CHAPTER 1

Emily stood tall, her eyes blazing with tears and anger, as she confronted her father. "How could you do this to us?" she screamed, her voice trembling with rage. "You secretly married another woman, who already has a child, without even telling Mom! And now, when Mom and I need you most, you're abandoning us? You're choosing your new family over us, your own flesh and blood!"

Mr. Vincent stood there, his face expressing no remorse at all. 

“I don't even understand why you decided to yell and why are you making it a big deal? Don’t you get it? I made a mistake with you and your mother. What do you want Emily?”

“Dad, please...have mercy! Mom's condition is deteriorating rapidly, and despite my multiple jobs, It’s not enough to cover the medical bills. The bills are piling up, and I'm desperate. I've already lost you, Dad; your love and support, I can't bear the thought of losing Mom too. I'll do anything, just please help me cover her hospital expenses. I'm begging you, Dad, don't turn your back on us when we need you the most.”

Mr. Vincent didn't even feel a bit of compassion for his daughter and at this point, he didn't care.

“ I don't even care, Emily and you know what…? I can't help you.”

“You need to understand that I have a better family and for your mother's illness, I can't afford it, it's not even worth it. Just let her die.”

As he walked away, Emily felt like she'd been punched in the gut, leaving her breathless and reeling. She was torn between tears and stunned silence, her mind racing with disbelief. Minutes later, she collapsed onto her bed, tears streaming down her face like a river. Her world was shattered, her dreams and hopes crumbling around her.

"How could I have ever thought I could succeed with a family like this?" she whispered, her voice trembling with anguish. "How could my own father be so heartless, so cruel? He doesn't care about my education, my future, or even my mother's life. He's supposed to love her, but now he's willing to let her slip away. I have to face reality – I'll never graduate, not with a family like this. My only choice is to give up on school and fight for my mother's life. She's all I have left."

But for now, she needs her boyfriend to confide in and let go of a bit of this pain she felt.

She decided to stop by his house the next morning before heading to the hospital to see her mother.

The next morning, Emily freshened up and dressed in a free white gown. 

Before stepping out of the house, she tried calling her boyfriend but he was unreachable, his phone was turned off. That made her restless because it was a bit unusual. 

She decided to rush down to his apartment with hopes of getting comforted by him, completely unaware of what was coming.

Immediately she got to his apartment, she knocked hoping for him to answer but to her surprise, a lady opened the door.

Emily raised her head to see who it was.

“Sylvia….. What’s happening?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Josh…!!” Emily yelled.

She entered the apartment quickly screaming at Josh.

Josh was shocked to see her. “Emi..Emily..,” he stuttered.

“What are you doing here?”

“You mean what am I doing at my boyfriend’s apartment, what's wrong with you Josh?”

“Why is Sylvia here?” 

“I repeat… Why is my stepsister here? Emily asked.

“I can explain,” Josh responded.

“Tell her… I am your girlfriend,” Sylvia said with a sly but triumphant smirk on her face.

“What does that mean? I can't believe this Josh.

Is it true? Answer me, Josh…!” she yelled, with tears threatening to drop.

“Unfortunately, it is true but I can explain,” Josh responded.

“Keep your explanation Josh.. You can't explain anything. You were supposed to be my peace, my happy place but you decided to betray me.”

“She's my stepsister Josh. What makes her so better than me?”

“Just stop it, Emily. I know very well you've been abandoned by your father, your family, and I only put up with you so I could leech on you, but you have nothing right now. 

Sylvia here still remains your daddy’s little girl and his favorite daughter. 

You don't expect me to stay loyal when you’ve got nothing to offer.” Josh responded aggressively.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK…..Josh, I loved you and I never expected this from you not now, not ever. 

I need you more now but see what you've done. 

I hate you, Josh. I hate you a lot, Sylvia. You knew I and Josh were in a relationship but you still decided to break me further. 

Really Joh?  I can’t believe all the people you would do this to me with, it’s her? Emily questions in disbelief.

I curse the day I met you, Josh.”

With tears rolling down her face she uttered those words while leaving Josh’s apartment.

As Emily left the apartment she decided in her heart that she had nothing to do with love anymore and she was all alone betrayed by her father, her boyfriend and her stepsister. 

Her only plan was to save her mother’s life no matter what.

With so much pain she tried to compose herself as she made her way to the hospital to see her mother.

Emily got to her mother’s ward as she stood outside the door trying to compose herself and appear less pained.

She got into the room not knowing how to react or what to say.

She sat beside her Mom. 

“Hello, Mom.”

Her mother responded in a very low tone barely above a whisper. “Emily.. How are you, my child?”

“You don't have to worry about me Mom, I'm fine. I really hope I can say the same for you. I'm trying my best, Mom. 

You’ll be fine soon, I promise.”

Lily, Emily’s mother looked at her child with pity and worry on her already pale face and said slowly 

Em? as she fondly called

Yes Mom, Emily responded trying her best to sound okay.

You don’t look so good my dear, are you alright? Is everything okay with your dad at home?

Lily questioned slowly, as it was already a struggle to say so much.

“Of course Mom, everything is fine she lied.”

In her heart, she muttered, “I’m sorry I had to lie to you Mom, you’re going through so much I can’t possibly tell you that the man who had claimed  to love you is married to another woman and wants nothing to do with you, that’ll break you and I can’t bear it.”

As Emily uttered those words, the machine beside her began to beep which was unusual.

“What’s happening?” Emily ran out calling out to the doctor and nurses.

“Doctor…!!!!

I don't know what’s happening, the machine is beeping and my mother is not responding.”

Immediately the doctors rushed in, but a few nurses ushered Emily out due to policy.

Emily paced back and forth outside the ward, anxiety eating her up as every second went by, please be fine...Mom....please don’t leave me yet...

These were the words she kept repeating over and over again.

After some minutes, the doctor came out, signaling Emily for a chat.

“Your mother's condition is becoming dire, she's dying Emily. 

She needs a kidney transplant as soon as possible and I don't know how long she can sustain.”

Those words hit Emily like a physical blow, she crumpled to the ground, unable to contain her grief, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably with her hands holding on to the doctor like a lifesaving straw she begged incessantly.

“There’s nothing I can do Emily, your mother needs the surgery, and as soon as possible…” He said and walked away.

“Where do I get this amount of money for a kidney transplant?

What should I do?”

 With frustration, sadness, and fear written all over her face, she walked slowly towards the ICU standing outside the window and staring at the almost lifeless body of her mother, several thoughts running through her mind, with a firm decision and tears streaming down her face, she silently whispered. “Don’t worry Mom I’ll do anything and everything I can to save you no matter what it is”

Looking lost and helpless Emily walked out of the hospital, the events of that day flashing in her mind non-stop, first her father’s abandonment, then her supposed boyfriend Josh cheating on her with no other person than her stepsister and now her mother’s condition. Somehow she couldn’t help but ask herself why all of this was happening to her, she sauntered on and on wondering what next?....