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Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2Anna dumped her school bag outside her father’s bedroom. Her phone beeped. A message from Asher.

Anna shook her head in amusement and sent Asher a vomit emoji before putting away her phone.

She approached the bedroom, making as little noise as possible, afraid Victoria would be around. She had been hovering a lot lately, pretending to be busy taking care of her ex-husband. Anna could hear arguing to her left, where the kitchen was. She tiptoed toward the sound to eavesdrop.

It sounded like Victoria was trying not to scream at someone.

“What’s going to happen to us if he dies, Simon? You need to tell me so I can prepare myself for this. Where would we live? Will my daughters get anything? Anything at all? Is he giving everything to that wretched gold-digging w***e? Melanie came second. I was in this house first. I was the first wife, I should get more. I should be the priority. My girls should get more than that strange girl, what’s-her-name.”

Simon Gardner, their father’s godfather, let out a long, tired sigh. Anna stayed as quiet as possible, putting her mobile phone on silent just in case it beeped again. She felt a twinge of guilt eavesdropping on a conversation with Opa, but she wanted to know what they were talking about. Simon had been around forever. They all called him Opa, which was grandfather in German, even though he only had a quarter of German blood in him. He was their grandfather’s best friend, and they considered him as their own flesh and blood now that their real grandfather was gone. Opa was practically living in the mansion now that their father was ill. He wasn’t just handling the Waldorf company in their father’s absence, he also comforted the girls when they needed him. Anna couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t around to help the family in times of crisis.

“Victoria, like I said, Henry’s last will and testament is confidential. It has been and always will be. Even I don’t know what’s in it. But I can assure you that Henry is a man with integrity when it comes to taking care of his family. You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m sure he will take care of the girls.”

“Just the girls?!”

“And you, too. Of course, he would take care of you. Has Henry ever deprived you of anything you wanted?”

“A house away from Melanie?”

Simon sighed again. “The house and the lot it stands on is under your name. If you wish to do so, you could sell it back to Henry and leave. You’ve always known this, Victoria. You need to relax. Everything will be fine.”

“But . . . ,” Victoria protested.

“Look, I am juggling everything on my own right now,” Simon said, his patience thinning. “In the hierarchy of things that worry me at the moment, yours is close to the bottom of the list. Who do you think is taking care of the business while Henry is down? Robert? I love Robert like my own son, but he’s not about to take on the helm of the company. I am trying to keep everything afloat so Henry has a company to go back to when he’s better. Think of the bigger picture.”

Anna backed away from the kitchen as quietly as she could even though inside she was boiling with rage. How dare that over-botoxed woman think about money at a time like this? Anna thought even less of Victoria than she had before. The former actress, with her surgically enhanced body parts and stretched-out face, Anna thought, was the gold digger. If she stopped her weekly beauty visits to cryotherapy she wouldn’t have to spend so much!

She tiptoed toward her father’s bedroom door and entered. The curtains were drawn. Anna blinked to adjust her eyes to the dimness. There was a smell that hung in the air that reminded her of the hospital. It was quiet inside save for the humming of the respirator. She left her shoes near the door and walked toward her father. A tear fell down her cheek after seeing the emaciated figure lying on the king-sized bed. He barely looked like her father. His cheeks were gaunt, covered with a five o’clock shadow that was peppered with grey hair. He looked older. Much older. Anna was so used to seeing her father as the energetic superpower that he was that it surprised her to see his worsening condition.

“He looks so weak,” a voice behind her said, startling Anna. She turned and saw Olivia sitting on a corner chair in the dark.

“How long have you been sitting there?”

“A while now. I skipped school today. Couldn’t face anyone,” Olivia whispered. Anna walked to where Olivia was sitting and sat on the floor next to her.

Anna had always admired Olivia’s kindness, and her patience with Elizabeth and Victoria. There were instances when Victoria would pick on how Olivia looked, her weight, the way she dressed, the way she walked. This always confused Anna. She thought her half sister was beautiful—inside and out. She had the same long blond hair as Elizabeth. Her green eyes were always kind. And she never looked overdone with her makeup or hairstyles.

“I can’t believe they haven’t figured out what’s wrong with him. I thought they were all world experts,” Anna said.

“I heard the doctors whispering yesterday. They are all stumped. Even that specialist from Germany has no idea what’s wrong with Daddy,” Olivia said, a silent sob escaping her lips. Anna held Olivia’s hand.

“What if he dies, Anna? I don’t know what I’ll do if he dies. He’s the only one I have on my side.”

Anna kept silent and just kept holding her half sister’s hand. She knew what Olivia meant. Anna had seen the family dynamics in their household. Victoria doted on Elizabeth, praising her for everything she did. Although Victoria was quick to reprimand Elizabeth sometimes, she was even worse with Olivia. It was like nothing Olivia did was good enough for her. Anna had heard the way Victoria talked to Olivia—picking on her clothes, her eating habits, her hobbies and interests. Words like, “Why can’t you be more like your sister?” came out of Victoria’s mouth probably at least once a day. Olivia was right. Only their father would support her in whatever it was she wanted to pursue.

Anna remembered when she was around seven years old. She’d sneak out to the mansion to meet Olivia so they could play together. Elizabeth was too busy with lessons—ballet, singing, jazz, piano. It went on and on. During afternoons when Elizabeth was busy, Olivia and Anna created their own magical kingdoms in the safety of their father’s house. One afternoon, Olivia arrived with puffy red eyes. Anna wanted to ask why but Olivia never said anything. Although Olivia suffered under her mother, she was still loyal to her. But when they started playing, Anna accidentally nudged Olivia’s midriff and she winced in pain. Anna lifted Olivia’s shirt before she could stop her and saw red welts around her tummy and back.

“Don’t tell anyone, please Anna,” Olivia had begged. But even then, Anna was already quite a determined child. Anna didn’t say anything to anyone except for her nanny. Nanny Agatha looked after the household and Anna when her mother was busy. She was the only help they had because her mother insisted on doing things herself. A week after Anna told Nanny Agatha about Olivia’s welts, she left without a word. Anna never saw her again. The welts and bruises on Olivia’s body, on the other hand, never happened again.

“Do you know what he said to me on the night of the party?” Olivia asked. Anna shook her head.

“He said that if I really wanted to go to culinary school he would send me anywhere to learn. France, China, Italy. Anywhere I want, as far from here as possible. He said he’d pay for all my school fees and build me a restaurant if I wanted one.” Olivia broke down sobbing again. “He was the only one who understood me. And now . . .”

Anna stood up and hugged her half sister, who was sobbing into her skirt. She grabbed a box of tissues and handed it to Olivia. Just then, the door swung open, making the two girls jump. Victoria looked around the room and found them huddled in the corner. She gave Anna a piercing look.

“What are you two doing in here?” she hissed. “Get out. Don’t disturb Henry.” She pulled Olivia off the chair and dragged her out of the room. Anna followed them and closed the door behind her. Victoria turned to Anna and pointed a finger to her face, so close that Anna could smell the cigarettes Victoria supposedly did not smoke.

“You! You shouldn’t be in here. You’re not in the schedule to visit your father.”

“Don’t you point that finger at my daughter,” her mother said, walking toward the group. “Put that finger away, Victoria or I’ll snap it off.”

Her mother, head held high and fists clenched, stood in front of Anna, protecting her from Victoria. “We have as much right to be here as you do. We are Henry’s family too.”

“That’s a laugh. You were his mistress. You will always be nothing but his mistress. You should crawl back to where you came from. To that little hole in the Philippines where you grew up. You don’t belong here, Melanie, and you know it.”

Anna was familiar with the insults Victoria threw at her mom. Victoria was convinced that the only reason Henry left her was because he was having an affair. Victoria told that story to anyone who cared to listen, except for the media, of course, because Henry threatened to sue her if she did. So instead of being published, the story had become food for gossips. Everyone believed it, and for a long time Anna kept trying to convince her mother to tell the truth. But she just shrugged it off, saying it didn’t matter what other people said.

“Take your little half-breed and leave,” Victoria said. Anna saw the veins on her mother’s neck come out. That meant she was beyond mad. Her mother raised her clenched fist, acting like she was going to punch Victoria in the face. She didn’t make contact, of course, but the movement was enough to startle Victoria so that she jumped back and tripped on her own feet.

“You are insane! You are both insane! I’m going to tell Henry about this.” Victoria grabbed Olivia’s wrist and left.

“Are you okay?” Her mother asked.

“You were awesome, Ma. Seriously! It was so hard to not laugh after seeing Victoria almost fall on her ass.”

Her mother let out a small laugh. “Let’s go see your father.”

They entered the room together and sat on opposite sides of her father’s bed. Her mom reached for his hand and held it between her own. Anna did the same with his other hand.

“Ma, I’m scared.”

“Me too, hon.”

“Why are you scared?” Her father’s voice was croaky. He wheezed when he breathed in, but he smiled anyway, winking at her mom.

“How are you feeling, Dad?”

He let out a small cough, making him wince in pain. “I’ve been better. I wish I were somewhere else though. Perhaps, Aruba.”

“Jamaica,” her mom said.

“Oooh I wanna take ya,” her dad continued, trying to sing the song. Anna rolled her eyes and smirked. She loved how her parents were able to maintain a close friendship even after the divorce.

“You guys are so corny.”

“Is there anything I can get you?” Her mom asked, brushing the hair off her father’s forehead.

He gave a slight nod. “Yes. If you could get everyone here later today, that would be great. Victoria, the girls and Simon. I need to talk to everyone.”

“Of course,” her mother said, giving Anna a concerned look.

“Dad, I told Uncle Rob about your . . . condition. He wants to come and see you but he’s not sure if you’re okay with that. What should I tell him?”

“Tell him he’s always been welcome in this house. Now, more than ever.” Her father coughed again. The wheezing was worse. Her mom beeped the nurse and she came in to adjust the oxygen tank.

“If you girls don’t mind, I’m just going to go back to my dream with Salma Hayek,” he said, dozing back to sleep. He was getting so weak each day that he slept most of the time. When he was awake, he had a hard time talking or doing anything else. Anna thought he was so different from the father who woke up before dawn to do a session with his personal trainer before starting work.