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Ellie shook her head in relief. "Good to know. I didn’t want to show up in an evening gown either. I’d look so stupid."
Jeremy grinned. "What do you want to eat? It’s my treat. Order everything on the menu if you want."
Ellie was about to reply when her phone rang. She pulled it out of her purse, and Lily’s name flashed on the screen. The moment she picked up, Lily’s urgent voice came through.
"Ellie, get to the hospital right now! Uncle Tony had a stroke—they’re prepping for emergency surgery."
Ellie shot to her feet, her heart leaping into her throat.
"I’m coming! Take care of him, please!" she said in a shaking voice, snatching her purse off the table.
"Sorry, I have an emergency!" she rushed out, her voice barely steady.
After everything she had lost in the world, Uncle Tony was the only family she had left. He had been there for her when no one else was. He never flinched when caring for her, even when her wounds were severe and her skin was burned. Now, she was helpless, unable to ease his pain, unable to save him.
"Did you come by car?" Jeremy’s voice cut through her panic. Seeing the look on her face, his own expression turned serious.
"No, I’ll get a cab or something—" she started, already rushing toward the exit.
But before she could take another step, Jeremy grabbed her hand and pulled her outside with him. "Come on. I have a car. I’ll take you."
Ellie didn’t have time to argue. Right now, getting to the hospital was all that mattered.
Jeremy drove fast, taking every shortcut possible, and they reached the hospital in record time.
Ellie ran through the hospital doors, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps. Her eyes scanned the corridor before landing on Lily, who was pacing anxiously outside the ward.
"Lily, I’m here!" she called, breathless.
Lily turned to her immediately, speaking fast. "He had a stroke. A blood clot formed in his brain due to a head injury. The doctors say surgery is the only option. But—" Lily hesitated. "We need to deposit the money first, or they won’t operate."
"Of course! I’ll pay right now." Ellie pulled out her purse, rummaging for her card.
But then—her hands froze.
Shit.
Sawyer had already blocked all her finances. She had nothing.
Panic clawed at her throat. She looked up at Lily, horror-stricken. "I don’t have any money. Can I pay later? Can they start the operation first?"
"It’s not in my hands, Ellie," Lily said, her anxiety spiking. "The hospital won’t operate until the payment is made."
Ellie whispered, "But I don’t have any right now. Sawyer blocked everything. I don’t even have a card—he took them all and gave them to Henry."
Lily’s face paled. "I have five thousand dollars in my account, but that’s nowhere near enough. The surgery costs thirty thousand."
Before Ellie could respond, a hand suddenly appeared between them—offering a black card.
"Here. Use it."
Ellie’s gaze followed the hand up to Jeremy’s face.
"No, I can’t take your money," she pushed it back. "You’re a stranger. I can’t burden you like this."
"This isn’t important right now," Jeremy said firmly. "What matters is getting the surgery started. Don’t let money be the reason he doesn’t make it. I have it."
Ellie hesitated, her pride battling with her desperation. But there was no choice.