Asher felt uncomfortable in the hard hospital chair, facing the serious face of the cashier. She looked tired, probably dealing with people like him all day.

Looking closely , she looked good for her age, with brown eyes and hazelnut hair. But anyone could see some signs of her getting older, maybe around 40.

"Sir, you gotta pay 30,000 Credits this month to keep your mother in the hospital," the cashier said. Her voice was kinda understanding, but there was a job-like seriousness too.

The lights above were bright and cold, making everything seem more clear.

Taking care of his mother in the hospital cost a whopping 100,000 Credits every month. Thankfully, the insurance chipped in with 70,000 Credits, but there was still a hefty 30,000 Credits left for him to handle.

He looked at the bills on the metal table. Numbers were everywhere, confusing and heavy, but he had no choice .

His mother ended up in the hospital because of a rare disease. They had to keep injecting medicine to control her dopamine levels, or she'd stop moving completely. Her condition was severe to the point that she could only go an hour without a dopamine shot.

Sometimes, his mom would also just suddenly stop breathing for a few minutes. That's why she had to stay in the hospital.

Here, the machines could tell the nurses when that happened.

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The hospital was like a safety net, always there to catch her when she needed help, especially during those scary moments when her breath seemed to slip away.

"I only got 21K credits," Asher sighed quietly. It was all the money he had, including what he got from those snatchers and the cash from James.

The 30,000 credits bill felt like a mountain to him, especially considering the Outer Area's minimum wage was only around 25,000 credits.

It was as if the universe was playing a cruel joke, throwing bills at him that he could never catch.

The weight of the bills made it clear that even if he skipped meals or worked day and night, the idea of paying the full amount seemed as distant as the stars in the Outer Area sky.

With a heavy heart, he mustered the courage to ask, "Can I just pay 20,000 credits?" This wasn't the first time he had to negotiate with her.

"Sir, you still owe the hospital 150,000 credits," the cashier sighed, her expression carrying a mix of sympathy for Asher's plight.

The debt had piled up over the years because he couldn't afford to pay the monthly bills in full.

However, the harsh reality hung in the air — the hospital wasn't a charity, and even though she felt sorry for him, their facility was already the most affordable in the Outer Area.

"I know it's tough, but we need the payment for your mother's care. The administrative office is already giving you an ultimatum," she said, tapping on her tablet to emphasize the urgency of the situation.

"Please, just give me another chance. I promise to pay the whole thing next month," Asher pleaded earnestly. His words carried the weight of desperation, a son's plea to keep his mother's lifeline intact.

The nurse glanced at Asher with a mixed expression.

She must admit that Asher was really handsome. Despite his seemingly cold demeanor, there was a unique attractiveness about him.

Perhaps that's why, with a subtle understanding, she often let him slide without paying the full amount every month.

"Do you want to make some quick money?" she asked with a spark of curiosity in her eyes.