Chapter one: money cleans up better

Median Hospital

“Doctor No! Please, wait! Please...” Her eyes which sparkles like the stars now seemed lifeless as tears rolled down her cheeks,

Arya pleaded once again with the doctor to save her mother.

“I am sorry miss, without money we won’t be able to operate on her”

Arya stood frozen to the ground, she knew it was ridiculous to ask for a free bone marrow surgery but what can she do in this desperate situation.

As always life has been so cruel to her, she clenched her fist as the thought of going to ask her father for help flew through her mind, the thought alone enraged her,

The very people that made life unbearable for her and her mother are the ones she is forced to ask for help?.

“look at this poor girl with her physique she could be mistook for a super model at first glance”. A passer-by murmured “you’re right she looks like a fallen heiress, what a shame such a spec of gold is wasting away in the dust”.

their bickering brings her back to reality but she’s unbothered and has grown used to hearing such phrases.

While she worked multiple jobs to keep up her schooling she would often get those kinds of remark and even get tips from customers complimenting her beauty. She had to turn down offers from modeling agencies because she needed to work over time due to her mom’s illness.

Arya takes slow steady steps like a ghost to her mother who is lying almost lifeless on the medical bed, she holds her mom’s hands in hers

“I will make sure you get well, so please be strong and...”

her lips are trembling in fear as she chokes on her saliva. Her mom is all she has in this world.

Her only happiness, she wouldn’t know how to continue if she died.

She walks out the room, thinking to herself how on earth will she get three hundred thousand dollars in two days?

she needs not a prophet to tell her that’s mission impossible, she thought while heaving a sign in frustration

She has sold all she owns. All she has left is her body and her pride!

Closing her eyes she takes a deep breath, she knows the odds are against her.

Having no other choice but to take the bull by the horn, she decides to meet up her father and ask for help even if it means begging!

*******

Sitting at the passengers seat in a taxi she glances at her reflection through the rear view mirror, although the sadness on her face could not be hidden, she looks better after freshening up and getting the hospital whiff off her.

“We’re here miss”

the driver said a little louder for the third time, “oh sorry”. She handed his pay then got off.

Standing as still as water in front of a mansion she once called home but now the only thought running through her mind is how to burn it to the ground!

The memories from the past are lurking in every corners of this building, it’s almost like it’s taunting her.

She takes a deep breath and walks inside, it looks annoyingly magnificent, as always everything’s put in place to perfection.

She stops and takes another deep breath feeling nauseated already.

“God damn this family!” she knows it will take everything in her power to hold back.

Her mother’s condition flashes through her mind and all thoughts of revolting dies instantly.

“Welcome first miss”. the butler greets her.

He is one of the oldest workers here.

“It’s been a while” he said with a smile

“Thank you”. she replied with a smile that didn’t reach her cheeks, with no expression on her face she asks

“Where is my fa... Mr Andrew?”.

The butler stares at her for a moment “your father’s in the study” while gesturing towards the plight of stairs.

Following his directions she takes slow steps to the study.

*knock*

“Come in”

A deep voice from within the room spoke.

Closing the door behind her she turns to see the face of the man she once called father, time has taken his course on his looks but money cleans up better.

He looked amazing, his skin glowing like he just clocked twenty, while her mother suffers from one sick bed to another.

She gritted her teeth in anger, and tightly balled a fist holding back the burning rage brewing inside of her.

Isn’t life too cruel? How could he be living so well after all the terrible things he did? She thought.

He met her gaze and she could have sworn she saw a strange emotion flicker in his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it came.

“What are you doing here? Get out!” He yelled.

She let out a sadistic laugh,

“After ten years of no contact, that’s all you have to say?!” She shot back.

He looked at her with nonchalance lingering in his eyes and his tone as indifferent as ever.

“Were you expecting a hug?” He scoffed.

“you obviously have nothing meaningful to say, close the door behind you”.

Eyes raging with fire and killer intent she clenched her fist so tight she bled.

“If it was of my own accord I never would have come, but I am not here for myself”.

Saying this she fell on her knees.

Her eyes red from holding back tears she begged “ my mother is sick and needs money for a bone marrow transplant, three hundred thousand dollars.

Please help her, I beg of you, even if you don’t care anymore at least for the good years you had together, please save her”.

“Good years?”. He sneered.

“My years with your mother brought nothing but misfortune, after five miscarriages and hoping for a miracle, she gave birth to you the biggest disappointment of my life! I almost lost my position in the company because of you and your mother, thank goodness I took matters into my hands and got another wife, something I should have done a long time ago.

But now what? You’re back to beg me to save her life? It seems the evil of your mother has finally caught up with her, don’t bother sending my regards to her and don’t think of contacting me when she dies, I’m sure you’ll be able to handle her funeral”.

If eyes could kill, Arya stared daggers at her father, trembling on her knees with anger as her nails dug deep into her dress, beads of sweat dripped down her forehead.

Left in utter dismay she stood and walked towards the door,

“The imbecile you call a son whom you’re so proud to have can’t even pass his final exam two years in a row”.

With a sarcastic smile she added

“Oh I think it just became three, i heard he failed again. You must be so proud of him”.

Infuriated, he slammed the desk in anger “you insolent wrench, how dare-“

Not giving yield to anymore gibberish he has to say she closes the door with a loud thud it shook the house to its foundations.

Cutting his words short and leaving him totally displeased.

Walking out angrily and totally disappointed,

Just when she thought it couldn’t get worse,

she heard a familiar and not so pleasant voice.