Serenity of the Rising Sun (English Version)

Chapter 1

I am currently walking towards the hospital where the man was taken. I just finished paying his hospital bills. I still managed to call an ambulance even though I was already panicking, so he was quickly brought to the hospital.

I opened the door and walked into the room where the man I helped was recuperating. I found the nurse injecting him with medication and writing something on a paper, with a plastered smile on her face, seeming quite pleased.

"How is he?" I asked the nurse emotionlessly, who didn't notice my arrival.

I glanced at the man, he had a bandage on his head and a cast on his arm, his arm looked severely broken. I winced at his condition and felt a bit guilty for what happened to him.

"As of now, ma'am, we just have to wait for him to wake up. He has a fracture on his left arm and a head wound, but don't worry, he's fine. He just needs to rest and take his medication," she said with a long explanation, still smiling as if giddy.

As she said that, I took my calling card and a paper bag containing an expensive watch.

"Here, give it to him when he wakes up, and also tell him to inform me if he still needs anything," I said, raising an eyebrow.

After saying that, I headed towards the door, but I paused as I remembered something. I turned to the nurse who was looking at what I gave. "Also, say thank you," I said and was about to turn around, but I heard her speak.

"Ah wait, ma'am, are you not going to wait for him to wake up? Don't you know each other?" the nurse asked, puzzled.

Why would I wait for him to wake up when I already paid for his expenses, even gave him a watch? Isn't that enough? Psh!

"No," was all I said before leaving.

After leaving the hospital, I called one of our drivers to pick me up. I only felt the exhaustion and body pain now. I also felt sticky, so I wanted to go home. He quickly arrived and we left.

Upon arriving at home, or should I say mansion, I found my crazy stepmother and her five-year-old son playing in the garden. I rolled my eyes as I felt her gaze on me.

I was about to walk past them, but my stepmother spoke up.

"What happened to you? Why do you look like that? Are you okay?" she asked in succession, showing concern.

I just looked at her and was about to pass when Jharo, her son, greeted me with a happy face.

"Ate! Let's play, look, I have a new toy," he said excitedly, showing me his toy airplane. Jhanine, his mother, was watching, waiting for my reaction.

I gave him a cold look before responding, "I have no time for nonsense s**t and don't call me 'ate'," I said before entering inside without interruption.

"Sarhea!" Irritation was evident in Jhanine's shout towards me, but I ignored them and went straight to my room to take a bath.

I quickly finished bathing, and now I was combing my black, short hair that reached just below my armpits. I stared at myself in the mirror, remembering what happened. If that man hadn't helped me, I would surely be dead. I guess I've already paid for it with the watch and covering his expenses.

I looked to the side where the teddy bear, now dirty white, was placed. It was the only memory left of my mom; no pictures, all her belongings were thrown away by my dad, and only the teddy bear was saved.

My contemplation was interrupted by a knock on my bedroom door, so I stood up and opened it. "Good evening, Ma'am Sarhea, dinner is ready, and your dad is already here," she said before I nodded and followed her.

As I descended the stairs, I went to our grand dining area where everyone was chatting happily.

"Daddy, I have an airplane, Mommy bought this earlier," Jharo happily shared. I smiled at what I heard, and his parents also smiled, but they stopped when I sat on the left side of my dad, facing Jhanine, with Jharo beside her. Daddy's expression turned serious when he saw me.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "Tomorrow, you and your step-mom will go to the US for a business deal," he said before taking a bite, making me furrow my brows before stopping my eating.

"I can handle that without any help and anyone," I said firmly, looking at Jhanine who was now also looking at me. "And I don't need her," I continued eating.

Sigh... Doesn't he even know that I almost died? Couldn't he have just asked if I was okay? Tskh! What else can I expect?

Daddy sighed at my words before furrowing his brows, "Either you like it or not, she'll come with you," he finally said, looking directly at me. "And don't be rude, Sarhea, she's your mom somehow," he added, and I clenched my jaw.

"She's your second wife, Dad, your wife, not my mom. She will never surpass or even compare to my Mom Sharmaine," I said firmly and angrily before standing up and leaving. I went straight to the veranda of my room. I lost my appetite.

I stared at the sky, sighed along with the cool breeze. I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear that covered my face. I'm always the antagonist in this house, always the same scene whenever I disrespect my crazy stepmother. If only Mommy were still alive, Jhanine wouldn't have entered our lives. Jhanine who acts like a mother to me and tries to be in the spotlight, Jhanine who is almost the same age as me, maybe just two years older, and her husband is my fifty-five-year-old dad. I sighed again and rolled my eyes at the wind.

Gold digger indeed.