Chapter 3

Adeline blinked her eyes while she was pouting her lips. She tightened her embrace and caressed my hair. Terry gave me a look, trying to wait for my response. I didn’t know what I would say to her because I didn't even know who their father was.

“Adeline, will you please stop asking Mom about it? Do you see she’s not well?” It was Adam who broke the silence. He pulled Adeline away from me and rolled his eyes to make Adeline annoyed at her.

“W-What? I’m asking, Adam! Get off of me!” Adeline shrieked in irritation. Her eyes formed tears, and she bit her lips to prevent herself from crying. Adam halted, moved away from Adeline, and looked at her with guilt.

“Don’t cry, you know it’s bad for you!” Adam exclaimed. I knelt in front of Adeline and hushed her. I felt terrible for her. She wanted me to see her father, but I didn’t know how. I hoped I could tell her the truth.

“Adeline, honey, I still don’t see your father yet. I’m doing my best to have the chance to see him,” I whispered, trying to hush her. She sniffed while she was wiping her tears. My head was aching with so much stress that I needed to handle it. Adeline was a lovely and joyful child. However, she was sick and had a heart problem.

I’d been trying to find a way to save a lot of money, but since I’m a single mother, I couldn’t keep a penny for her operation. I hardly sighed when I felt the sadness enveloped inside me. I felt terrible because they had a poor mother, and their father was missing.

“Adeline, we will see our Dad. You don’t need to think about it always. Aside from that, it’s better if you will be a good girl–”

“I’m a good girl, Adam. It’s you who are always stubborn. You promised me we will meet our father before I die!”

“Adeline!” It was me who almost shouted her name. I couldn’t believe I would hear those words coming through her mouth. Adeline stepped back and shook her head. She looked away from my angry eyes and pouted, “I’m sorry, Mom!”

“I will do anything so you can have your operation. You don’t need to worry about your father.” I was hesitant to tell her those words, but since she was emotional and excited always to meet her father, I didn’t have a choice but to have words with her.

“When? I want to know when Mom? Is it true we don’t have a father?” she asked.

Terry gasped, and she pulled Adeline up to lift her. She stared at me before she caressed Adeline’s cheek, “Honey, your Mom is doing her best so you can have your surgery. Don’t break her heart. We know how excited you are to see your father, but you don’t need to say those words. Do you understand me?”

Adeline eyes sparkled with tears again. She gave me a look before she raised her hands so I could carry her. I quickly grabbed her and carried her. I heard Adam scowl.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” She mumbled and encircled her hands on my neck. I plastered a sweet smile on my lips and caressed her back. I understood she was craving for her father’s appearance, and she was jealous when she saw her classmates had their father with them. However, I was thankful it was only Adeline who continued asking me about their Dad. Adam was mature and cold. He didn’t bother me by asking it multiple times. I still remember he only asked me because he was curious, but since I already informed him of the truth, he stopped and helped me to get the lead.

We both wanted to search for their father quickly because of Adeline's situation. She wanted to meet him.

“Are you okay? Has something bad happened?” Terry walked to me while she had a cup of coffee. She put it on the table and smiled at me. She wanted me to know she was willing to listen to me.

“I got fired from my job again,” I answered, hiding my disappointment at how unlucky I was. Terry sighed.

“I'm sorry to hear that, honey.”

“I don't know what I'm going to do, Terry. I'm embarrassed to be here with you for almost four years.”

She chuckled and looked around at our surroundings, “You don't need to be ashamed; I already told you I'm happy to be with the twins. It helps me to be preoccupied with my mind, and seriously, since Adeline and Adam came to my husband, I stopped thinking about killing myself. So, I want to thank you. When I saw you in the street, I already knew you were the one who would help me to see the light. So don't worry about it; I still have a budget for us.”

“Terry, I'm so thankful for you. It's you who is the angel that God gave us.” I whispered when I held the mug and tasted the coffee she made. She shuddered and chuckled.

“Come on! I'm doing this because you helped me that day.”

“It's you—” I quickly took my phone when it vibrated and added, “Wait, I will answer this call.”

Terry only nodded at me. She sipped her coffee while she was scrolling to her phone. As I tapped the answer button, a female voice greeted me, “Hello! I'm Lara Collins; I want to talk to Miss Katrina Amara Velasquez.”

“Hi, it's me. I'm Katrina; what can I do for you?”

“We got your application, and I want to inform you that we have the interview tomorrow at 9 AM in McWealth. Are you free tomorrow?”

“Yes, I'm available tomorrow. Thank you!”

After the call ended, Terry was watching me silently. She smiled when she saw how my eyes sparkled in excitement. I couldn't believe that a big company finally gave me a chance.

Terry helped me choose the clothes I would wear for the sudden interviews. She was excited and told me she knew I would get the secretary position. I hope so.

“Terry, what about Adam and Adeline? They need to go to school—”

“Oh! Come on! I can help you with that! Stop stressing, and do everything to make yourself presentable to the boss. Don't think about the twins because we are cheering for you.” Terry pushed me out of her house and closed the door when I was about to say something to her. My tears formed because of how she acted. She was sweet and understanding.

I hoped McWealth would be hired because I heard McWealth was paying their employees triple than in my last salary. I could finally save a penny for Adeline's heart surgery if it had happened.

As I stepped inside the McWealth, the air-conditioned breeze welcomed me. I went to the front desk and saw a woman in her twenties typing on her laptop.

“Hi, I have an interview here for a secretarial position.”

She stopped and turned her glance on me. She smiled sweetly before she spoke, “Oh, are you Katrina? My boss is waiting for you. You can go to the 26th floor and inform Lara about it.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I was fidgeting in anxiety. I inhaled while I was inside the elevator to calm myself. When I reached the 26th floor, I saw a woman waiting for me.

“You must be Katrina, Hi, I'm Lara! Are you excited to do this interview? Don't worry, my boss is kind,” she said. We were walking, and I couldn't stop squeezing my hands. We both stopped at the end of the hallway, and I saw a black door. “I know you will pass this interview.”

She knocked on the door three times before she opened it. We both entered the room, and I saw a man facing his massive window.

“Mr. McWealth, here's the applicant you need to interview,” Lara informed her. She only tapped my shoulder before she left me. I swallowed hard. My heart was beating so fast, and that was the only sound I had ever heard.

“Take a seat.” His masculine tone made me gasp. My legs were shaking when our eyes met. He cleared his throat and pointed to the chair from the following table.

As I tried to walk to the chair, I saw the plaque on the table.

Ryder McWealth