[1]

Six years have passed, and Victoria Hayes' life has been filled with challenges she never expected. All the beautiful things that once infiltrated her heart were destroyed. Except for her body and the child in her womb. The only place to go back to is her family home, though... it's not easy to accept Victoria back.

But Victoria didn't want to give up. She had to be strong. Her child needed her. No matter what happens, she will challenge the world. Even if not many are in her favor, she'll keep going. And close her heart to anyone who comes close, because the love she once had and gave, made her fall in a puddle of heartache so deep.

Until now, Damian Lancaster has never appeared in her life. The image of a beautiful and haughty woman named Chelsea often comes to mind. As if confirming all her words in the past, if Victoria's life is really in trouble if she doesn't comply with all her requests.

But ... how could a mother just abort the child she was carrying? Without mercy?

“What am I thinking about the past for?” grumbled Victoria who continued to quicken her pace. She didn't care about the cold air piercing her skin. That night, her footsteps echoed the haste on the crowded sidewalk, heading towards Arbor Vitae Hospital. Where her daughter, Abigail Hayes, was fighting for her life. Sweat ran down Victoria's face, but she didn't care. Her breathing was labored, her body was burning, but her heart kept pushing her to run faster.

It all started with a phone call.

“Mrs. Victoria, please go to the hospital immediately. Abigail's condition is critical,” said the cold voice on the other end of the line. That sentence, though delivered without emotion, seemed to shatter Victoria's world. Her heart sank, her body went limp, but she knew there was no time to dwell on it.

“Excuse me! Sorry!” Victoria exclaimed, breaking through the crowd at the bus stop. She ignored the surprised stares of the people. The small bag swaying on her shoulder almost fell over, while tears mixed with sweat. In her heart, she prayed endlessly.

Don't take her, God. Don't take the only reason I'm alive.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Victoria barged straight through the entrance and onto the ICU floor. Her hands shakily reached for the reception desk. “Where's Abigail? Where's my daughter?” she asked in a desperate voice.

The receptionist looked at Victoria with sympathy. “Abigail is in intensive care. Please wait a moment, Mrs. Hayes.”

A feeling of anxiety filled Victoria's chest. She knew her face was all too familiar to the hospital staff. Too many times she had visited this place, too many times she had been faced with hope and fear. Even rubbing palms together did nothing to alleviate the anxiety that overcame her.

“No! I want to see her now! She needs her mom!" cried Victoria, almost pleadingly.

A nurse named Anna appeared and led her to a chair near the hallway. “Please be patient, Mrs. Hayes. The team of doctors are monitoring Abigail's condition. She's a strong child, you know that, don't you?”

Victoria took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Anna's simple words brought a bit of calm amidst the storm that engulfed her heart. “Thank you, Anna,” she whispered softly.

Anna smiled gently before leaving. A few minutes later, the ICU door opened, and a doctor came out. Doctor Chris Harrington, the man who had treated Abigail since the beginning, removed his mask and glasses before approaching Victoria.

“Doctor Harrington,” Victoria called hurriedly. Her voice trembled, filled with fear.

The doctor nodded. "Can we talk for a moment in the counseling room?"

Victoria nodded quickly and followed him into a small room not far away. Her heart raced as she sat down in the chair the doctor indicated. It was so quiet that she could almost hear her own heartbeat.

“Tori,” Doctor Harrington said in a serious yet gentle tone. Perhaps because of their frequent meetings and consultations about Abigail's health, Victoria had no problem with Chris calling her by her diminutive name.

“How is Abby, Chris?”

“Abby is experiencing serious complications. Her thalassemia is getting worse. Currently, blood transfusions are not enough to treat her acute anemia. We need to consider a bone marrow transplant.”

The words hit Victoria like a hurricane. She had heard of the procedure, but imagining it becoming a reality was a different matter. Her lips trembled as she asked, “How much will it cost?”

Chris Harrington sighed. “A bone marrow transplant requires a matching donor, and it can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But without it, Abby's condition will only get worse.”

Victoria was silent, trying to digest the information. “Donor... What about me? Or my family? Are we a match?” she asked in a desperate tone. She didn't know how to persuade her family for Abigail's sake. She would do anything for her daughter's recovery.

The doctor looked at Victoria sympathetically. “We will do further tests to ensure a match. But you should know, finding a suitable donor is not always easy. This process takes time, and Abigail's condition cannot wait too long.”

Victoria felt the world around her begin to crumble. Abigail's cheerful face flashed in her mind, her little smile that always gave her strength. What if she lost it all?

“We'll do our best,” Doctor Harrington said, trying to give her a glimmer of hope. “Stay strong for Abigail, Tori. She needs you.”

Victoria nodded slowly, even though her heart felt so heavy. In her head, she had only one goal: to save her daughter, no matter the cost.

Everything Chris had just said kept spinning in her head. Including... Abby's tens of thousands of dollars in surgery costs. Victoria Hayes was silent in the tension-filled room. Her face radiated a deep sadness. How could she possibly come up with that much money? With only enough money to eat and pay the hospital debt, the world seemed to have closed off all avenues.

However, in the midst of despair, Victoria tried to strengthen her heart. Isn't it human nature to believe that there is hope, no matter how bad things get? Although she didn't know where the money would come from, she wouldn't give up on her daughter Abigail's life.

“Please try your best, Chris. I'll find a way to pay for it,” Victoria said in a voice full of optimism despite her doubts.

Chris nodded slowly. “All right. But take care of your health too, Tori. Abigail needs you to stay strong.”

Victoria wiped her face damp with tears and sweat. “Do I look so bad?” she asked, trying to smile.

Chris chuckled. “I'll do my best for Abby, Tori. Take it easy.”

“Thank you, Doctor Chris. I am truly grateful that Abigail is in good hands,” Victoria replied in a voice full of gratitude.

After asking permission to leave, Victoria stepped into the ICU room. She stood in front of the glass, staring at her daughter who lay weakly with tubes attached to her tiny body. Abigail's usually cheerful face now looked so pale, like paper. Victoria's tears flowed again without stopping.

“I'm sorry, Abigail. I'm sorry I haven't been able to do anything for you,” she whispered, her voice almost drowning in tears.

She knew she couldn't stay there for long. There was still work to be done to support them both. Victoria rubbed the windowpane, as if she wanted to touch her daughter despite the wall. “Mommy will be back soon, sweetie.”

***

That night, Victoria returned home with a body that felt like it was carrying a thousand kilograms of weight. However, she had no time to complain. After this, she had to prepare for work at the small café near the house. Her job as a physiotherapist at Mrs. Remi's clinic was not enough to cover the mounting expenses, especially the hospital bills.

When Victoria opened the door, the voice of her mother, Ella Hayes, greeted her with a scornful tone. “You just got home? You haven't even prepared dinner for us! Do you think living here is free?”

Victoria looked down, trying to hold back the tears that were about to fall. “I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll get dinner ready soon,” she replied in a low voice.

However, Ella did not stop. “We should never have let you back into this house! You brought shame with your big belly, and now your sickly son is just a burden to us!”

Victoria was silent, her heart breaking at those words. She tried not to retaliate. If she left this house, her living expenses would be even greater. In a soft voice, she said, “I'm sorry. I'll work again soon. I'm leaving.”

Her father, who had just come out of his room, added in an angry tone, “You always work day and night, but what's the result? You'd rather take care of that sickly child than help us in this house! You useless child!”

Victoria's hands were clenched tightly. Her heart ached as well as feeling great pain. Why were her parents treating her like trash?

“That sickly child should have been handed over to his father. But what, you covered up who the father was. And now you're troubling us! If it weren't for our mercy, you and your son would be homeless! Get a grip on that, Victoria!"

Victoria took a deep breath, trying to contain her emotions. She knew that fighting back would only make things worse. With quick steps, she left the house. Ignoring the many curses directed at her.

Under the dark night sky, Victoria looked up at the sky. Her tears flowed freely. “God, is there a good day for me and Abigail?” she whispered, hopefully.