Contracted Hearts

Chapter 2

“Your sister has gastric cancer.” Emma heard the Doctor say. She couldn't pick out much from what he was saying as he spoke in a funny accent, but the sound of the word cancer made Emma’s heart skip.

“Cancer?” Emma asked, refusing to believe what she had just heard. “How's that possible, Doctor? How could she have cancer? No one in our family has ever had cancer.” Emma asked the doctor a barrage of questions without waiting for them to be answered.

She could feel tears trickling down her cheeks. Her chest was thumping, and her hands were jittery. She was terrified. A lot of thoughts ran through her mind. Rose was the only immediate family member she had left. Was she going to lose her too? Was the cancer curable? How was she going to pay for the treatment?

“One more thing,” the Doctor added, and Emma felt her heart sink deeper. “Because of the nature and stage of the cancer, it would require immediate surgery. We have to operate on it within a month, so further complications do not arise.”

“So how much will the surgery cost, Doctor?” Emma asked, fear visible on her face. “It'll cost $1 million, and you have to make payment in the next three weeks, so we can commence preparations for the surgery.” The Doctor said and left Emma to her thoughts.

Emma thought about how she was going to come up with such a sum within a short period. She wasn't making so much at work because she was just an intern, and she didn't have access to her father's funds yet. He had not written a will before his death. She decided to go to her Uncle's and ask if he could lend her some part of the money.

She went to her Uncle's house and knocked on the door. The door was answered by her cousin Jenna. “What are you doing here?” Jenna asked with a sneer on her face. Emma knew Jenna had never liked her but she wasn't deterred by her cousin's unpleasant attitude.

“I'm here to see Uncle James.” She said calmly to her cousin, in no mood to bicker with her. Before Jenna could respond, her Uncle appeared.

“Are you here to tell me you've changed your mind as regards the matter we discussed? “ He asked. “No sir, please I need your help.” Emma began, she noticed a change in expression. “Rose is currently at the Hospital, we just discovered she has cancer. The Doctor said she requires urgent surgery, and it'd cost $1 million.”

“I'm sorry about your sister, but how do you want me to help?” Her uncle asked, with no compassion in his voice. “Please, if you can help with half the sum, I can source for the rest.” James stroked his chin as he seemed to ponder on the request, and then a wry smile appeared on his face.

“You don't think of helping her, do you Dad” Jenna asked before James could speak. “Let me speak!” James shouted at his daughter before turning to Emma. “Well, I think I can help you with what you ask, but I'll need something from you first.”

Emma could guess what her uncle was going to say next, and she dreaded it. “Remember our discussion yesterday? I'll need you to reconsider and hand me control of your father's business.”

“Errm…but sir, I can't do that,” Emma said, this time unconvincingly. “That's unfortunate, that's the only condition under which I can help,” James said as he stood up and attempted to leave.

“Uncle please wait, I'll do any other thing” Emma pleaded with her uncle, but he wouldn't listen to her.

“Okay, I will…I will hand over the business to you, please help me with the money and I will.” Emma eventually said when she noticed her uncle was not going to listen to her pleas.

“No, you'll hand over the business first, then we can talk.” Emma felt like she was handicapped, she had no other choice, she went to her car where she had the documents and signed them before hesitantly handing over the documents to her uncle.

She saw the triumphant look on his face and almost immediately regretted her decision, but she had no choice, her sister's life came first before any other thing.

“Good, now that this is settled. How much did you say you need?” James asked, looking away from the documents he was holding.

“About $700,000 sir,” Emma replied. James went up to his room with the documents and came back with a stash of cash in his hands and handed it over to Emma.

“Sir, I requested $700, 000. This is $70,000.” Emma had a bemused look on her face that was morphing into anger.

“That is all I can afford for now,” James said. “I think it's more than you deserve.” Jenna also added.

Emma was close to bursting into tears, but she tried to hold them back. “This is cheating! Cheating! We had an agreement. I just handed over my father's company for a mere $70,000. This would not cover even 10% of the bills. You are evil and inconsiderate. You do not even care about your niece. “ Emma was furious, and she rambled on at her uncle, raising her voice.

She suddenly felt a slap across her face. “You will not speak to my father that way in our own house.” Jenna said as she tried to hit her again, but Emma caught her arm, and they jostled with each other.

Her uncle stepped up to keep them apart. “Leave my house this instant,” he said as he pointed his fingers towards the door.

“I'm not leaving here without the full money you promised me,” Emma said, standing her ground. Her uncle called some of the staff. “Throw her out,” he said as soon as they arrived. Two staff members carried Emma as she shouted and screamed. They bundled her out of the house and locked the gate.