Chapter 100 It Was Him All Along
Darcy mustered a faint smile. “We're here to see Elbert Hicks.”
Hearing that name, Eula suddenly remembered. Wasn’t he the friend of Major Judson?
The girl called into the apartment. “Elbert, a couple of ladies are here to see you.”
After signaling them to wait, the girl disappeared inside, and soon Elbert Hicks appeared, dressed in PJs and rubbing his sleepy eyes.
Rubbing his head, he mumbled, “Who is it?” His eyes landed on Eula and he smiled.
He stopped himself before finishing the word and quickly corrected, “Miss Lowe, what a surprise to see you here."
He completely overlooked Darcy, who stood beside Eula, inconspicuous in her tracksuit and looking under the weather.
Eula, seeing him, was also surprised, “Elbert Hicks, what a coincidence! This is my friend, Darcy.”
It was then that Elbert finally glanced at Darcy. He found her quite attractive despite her pallor, with striking features and large eyes that had a hint of exotic blend.
“Pleasure to meet you!”
After that, he gestured inside. “Come on in and make yourselves comfortable!”
The two women entered the spacious apartment, easily three or four thousand square feet, with a living room that boasted a stunning river view. The inhabitants here certainly lived luxuriously.
Elbert sank into a sofa, “Have a seat. Can I get you anything?”
Darcy got straight to the point, “Elbert, we don't need a drink. We’re here about my daughter. She has leukemia and your bone marrow is a perfect match for her. We need you to come to the hospital for some tests. We're hoping for a swift surgery.”
Hearing this, Elbert sat up straight, his dark, tanned skin and rugged demeanor emanating a steely masculinity.
“Ms. Darcy, I have already said no.”
He hadn’t even intended to join any bone marrow registry—it was his ex-girlfriend who worked there four or five years ago, and he only signed up to get close to her while they were dating.
That relationship and the gesture of donation had long been forgotten.
Now that she was his ex and he had moved on, that commitment seemed even less significant.
Darcy's face drained of color, her panic evident.
"Elbert Hicks, please, my daughter is seriously ill, we can't delay this any longer. It's not easy to find a bone marrow match, and you're it. Please, save her life."
Elbert, despite not being heartless, knew the toll a bone marrow donation could take on his own body; he'd done his research. Besides, his current situation really wasn't conducive to such procedures. And why should he involve himself in the plight of a woman's daughter he barely knew?
Seeing Elbert's silence, Darcy fell to her knees.
"Please, I beg you, Elbert Hicks. Whatever you want me to do in the future, I'll do it."
Tears streamed down her face as if her last shred of hope had shattered.
Eula rushed to her side. "Darcy, why are you kneeling to him? Get up."
Elbert was indeed tough as nails—saving a life was no small deed. But you can't compel someone to such actions.
Elbert furrowed his brows. "Kneeling won't change my mind. I just can't do it. The best option is for someone in the family to donate, like you or the child's father."
Why should a stranger be involved?
At that, both women grew silent, acknowledging even the child's father wasn't willing to step up. Why should Elbert, a complete outsider, consider it?
Darcy was struck dumb; the situation at home was infuriating, too much to give voice to.
