Chapter 6 : New wave of my life (3)

They lean their backs at the wall, from where they stand they can see the teenage girl holding her unconscious mother's hand. 

It was supposed to be a gloomy hallway but the people were so friendly that it made the place more like a carnival than a place that treats sick people.

“The last fund Charlotte had, she used it for the renovation of the old fort, making it a Bed and Breakfast so it could be the money maker for the family. She worked hard, after her husband died in a car crash three years ago, she raised the children on her own. Taking care of the bisnes, but she forgot to take care of herself.”

“Wait, are you saying that they had no money to cover the treatment?”

Renee was angry, but she couldn’t point it out to anybody. But she only knew she was really angry and frustrated. What is this web of fate that keeps kicking her friend around? Knowing Cassandra in 2 years tangled inside the web of challenges, it's like watching someone who is already facing a life for fifty years.

“Unfortunately, yes. Charlotte had used all her savings and funds to invest in her Bnb business. And the trust fund monthly allowance for the kids is only enough for their needs.”

Latisha felt sorry for her friend too, she too had gone through a phase where her life was turned upside down but never the way Cassandra had to face it.

“Is the Bnb business still ongoing?”

For the past ten years, the Knoxx family run their BnB, and last year Charlotte had decided to have major changes. Christopher told Cassandra that the renovations were for adding some space, adding more new rooms and repairing the old stuff to new stuff. 

“It is… more lively during christmas and summer. But for now it has been closed for renovation and it is supposed to be finished before christmas this year.”

Latisha and Renee had a look on their face, Cassandra who can read what's in their head let out a soft sigh. She knew they worried that she had to cover for that too.

“About that, everything was already settled, the jobs were already 90 percent finished but Charlotte suddenly fell ill and the progress had stopped for a month now.”

Cassandra slowly took a deep breath, she suddenly felt hard to breath. She calmed herself thinking what was the most important part and crucial thing to do. And she decided that the welfare of the kids and the hospital bills should be her first priority. 

"The surgery… it can only be done at a big hospital, they need better equipment and more experienced doctors." 

"The cost must be high for a teenager like her to bear." 

The short moment silent between them, were more than what words can say. Latisha, suddenly annoyed when she realizes that Cassandra already decided to shoulder the ‘responsibility’. 

She just released from her father's debt and now she wants to pay for her mother's treatment. 

Latisha wants to yell at Cassandra, telling her that woman had abandoned her, leaving her behind with a life that can make a saint turn into a bitch. 

But she also knows more than anyone, the woman beside her will never be able to abandon people who need help. Moreover, innocent people. 

They meet the twins briefly in the afternoon, the twins come with Martha, Christopher’s wife. For the time being, Shiloh and her younger sibling will temporarily stay with them. The sweet husband and wife also found a place for them to stay for the night, and they will head back to New York tomorrow.

Cassandra will pay for the hospital’s bill, so she needs to go back as soon as she can to make money. Christopher, who understood it as Cassandra willing to become the legal guardian for the siblings, assures her that he could take care of everything as long as Cassandra agrees to be the legal guardian for the family.

“Shiloh…”

“Yes…”

Cassandra took an empty chair in the room and placed it before Shiloh. The young girl looked tired, sleepy and gloomy but she took things maturely. She could understand everything just by looking and thinking.

“I will go back tomorrow.”

Shiloh lowered her head, staring at her fingers that clenched her shirt.

“Yeah, grandpa told me.”

“I agreed to be your guardian, and I will pay mother's surgery and treatment.”

“Sister… Thank you. I promise you that once I have the trust fund I will repay you back everything.”

Shiloh sobbing slowly. Cassandra put her hands on Shiloh's cheek.

“Everything will be fine, you stay with Christopher and Martha for the time being. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here and help you get through with this.”

The teenage girl nodded weak, she was sleepy but she tried to stay awake so she could show Cassandra she was big enough. She can be independent and Cassandra would not leave her alone.

“Why don't you follow Latisha and get some sleep for tonight. I will stay here and look after her.”

Latisha walks into the room and hands a black coffee to Cassandra. She gave a gentle smile to Shiloh who was already half awake. The girl was delicate but she had a strong will just like her older sister.

“Come on sweety, let's get some sleep and give your older sister some private time with your mother.”

Shiloh took Latisha's hand and walked out of the room. Latisha looked over her shoulder and saw Cassandra carefully pull the blanket over Charlotte's body.

“See you tomorrow, call me if you need anything.”

“Goodnight.” She looked at her friend's back leaving the room and she pulled herself to sit at the chair.

There’s mixed emotion playing inside her, a pity for herself because she felt like a victim of her own mother. And sadness that she just found her long gone mother just to know that she will lose her once again. Mad and angry for the way she left her, having her own family but to suffered another family drama.

“Hey mom.”

Tears fell from Charlotte’s eyes but Cassandra was staring at her mom’s old hand to notice it.

“It’s been awhile since I held your hand.”

***

A sound of crashing glass echoing throughout the big house. Rather than a house, it more resembles a modern palace where a barbie princess lives.

And the barbie with her blond wavy hair was now throwing all the white porcelain vase she could reach. The white porcelain was now crumbling on the floor. She stepped on everything she saw with her 3 inch red stiletto.

The scene was scarier than the zombie you saw in some box office movie. All the maids inside the house were panicking. They want to stop her but they are afraid she could get angrier. 

It’s already the third valuable vase that crashed this morning, dozens of crystal glass and  shattered mirrors. The only safe from her fury was the bulletproof glass window.  

“He is mine!”

“You are mine Liam! Arghhh!”

She had never felt this humiliated before. No one ever did this to her. Everyone wants her, every guy she meets would be lucky to even have to lick her toe.

“So why!!! I already chased away that witch model. But who is this other bitch who suddenly showed up in his bed!”

Another broken glass was heard. All the maids have different thoughts. The one with short hair was thinking that it’s lucky how rich the brat was. When she can easily throw a thousand dollar vase everytime she gets angry, they could put a meal on their family table for a couple of months with the smallest one she threw.

The maid with the ponytail, praises the brilliant idea of Ms.Rosalie to replace all the valuables with the fake one. Ms.Rosalie currently was the personal assistant which before she used to be the ‘Barbie Princess’ psychiatrist. 

She is hired by the billionaire with a high wage so she can handle his granddaughter with ‘care’. Maybe the highest paid personal assistant in this world