Ryan Caldwell's Warning

It did not take long to finish the registration. Despite the unfriendly treatment in the morning, Claudia the nurse did not cause Aiden any misgivings that night. She conducted her work professionally.

After only twenty minutes, Aiden was ushered into Ryan's office again.

Other than Ryan Caldwell himself, the office was empty.

Cold sweat unwittingly ran down the young man's back when he realized that he was alone with the vampire. Grandma Thompson was not yet done with the re-examination.

Ryan Caldwell looked up from his computer screen briefly when Aiden entered. He gestured to Aiden to take a seat, and then he turned his seat to face him.

Ryan's eyes were the color of a deep sea. His intense gaze pierced into Aiden's soul, threatening to drown him. After some time, Aiden could not continue participating in the staring contest anymore. He had to look away as his eyes got teary. He thus lowered his gaze and blinked into the desk a few times.

Ryan's expression softened and he leaned back at his seat.

"Is your name really Aiden Thompson?"

It was a strange question, really. How could he have another name? Unless the director was mistaking him for someone else, hence accidentally giving them preferential treatment? Aiden bit into his lip in disappointment. Maybe his grandmother would not get admitted into White Chapel after all.

"Yes, my name is Aiden Thompson."

Ryan observed him silently before speaking again.

"The policy regarding installment payments has been altered recently. It is now only accessible to those whose monthly income constitutes at least 80% of the installment sum. The other option will be any working individual with saving which covers at least 80% of the whole treatment fee."

That explained the situation. Aiden was only eighteen years old. He was a student and not part of the workforce yet. Grandma Thompson's data showed her as an unemployed person with no personal business. That was what Claudia meant when she said that they were not qualified. This was why they were rejected on the spot.

This brought Ryan to the next topic.

"I understand that you sold your blood to afford the first installment. Judging from the sum that you are trying to cover, you have been providing your service directly."

He knew about his illegal blood-selling activity. Aiden's heart started to beat faster due to anxiety.

"I reckon that you plan to do that until you finish paying for the whole treatment fee."

It was useless to deny the allegation.

"Yes," Aiden confirmed with a low voice.

Ryan narrowed his eyes at Aiden.

"Does your grandmother know that you are doing this for her?"

Panic flashed in Aiden's eyes.

"Please don't tell her," he begged. "I do this on my own accord. No one forced me to."

"I figured as much. Now then, Aiden, do you know the risk that comes with selling blood?"

"..."

Ryan did not expect Aiden to answer. He pushed his desktop monitor in Aiden's direction and started a presentation with a click.

It was a fifteen-minute lecture regarding the risks and hazards of selling blood both in the short term and long term. It even listed a few notorious cases of blood-selling activities that went wrong. The death of the blood seller was not avoidable. The luckier ones managed to be buried with complete corpses. The unluckier ones were mangled badly. Torn off limbs, decapitation... Aiden swallowed hard a few times while he forced himself to sit through the presentation.

At the end of the presentation, Ryan turned to Aiden.

"It could have been you," he pointed out. "I hope this lesson is useful for you. Please refrain from selling blood in the future."

"I can't," Aiden said defiantly.

Ryan stared at the young man in front of him.

"I do not have any other choice to get money. Grandma needs to be treated right away."

"Even at the expense of your well-being?"

"Yes," Aiden answered without hesitation. "Grandma and I have no one else to rely on. We will go through this together."

A strange light flickered in Ryan's eyes when he heard Aiden's words.

Aiden rose to his feet.

"Thank you for the warning, Mr. Caldwell. I will be more careful in the future."

He wanted to take his grandmother and leave, but Ryan stopped him.

"Wait."

Ryan rested both his elbows on the desk, pressing the fingertips of both hands together in front of him.

"In that case, why don't you sell your blood to me?"