CHAPTER ONE

Chloe:

The sun hung high in the sky, casting its bright light over the city below. I had a hood pulled over my head as I walked out of the house, carefully kicking the house keys under the doormat. They jingled softly before falling silent again.

Outside, the world was blanketed in white, as snowflakes had taken over the city, even coating the trees. I trudged through the thick snow, and once I reached the road, I let out a sigh. Despite my warm boots, the cold still managed to seep into my bones.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the caller ID, letting out another sigh. It was my boss from work, probably calling to inform me that I was fired for being late. But honestly, who cared at this point? I had already sent him a text saying I wouldn't be available today. My mom was sick, and I was going to visit her. In a few weeks, she would be undergoing surgery, and that weighed heavily on my mind as I furrowed my brow, flagging down a cab.

"Where to, miss?" the cab driver asked, offering me a warm smile through the rearview mirror. I guessed I was his first passenger on this stormy day.

"The General Hospital," I replied, and he nodded before starting the vehicle, and we set off.

As the city passed by outside the window, I felt lost in thought. I couldn't help but worry about my mother's health and how I would manage to cover the medical bills. There was no way I could come up with a million dollars for her surgery. I contemplated where I might find such a staggering amount of money and considered approaching my boss for a loan.

After all, he had often praised me as the best employee of the month. Despite the recent increases in pay, it still fell far short of the cost of the surgery, and it seemed like a daunting task to accumulate such a substantial sum.

"We've arrived, ma'am," the cab driver announced, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turned to acknowledge him with a nod and reached for my purse to pay.

But my heart sank as I realized I had left the house with only two dollars and a few cents in my bag. His eyes met mine, and I could see the frustration settling over his face.

"I'm sorry. All I have is..."

"Thank you, miss. Just get out of my car," he said curtly. I forced a bitter smile, blaming myself for the oversight as I stepped out of the cab and watched it speed away.

"Way to ruin someone else’s morning, Chloe," I sighed as I entered the hospital, pulling my hood even further over my face. The hallway was packed with patients, some seated in the waiting room, babies in strollers, and elderly individuals in wheelchairs.

Approaching the receptionist, I said, "Please, I came to see my mother, Mrs. Beth Easton." She nodded and after typing at the computer before her, she looked up at me.

"Room 234," she said briefly, and I nodded before heading towards the room she had mentioned. I could hear her informing me that I had just four hours, and I nodded in return.

Soon, I located the room with the number '234' above it. I pushed open the door and entered the ward. My mom lay on the bed with her eyes shut, an oxygen mask covering her nose. I walked towards her, removed my sweater, and sat beside her.

"Chloe, is that you?" my mom asked as her eyelids fluttered open, and she turned to look in my direction. I smiled and nodded, and she reached out to place her hand on my left cheek.

"Mom," I mumbled, and she smiled weakly. I put my hand on top of hers, letting her know she wasn't alone. "You need to rest," I urged, and she smiled as she withdrew her hand, a tear escaping my eye.

The woman before me appeared so fragile, and it was hard to believe she was the same strong, stubborn mother I had grown up with. It was a stark reminder that she was terminally ill, and with each passing moment, her time was running out.

"I will be fine," she assured me, wiping away my tears. I chuckled bitterly, silently swearing to do everything in my power to ensure her well-being.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better," she tried to smile, but I could see she was lying. If anything, she appeared even paler than the last time I had seen her.

Just then, the doctor entered the room, and as soon as his eyes landed on me, he heaved a sigh of relief.

"Miss Chloe, can I speak with you outside?" he invited, and I nodded, glancing at my mom before following him out.

"What's wrong, doc?" I asked, my heart pounding with fear. I looked at him hopefully, expecting to hear some positive news, even a glimmer of progress.

"Her health is deteriorating. I'm afraid the medication we've been administering to her is not strong enough," he said, his voice heavy with concern.

"Is there anything that can be done?" I asked, a tear rolling down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away.

"Yes, if you can make a deposit now, we can start the surgery immediately," he said, his gaze full of sympathy. "Unless you're willing to lose her."

*****

I sat alone in my room, gazing at the mirror and watching as the mascara I had applied that morning ran down my cheeks in streaks. I was a mess, and my disheveled, thick brown hair was a testament to that.

I felt utterly helpless.

My phone buzzed, breaking the silence, and I stared at the screen. The caller ID displayed the name of my best friend, Kate.

Kate and I had been best friends since kindergarten, and while I was bullied, she was the one who stood by me. Her parents were divorced, and she lived with her Dad, who happened to be a professor. Her mother had married a millionaire and moved to another country. Kate had resented her mother so much and, in time, grew to love mine.

My father and her father had been best friends, and for a while, everything had seemed perfect. However, my father, who was in the military, died in a war, leaving us all broken, especially my mom.

"Hey, Kate," I sniffled.

"What's wrong?" my best friend asked after a few moments of hesitation.

"It's my mom. The doctor said she's getting worse," I replied, my voice trembling.

"Oh my. I'm sorry, Chloe," she said, with a pause. I could hear a shuffle in the background before she continued, "You know what? There's a party tonight, and everyone is talking about it. I was thinking maybe we could go." She suggested, and I frowned.

"Did you not hear...?"

"Well, I heard what you said about your mom," she interjected and then continued, "There will be rich men at the party, and who knows? You might meet someone interested in you who'd be willing to help with your mother's treatment," she added.

I hesitated for a moment, contemplating her suggestion. While it might seem inappropriate to attend a party while my mother was in the hospital, her idea made a lot of sense. If there were indeed wealthy individuals at the party, there was a chance that one of them might be interested in helping. Besides, I needed a break from crying my eyes out.

"Okay," I replied after a short pause.