Limited treatment options.
He watched her face collapse.
Then he said:
“If I can’t start treatment soon…”
He let the sentence die.
Skyla sat beside him.
For several seconds, she didn’t cry.
She simply pulled his head against her chest.
“Okay.”
Her voice shook.
“We’re going to figure it out.”
Archie closed his eyes.
She stroked his hair.
“Who’s your doctor?”
He hesitated.
“What hospital?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“The treatment isn’t covered.”
She pulled back.
“Insurance?”
“No.”
“Your trust?”
“Frozen.”
“Your parents?”
“They can’t help.”
Skyla frowned.
Archie began adding more lies.
His father’s company was supposedly under investigation.
Assets frozen.
Archie’s own firm supposedly had huge liabilities.
Personal guarantees.
Possible bankruptcy.
Then he delivered the final piece.
“The treatment costs $350,000.”
Skyla stared at him.
“Up front.”
Silence.
Archie waited.
This was the moment.
The moment his father had predicted.
