Golden Sacrifice

Chapter 5

Alice whispered to herself, “What will her brother think of her prolonged absence?” as she approached Henry, who had been lying motionless for a while now.

She said, not necessarily expecting an answer, “I will be here for you, every step of the way. I will do anything possible to make sure you get up from this sick bed. Trust me on this."

Tears rolled down from her eyes uncontrollably. Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind: “Henry's condition is getting worse by the day because of the delay in carrying out the transplant.”

Alice grabbed her brother's fragile hand and her eyes fixed on his pale face. “Do you mean my brother's life is slipping away?” She questioned, and she quickly turned to look at the face behind the voice.“Doctor!” She yelled as he got closer, her heart pounding in her chest.

“There's nothing to hide from you. You can see how weak he gets each passing day. No need sugarcoating the truth,” the doctor responded. He grabbed a nearby chair to sit on to have a chat with Alice.

“The transplant is our only hope, but time is of the essence. His condition is deteriorating rapidly. I can't assure you anything, Alice,” the doctor continued. Alice stared at him with eyes flooded with tears. “I must comment on how firm you're for your brother,” were his last words, and he left and went back to his office.

Alice stood up quickly without any conscious effort, with her legs shaking beneath her. It seemed as if she was deceived and played with. “Why's Oliver's mother delaying the payment of the bill after I'd done my part of the bargain?” A question lingered in her mind; she left the hospital at that moment.

“If she thinks she can exploit my vulnerability and deceive me. I will make sure she pays for it." Alice stormed out in anger; she drove faster and murmured in a low voice. She headed straight home to rest to strike the next day.

She arrived at the gate; she honked several times, all to no avail. “It's late, so probably the gatekeeper is asleep,” Alice presumed.

As soon as she was about to get down to open the gate herself, he appeared. His bleary-eyed and frequent yawns made Alice more angry. But he's not her problem.

As she held the door handle to their bedroom just about to open it, her ears picked up murmurs from the bedroom. Her heart sank. “Darn it! I love that! I can't have enough of you! A woman moaning? What! On our matrimonial bed,” Alice's mind raced with questions, and she gnashed her teeth.

Alice stood in front of the door, holding the doorknob for a while. She inhaled deeply and whispered to herself, “Let me concentrate on Henry's condition now with everything in me. I can't imagine losing him. My world would crumble; he's my everything in this world.” Alice's mind raced with thoughts, and she left the guest room to rest her bones.

“There are no emotions attached to this bond, and I'm glad about that," she added as her eyes surveyed the guest room as she entered.

It is Saturday, Mrs. Milton would be home, so Alice would meet her home to inquire about the deals. She has done her part of the deal by marrying her ruthless son. Why is she delaying the payment of Henry's hospital bills?

Alice woke up early to prepare her morning tea, as usual. She overheard footsteps from upstairs. “He's sending her back to where he picked her from,” Alice said to herself as she fought back her tears.

Alice's eyes flashed with anger when she met them in the living room, but the guilt written all over Oliver's face made her mind race with questions. Alice ignored him and quickly took her breakfast, leaving inside to get ready.

“Can I maintain a calm composure when I arrive there with anger and frustration in me?” Alice questions herself as she is driving there, her fingers trembling and shaking.

The moment she got in front of the gate, Alice inhaled deeply. She relaxed her nerves before she horned for the gate to be opened for her. She stormed into the living room, her heels clicking on the marble floor, and her eyes scanned the room.

“You're welcome. My boss is upstairs. Make yourself comfortable. She will join you soon,” a voice came from the kitchen. A maid holding a glass of juice in a tray walked towards her.

“Sure. Is she heading somewhere today?” Alice asked the maid as her eyes went round.

“I don't have an idea, ma'am. She is always home on Saturdays, but there might be something important she needs to attend to,” the maid responded and excused Alice to enjoy her juice.

Alice took the juice to take her first sip; her eyebrows lifted. She saw Mrs. Milton descended slowly from the stairs with his eyes widened in surprise.“What!” She yelled as she got closer. She thought her eyes were deceiving her; she was not wearing her spectacles, and her vision was always blurry.

“Alice, you're welcome,” she said as she sat closer to her, but she was still quite staring at her, trying so hard not to act badly.

“I'm going to the hospital to make payment for the surgery to commence immediately,” Mrs Milton said with a broad smile.

“You're heading to the hospital now?” Alice asked, her mouth curled into a smile. “I didn't know you were planning to pay for the hospital bills today.”

“Let's go together since you're already here,” Mrs Milton added. They both stood up. She enveloped Alice's hand, a gentle but firm grasp, as they walked towards the door. She beckoned the driver to come, and they set off.

“What brings you here, Alice?” Mrs Milton asked as they were almost at the hospital.

“Just to know when you will fulfill your part of the deal,” Alice answered calmly. She is happy and fulfilled now.

“That's good. We're here now,” Mrs. Milton said. They got to the hospital about to get down.

Mrs Milton said to the doctor as all payments had been made, “Kindly commence all treatment now since all financial formalities are behind us. Please don't delay.”