Chapter 1: Lara
I never thought I would be on my knees in my uncle’s office, begging for something as simple as my mother’s medicine.
“Please,” I whispered, kneeing down and clutched the crumpled prescription like it was my lifeline. “She needs this. I’ll do anything, please just help me.”
He looked at me over the rims of his glasses, lips tight, eyes cold. “I’ve already told you, we don’t have the money right now,” he said with a sharp voice “We can’t help you right now, my family and I are also goingthrough a lot right now, so maybe you can someone else or wait”
Wait? I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying not to cry.Wait meant suffering. Wait meant pain. And I could not bear the thought of her lying in that hospital bed, weak and pale, while I did nothing.
That was when Mira, my cousin, sitting silently in the corner, finally spoke. Her words were calm, almost casual but they hit me like a blow.
“You could marry him,” Nobody needed to tell me; I knew who she was referring to. “Your mother’s treatment, your family’s dignity… all taken care of. You know he’s available. Daddy won’t refuse then.”
Marry him.
I froze. My heart skipped a beat. “You mean your rejected fiancé? That—ugly, worthless man?” I spat the words before I could stop myself.
She shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “He may be ugly to you, but he has money. And its money that you need right now more than anything.”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to storm out. I wanted to throw my hands up and tell the world this was unfair.
But I didn’t.
Because when it came to my family and to the mother you loved more than yourself, you make impossible choices.
And I was about to make mine.
I just kept quiet, looked at the ground because right now maybe this could be the only thing that I could help me right now.
Silence.
“Hey, are you there?” Mira said, waved her hands in front of my face and brought me out of my thoughts
“Oh sorry” I said and pushed her hands from my face
“So? What do you say?” She smirked as she crossed her hands on her chest.
“That’s actually a good idea” Uncle Simon said unexpected from his seat “The deal will not be affected because you are still in fact my daughter even though not my biological daughter” he smiled “And my baby can have her life” he said and then looked at Mira with a face full of smile which Mira retaliate and sent a blow kiss to him
“But wont it break your contract, I know you can call me your daughter but what if your client does not accept me for the contract” I said with hope that this would actually be right.
“Ohh don’t worry my dear, I know what to do” he said adjusting his glass again now concentrating on his laptop
“So what do you say?” Mira said and sat down back on the couch
I don’t have a choice here. I had to do this for my mom illness.
I felt like crying but No! I cant be weak in front of them. I had to be strong no matter what.
“Ok” my head was still down while I tried my best to hold my tears “I will do it”
“Ok that’s good, you can leave now, I will call you once I’ve settled the contract” he said waving me off to leave not even looking at me.
I looked at Mira to see her reaction but she has gone back to her phone.
I left because I don’t want to get on his bad side.
So this is my life now.
Even though imagined this life for myself. I had to sacrifice myself for my family.
