Chapter 1 Prologue

• Melissa's POV
• I stood in the cramped hospital room, the beeping machines and antiseptic smell suffocating me. My father's face, etched with worry and fatigue, made my heart sink. "What?" I screamed, my eyes pooling with tears, as I stared at him.
• "That's what Dr. Riley found," he said, his voice cracking. "Your mother's two kidneys are damaged, and she needs a transplant in three days, or..." He diverted his gaze, unable to finish the sentence. But I already knew what he had wanted to say.
• I felt like my world had crumbled. My mother had been sick for a year, and we'd tried everything to manage her illness. But yesterday, she'd suddenly collapsed, leaving us with this devastating news. I felt a pang of sadness for my father, who'd spent almost every penny he had. We were almost completely broke.
• "How much did he say the transplant would cost?" I managed to ask, my voice shaking, though I had no hope of where to get the money.
• "Five hundred thousand dollars," he replied, his voice breaking.
• I let out a sob, feeling the tears flow freely. "Where did Dr. Riley expect us to get that kind of money?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice as I paced the room.
• My dad approached me, closing the distance between us in a tight hug, his hands slightly shaking. "I don't want mom to die...," I stated my fear, hiccuping, and he rubbed my back reassuringly.
• "Don't worry, I'll do everything to get the money," he said, trying to placate me. "Your mom won't die, she'll recover and come back to us."
• I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope despite knowing he was just trying to reassure me.
• "I need you to stay here and watch your mom," he said, disconnecting from the hug. "I'll be back."
• "Where are you going?" I asked, wiping the tears blocking my sight.
• "I want to see if my boss could help, even if it's a loan," he said, looking at the scan result in his hand one more time before handing it to me and leaving.
• Immediately after he left, the familiar feeling of unease crept back into my chest. I turned to gaze at my mom, lying helpless on the small hospital bed. Her once vibrant face now looked frail and exhausted, a stark contrast to the beautiful, lively woman she used to be.
• I walked over to her bedside and gently squeezed her hand. "You'll be okay, Mom. Dad and I will get you out of here. We'll figure it out, somehow. Just keep fighting...please." I whispered, despite knowing she couldn't hear me.
• She had always been my confidante, my chat buddy. Tears streamed down my face as I began pacing around the room, trying to process my emotions.
• Hours passed, and finally, the door creaked open. My dad stood there, looking drained and sweaty, his eyes red from crying.
• He closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
• I slowly approached him and helped him stand straight, then guided him to a chair. "What happened, Dad?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear. "Did he give you the money?"
• He shook his head, and my world crumbled further. I knew Williams Brown was heartless, but this was beyond cruel. My dad, an employee at Brown's Cooperation, had always spoken of the CEO's ruthless reputation. But I never thought he'd stoop this low.
• "Why?" I finally found the strength to ask, my voice shaking.
• My dad looked at me, then stared back at the floor. "He said he'd only give me the money if I repaid it in two weeks... and if not, he'd take..." He hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper. "You."
• I felt a chill run down my spine. "Me? But why? What does he need me for?" I asked, stunned.
• My dad shook his head sadly. "It's almost impossible to repay that amount in two weeks, honey. And I won't risk losing you too."
• I tried to convince him, crying uncontrollably. "Dad, we have to take it, it's the only option we have. I can't bear losing Mom, please. Who knows, a miracle can happen before that time, and we can repay it." My voice cracked as I spoke, and my body shook with sobs.
• My dad looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and desperation. He seemed to be struggling to come to a decision.
• Just then, my mom began to shake, and the machine by her bedside started beeping continuously. We rushed to her side, and my dad yelled for me to get the doctor.
• I ran out of the room, my heart racing, and called for Dr. Riley. He and two nurses followed me back into the room, and they began to check my mom, making several efforts to stabilize her.
• We were asked to leave, and I felt a sense of hopelessness wash over me as we stepped into the hallway.
• My dad paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his head, while I stood frozen, feeling helpless.
• "Dad, please, you have to go get the money," I urged, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn't know what would happen if we couldn't repay it, but I was willing to face it, as long as my Mother stayed alive.
• The doctor soon came out, his face grim. "She's stable for now, but she needs to undergo surgery ASAP," he said, his voice filled with concern.
• As soon as he left, my dad turned to look at me, his hand raking his hair repeatedly in frustration before turning to leave. I guessed he was going to take the money.
• **********
• Hours later, Dr. Riley delivered the devastating news. "I'm sorry, but she couldn't make it. We did our best, but..."
• His words felt like a punch to my gut, and I felt my legs give out beneath me. I collapsed to the floor, wailing, as the nurses tried to lift me up.
• My dad sat beside me, his head in his hands, as I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. What was this pain? Why did she have to leave us? All our efforts and yet.. The world blurred around me, and all I felt was agony.