THE HEIRESS

HER BACKGROUND

The car arrived in the old mansion in Less than an hour.

Bilal alighted from the car, his face looking cold as an ice under the moonlight.

He strolled into the mansion in a long stride.

welcome back Young Master, said old James, the Nosir Butler who is in his sixties.

"where is the old man he asked in a cold tone"

"the old man is already asleep, old James replied

He checked his wrist watch and noticed it's already 1:00am

He strolled into his room locking it once he was in.

Standing in front of the big mirror in his room,he took off his shirt but was surprised that his wound has already been cleaned, wrapped with a clean bandage.

He rubbed his finger tip over the clean bandage,laid on his King sized bed recalling the face of the little girl with the corner of his mouth hooked up.

Due to exhaustion, he slept off immidiately waking up only the next morning.

*******

Habibi was surprised when she couldn't find the man she saved.

Thinking he might have gone outside when he woke up, she searched the whole house but he was nowhere to be found.

was I just dreaming of saving someone, she muttered to herself.

without dwelling on it, she went to the tiny bathroom to take her bath without bothering to ask her mother about it.

After dresssing up , she went into the small sitting room hoping to see her mother there but was disappointed when she noticed that she is not there.

Thinking she might still be sleeping ,she went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Before she could finish preparing breakfast , it was already 9:00am , still her mother hasn't woken up.

This is unusual of mother, she always wake up before me, what's wrong with her today. Habibi said to herself.

Without waiting for another minute , she head to her mother's room but was met with a disheartening scene.

She saw her mother on the bed struggling to breathe, her white skin looks paler , she looks thinner than her usual self.

Habibi stood at the doorway staring at her mother whose life seems to be slipping from her finger.

She bursted into tears rushing towards her mother's bed side.

It felt as if she was being pricked with thousands of needles in her heart as she has never seen her mother this weak before.

Mom, what is wrong with you,she asked tears streaming down her face.

sweetheart I didn't want to tell you about my situation before but now that I have little or no time left there is no need to keep it as a secret from you again , Delaila said in a hoarse voice.

Mom , stop saying that , you are scaring me, I know you're playing pranks on me , aren't you . Habibi asked in a weak voice.

Habibi dear, I'm not playing pranks on you, I was diagnosed with a strange disease last four month and I was told that I have only few months left and can't make it. she replied in a sad tone.

Mom this is all a joke right , tell me you're joking please mom, she said holding on to her mother's hands.

Delaila flashed her a bitter smile and said to her " Habibi dear I wish it was all a joke but I guess I'm not lucky "

Habibi couldn't believe her hears , Now she knows why her mother stopped her from checking her pulse since the last four month

She remembered that five month ago,she checked her mother's pulse and noticed that her pulse seems weaker but she didn't take it seriously.

Mom is that why you stopped me from taking your pulse, she asked

"Yes Habibi, I know you're an expert in medicine and health maintenance , if I allow you to continue checking my pulse you would have discovered about my illness and I don't want you to worry too much about me "

Delaila replied her voice becoming weaker.

Habibi stared blankly at her weak mother her eyes were as red as the flames of fire.

"Habibi my dear, I need to tell you about your background before I die" said Delaila

Habibi who was confused stared at her mother with a strange expression

"What background are you talking about mom , aren't we from this village" she asked in a bewirldered tone

"No darling , you came from the second most richest family in country M"

"Who are they"

"They are the Drakes family they run the most largest Cotton industry in country M and they have at least five Cotton industry in all the cities in country M "

"is that the only thing they deal with"

no they also have two companies each in every city in country M.

"wow, if my family is this rich what are we doing in the village of misra she asked enthusiastically"

That is because your life was in danger and the only way your mother could save you is to have me take you far away from your father

"..."

But why , fathers are suppose to love their children, why would he want to hurt me and which mother are you talking about are you not my mother"

I am not your mother Habibi , your mother's name was Phoenix , she was a beautiful woman and you look exactly like her " she replied with a bitter smile

Habibi find it difficult to process the information , she was short of word looking at no where in particular.

"Are you really not my mother " She asked hoping to get No as an answer

"yes Habibi , I am not in any way related to you , I was just the personal assistant of your mother when she was still alive . "

"Then where is she , where is my biological mother"

"she is dead Habibi , she was poisoned by Nancy"

Habibi felt as if she was strucked by lightning, she wish all what she's hearing was a dream but it isn't

"who is Nancy" she asked slowly

"She was brought by your father in disguise as a maid meanwhile she was your father's first love"

"Then why did he marry mother"

"Your mother was the heiress of the Drakes family as she was the only child of Mr and Mrs Drake while your father was from the country side" .

Delaila stopped her narration staring at Habibi who was in a daze.