A HEART REVEALED

Chapter three

Iris pov

I woke up feeling cheerful, the warmth of last night's laughter with my dad still lingered in my heart. Last night, i and dad had shared some great memories, full of laughter and joy, and today i was determined to keep that spirit alive.

I headed to the kitchen to whip up breakfast for my dad before he left for work, and for my brother Liam, who was off to college. With my shift starting at 2 pm, i had a busy day ahead.

In the kitchen, I prepared a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich with coffee. I was careful with the sugar and milk, just as the doctor advised. My dad had heart issues, and that's why I worked so hard to help cover some of the bills at home. The doctor had said he'd be fine if he managed his stress, avoided sugary foods, and took his medicine. For myself and Liam, I made omelets and chocolate smoothies—we loved that combo.

Once breakfast was ready, I noticed dad still hadn't come downstairs. On my way to check on him, I ran into Liam, who was coming into the living room. "Have you seen Dad?" I asked .

"Nope," he said, shaking his head.

Worried, I knocked on dad's door. "Come in," he called.

When I entered, he was still in bed. "Dad, aren't you going to work?" I asked, trying to mask my concern.

He replied, "I'm going. Just feeling some pain in my left chest. But since I took my meds, it's better. I'll get ready,"he assured me.

"Are you sure you're okay to go?" I pressed. "You can call in sick."

He smiled. "I'm fine, my love." Just then, as he stood up to head to the bathroom, he suddenly slumped to the floor.

Panic hit me. "Liam!" I screamed. "Get the phone! Call an ambulance!"

Liam rushed to grab the phone while I knelt by dad crying , "Dad, please wake up!" The weight of the moment was heavy. Liam stood frozen, shocked by the scene.

When the ambulance finally arrived, the paramedics quickly got to work, treating him before we reached the hospital. Time felt stretched. All she could do was hold onto hope.

They rushed him to the hospital. I watched as Dad was quickly placed on a stretcher and wheeled into the operating room. We couldn't follow. Instead, Liam and I just stood there in the waiting room, waiting and hoping for a miracle.

Liam joined me, where I stood frozen, lost in thought, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and guiding me to a chair. We sat in silence, both lost in our thoughts.

After what felt like an eternity , a familiar face emerged. Dr. Brown, the doctor who had treated Dad for years, approached us. "How are you doing, Iris? "Let's talk about your father in my office." He said in a serious tone.

I nodded, my heart raced, as I followed him.

In his office, I took a seat. He looked serious. "You know your father's condition isn't good.

Why then isn't he taking his medication? He's in a critical stage now and we can't manage it like before."

I was shocked. Dad always said he took his meds when I asked.

"He hasn't been taking them," Dr. Brown said. Which has made his condition really critical,and now "If we want him to recover, "He needs a heart transplant as soon as possible . Otherwise, we risk losing him and It's going to cost $50,000."

The weight of those words hit me hard . How on earth could I find that kind of money? And The doctor insisted we needed to pay quickly, which made my stomach churn. I asked if I could see my dad.

"Of course," Dr. Brown replied, "But keep it quiet. We need that money fast to start treatment. The sooner, the better."

I walked to my Dad's room. He lay there, so still, connected to machines that kept him alive. Wires surrounded him, the beeping of the life support machine echoing in my ears.

Just yesterday, we were laughing together, enjoying life without a care. Now, tears streamed down my face. I promised myself I'd find that money, no matter what.

I stepped out and found my brother, Liam. He rushed over. "Iris, what did the doctor say? Your eyes are so red. Have you been crying?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. We embraced, comforting each other in silence, tears flowing. Once we calmed down, I told him everything. Liam looked shocked. "Where are we supposed to get that kind of money?"

"Don't worry," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I have some savings, and I'll ask my boss for a loan."

We hugged again, trying to find strength in each other.

Time passed quickly. I glanced at the clock and saw it was almost two o'clock. "I need to head home and get ready for work. Call me if anything happens," I told Liam.

"Sure," he replied, and I left for home.

As I walked, my mind raced about how to ask my boss for money. I hoped he'd agree. After a quick shower, I dressed for work.

Before leaving, I double-checked the door, locked it tight, and headed out to catch the bus.

As I rode, my thoughts were consumed by my father. When I finally reached my stop, I got off and made my way to work.

Once inside, I went straight to the changing room to put on my uniform. I spotted Stella but didn't see John. I greeted Stella with a smile. "b***h, how are you doing?" she joked.

She picked up on my mood and asked what was wrong, but I brushed her off. I didn't want to drag her into my issues.

Customers started coming in, so I focused on taking their orders. The hours passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for my shift to end. I rushed back to change out of my uniform.

After changing, I headed to Mr. Harry's office to ask for a loan. I knocked on the door and heard him say, "Come in."

When I walked in, he was looking over some records. He looked at me with that flirtatious gaze he often had.

"I need to talk to you," I said, taking a seat. I explained my situation, asking if he could lend me money for my dad's operation, promising to pay him back from my paycheck.

He smiled and leaned forward, sitting on the edge of his desk. "I could give you the whole amount, no repayment needed," he said, but then he added, "There's a condition."

Curious, I asked what it was. He moved closer and pecked my cheek, saying he wanted my body, he wanted s*x with me in exchange for the money.

Fury ignited within me. I didn't hold back. I slapped him hard, furious. "How dare you say that to me? I'd rather die than let you touch me, you pig!" I cursed him as I stormed out of his office, my heart racing.

As I left, I heard him shout, "Don't come back! You're fired!"

Tears streamed down my face on my way home. My mind was racing. How would I find the money for my father's treatment? Now that I have just lost my job.

When I finally got home, I noticed my brother asleep on the couch, completely worn out. I didn't have the heart to wake him. Instead, I headed straight to my room. I needed to think of a way to get that money. Time was ticking, and we had to act fast.