Chapter 5

Two weeks later, my worst fear came true.

That afternoon, I was in a company meeting when Kevin called.

"Audrey, hurry to the City Hospital ER! The baby's vomiting and has diarrhea, and he's covered in a rash!"

When I rushed into the emergency room, the baby was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV, his little face pale, his cries weak.

Brenda was sitting on a bench in the hallway. Seeing me run over, she showed no remorse, just rolled her eyes.

"What's the rush? It's normal for kids to have a little diarrhea and a rash. You're just being overly sensitive."

I ignored her and went straight into the consulting room to find the doctor.

The doctor handed me the lab results.

"The child has an intestinal infection complicated by an allergic reaction."

"How are you feeding him? Did he eat something contaminated, or drink an incompatible formula?"

I clutched the lab results tightly.

"Doctor, the baby has always had deep-hydrolyzed formula. Recently... it might have been switched to regular formula."

The doctor gave me a stern look.

"That's reckless! How can a child with allergies be switched formulas so casually? If you had brought him in half a day later, he would have been severely dehydrated and in shock!"

I walked out of the consulting room and approached Brenda.

"The doctor said it was an allergic reaction and intestinal infection caused by eating the wrong formula."

Brenda stood up and pointed a finger at my face.

"Don't you dare try to pin this on me! It's clearly your own bad genes, having a child who can't eat this or that!"

"When I raised Kevin, what kind of rice water and vegetable purees didn't I feed him? Why is *he* so problematic?"

Kevin ran back from the payment counter, sweating profusely.

"Audrey, the medical bill's paid. Over two hundred dollars."

Brenda immediately jumped up when she heard "over two hundred dollars."

"Over two hundred dollars? Is the hospital ripping us off?!"

She grabbed Kevin's arm.

"Kevin, we can't pay this! It's Audrey's fault for buying bad formula, she should pay for it herself!"

"And, I've been taking care of the child here in the hospital, scared out of my wits. She has to give me an additional five hundred dollars for emotional compensation!"

I looked at Brenda's greedy face, then at Kevin, who remained silent beside her.

"Kevin, do you also think I should pay this money, and give her an extra five hundred dollars?"

Kevin scratched his head.

"Audrey, no one feels good when the baby's sick. Brenda is getting old, and it's not easy for her to stay in the hospital, so don't argue with her."

"Why don't you... just quit your job and stay home with the baby? You can't stand Brenda's temper anyway, and I'll support all of you."

Listening to Kevin's fence-sitting, I quietly started packing the baby's diapers and bottles.

Kevin thought I had given in.

"Audrey, why are you packing? The doctor said we need to stay for two more days of observation."

I turned around, pulling the "Advanced Nanny Employment Contract" from a compartment in my bag.

Looking at Brenda, who was standing outside the door.

"Brenda, prepare to pay up."