Irina's POV
"Just high blood pressure?" Sue's voice cracked with confusion. "But Dr. Cross told us Grandma needed heart surgery or she'd die. It would cost six hundred thousand. We sold everything and scraped together four-fifty, but we still owe the bank one-fifty."
I felt my jaw clench. Six hundred grand would bankrupt most families. And bypass surgery shouldn't cost nearly that much.
"Sue, you need to hear this," I said, my voice heavy. "Your grandmother only had a minor issue. She never needed surgery. That operation just destroyed her healthy body."
I bent close to Sue's ear. "I'm sorry, but she doesn't have much time left."
Sue's head shook frantically. "That's impossible. Dr. Cross is Hillview's best doctor. How could he—"
I stayed quiet. No point crushing this kid further. The truth was, every hospital in town would give the same diagnosis.
