“No, no. Please, you have to do something about it. You can't just leave him, he will die.” Lily cried out as the doctor broke the news to her.
“But there is nothing I can do about it. We have tried to keep him stable for so long now and I don't think he has much time left. He needs an immediate kidney transplant.” The doctor replied and Lily sniffed as more tears streamed down her eyes.
“Then give him mine. I am ready to… “
“I have told you countless times that we can't. Somehow, you guys don't match. Going ahead with it can you both you and your father.” The doctor replied and she fell to her knees immediately.
“Please, please, doctor.” She cried and the doctor tried to pull away from her but her grip on him was tight.
“Your father has forty-eight hours left, he won't make it without a new kidney. We have one that already matches his but we need you to pay before we commence the surgery, the donor isn't going to give it for free. We need four hundred thousand dollars to carry this out.” The doctor explained and her heart shattered the more.
“How am I supposed to raise four hundred thousand dollars in forty-eight hours?” She asked in tears and the doctor successfully pulled away from her.
“I don't know, but if you want to save your father’s life. Find that money by any means necessary.” The doctor replied and walked away leaving Lily on the floor in tears.
She sniffed and slowly stood up, she felt the weight of the whole world on her shoulders as she dragged her feet towards her father’s ward.
She got there and slowly walked in, she couldn't bear to stare at him and she burst into another round of tears and rushed out of the ward.
She slowly sat on the floor and leaned on the door as she cried her eyes out.
She couldn't let her father die! He is all she has, it has just been both of them for the past twenty years. Her mother left them for a millionaire years ago, Lily has no idea of the details of the story all she could recall was her father on his knees begging her mother not to leave.
She didn't listen to him and she left, weeks later, she was married to a millionaire. Turns out she was already pregnant with the man while she was still married to her father.
Her mother has been doing well while they have been suffering. She has refused to render any form of help to them the last time they contacted her fifteen years back. That was the last time Lily saw her mum.
Lily wiped her tears and slowly stood up. Sitting here and crying wouldn't raise the money and at the same time, she had no idea of what to do. No job could raise four hundred thousand dollars in forty-eight hours. No job could!
She made her way out of the hospital and held onto her bag tightly, she had no idea where to go or what to do, all she did was stand on a spot and watch.
A thought suddenly popped up in her head and she sighed, she knew that was the only way but it would be so difficult to do. It is been fifteen years! Would she even recognise her?
Lily decided to try her luck, she could still recall the address perfectly. She stared at the last few bucks of dollars in her hand and exhaled heavily before stopping a taxi. She got in and told the driver where she was heading.
After some minutes on the way, they got to the place and she paid the driver as she walked out. She stared at the house and took in a deep breath, she shook her head pushing off every thought that could bring tears into her eyes again.
She was about to knock when the gate opened automatically, she raised her brows surprised, and slowly walked in.
She paused when she saw guards in the building. One of them walked towards her.
“Good day ma’am, please how may I help you?” The guard asked.
“I am here to see Mrs. McCall.” I replied. McCall is the last name of the man she got married to. Lily’s last name was Harris.
“Do you have any appointments with her?”
“No, it is an emergency.” She replied and he nodded in response.
“Please come with me.” He said and walked ahead of her, Lily immediately trailed behind him and they both walked into the house.
The guard stood in front of Lily blocking her view from who was in the living room.
“Ma’am, there is someone here to see you.” The guard said.
“Who?” Lily heard her mother reply and her heart raced, the guard moved away from her and her mother looked up at her.
Lily could swear she saw a flicker of emotion in her eyes but it disappeared immediately it came.
“Get out.” Those were her first words and Lily felt her heart bleed. That was the first word her mother said to her after not seeing her for fifteen years.
Due to how hopeless she was, Lily fell on her knees immediately.
“Ma’am, please. My dad is dying, he is dying, and he… “
“It is none of my business if your father is dying.” She cut her off.
“Please. You have to help him, I have nowhere to go but here. You are my last hope and the only one that can help me. If you wouldn't do it for anything, do it for the old time's sake. Please.” Lily cried and her mother kept a stern look.
“Get out of my house. This is none of my business, your father can die and you can join him as well.” She replied and Lily’s eyes widened in shock.
She wasn't expecting that from her!
“Wh… what? How can you say that to your daughter?” Lily asked with a whimper.
“My daughter? You stopped being my daughter when you saw what happened twenty years ago and said nothing about it! My first daughter is not you. You are dead to me Lily, and you will forever stay dead!”
Lily gulped as she heard her mother’s words, she felt knives piercing her heart as she stared at her.“Mum.” A voice suddenly called and a girl about Lily’s age showed up in the living room. “Hey, baby.” Her mother’s face lit up and the girl took a seat next to her and hugged her.“Who is she?” The girl asked and her mother waved her hand in the hair.“No one. She is irrelevant.” Her mother replied and turned away from her and paid attention to the girl.Lily felt like everything happening was all a dream but it was not, the pain she was feeling in her chest was real. The tears that streamed down her cheeks were real.They got into a conversation and ignored Lily who was still on her knees. She slowly stood up and walked out of the house with the guard. He escorted her till she got out fully and the gate closed. Lily exhaled heavily as tears streamed down her eyes again, she slowly brought out her phone with trembling hands and teary eyes. She checked the time and breathed out heav
“Please, don't kill me.” The middle-aged man pleaded as he stared at the ruthless man who pointed a gun at his head.“You can't break codes and expect to get away with it. And you know, if you are caught the punishment is death.” Axel replied and the man shook his head in tears.“Please, I... “ The man trailed off as he pulled the trigger and the bullet pierced his head, he fell dead and blood gushed out of his head. Axel stared at the blood as it flowed to his feet. He turned to the guard next to him and threw the gun towards him, he caught it with ease and bowed.“Clean up this mess.” He ordered and walked out of the warehouse.He got out and headed towards his car, he got in and his phone rang as he ignited the car.He glanced at the caller and rolled his eyes to see it was his father.He picked up the call as he drove into the streets.“Axel.”“I’m listening.” He replied rudely,“Tomorrow is the deadline.”“Deadline? For what?”“For you to bring a wife. What is wrong with you? D
With trembling hands, Lily slowly took off the underwear and she was naked before him. He ran his hand on her body and she wrapped her hands around her breasts.“Let go.” He ordered and she slowly let go of her breast. He had a better view and he stared at them. She tried to stop crying and just accept her fate. This was what life signed up for her.“Get on the bed.” He ordered further and she slowly did. He got on the bed too and she froze as she lay on it. Her heart was racing so fast and she wished it was over already.He was about to lean closer to her when she stopped him.“Wait.” She said and he paused. He wondered why he was being gentle with her, he was nothing like this. According to his routine, he would be rough with the girl and treat her like a slut that she is. But here he is, listening to her.“Please turn off the lights.” She said staring at him, he stared at her for a few seconds before getting off her and turning off the lights. Lily exhaled in relief a little, she
“What?” She asked as her smile faded immediately.“I’m so sorry. Your father is dead. He died an hour ago.” He replied and the bag fell from Lily. “What? What?! How can he be dead? You said he still had eight hours left yesterday and right now, there is still supposed to be twenty-four hours left.” She raised her voice a little.“I know. I miscalculated.”“You miscalculated?” She screamed at him in tears and it got the attention of everyone in the hallway.“Miss. Harris, please… ““Don't you dare! Don't you dare tell me to calm down. I have the money already, I got the money, you told me I had forty-eight hours left.” She cried.“He was alive up until an hour ago. If you had shown up earlier we would have still done something about it. I am really sorry Miss. Harris. I truly am.” The doctor replied and walked away leaving Lily on the spot in tears.‘It is my fault! It is my fault!’ She screamed in her head. Only if she hadn't taken so long in the shower, or she wasn't so relaxed that
Lily heard distant voices as she regained consciousness, slowly the voices started to become louder and she let out a whimper as she opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry a little which made her close her eyes, she opened them again and moved her eyes around.There were men in the room, she recognised two out of them, they were the ones who dragged her out of her house. But she couldn't recognise the others. She recalled what happened and as she was about to speak, she felt a sharp pain in her head which made her let out a hiss. She tried to move her hand when she realised she was tied to a chair, she looked around the room again and noticed it was empty. She sighed and ignored the pain she was feeling all over her body and after a few seconds, she spoke up.“Wh… what is this all about? I didn't do anything wrong, I don't even know you people.” She said and they all stared at her without giving her a response. Her heart raced in fear and tears clouded her eyes, she had no idea wh
Lily's eyes were on the ring on her finger as her thumb creased it, she was trying to distract herself from having a thousand thoughts as the car headed to their destination. She let out a sigh and glanced at Axel, he was busy on his phone. She didn't want to get lost staring at him again, she looked away from him and looked out the window. She had never been to this part of the city, all her life she had been in New York but she never saw the urban part of it. Everything felt so new to her. After a few more minutes, they arrived at the place. It was in a mansion. The environment was filled with reporters, different cars were parked around and it was all crowded outside. Immediately Axel’s car stopped, the reporters rushed to his car and Lily flinched, she moved away from the door and turned to Axel.“Ready?” He asked and she shook her head in response. She had never been to this type of gathering before, she wasn't so sure she would be able to get past the reporters.“They are ha
“Hello, Mrs. McCall.” Lily called and her mother blinked rapidly with her lip parting in shock. She was confused. A week ago, her daughter came begging for money to save her father’s life. How the hell was she standing next to a billionaire now?“You two know each other?” Susan, Axel’s stepmother asked.“Not really. Just an old encounter.” Lily’s mother hurriedly responded with a short chuckle, she put on a different expression. Next to her was her daughter, Lily stared at her and looked away almost immediately. “Well, Axel, meet my lovely friend, Tania McCall, and her beautiful daughter, Malia.” She introduced herself with a wide smile. Lily was amazed by her sudden smile, minutes ago she had a frown on her face.“Nice to meet you, Axel.” Malia said with a smile, she tried to move closer to him but the look on his face wasn't welcoming which made her halt.Lily looked around and noticed Mr. Blackwell wasn't with them anymore.“So Axel, your mum told me you need a wife. Well, my dau
“Tell me what?”“It's nothing serious, actually.” Nora replied.“I have to go.” Axel suddenly said and Nora nodded at him before he walked away.“If it is nothing, why do you look so worried?” Lily asked and Nora smiled at her.“Because it might be hard for you.” She replied.“Well, what is it?” Lily asked eagerly. She was getting impatient already.“You will be hosting the next ball of the season.” Nora said and her eyes widened in shock.“Wh… what?”“The next ball party will be hosted by you,” Nora said again.“I heard what you said the first time. Why am I hosting it?” She asked as she felt her heart race.“Because that is the tradition. The newest bride of the season will host the second ball of the season.” Nora explained and Lily put on a worried expression.“But I don't know how to host a normal party, not to mention a ball, what am I going to do?”“That is why Axel sent me here to help you. Don't worry, we will be ready before tomorrow night.” Nora assured her with a smile.“T