Shattered dreams 

~Jade’s POV~

My ride arrived while I was still bawling. How could he be so cruel to me? Why he didn’t even give me a chance to prove myself? I am not worth standing before him dressed like this? Could it be the choker? Why did he have to pass judgment on my personality because I wore a choker? I unzipped my bag and took out a tissue.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” As he drove on, the driver inquired.

“I’m sorry, bad day.”

“It’s too early to have one, but some people are designed to ruin our days, especially the rich ones.” His words made me laugh.

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” The man stated. The rest of the ride was peaceful. The car came to a halt in front of the bank. I went down, rated the man’s service, and tipped him. The bank wasn’t very busy, so I waited a few minutes for someone to assist me. Before gaining access to my funds, the banker began asking me a few questions. As he typed, I noticed a puzzled expression on his face. He then sighed.

“How much did you say was here?” The banker inquired.

“$180,000, sir.” I politely answered.

“I’m sorry, but the balance here is $0.”

“No, there has to be a mistake. I had $180,000 in this account for my educational funds. The last time I checked was 4 months ago.”

“That is right, ma’am, but the principal cardholder, who was appointed to manage your accounts until you reached the age of 18, withdrew the money three months ago.”

I scratched my emerald eyes in bewilderment as I stared at my bank statement. How could she be so cruel to me? My funds have all been depleted.  I stared at the bank statement once more, and I felt like I would break apart. I could almost hear my heart shattering into tiny little pieces—a million pieces. Every possible emotion overwhelmed me, but only one stood out more than the others,

Anger   

My academic ambitions have all been crushed. I tried to get up from my chair. Maybe try to get up and start walking, but I couldn’t. My dreams. My dreams were shattered. I could hear the man who was assisting me saying something, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. Tears welled up on my face.

My dreams—dreams of helping my father and bettering our family—are well gone. All were shattered by a woman who was supposed to protect them at all costs. My own tears still stuck to my face. I cried my heart out. I cried so much that it made breathing a challenge. I couldn’t breathe quietly, even if I wanted to. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, a mother who hates everything about me, my existence, my success, and the fact that I am her daughter. A mother who would do anything to captivate the latest billionaire in town. Because of her, we went from living luxuriously to pinching pennies. When she divorced my father because he lost his job to marry a rich man, she took everything away from us. The house, the money my father received from the company where he used to work, and his savings. She stole everything and abandoned us. In her testament, my grandmother designated my father as the heir to the house. My father and I live in a large house, yet we barely make ends meet. My mother stole my college funds. My father cannot currently afford to pay for my college education. He started a modest business with the money he received from Grandma, but it started failing. I’m curious if he was aware that his ex-wife had stolen from me. I wiped my tears away and went to my father’s shop. He was working in a customer’s car when I arrived. I went straight to his reception area, where a stack of books sat on the table. I wanted to go to university, but now I can’t afford anything, not even the first year’s tuition. I have $0.00 in my bank account. I began organizing things in the small room that my father used as an administrative office. While he was busy with the car he was working on, I cleaned and mopped the area. When I was finished, I went to the small kitchen to prepare something for him to eat. I returned to the little room and set the meal on the table.

“Hello, Princess. I had no idea you were here.” I flashed him a half-hearted smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “What’s wrong, my angel?” he caressed my hair.

“Father, eat first.” He gave me a suspicious glance before sitting down and starting to eat.

“Everyone has been talking about you being the best student and that you were supposed to get a study loan since you came out first in your class. But I assured them I’d already saved enough money for your schooling.” When I glanced at him, a tear fell from my eyes. He didn’t know.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

“Kate emptied my college funds.” My father looked at me as he dropped his spoon.

“What do you mean, Kate, emptied the account?”

“Dad, Kate took all the money. I can’t go to school.” I noticed him combing his hair back with his hand and walking back and forth, fighting back tears. I’ve seen my mother exploit my father’s emotions simply because he loved her unconditionally. Knowing Kate, that woman knows nothing about love; she is after money. Because of his affection, I’ve witnessed my father die in silence. Looking at him today, I’m confident he’s had enough of waiting for her. He may not have told me, but I knew my father hoped Kate would return. I hated that idea with passion, as I knew that Kate might be my mother, but she had never loved my father. That woman even had the audacity to tell me I was a mistake. There was no way that she could have settled for a man like my father. However, I loved my father and didn’t want to dash his hopes. He blindly loved her, and Kate always used that because she knew my father loved her. Over the years, I’ve secretly hoped that my father’s eyes would be opened to see Kate’s true colors.

“I need to contact her.” With trembling hands, he took his phone and dialed my mother’s number, but the phone fell. I took his hand in mine.

“Dad, it isn’t worth it. You and I both know that all she would do is embarrass you and tell you how unworthy you are and how privileged you should be that you even got married to someone like her. It’s okay,” I responded, his eyes widening as he realized I had always known how she treated him. “We will find a way.” I halted and looked him in the eyes. “We will find a way, Dad,” I said, assuring him.

“How long have you known?” I hugged him, knowing that I was his girl, his everything, and the only person who could understand him and his emotions without his saying anything.

“Since I was 8. I was well-versed in everything.”

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that, sweetheart.” He stated this as he stroked my hair. “I guess it’s just us against the world, huh?” I agreed by nodding. My mother embarrassed him the last time he called, telling him what a loser he was, and that he had nothing to offer. I hated seeing my father suffer, but there was nothing I could do about Kate’s attitude. My father made a mistake with her because she is all about money. I don’t want him to face what he has been facing over the years. Kate is obsessed with the latest fashion and plastic surgery to stay young. She dated celebrities and wealthy men, and most people have no idea she’s my mother. Hell, no one knows Kate is a mother. I stopped calling her mother when I was eight. I thought she would love me if I was a good girl, but Kate threw it in my face. How much of a mistake I was. Growing up, knowing that I was a mistake while secretly watching my dad believe that she would come back to us was torture. I pray that my dad moves on. I sighed and broke the hug.

“I have to meet Lee. See you at home, Dad.”

“Hey, love, I’m thinking about taking you up on your running offer tonight.” I grinned and kissed him on the cheeks.

“Goodbye, Dad.” My dad is a mess, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell him about the interview.