Shattered Hope

Ina jolted awake to the harsh ringing of her phone, her heart pounding as she fumbled to answer it.

"Hello?" she managed, her voice thick with sleep and lingering anxiety.

"Ina Carter?" a calm, professional voice asked.

"Yes, this is she," Ina replied, sitting up and trying to clear the fog from her mind.

"This is Dr. Patel from St. Mary’s Hospital. I’m sorry to inform you that your father, Robert Carter, passed away early this morning. We were unable to reach your stepmother, Karen, and we need you to come in to sign the necessary documents to move his body to the mortuary."

The words hit her like a physical blow. "No, no, this can't be happening," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I... I'll be there as soon as I can."

As she ended the call, tears streamed down her face. The grief she had been holding at bay surged forward, consuming her. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. The last few days had been a nightmare, and now it felt like the final, cruel twist of fate had been delivered.

She managed to pull herself together enough to dress and head to the hospital. The cab ride was a blur, her mind numb with sorrow and disbelief. When she arrived at the hospital, she felt a deep sense of dread. The ICU that had been a place of hope and vigil was now a place of finality.

Dr. Patel met her in the hallway. "I'm very sorry for your loss," he said gently. "We did everything we could."

Ina nodded, unable to speak. She signed the necessary paperwork in a daze, barely registering the formalities. Her father, the man who had been her rock, was gone.

As she stepped out of the hospital, her phone buzzed with a message. With trembling hands, she unlocked it and read the notification from the bank:

**Alert: All funds have been withdrawn from your father's company account by Karen Carter.**

Ina stared at the screen, her heart sinking even further. The company, her father's legacy, was gone. And Karen, her stepmother, had taken everything.

Numb with shock, Ina dialed Karen's number, but it went straight to voicemail. "Karen, where are you? What did you do? Call me back," she pleaded, her voice cracking.

She tried to hold herself together, but the combined weight of her father's death and the loss of his company was too much to bear. She sank to the ground outside the hospital, her body shaking with sobs.

Her phone rang again, and she answered without looking at the caller ID.

"Ina?" It was Lila, her best friend, her voice filled with concern. "I just heard about your dad. I'm so sorry. Where are you?"

"I'm at the hospital," Ina choked out. "It's all gone, Lila. Dad is gone, and the company... Karen took everything."

"I'm on my way," Lila said firmly. "Hang in there, Ina. You're not alone."

Minutes felt like hours as Ina waited for Lila, the grief and betrayal a constant ache in her chest. When Lila finally arrived, she enveloped Ina in a tight hug, holding her as she cried.

"We'll get through this," Lila whispered. "I promise you, we'll figure this out together."

As they stood there, Ina's phone buzzed again. She glanced at it, feeling a fresh wave of dread. The message read:

**Your father's company has been seized due to unpaid debt.**

Ina felt her knees buckle, the last remnants of her strength draining away. Lila tightened her grip, holding her upright.

"This is too much," Ina sobbed. "How could everything fall apart so quickly?"

Lila guided her to a nearby bench, sitting down beside her. "We'll get through this, Ina. You're strong, and we'll find a way. For now, just breathe. One step at a time."