05

Three weeks later,

Olivia came back from work, she hurried into her mom's ward.

She got a call from one of the nurses that her mom's illness was acting up again, then she had to round up her shift and hurried back to the hospital.

Her eyes widened in shock, when she couldn't find her mom in the ward. Her heart raced wildly as she thought of all possible things that could happen to her mother.

She came out of the ward, about to head to the doctor's office when she bumped into one of the nurses.

“I'm so so sorry ma'am” her apologetic voice came out in a haggard pants.

“You're Mrs Winter's daughter ?” The nurse asked softly.

“Yes! Yes! She's my mother. What happened to her ? She nodded, her eyes ajar as she stared at the nurse.

“Follow me then…”

The nurse turned around and went ahead, while Olivia followed suit.

Doctor's office,

Olivia could feel her body fridgetting from curiosity and anxiousness. Her eyes were fixed wildly at the doctor as he sat down.

The young man took a deep breath, then raised his face to meet Olivia's curious gaze.

“I'm sorry, I've tried everything possible to make sure your mother remains stable till the day she will be operated on, but her condition is the worst. We'll have to arrange for her operation in two days. Do you have the money ready?” He asked after explaining.

Olivia's heart sank, with the mention of the money. She hasn't even saved up to half of the money.

She clenched her fists tightly under the table, her nails sinking into her flesh.

“I-i-i will get the money ready before then. Please doctor I don't want anything to happen to my mom, she's all I have, please doctor” Olivia sobbed as she grabbed the doctor's hands, begging him.

“I've been considerate all these while, your mother's life is in your hands. I can't do more than that” He shook his head, slightly releasing his hands from hers.

“What of your father ?” The doctor suddenly asked.

“My mother is my mother as well as my father. I-i-i don't have a father” she swallowed hard after replying to the doctor.

“I'm sorry, but keep trying. I can't promise, but I'll make sure your mom doesn't die, okay” he said and squeezed her hands.

Olivia nodded, wiping away the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Olivia's heart was heavy as she left the doctor's office. She couldn't imagine losing her mom after her father disowned them.

If only she had powers to make things go as she wants them to.

Uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheeks as she walked through the crowd not knowing where she was going.

She needed someone to comfort her, but that person could only be her mother.

“Mom please be fine for me” she mumbled in between tears.

After walking for a long time, she found herself in a familiar environment, it was very familiar.

Wait…what ?!

Why must it be here, of all places?.

Olivia paused in her steps, staring at the house at the far end of the Street. Her eyes stung more with pain, tears forcing their way out.

“Would father regret his decision, if he sees me ? Would he help Mom out if I told him the conditions ? What would father do if he saw me like this ?”

Tropes of questions popped into her head, but how was she going to answer them?

Olivia tried to turn around and leave, but her foot seemed not to be carrying out their work at that moment.

It was like they were being controlled by another body, instead of turning around to leave, Olivia found herself walking forward.

She finally decided to seek her father's help once more, maybe she could forgive him after he helps them out.

She propped herself and walked faster, wiping away her tear stained face, with a new new found hope.

The distance to her father's building wasn't too far from where she stood before, so it wasn't too long until she reached her father's house.

Nervous, anxious, tensed, uncertainty…., all these could be summed to what Olivia was feeling when she stopped at the entrance door.

With a slight push the door was opened, she walked in slowly, her eyes searching for her father yet not searching for him.

She continued walking, then halted when she heard her father's voice, talking and laughing with some other unfamiliar voices.

She could tell they were female voices. Her heart started to race wildly, she shook her head to remove the thoughts which appeared in her head.

“Are you not going to visit her in the hospital, at least you gets to see her before she dies?” A coquestish and soft voice said.

The voice was unfamiliar to Olivia, but she could tell it was an adult woman.

“Yes Dad, tell us will you visit her ?, So mom and I could see her and her daughter's ugly faces. Hahahaha” another unfamiliar voice said, but it sounded more familiar to Olivia.

Olivia knitted her brows in confusion

“Dad ?”

Who exactly are these people ? If she hadn't heard her father's voice before now, she would have believed she went to the wrong house. But no! That was absolutely her father's voice.

Although she was very curious as to the faces behind the voices, she waited calmly wanting to hear the man's reply.

“Why would I visit them? I already disowned them a long time ago. I have your mom and you, I'm not visiting anyone especially not that woman” he said with a tone of finality.

Olivia's body shook and she staggered a bit, her heart broke into pieces all over again, she felt the heavy urge to collapse and cry.

“Why ? Why must reality always be cruel ?”

All she wanted to do was turn around and leave, but she couldn't leave without making her presence known to her father.

Unable to hold back the anger and hatred she felt for the man that called himself her father.

She went straight into where she supposed she heard their voices from, here they are.

“So this is it ?!” Olivia's voice faltered.

The trio turned their attention to where Olivia's voice came from.

“Olivia?…” Larry said, more of a question.

“You still remember my name ? How should I feel ? Happy, sad, grateful ? But I don't feel any of it, what should I do, tell me ?” she chuckled lightly and directed her gaze towards the women.

Her gaze stopped at the younger girl who sat besides her mother. Olivia's face changed immediately.

“Ava ?!” She asked

Now she knows where she's heard the familiar voice from.

Another chuckle escaped her lips, fate seems to be playing tricks with her.

She scrutinized the woman once more then turned to look at her father.

“So these are the reasons you left mom and I ?” She asked, glancing at the mother-daughter.

“What rubbish are you saying ? Who even let you come and disturb the peace of this house?” Larry asked, suddenly getting annoyed.

Olivia's gaze was fixed at her father. This man was once her father, who gave her everything, father's love, attention, gifts, everything she needed back then as a child.

It was still hard to believe that this man was no longer her father, though it hurt her pride, she still yearned for her father's love and hoped she would get it but that seemed to be her extravagant illusions.

This man was no longer her father and never would she forgive him, never!.

“I’ve always bragged about having the best father. But that seemed to be a past to me, because the one I once called best turned out to be the worst and worthless man I've ever met. I hope you enjoy your new home, if karma won't actually catch up with you” Olivia smiled sadly and turned to leave.

She knew it was a waste of time, talking to her father or yelling at him.

She hadn't walked three steps when she stopped.

“How dare you come into our house and make trouble for my father ?” Ava suddenly asked. Her demeanor seeking for a fight.

Olivia halted and turned to look at her, her eyes suddenly cold and distant.

Ava flinched back, suddenly scared at the coldness glare Olivia shot at her. She could feel the hatred and anger emanating from just her gaze.

She tried not to reveal her fear and nodded, motioning Olivia to answer the question.

“I've always wondered why you look pitiful when others speak about their father in school. Who knew you were this desperate to have a father even to the extent of stealing people's father. Tsk, poor child” Olivia shook her head as if feeling pity for her.

“Did your mother not train you well on how to speak to people ? If not, leave here if you can't talk properly.” Ava's mother added.

“Says someone who doesn't know the meaning of self respect and humanity.” Olivia scoffed.

“You! Larry, did you hear what she just said to me ?" How can you have a daughter like that, with such a sharp tongue ?” Ava's mom said, feigning a cry as she pointed at Olivia.

“Olivia, leave this instant!” Larry yelled pointing to the door.

“Your wickedness will catch up with you. Let's see how you enjoy peace.” She sneered.

Not wanting to waste another second there, Olivia hurriedly left and slammed the door so hard that Larry flinched.

“Insolent brat!”

******

Olivia thought her actions at Larry's house would make her feel calm, but she felt nothing close to calmness.

Her eyes were stinging from pains, her heart aching with anger and pain, she tried to restrain the tears and emotions she felt inside.

But couldn't bring herself to do it, she suddenly started crying. Everything was too much for her.

She cried as she walked along the road, not caring about the states directed towards her by passersby.

Lost in thoughts and unaware of the honking car that was coming.

In the midst of the busty city traffic, under the scorching summer sun, the sudden loud screech of burning rubber echoed through the day.

“There's an accident!”

“Is she alive ?”

“She lost so much blood, call an ambulance!”

Olivia could hear faint voices in her head but couldn't tell who they were or why they were all saying there was an accident.

Trying to understand what exactly was happening to her, why she felt excruciating pain, she felt light headed and blacked out.