The Royal Contract

After confirming that Jeremy would be just fine, she sighed in relief. She still felt she was to blame for the incident anyway. So, it was her responsibility to take care of the boy.

"Thanks, Doctor Dawson. I will surely bring Jeremy back for a follow-up consultation." She promised, giving the doctor a delighted smile, glad that she could take the boy home.

If that story that the boy told her was even real, which she highly doubted. She would soon find out if he lied or not, that she promised.

She would get to the bottom of the truth and find a way to help him if her assumptions were correct. She could not let him stay on the street, not when she could help a helpless child like him.

"Just make sure to follow all my orders." He finally said, still finding it hard to believe that behind that innocent smile could be a criminal who was taking advantage of a child. 

He did notice some old bruising on the boy's legs. He wondered if she was responsible for the mistreating of the child. Should he consider reporting this to the authority?

"Jacob, are you done checking on Jeremy?" Sebastian interrupted his thought.

He could see the questions in the other doctor's eyes. It would seem that he was curious about this case. As much as he wanted to limit the people involved in this case, he had no choice but to explain to him later what this situation was all about.

"Yeah, it was just a sprain." He confirmed what everyone had thought in the first place.

He suddenly considered if Sebastian was a part of this syndicate. Then, he shoved the idea away, finding his conspiracy theory unfounded unless he could find some proof.

"Good," Sebastian said to Jacob. Then, he turned to face her. "So, Dani, I think you are all good to go. I already charged the bill on your account." 

Sebastian had made sure to clear all the details before letting them go. He did not want a messy paper trail that would indicate any wrongdoing on their part.

He did not want to have a problem and for Dani to have an issue. She was still a friend, despite what happened between him and Jacky.

"But..." Jacob tried to warn Sebastian about what he thought he had discovered, but Sebastian dismissed him, but with a promise to explain later.

He did not want to make a fuss during his first week on the job. He would have to play by the rules but also sensed the atmosphere around his co-workers. 

He could not start his work in a new city and a new hospital as the odd man out. That would not make his life here easy, especially when Sebastian was well-loved by everyone.

"We will talk later," Sebastian said to the new doctor before moving to Dani's side.

"Fine," Jacob responded, not having a choice on the matter. He was still new, and Sebastian was the one in-charge in showing him the ropes in the hospital.

Still, he could not believe that all those scars came from random accidents. He wondered what the secrecy was all about. Who was that woman, and what was Sebastian's relationship with her? 

He just had to find out as his curiosity had the best of him. He took the chart Sebastian had prepared for the boy and found some odd information on the boy's details. He looked at the name of the aunt and believed it was familiar.

"Who are you, Daniella Hamilton?" He uttered aloud. Luckily, no one was near enough to hear him. Then, the name finally clicked. She used to be associated with his brother. She was his brother's ex-fiance as the realization came.

"Do take care of those ankles." Sebastian reminded the boy as he patted him on the head.

Sebastian discharged the boy and led the trio out of the hospital exit, hoping that Dani knew what she was doing with that boy. 

Dani might be thinking that she was helping him, but most of them did not want any help.

Some of those boys and girls carried too deep scars caused by the system. It was rare for some of them to recover, remembering Jacky's case. Unfortunately, most of them had become a lost cause.

"Ben, why don't you help Jeremy back to the car while I talk with the doctor." She instructed, staying behind for a few minutes to clarify some things with him.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" He asked directly this time. He could not let her do anything stupid unless she was sure that she had a good course of action in this matter.

"Not yet, but I know I can't abandon him, knowing somebody needs to help him and kids like him." She felt what Jacky had been struggling, all this time. 

She knew she could not simply turn her back on this situation and find an easy way out. It was just not her style. Once she learned of the real issue, she could formulate a plan. 

Well, at least a start on how she could help kids like him. It might take her years or even decades before she could resolve this issue, but it was a cause that she could support and fight for with everything she got.

"If you need me, give me a call. I am sure I can also find others who would be willing to help." Sebastian held her shoulders for support before saying goodbye and returning to his job.

She was about to walk back to the car when she saw him talking to the boy. She did not notice him arrive. How long had he been here? Was he already here when they came out of the hospital?

Questions still played in her mind as she approached them. Ben was already in the driver's seat. But when he saw her, he immediately came down to open the passenger seat.

"Hey, Miss Dani. Do you mind if I go along with the two of you in his apartment? He promised to show me some of his collection of video games before you drop me home." The boy said as she slid inside of the car.

He was wary at first when the man introduced himself as Dani's boyfriend. But when he started talking, he felt that he could trust a man like him. 

It was a feeling that he had acquired while living on the street.. Call it street intuition.