A Daughter Nobody Wanted

Chapter 3

Melissa's phone slipped from her hand It hit the ground with a loud crack, She didn't care her ears rang. Her heart pounded violently against her chest "The world around her suddenly felt distant, Unreal.

"What happened?"

"Harris grabbed her shoulders his voice sounded far away. Melissa couldn't breathe.

She could only hear her mother's words "Your father stopped breathing."

"No..."

The whisper escaped her lips.

"No."

Harris frowned. "Melissa?"

"No!"

Tears burst from her eyes. "My father." Okay, what happened to your father? Without another word she turned and ran.

"Melissa!"

Harris immediately ran after her the night air whipped against her face. "Her slippers slapped against the dusty road... Her lungs burned but she kept running faster, and faster. Every terrifying thought raced through her head.

What if she was too late? What if he was gone? What if she never heard his voice again?

"No..."

Her vision blurred "Dad, please She stumbled. Almost fell, then kept running

The hospital lights finally appeared ahead

Melissa rushed through the entrance. Patients and visitors turned to look at her

She didn't care

"Emergency room! She grabbed a passing nurse "My father!" The nurse recognised her

"This way."

Melissa followed immediately her entire body shook. As she approached the room, she saw Grace standing outside, For the first time in years, her mother looked terrified, not angry, not annoyed "Terrified...

Tears covered Grace's face the sight stunned Melissa.

"Mom."

Grace looked up then suddenly grabbed Melissa's hands. The older woman's fingers were ice cold "The doctors are inside." Melissa's stomach twisted.

What happened? He collapsed." Grace's voice broke "He just collapsed? For a moment, neither woman spoke the doors remained closed. The doctors remained inside "And Melissa felt completely helpless

Minutes passed, then more minutes, Every second felt like an hour. Finally, the doors opened. A doctor stepped outside. Melissa rushed forward.

"Doctor!" The man's face looked too serious,

Melissa's heart nearly stopped.

"Doctor, please."

The doctor removed his glasses "We managed to stabilise him." Melissa almost collapsed from relief. A sob escaped her lips

"Thank God."

"But..."

The word froze everyone. Melissa immediately looked up "The doctor sighed.

"His condition is getting worse." The relief vanished.

"How bad?"

The doctor glanced toward the room "Very bad." Melissa felt her chest tighten.

He needs long-term treatment "Then treat him, the words came out instantly; The doctor hesitated. Melissa already knew why.

"Money_"

Everything always came back to money.

The doctor continued. "If treatment doesn't begin immediately, I'm afraid he won't survive much longer." Grace looked at her Silence, Heavy silence. Melissa slowly lowered her eyes. Her hands clenched, Her nails dug into her palms. The doctor quietly left.

"Melissa?

"Mum

i have clients waiting....

The truth hung heavily in the air without money, Richard Harrison would die.

Half an hour later, Melissa entered her father's room. Machines beeped softly the smell of medicine filled the air. Richard lay quietly on the bed. His eyes were closed,

His face looked thinner than ever, older, weaker.

Melissa felt tears burning again this wasn't fair, one of them was fair. She slowly sat beside him.

"Dad."

The old man's eyes opened. A weak smile appeared "My princess." That nickname, that simple nickname. Melissa immediately began crying "Richard reached for her hand "Why are you crying?" Melissa laughed through her tears "You scared me."

The old man smiled weakly "I'm sorry."

"No." Melissa shook her head "Stop apologising." Richard squeezed her fingers for a moment neither spoke. Then the old man looked away.

"I heard the doctor." Melissa froze "Dad..."

He thinks I didn't hear." his smile looked sad. "But I did."

Melissa felt panic rising. "Don't talk like that."

Richard turned back toward her his eyes were gentle. Full of love... The kind of love Melissa had spent her whole life searching for.

"Listen to me." "No."

"Melissa." "No."

The old man's voice became firm. "Listen."

Melissa bit her lip Slowly, she nodded Richard took a deep breath "If something happens to me—"

Nothing is going to happen."

"Melissa."

His voice softened "You must live your own life! Fresh tears rolled down Melissa's cheeks.

"My life is here." Richard smiled sadly.

"No."

His fingers gently touched her hand. "You gave up too much already, Melissa looked down. She had sacrificed everything and somehow it still wasn't enough. Richard's voice grew weaker "You deserve happiness."

"Dad." "You deserve love."

Melissa lowered her head because she wasn't sure she believed him, Not anymore.

The following morning, Melissa had barely slept she sat outside the hospital room holding a cup of cold water "Her mind felt numb.

A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Melissa."

She looked up Harris stood there, holding a small food container. "You didn't eat." Melissa stared at him, then at the food... Then back at him. Her eyes immediately filled with tears "Not because of the food

But because somebody noticed; Somebody cared.

Harris sat beside her "You can't take care of your father if you collapse "Melissa accepted the container. "Thank you."

For several seconds neither spoke then Harris finally asked: "Is it true?"

Melissa frowned. "What?"

About Victory Williams." The name instantly made her stomach twist, Melissa looked away. "So everybody knows." Harris's expression darkened. "Your mother told people" Melissa laughed bitterly "Of course she did.

Why wouldn't she?

Harris leaned forward. "You're not really going, are you?" Melissa didn't answer Because she didn't know "The hospital bill, medicine, The treatment... Everything required money, Money she didn't have.

Harris studied her face "Then his expression changed. Almost like he suddenly understood "You're considering it?."

Melissa remained silent, That silence was enough. Harris stood up abruptly.

"No."

Melissa blinked.

"Harris." "No." His jaw tightened. "You can't go."

"Why?"

Because that man is dangerous." Melissa laughed softly. "Dangerous people aren't new to me." The words slipped out before she could stop them. Harris stared at her, Pain flashed through his eyes. Because he understood exactly what she meant.

before he could speak again— A familiar voice interrupted them.

"Melissa." Both turned, Grace was walking toward them. Her expression looked unusually serious "Melissa immediately knew something was wrong- "Very wrong.

Grace stopped in front of her. Then handed her a business card" Melissa frowned. On the card was a name Victory Williams.

Her heart skipped. Slowly she looked up Grace's voice was calm, Far too calm.

He wants to meet you." Melissa felt cold from head to toe. Then Grace said the words that changed everything.

"If you refuse, we won't be able to pay for your father's treatment and you knows what that mean, have a nice day" The card trembled in Melissa's hand. And for the first time... She realised she might be forced to choose between saving her father— Or saving herself.