Love Beyond Riches

**9 years ago** Vivian's POV I was brushing my hair in the room when I heard the voices. Loud, panicked voices and the sound of people crying. What happened, I thought to myself. People were crying over my husband who had an accident. As I looked through the window, I saw an ambulance and a lifeless lying body of my husband and my child who was badly injured. I couldn't believe my eyes. I rushed out of the room., shivering, I couldn't bear the pain. “Please, help me to wake my husband, he can't leave me like this. I cried out. “I was like a broken record. The ambulance rushed to Saint's John Health Centre. Unfortunately, my husband died. He was coming from the grocery shop that evening with my daughter when the incident happened, he had died on the same spot and my daughter was unconscious. My daughter was just 1 year old when the incident happened. I was told to raise money for her surgery because she had a brain tumour due to the accident and she needed money for surgery. My face flushed so red, but I told myself, I'm going to look for the money, I lifted my chin up. I went out of the hospital to get the money for my daughter's Surgery. I stayed outside the hospital thinking how I could raise the money. I sucked in a deep breath. It was so frustrating. I was thinking about how to raise the money. Rain started pouring in, I was still waiting outside the iron gate of the hospital. “Go and look for the money!” the guard shouted at me, but I shook my head. “ Please, let me in. I need to see my daughter!” That won't be possible, miss,” he answered and a car pulled at the gate coming from the inside. My heart lifted up when I saw the doctor in the moving car. “Doctor! I yelled and ran towards the car when the gate opened. “Doctor!” He refused to hear me. His face directed straight at the front, intentionally ignoring me. I was soaking from the pouring rain, crying and begging for mercy so that at least, he could start treating my daughter pending the time I'll look for the money. “I need your help Doctor….. Please, I beg you. I'll look for the money. I will pay you…. I promise! Just help my daughter survive….. She's dying…..” The car moved faster, speeding up, and I was left there standing, staring at it until it was gone. The rain poured heavily, same with my tears. I knelt down on the ground, feeling so hopeless. Later, I arrived home. I thought of what I could do to raise the money, so I ventured into cleaning toilets for people. I went to clean toilets for people and got some money. I went back to the hospital so I could deposit the money. My daughter was getting weaker everyday, she was skin and bones already. She needed intensive palliative treatment immediately for her surgery. My heart felt so heavy looking at her. For months, she had been suffering from hernia and now brain tumour. I stayed for years before I could get her, and now my husband is dead and the only hope I had was dying. When I got married to my husband, I worked as an all-around assistant in fashion design and manufacturing company. Sadly, when I got my first pregnant, I had a miscarriage due to stress from the work. My husband told me stop the work so that I wouldn't stress myself again. When I had Ella's pregnancy, he was okay and rich. He took care of me till I gave birth to Ella. And now he is dead, I didn't have a job to take care of my daughter. “Did you get the money?” My mind shifted back to the present and paid attention to the doctor. “Yes doctor, I did.” I was able to raise one thousand dollars. His eyes literally lit up, “what did you say “ I said, I was able to raise a thousand dollars. One thousand dollars, when we needed almost thirty thousands dollars. I heaved a long sight, “I'll look for the rest, Doctor”. “No, he shook his head weakly. You are invited by a group of people. I don't know what they have to say, but when you get there, you will understand better. A caddie car will take you to the place. I entered the car, and he drove me there.” An old butler opened the door for me at the prime minister's office. He welcomed me with a bright smile and ushered me inside the huge luxurious office. Everything screamed richest, class and elegance. From the spotless black tiled floor, the chandeliers hanging in every corner of the office, the expensive ornaments of the room, the gold molding on the ceiling….. My lips twisted with distaste. I was not impressed. I winced imagining what I came to do here. I settled in the centre of the huge Victorian chair, and was suddenly surprised to see an office assistant enter the office, with colourful desserts and drinks in the tray. “What do you like to eat, madam?” the office assistant asked with a smiling face. “ No thanks. I'm not hungry or thirsty. “ I answered and saw the disappointment on his face. I was left alone. My eyes wandered around the office, studying the furnitures. There were several paintings on the walls, various ceramic vases on the table and different look shelves. “Vivian”. My heart suddenly stopped when I heard my name. Not moving an inch to where I was sitting, I took a deep breath and looked at the woman, her long hair cascaded down her back in lustrous waves. Her skin glow with an inner radiance. She wore a silk dress , her heels polished to a mirror-like sheen. Her eyes, a piercing shade of hazel, held a mixture of confusion and curiosity. I could feel my heart pounding faster, with fear and confusion. Why am I here? I thought to myself. She glided to her chair, before sitting, she paused, surveying the seat. As she settled into the chair she crossed her legs. “Mrs Stella Valiente".