From Rags to Richmond

"Aunt Susie, I'm doing fine in school. You don't have to send me money anymore. I'm healthy, and there's no need for you to visit, what with your work schedule being so full."

When the call was over, the smile and calmness Tristan Stanfield had just managed to show vanished.

He stared at the medical examination report he was holding, tears welling up in his eyes and a lump forming in his throat.

On the final page, the report stated, "Diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Hospitalization for treatment is urgently recommended!"

Leukemia!

Tristan couldn't believe what he was reading.

The thought that he could have leukemia was beyond him.

Leukemia. That meant blood cancer!

"Aunt Susie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you. But I... I had no other option. I didn't want to be a burden to you."

Tristan clenched his teeth, whispering in a low voice.

Teardrops trickled down from his eyes. As tears fell onto the examination report, the word "leukemia" became blurred.

His vision became blurry.

In that moment, Tristan wished more than anything that this was all just a nightmare, hoping to soon wake up.

Yet, this cruel twist of fate wouldn't spare him his feelings.

Indeed, this was yet another harsh blow in his life.

Tristan, whose parents died when he was a child, was left with nothing but a simple bronze ring.

His aunt, Susie Brooks, had taken him in, and through sheer determination, he had earned a place at Singve University.

He had dreams of graduating, securing a good job, working hard to earn money, and repaying his aunt for her love and support.

Just as he was starting to see a bright future ahead, he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital by his classmates.

The diagnosis was leukemia.

The cost of treatment could reach up to 500, 000, assuming that everything went smoothly and a suitable bone marrow donor was found.

Tristan took a deep breath, steeling himself with determination. "No, I cannot surrender!"

Throughout the years, he hadn't just relied on his aunt. He had worked part-time jobs while studying, saving money to lighten the financial load on his aunt.

The money he had saved was with his girlfriend, Ellie Harrison, for keeping it safe.

Thinking about Ellie made Tristan feel a warmth spread through him, and his gaze turned determined.