CHAPTER 1: THE SHOCKER.

ANNA'S POV

Madam Angelica was flabbergasted by the old man's revelation. "That can't be right," she exclaimed. "My husband never mentioned anything like that to me."

I suddenly heard the commotion and rushed into the room.

Saw the look of shock on my mother's face and noticed the paper on the table. I picked up the note on the table and read it over my mother's shoulder. "50 million what" The glass of water fell from my hands out of shock, spilling it all over the floor.

The lawyer replied "Yes 50 million pounds, and this beautiful mansion was used as collateral for the loan"

"It's so unfortunate," the old man replied, his voice strong and unwavering. "Your father was a good man, but he made some bad decisions. Now it's up to you to decide what to do next."

"You have just a month to come up with my money, or you leave this mansion" He said leave the room.

The room was silent for a moment as he left. the only sound was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. My mother and I exchanged glances, unsure of what to say or do next.

I stuttered, my voice shaking with emotion, "You're saying... there's no other option? This mansion is all that's left of my father's legacy. How can you take it away from us?" We were still reeling from the sudden loss of my father, and now the weight of our enormous debt threatened to crush us.

As I spoke, I felt a surge of desperation wash over me. The mansion had been my family's home for generations, filled with memories and mementos of my father's life. Losing it would be like losing a part of him all over again. I turned to the lawyer, pleading with him to find another solution, but his expression remained resolute.

"I'm afraid the situation is dire," the lawyer that came in with the man said, his voice firm but sympathetic. "Your father's debts were substantial. If you don't settle the debt, the mansion will be seized, and your family will be left with nothing.”

I felt a cold sweat trickle down my spine as the lawyer's words hung in the air. The thought of losing our family home, the only connection we had left to my father, was unbearable.

"What...what can we do?" I stammered, desperation creeping into my voice.

The lawyer sighed, his expression softening slightly. "We can try to negotiate with the creditor, see if he will accept a payment plan or a reduced settlement. But I must warn you that Mr Reynolds is not known for his flexibility."

I nodded, determination rising within me. "We'll do it. We'll find a way to save the mansion."

The lawyer nodded, a small smile on his face. "I'll do my best to help you. But we need to act quickly. Mr Reynolds is growing impatient, and time is running out."

As the lawyer stood to leave, I felt a sense of resolve wash over me. I would do whatever it took to save our family home, to honor my father's memory and preserve the legacy he had built.

But as I turned to my mother, I saw the fear and uncertainty etched on her face. And I knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, and that saving the mansion would require more than just determination – it would require sacrifice, courage, and a willingness to fight for what was rightfully ours.

My mother slowly turned to me, her eyes vacant and her expression a mask of sadness. She nodded silently, and I guided her to the couch, where we sat down together. I held her hand tightly, trying to offer what little comfort I could.

"Mom, I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to talk about what's going to happen next," I said softly, trying to break the silence.

My mother took a deep breath, and her eyes began to focus. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I should have been more prepared for this. Your father...he always handled the finances."

I gave my mom's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't blame yourself, Mom. We'll get through this together."

But as I offered her comfort, anxiety began to gnaw at my heart.

I thought about my new job at the bar, which I had taken to maintain my independence. However, my leave was over, and the thought of returning to work under my irritating supervisor was exhausting.

To make matters worse, my salary was barely enough to make ends meet, and even my entire year's pay wouldn't cover half of the debt we owed.

**************

It was a bright morning, and I quickly sprang out of bed. "Oh no, I'm already 30 minutes late for work!" I exclaimed.

I rushed through my morning routine and was ready to leave in no time. As I headed out the door, Madam Angelica called out, "I made breakfast, come have some!"

"I'm running late, I'll see you when I get back!" I replied, dashing out of the house.

As I stepped out of the cab, I saw my colleague already doing the tasks that were usually assigned to me. Mrs. Julian, our superior, stood at the front of the shop, her eyes fixed on me. This was her usual stance when dealing with latecomers. I knew I couldn't sneak in through the back door; she had already spotted me.

"Good morning, Madam Julian," I greeted her, lowering my head in respect.

"Follow me," she replied curtly, ignoring my greeting.

My heart skipped a beat. "Am I in trouble?" I wondered, whispering to myself.

As I trembled, I made eye contact with Rose, my friend, but she seemed unfazed.

Madam Julian sat down and handed me a note. "Here, take this."

I took the note, confusion etched on my face. "Sorry, ma'am, what's this for?" I asked.

Madam Julian's expression was unyielding. "I don't think your services are needed in this shop anymore. Your space has been given to someone else. So, don't cause any trouble, just leave quietly."

I stood up, my legs trembling beneath me, and turned to leave. I forced myself to hold back the hot tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I couldn't let Madam Julian see me cry. I took a deep breath and walked out of the shop, the sound of the door closing behind me echoing through my mind like a death knell.