Thanks to the timely treatment, Wi''s condition improved significantly.


    However, for aplete recovery, she needed a kidney transnt.


    Ronald found out that a transnt would cost hundreds of thousands, not to mention finding apatible donor.


    Ronald stayed in the hospital for a few days before returning to work.


    He sent money home every month, and during their nightly video calls, Kari could see the exhaustion in his eyes.


    Wi, feeling guilty for not providing a better life for the children and now seeing Ronald bear so much, couldn''t sleep at night.


    Then came the day the SAT scores were announced.


    Ronald had excelled, securing the top spot in science across the city.


    He got epted into Haven College with a full-tuition schrship.


    It was a huge relief.


    Kari quit her tutoring sses to devote more time to care for Wi.


    Wi''s health gradually improved.


    Just when things seemed to be getting better, tragedy struck one stormy night.


    Ronald was involved in a car ident on his way home and was knocked into the river.


    His body was never found.


    Upon hearing the news, Kari rushed to the scene, only to be turned away by the police, who were investigating Ronald''s disappearance. Staring into the dark waters, Kari felt a deep sense of loss. The river was not just water; it was a monster that had taken her brother.


    After days of searching with no sign of Ronald, and the driver responsible also missing, presumed dead, Kari wanted to pursue legal action but couldn''t afford the attorney fees.


    en NovelDrama.Org


    Eventually, the driver''s family settled, paying $2,000, and the case was closed.


    Kari couldn''t believe a life could be valued so low.


    Leaving the police station, she copsed onto the cold ground,


    overwhelmed by the thought of


    brother''sst moments in the chilling waters.


    With Rowi and Kari. Wi could


    With Ronald gone, life became even


    harder for


    no longer work, so Kari took on the


    responsibility of providing for


    Her school, sympathetic to her situation, waived her tuition fees, but the cost of living was a constant struggle.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in Imperial City.


    "What, they found that illegitimate child?"