Chapter 4 Who Is Dying

• Laura's POV
• The fingers of the morning sun stabbed at my eyes and they immediately fluttered open. Yesterday, I had used my last card to rent a guesthouse to spend the night over.
• I turned my thoughts to the next line of action I was about to take. Mom! I could feel the heavy thud of my heart as thoughts of the past came rushing back.
• And that had been the beginning of Dad's misery. How did it even happen?
• Yeah, it was that moment Mom had found her fated mate and she hadn't even thought twice about leaving dad and abandoning her seven-year-old daughter. She had married her mate and from what I heard back then, the man was rich and everything had worked out for her.
• And now as much as I hated to admit it, I needed her help to save Dad. Even as much as I bore a deep resentment towards her for leaving me, I still had no one else except her to turn to.
• It won't hurt to swallow my pride and ask her for help. I told myself.
• Standing in front of Mom's front door, I rang the doorbell and it rang like two times before Mom's painful voice drifted out.
• I flinched as memories of childhood flooded my mind. I was so lost in thought that I didn't realize she had already opened the door and was staring at one with a horrified expression.
• I noticed her, too late and I quickly recoiled backwards to properly greet her. She enveloped me in a warm embrace and I felt something moist drop on my bare back.
• Was she crying?
• I recoiled from her embrace and looked into her eyes. She was indeed crying and I could read the apology in her eyes.
• "Mom!" I mutter quietly and a muscle twitched on her forehead.
• "W--what are you doing here? You don't look fine." She stuttered, worry evident on her face.
• I sniffed back the tears that was threatening to pull me apart. "Did you hear what happened to Dad?" I asked instead.
• She looked away and then swallowed hard in her throat. "I heard everything and I tried reaching out but I couldn't get to you. When I learnt that you became the Luna to the Lycan king, I tried seeing you but all my efforts turned futile." She explained.
• I ignored it. That was in the past now and whether or just she had truly cared, I needed her help now..
• I fell flat on my knees. "Mom, please I need your help. Dad's in a coma and I need to get money for his surgery. I need you to help me out."
• "How much are we talking about? You know I'll always do anything to help you. I'm sorry for leaving in the past. I have always loved you and I will---" she trailed off as she looked at something behind me.
• Someone, to be precise. I realized as my gaze landed on Sarah and Julian.
• I frowned in confusion as my gaze slid back to Mom's face. What were they doing here? Did she know them?
• Before I could voice out my question, Mom walked up to them and took the baby Sarah was holding.
• My stomach folded as I caught sight of the baby's face. It was a harsh reminder that I just lost my only chance to redeem my marriage.
• But there was no need for the feeling of regret anymore. The marriage had already fallen apart.
• Mom held Sarah's shoulder with her free hand and turned to face me. "Laura, this is---"
• "I know exactly who they are!" I cut her off bluntly. "What are they doing here?"
• Mom had a complicated look on her face as she cleared her awkwardly. The atmosphere was suddenly tense as a gloomy silence dropped over the house.
• Sarah broke the silence as she shot me a disdainful look. "She's my stepmother and this is my house! I should be asking you what you're doing here!"
• I couldn't stop the humourless laughter from escaping my lips as comprehension filtered in. Mom had married Sarah's father and she had acted like a mother to the very woman who stole my husband from me.
• Once again, dizziness slammed into my guts and a spasm of pain shot through my neck down to my stomach as I felt as though a fluid had been released into my blood and was pumping hard and fast into my brain.
• My vision suddenly became hazy. Colours brightened, blurring around the edges before melting together again. I felt out of breath and my muscles snarled and screamed as I succumbed into a total pitch-black darkness.
• ****
• Muffled voices. Strange smell.
• I jolted awake. I peeled my eyes open but I soon squeezed them shut as the blinding brightness shot in. The room smelled different and I slowly opened my eyes now and adjusted my eyes to the brightness.
• The walls were painted white and if I was guessing right, I was in the hospital. The door opened to reveal Julian's face.
• What was he doing here? And what was that look on his face as though he was concerned? Why was he still trying to confuse me? Why was he acting like he cared?
• "How are you feeling?" I could detect a faint emotion in his voice.
• "How long have I been here?" I asked instead, my voice sounded hoarse.
• "You've been in a coma for two weeks. The doctors are trying to find the cause of the illness." He explained.
• He would find out that I was dying soon but he would still live his life with the woman he loved. A sad smile crawled up my lips at the thought.
• "How would you feel if I died?"
• Immediately the words left my mouth, I knew I had made a very big mistake. Blood drained from Julian's face as he grabbed my hands, his intense eyes bored into mine.
• "What did you just say? Who's dying?"