Adrianna

Chapter two

“Adri” Faith and Jace burst into the hospital room where Laura was lying down receiving treatment.

Adrianna was sobbing beside her mom. She had been there for hours.

“It’s gonna be okay,” Faith said, hugging her.

“No, it’s not Faith, She has leukemia. She knew all this time and refused to tell me, and she had also refused to get treatment” She sobbed in Faith's arms.

“What did the doctor say? Is she going to be fine?” Jace asked.

“He said that the cancer has spread too much and that there is nothing he can do now” She sobbed more.

“ No, there’s gotta be something, I’m gonna talk to him right now.” He turned to the door.

“Adri” Laura said faintly.

“Mom” Adri turned to her mom and dried her tears.

“You’re awake,” She said, her voice breaking.

“Oh baby don’t cry, it’s gonna be okay,” Laura said.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Mom,” Adrianna asked.

“I didn’t want you to worry, Adri, but it’s okay, I’m fine”, Laura assured her.

She turned to Faith and Jace. “Thank you for being here for her. You are very good kids”. Laura said, “Please take her home to freshen up and eat”. She told them.

“No, I’m not leaving you” Adrianna protested.

“Darling, I’m not going anywhere”, Laura said, trying to persuade her.

“Okay,” Adrianna finally agreed and left with Faith and Jace.

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A few hours later, Adrianna came back to the hospital. “Why is my mom’s lawyer here?” Adri asked as she saw her mom's lawyer enter his car and drive off. Faith and Jace had gone back home after she insisted that she could manage on her own. She entered her mom’s hospital room and saw her mom sitting on her bed. “Mom, are you okay? You’re supposed to lie down.” Adri rushed to her mom. “I’m fine honey” Laura replied, stroking Adrianna’s amber brown hair. Adrianna pulled a chair close and sat down holding her mom’s hand. “Don’t worry Mom, you’ll make it okay. We’ll find a way to get treatment for you, okay?” Adri said to her.” Oh, my darling Adrianna”, Laura said softly, “I have to tell you something important.” Adri looked at her expectantly “It’s about your dad” “Mom save your strength don’t talk about the man who abandoned us and hasn’t even cared to check up on us in over 10 years” Adri said in an irritated voice. If only her dad hadn’t left them, Laura wouldn’t be this sick now, she thought. “No Adri, It wasn’t like that”, Laura coughed and Adri gave her a cup of water to drink. “Your dad and I met in college, and we got married not long after we graduated. Back then, your dad had nothing, yet he cared for us so much that when you were born he used up his savings and bought a crystal heart necklace with your name engraved in front and our initials on the back,” she coughed again “He called it his greatest gift. Then, when you were one, things changed, his business boomed and we were suddenly wealthy. Then he started spending more time away from home, and we got into arguments because I wanted to work, and he didn’t want me to. He barely even allowed me to leave the house. At one point, he spent weeks away from the house without giving me any reasonable explanation. Then one night I shouted at him and told him I wanted a divorce and that I didn’t trust him anymore.” Laura sobbed and Adrianna patted her back. “I gave him a last chance to tell me the truth, but he just remained silent so the next day I packed my things and told him that I didn’t want him anywhere near us. He hugged you with tears in his eyes and told me not to forget to give you the greatest gift.” Laura wiped her tears. “He tried contacting us several times after that and even came to our old house one day, demanding to just see you, but I didn’t let him, and I've not heard from him since that day,” Laura said trying to control her voice. Tears rolled down Adri’s eyes. “Oh Adri, I’m so sorry I didn’t want you to be hurt the same way I was. That was why I did what I did. I hope you can forgive me”, Laura cried. “I forgive you Mom”. Adrianna hugged her mom tightly. Laura reached inside her bag and took out a picture of Adrianna and a man who had the same amber-brown hair and eyes as Adri. “Adri, this is your dad,” she said as she gave Adrianna the picture. “How can it be? This is.” Adri looked up at her mom. “Is Arain Lukas my Dad ?” she asked. “Yes he is”, Laura said. Arian Lukas was a multibillionaire. He owned a lot of companies ranging from hospitals to tech industries to food industries and even a lot of hotels in and out of the country. “No wonder we have the same surname,” Adri said Laura coughed and blood came out of her mouth and the machine started beeping “Mom” Adri called frantically “Mom are you okay?” Laura gasped and lay down as Adri heated the beeper calling for the doctor “Adri” Laura called weakly “Mom save your breath” Adri sobbed. “Pro…mise me ….that you won't…. Be angry…. At your dad …… and don’t forget …… the greatest gift…” She pulled a necklace from under her pillow and put it in Adri’s hands “Mom don’t talk like that you are going to be fine” Adri sobbed harder. “I love you, Adrianna,” Laura said softly, and the machine went silent.” NOOOOOOO” Adrianna screamed, “Wake up Mom.” The doctor and nurses tried using CPR on her to no avail, and they finally pronounced her dead.