CHAPTER THREE

Lauren, the daughter of Mr McCarthy, he is also Melissa's father.

They both have the same father, that's why lauren is being treated like trash and as a maid in the house because they believed she was born out of wedlock and she and her mother were not worthy to be in their family.

She knew of all these but didn't bother or try to leave because she knew they were the only ones that could help in paying for her mother's surgery. 

Her mother had been on the sick bed, and her condition was getting worse every day, with lauren not being able to pay the surgery money. 

She left the house late in the evening and went to the hospital her mum was admitted. 

Even though she was treated like a maid there, she was allowed to leave the house whenever she wanted.

She was told that the doctor had asked of her, and she went straight to his office. She opened the door and greeted the doctor in charge, who quickly offered her a seat. 

“I am glad you are here, I was about to tell the nurse in charge of your mother to call you” The doctor said and Lauren's heart skipped a beat while thinking of every worse thing that might have happened. 

“Is there a problem?” She asked. 

It felt like her heart was in her mouth as she waited patiently, staring at the doctor expecting him to say whatever was going on. 

The way the doctor took time before speaking inputted more fear in her as she thought of one drastic thing, but she quickly discarded the thought and focused on the doctor. 

“Not really, but there might be a problem if we don't act fast” the doctor finally spoke. 

“Your mum's condition is getting worse, and we need money for her surgery,” the doctor said. 

“We need to do it as soon as we can. otherwise, it might be too late” the doctor said, and Lauren bit her lips. 

She knew she had nowhere to go and get the money or even borrow it. 

She smiled and assured the doctor that she will work on it. 

“You should do that quickly, please, so we can perform the surgery on her before it goes out of hand. Once it does, then surgery won't be able to solve the problem” 

Lauren left his place and went to her mother's ward. 

Her heart broke when she saw her mother, she looked lifeless. Lauren sighed and entered the ward, she sat beside her mother and helped rub her two hands so they could become warm. 

A few minutes into that, she slept off, she was really tired, she barely had time to rest in the house as she was always working. 

She woke up late the next day. She gasped when she checked the time and saw she had slept till the afternoon of the next day. 

She stood up and rushed out of the hospital, and then she took a cab that drove her back home. 

Inside the cab, several thoughts clouded her mind, and she thought of asking her father if he would give her the money. She knew he might rebuke her, but she thought of trying her best. 

The cab dropped her, and she entered the house. She took a deep breath and walked in. 

She gasped when she saw that it was the whole family that was there. She bit her lips and clenched her fist. 

Fear and sweat covered her body. She had hoped to see him in private, to talk to him, and beg him if he could have a change of mind and help her.

She knew him being in the midst of the family having a meal with them would make it harder for her to ask him for what she wanted from him. 

She stepped forward, and they all turned their attention to her when they saw her. 

Melissa frowned when she saw her, she had always hated Lauren and never for once had she acted nice towards her. 

She always felt like the lady might come one day and snatch away her father from her. And so she always made sure to inflict pain on Lauren at any chance she got. 

Melissa had been looking for Lauren around the house before the meal so she could give her plenty of work, but when she didn't see her, she had to give someone else to do the work. 

“What are you doing here staring at us like that?” One of the family asked. 

“I am sorry for disturbing your meal, I just want to speak with father” Lauren said, mumbling the last word under her breath. 

“Father?” Melissa asked and chuckled. 

“You have no father here witch” Melissa half yelled. 

She hated that Lauren had called him father, and she hated how that had sounded in her mouth. 

She always imagined Lauren getting her father, and then she gets treated just like she treats Lauren, and those thoughts made her hate Lauren the more.

Mr McCarthy placed his hand on Melissa shoulder and urged Lauren to speak. 

“Mother is dying, she needs surgery quickly and I need money to pay, I don't have any and I don't have anyone to run to, please help me” Lauren cried out. 

She went on her knees and clasped her two hands together. Melissa scoffed and rolled her eyes, seeing Lauren's behaviour. As a pathetic and attention seeker own. 

“How dare you come here to disturb us during our meals asking for money for your stupid mother's Surgery, she can die for all we care” one of the family member said and Melissa chuckled in satisfaction, she always loved the way they scolded Lauren every time. 

“But I need the money. If I don't pay quickly for Mother's surgery, she might die” Lauren said. 

“Who cares if she does? She can die for all we care” They said and scoffed. 

“Leave here now” one of the family members yelled.

“So much guts to come here and ask my father for money, you look so pathetic” Melissa said, and laughed. 

“I should make a video of this” She brought out her phone, but before she could start recording, Lauren rushed out of the place. 

She was sobbing as she ran out of the house and boarded a cab back to the hospital. She went to her mother's ward and hugged her. 

“Why? Why do they hate me so much?” Lauren Sobbed. 

“They have too much money and helping me won't cost them anything, but they won't do it” Lauren mumbled. 

“They always treat us like trash and will never consider us as part of the family. They just hate us,” Lauren said. 

“I can't wait for you to be well, mum, so I can leave that house” 

She raised her head and stared at her mum whose eyes were closed. 

Lauren sighed and held her mother's hand. 

“I don't even have half the money we were asked to bring” Lauren said. 

She started rubbing her mother's hand again. She always did that every time she went there, believing it made her mum warm, and she also loved doing it. 

She sighed and rested her head on the bed, thinking of what to do.

ALEX'S OFFICE

Alex sat on his wheel chair focused on his work, his face cold as usual, his sea blue eyeball moved along with the laptop as he operated on it. 

He never got distracted when working, his mind was always on work when he was in his office. He always made sure he dropped anything that would divide his mind when he was at work but there was something hovering in his mind that won't leave no matter how he tried to get rid of those thoughts. 

He was also worried about why he hadn't gotten any reply from the McCarthy family. His mind wasn't in what he was doing, so he dropped it and wheeled to the window. 

He could see the outside company from there, so he watched people walk around and also do different things. 

As much as he hated to admit it, he was really worried, he had the feeling that his proposal could get rejected. 

He called Dan, and the guy rushed to his office. 

“You called for me” Dan said.

“I haven't gotten a reply from the proposal I ask you to drop. What's happening?” Alex asked. 

“I also haven't seen a reply from them, sir,” Dan said. 

Alex frowned while staring outside. His mind was far away, but it felt like he was watching everyone. 

“What should I do, sir?” Dan asked. 

“Just wait till when they send a reply, regardless, the wedding date is still on, and the wedding will go on” Alex said. 

“But, what if it is rejected?” Dan asked, and Alex glared at him with his usual cold gaze. 

“I am sorry, sir, I just wanted to know what to do if the proposal is rejected.” Dan rushed his words and rushed out of Alex office. 

Alex sighed, knowing that thought crossed his mind, but he discarded it, knowing he could never be rejected