A Daughter Nobody Wanted

"Please... somebody help me!" Melissa’s voice cracked in the hospital hallway. It bounced off the stark white walls and died unanswered. Her father, Richard Harrison, was slung across her back—120 pounds of skin and bones that felt like three hundred. He was the only person who had ever truly loved her. She adjusted her grip as his legs began to slip. "Dad. Hold on to me. Please." Sweat stung her eyes. It had taken two hours to walk from the village to the hospital, carrying a man who couldn’t walk anymore. Her spine felt like it was snapping beneath the weight, but she didn’t stop. Who else would carry him if she didn't? People stepped around her as if she were invisible—a woman carrying flowers, two doctors engrossed in conversation, a cleaner pushing a mop. "Please, " Melissa cried out, grabbing the sleeve of a hospital attendant "My dad... he can’t breathe. Help me." The man glanced at her, then down at the frail old man on her back "We’re busy, " he said,wrenching his arm free before walking away. Melissa froze. Busy? The word hit her like a fist to the chest. Her throat tightened. Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry. Shifting her father higher on her shoulders, she pushed through the double doors of the ER. "Dad, we’re here." Richard’s eyes opened slowly. He looked pale, his lips cracked and dry. "My princess..." Melissa tried to smile, but it hurt too much. "Please, don’t talk." His cold hand found hers. "You haven’t eaten." She looked away. Of course she hadn’t—the bus fare had taken every last cent she had. Foodcould wait. A doctor finally stopped in front of them. "What’s going on?" "My dad, " Melissa said quickly "He’s been sick for years, but it got worse this morning. Please." The doctor nodded and gestured to two nurses, who brought over a stretcher. The moment they lifted her father off her back, Melissa’s knees buckled. She collapsed into a plastic chair, dragging air into her burning lungs. She was allowed only ten minutes of relief. A nurse stopped in front of her holding a clipboard, her face devoid of emotion. "Payment first." Melissa stared at her. "What?" "Treatment can’t start until you pay." Her stomach dropped. "How much?" When the nurse stated the amount, Melissa’s heart fell through the floor. It was equal to four months of her mother’s food stall earnings. It was an impossible sum. "Please, " her voice broke. "Can’t you start treatment now, and I’ll pay afterward?" "Hospital policy, " the nurse replied coldly, turning on her heel and walking away. Melissa buried her face in her hands. Her father was dying in the other room, and she had nothing. With shaking fingers, she pulled out her phone. There was only one person left to call. It rang once. Twice. Three times. "What?" Grace Richard answered, her tone sharp, tired, and annoyed. "Mom." "What now?" "Dad’s in the hospital. They need money." Silence stretched across the line before Grace responded, "So?" Melissa’s mouth went dry. "So... I need help." A heavy sigh came through the speaker. "Melissa, do you think I print money?" "This is Dad!" "Evelyn’s school fees are due, too." Melissa blinked in disbelief. "Evelyn’s...? Mom, Dad is in the hospital! "And your sister has exams, " Grace said, her voice turning hard. "Don’t make this all about you." About me? Melissa’s hand trembled against the phone. It was the same old cut, opening all over again. "Mom, what am I supposed to do?" "You complain too much, Melissa." Click. The line went dead. Melissa sat frozen, staring at the black screen as her chest caved in. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. No. Not now."Melissa..." She shot up. "Dad." Richard was lying in the hospital bed, an IV stuck into his arm. Despite everything, he smiled for her—always for her. "Come here, my Princess." She rushed to his side. He reached up to touch her cheek, his fingers trembling. "I’m sorry." "Don’t," she pleaded. "I’m sorry your life has been so hard." "Dad, stop." "You deserved school. You deserved better." Tears spilled over her cheeks, falling onto his hand. "Please, stop talking." "If anything happens to me—" "Nothing is going to happen to you!" "Melissa—" "NO!" Heads turned in the ward, but she didn’t care. She squeezed his hand until her knuckles turned white. "You promised me." Richard looked at her for a long moment, then gave a weak nod. "Okay." But Melissa saw the truth in his eyes. He was terrified, too. Night fell. The hospital allowed them to stay until morning—no payment meant no treatment, but they wouldn't kick him out in the dark. That was the compromise. Melissa walked back to the house. Every step sent a shoot of pain through her legs and back, her empty stomach gnawing at her. The house was completely dark, save for the light creeping out from the kitchen window. Voices drifted out into the night air." ...Everything’s already arranged." Melissa paused in her tracks. Arranged? A man’s voice, low and gruff, asked, "Are you sure she’ll agree?" Grace laughed—a light, warm sound Melissa had never once received."Agree? That girl doesn’t have a choice. That girl doesn’t have a choice? A cold chill ran down Melissa’s arms. "Victory Williams needs someone in his mansion, " the man said. "They say he’s dangerous." "So?" Grace’s voice was utterly flat."He pays well. Once Melissa leaves, our problems are solved. Melissa’s breath hitched. Her body went entirely numb. "What if she says no?" "Then I’ll make her go." The world tilted around her. Her own mother was selling her off—and to Victory Williams, the ruthless billionaire everyone spoke of in terrified whispers. Inside, Grace repeated, "When she’s gone, we’ll finally have peace." Melissa clapped a hand over her mouth, her body trembling violently. Footsteps approached the door. She scrambled backward, retreating into the shadows of the dark yard. The door handle turned. And in that moment, Melissa realized the cold truth: if she walked into that house tonight, she was never walking out again