Page 34 of Billionaire’s Ruin

I finally understood why you should never treat someone you care about. Emotions blur everything. Logic, judgment, restraint—all of it disappears the moment someone you love is in pain.

“How is he doing?” Linda asked softly, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. She’d followed me to the reception desk, her handbag tucked neatly under her arm.

“Dannie has a severe allergic reaction,” I said softly, “and possibly some kind of infection.”

“Any idea what caused it?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted.

“What did he eat yesterday?” Her usual ease was gone, replaced by a tight frown.

“He ate a lot,” I said, replaying the night in my head. “Street food in the afternoon and then a full spread of shellfish for dinner.”

Linda’s hand flew to her mouth. “Seafood? Oh no. My husband’s allergic. Do you think⁠—”

“It’s possible,” I said quickly. “But Dannie’s eaten those dishes before. If he was allergic, he would’ve known… right?”

Her hesitation was obvious. “Are you sure you don’t want to do the extensive tests they offered? I think package B includes allergy screening.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “It’s not a bad idea, but it’s not my decision. I should really let him choose that.”

“You could just leave a deposit,” Linda suggested helpfully. “They’ll bill the final amount to your credit card later. My little one’s been admitted here a few times—I’m not proud to say this—but I’ve become somewhat of a regular.”

“I see.” I nodded, relieved she’d clarified. For a second, I’d almost assumed she worked for the place. “So… they don’t have medical insurance here like in the U.S.?”

“I’m not sure how it works over there,” she said, shaking her head. “Here, there’s public healthcare for everyone, but most locals also buy some kind of health plans. It lets them skip the public queues—faster service, nicer rooms.”

“I see. Can foreigners use the public system?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” she said with a shrug. “My husband just made us get medical policy. He loves his comfort—swears the private wards feel more like five-star hotels. One even had a grand piano in the lobby. It’s like walking into the Ritz.”

“Sounds… expensive.” I muttered.

“It is,” she said, sounding a touch brighter, “but absolutely worth it.”

“I guess for now,” I sighed, glancing toward the hallway where Dannie was, “I’ll pay out of pocket. We’re already here. Might as well see this through.”

Linda nodded knowingly. “At least you’re in good hands. This facility is one of the best. My kid actually liked it here—if that tells you anything.”

I offered a courteous gesture, even though my chest felt tight.

Good hands or not, the idea of Dannie hooked up to some equipment and IV lines made my stomach twist. All I could do was wait, and waiting was its own kind of torture.

“Make sure you check the final bill,” Linda whispered, leaning slightly toward me as if sharing state secrets. “And bring your own things—tissues, wet wipes, face mask… anything you can think of. Otherwise, they’ll charge you for every little thing.”

“Thanks for the tip.” I meant it more than she knew. In all my years working in the medical field, I’d never been on this side of things—worrying about every line item, every little fee. I’d approved budgets and patient invoices countless times at my own clinic, but I’d never thought about what it felt like to be charged for something as trivial as face masks.

“You want me to introduce you to my agent?” she continued, shifting closer with a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s worth considering, especially if you’re thinking of settling down here.”

“I’m not…” I hesitated. The words caught in my throat. “Not now.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. But it wasn’t the truth, either. The thought of staying here—of not going back to the same empty apartment and cold, clinical routine—had crossed my mind more than once.

Linda nodded as if she could read my thoughts, then asked suddenly, “Was he drinking alcohol?”

I blinked, thrown by the change in topic, but nodded anyway.

“You know,” she said, dropping to a quieter tone again, “in Chinese medicine, we believe that there are certain foods and drinks you shouldn’t mix. Some combinations create bad energy inside the body—maybe that’s why he got sick.”