Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 3

In the morning, John walks out of his room and yawns as he sees Lola serving food on the dining table.

"John, come and have your breakfast. You must attend a tutorial today," Lola said.

"Which tutorial?" John asked, walking to her.

"Had paid a teacher to teach you for two months. You will go back to school in the third month."

John shrugs his shoulder. "I’m not interested. I don’t want to go to school anymore. I want to be a musician."

Lola raises a big spoon out of annoyance. John shrinks back from the big spoon.

"Just shut up and do what I want."

Ella walks out of her room and stretches herself in her pajamas. "Good morning, guys."

"Morning!" Lola said, smiling.

"Morning!" John said, frowning.

"Why did John’s face look like that? What’s wrong with you?" Ella asked.

"Don’t mind him. He hates the fact that I want him to return to school," Lola said.

Ella smiles and rubs John’s hair. Suddenly, Aurora jumps out of her room and keeps on jumping in happiness.

"Hey! Did you win a jackpot?" John asked.

"Guess what!" Aurora asked.

"I’m not good at guessing," Ella said.

"What happened?" Lola asked.

Aurora grins. "I am now a banker."

John smacks his lips and started eating.

"Congrats! When will you start going to work?" Ella asked.

"On Monday. What did Lola cook? Noddles. Crayfish! Lola makes me remember Mom. Mom loves cooking crayfish for us," Aurora winks at Lola.

John rose and turns to leave.

"Don’t forget about the tutorial, John," Lola said.

John stops at the door. "I’m going to the karaoke today."

Lola yells, "Don’t think of returning to this house if you take a step out there."

John hurries into his room with a disapproving expression on his face.

The sound of a ringing tone approaches.

Ella rises. "I will buy a phone for you guys. I'm coming, my phone is ringing in my room."


Lola

11:00 AM. At the hospital. While I am giving Mia my phone number outside, a car stops before the hospital and Valerie dashes out, beckoning nurses for help.

Curiously, I watch other nurses carrying my dad. Valerie didn’t notice me before following the nurse inside the hospital anxiously. My blood boils, making me feel the heat. And within three seconds, I was sweating.

I feel like running to my father, but I was able to stop myself. No! He abandoned and betrayed us.

But my blood was still boiling...

"Lola, what happened?" Mia asked.

I force myself to smile. "Nothing."

"Your eyes are dripping tears."

"Oh! A fly enters my eyes." I quickly rub them off. The more I wiped them, the more they rain.

"Are you alright?" Mia asked curiously. "Your hand is shaking."

"My drug. I need to take my drug. I've forgotten it at home," I said, hurrying to the street to stop a taxicab.

I met Ella in the sitting room, watching the film.

"Why did you get home by this time?" Ella asked.

"I can’t take my mind off the blind date. Need enough time to prepare," I said.

"How many times did you want me to tell you it isn't worth worrying about?"

"I'm sorry," I said.

Ella sighs.

"I'm hungry. You cook?"

Ella smiles. "I cook rice."

My phone rings. It is an unknown number. But I guess it was Mia calling me. She was the fourth person I gave my phone number. I hurry into the kitchen to answer the call.

"Lola, are you alright?" Mia's anxious voice swirls into my ear.

"Yes."

"You scared me. My heart hasn't stopped thumping."

"I'm sorry. And thanks for the care."

"Don't come to work tomorrow. I will inform the doctor. You don't have to worry. You work too much."

"Thanks, Mia."

After Mia hangs up the call, my stomach grumbles. I'm hungry, but didn't feel like eating.

Sighing, I decide to forget about my wicked father. I go back to the sitting room with a bowl of rice and crayfish soup.

"I like the crayfish you cook in the morning. It is so delicious," Ella said.

I blush.

"My Dad was the person who called me in the morning. He reminded me about the blind date."

"Maybe you should go on the blind date instead of me," I said.

Ella furrows her brow. "Maybe you guys should leave my house, too."

"Try to understand me. What if your father finds out the truth?" I asked.

"Don’t worry about that. Have been in this business for five years. I guarantee you he won’t find it out. You would meet the guy at the Eternity restaurant at noon. And a good way to start the mission is to get there at 2 PM."

Ella laughs while I chuckle awkwardly.

"I forgot to tell you about the clothes you would wear. I will give you my white gown on purpose. The last thing he would expect was to see you eating without a spoon and then clean your dirty hand with the white gown," Ella said.

"What about the shoe and bag?" I asked.

"Your cheap shoe and bag would do. If he refused to get angry because of his low temper, ask him rudely to buy you a shoe and a bag. And you must choose an expensive one.

"Most men don’t like an expensive woman. Please, don’t do any mistake. Had taught you some methods last week.

"You must do everything that you can do to make the day go bad for him. It should be the worst day of his life."

Ella laughs.

"It sounds easier. But it is hard to do," I said.

"You can do this."

I smack my lips. "I won’t lose.”

"I believe you," Ella said, clapping.


11:00 PM. At Mateo’s house. Valerie is searching for every document which belongs to Mateo. She sees the house document and a Will that was written by Mateo. Taking an intense look at Will, Valerie blurts out.

"How dare he write a Will for his children? I shouldn't have believed him when he promised me he had nothing to do with those kids anymore. Where were they when I'm taking care of him at home before taking him to the hospital? I must keep this. I'm sure Mateo cannot survive the illness."

She continues reading the Will. She then blurts out again.

"Mateo has a company? Why doesn't he tell me? Her children don’t even know. This is the time to be rich."

Valerie’s phone rings. Doctor Richard is calling.

"Doc..."

"You have to be strong. I’m sorry to tell you Mr. Mateo has given up the ghost," Doctor Richard said.

The phone slips down from Valerie’s hand as she leans her back to the wall. She feels the pain of losing Mateo, but no tears fall from her eyes, for this is what she has been waiting for.

After she recovers enough to do something, she quickly packs the documents into her bag and calls Sophia, her friend.

Sophia answers the call on the fourth ring.

"How are you doing, Valerie?" Sophia asked.

"Can I keep some documents with you?"

There’s a pause from the other end for a while.

"Valerie, what happened to you? You sound uncomfortable."

"Nothing. Okay?"

"If you say so."

"Can I bring the documents?"

"Sure."

"Would get there soon," Valerie said.

Uneasily, Valerie walks up and down the house, not quite knowing what to do next.

"I won’t leave this house. This is my house from now on. I will know what to do with the company."

Valerie then sobs. "No. Mateo can't just live me just like this. Why did he do this to me when he knows I can't handle a lonely life?"

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter