Chapter 4

• Phoenix can be seen seated with a woman sitting opposite her. The was putting on a robe and one could see her heavy makeup. In her hand was a cigarette stick.
• " Oh my God! " Monica, the woman gasped in shock immediately.
• " What?! That's one of the most expensive surgical operations, from what I know. When did all this happen? " She asked and Phoenix bowed down her head in sadness.
• " I just found out today " She muttered before looking up, her eyes clouded with tears.
• " I need your help aunt. I don't want to lose my mom, please " She pleaded, letting her tears fall. Monica's face softened on seeing her tears and she kept her cigarette aside.
• " Shush, don't cry Phoenix, OK? Tell me...how much do you need? " She inquired and Phoenix beamed on hearing that. She slowly wiped her tears.
• " I need one million, aunt " Monica's eyes widened.
• " That's a lot of money, Phoenix, jeez! " She exclaimed.
• " I know aunt. But I swear, I'll pay you back gradually. I don't know how I'll be able to do it, but I swear, even if it means giving my life in exchange, I'll find a way to pay you back. Please help me, aunt please " Phoenix pleaded, going down on her knees, another strand of tears rolling down.
• " Don't say such a thing, Phoenix my dear. Come on, get up. You don't have to kneel before me, huh? " Monica instructed and Phoenix slowly got up, sitting back down as she sniffed back her tears.
• " The thing is, as it is now...I don't have that amount of money " Phoenix's face died down in disappointment on hearing that.
• " But I know of someone who can help you out " Monica added, and hope flashed through Phoenix's face again.
• " But...
• " Are you ready to give anything for this money? " Monica demanded.
• " Of course, aunt, I'm ready to give anything just so I won't lose my mom" Phoenix answered.
• " Hmm. Are you sure? " Phoenix nodded firmly.
• " Are you willing to even give yourself up for this money? " Monica questioned once again.
• " I don't understand, aunt " Phoenix frowned her brows in confusion.
• " Jackson Wong, a very rich business tycoon. He is looking for a beautiful young lady as a wife who can bear him an heir " Monica explained, showing Phoenix the picture of the man on her phone. Phoenix's eyes widened in horror on seeing the old man Monica was talking about. She sprang up immediately.
• " Aunt! Are you on about this again? How many times will I tell you? I'm not interested in marrying anyone! " She snapped in anger. Monica only took her cigarette and resumed smoking.
• " Hey, sit down " She commanded, making Phoenix scoff, looking away.
• " Listen, Jackson is filthy rich and owns a lot of famous companies all over the world. As it is now, he is the only person who can help you, Phoenix " Monica explained in a calm tone.
• " I'm not getting married to an old man, aunt, never! " Phoenix hissed.
• " Do you want to lose your Mom, young lady?! " Monica snapped, making Phoenix look at her.
• " Do you want to lose your Mom?! " She asked once again and Phoenix slowly nodded a 'no'.
• " Then sit down and let's talk " She snapped. Having no other option, Phoenix complied. Letting out a sigh,
• " Listen to me Phoenix. I never intended this in the first place, but according to the situation at hand, you have no choice. If you still want your Mom to live, then you have to. Besides, there are so many good advantages if you marry him. You'll finally stop stripping and find your purpose in life "
• Phoenix only stared at Monica with parted lips as she couldn't believe the nonsense spilling out of her mouth.
• " How can I get married to an old man? " Was the question playing on in her mind.
• " Listen Phoenix, life is all about making sacrifices for the sake of our loved ones. Now is the time to make that sacrifice. Lilly has done more than enough for you Phoenix, hasn't she? " Phoenix's face softened on hearing that. She nodded slowly.
• " Can't you do this...for her sake? To save her? Remember, she is in this condition partly because of you "Phoenix's face clouded in sadness this time around as she looked down in shame.
• Monica is right though. Her Mom must have been suffering for a long time but never told her just because she didn't want her to worry. Ever since her life, her mom had always put her first before anything and the time had finally come for her to repay her, and was she being hesitant? What type of a daughter is she?
• " Don't worry Phoenix, I'll give you enough time to think about it. Two days...give me your final answer in two days " Monica snapped her out of her thoughts. Exhaling deeply and swallowing back her tears,
• " I...agree...to...the deal " Saying that, Phoenix allowed her tears to fall freely. A satisfactory smirk crept up Monica's lips.
• " Come on, why are you crying, dear? It wasn't a hard decision to make, was it? " She said, faking pity. Phoenix nodded negatively, wiping her tears away.
• " I told you it was nothing, hmm. Don't worry, I'll tell him about your acceptance. You can come back tomorrow, I'll update you " Monica chuckled lightly.
• " No, aunt " Phoenix said sharply, much to Monica's surprise.
• " I mean, is there not a way I can get the money today? I badly need it now aunt, please " Phoenix requested.
• " That's not possible, Phoenix. Come on, calm down. Don't be in such a rush " Monica shrugged.
• " I need the money now. Isn't there a way you can tell Mr. Wong to transfer the money now? I badly need it now, please, aunt " Phoenix pleaded, almost crying.
• " That's not possible, Phoenix. What will that make me look like, an opportunist? "
• " Please, aunt, I'm going on my knees, I need the money now, please " Phoenix went down on her knees immediately.
• " I promise, I won't run away. We can get married right away if possible or maybe tomorrow. I just want the money now, please " She pleaded even more.
• Signing,
• " Get up Phoenix, stop kneeling before me. You're not a stranger. Come on, get up " Monica instructed, and Phoenix complied.
• " I'll talk to him but... you can only get the money tomorrow. That's how fast I can convince him to make the payment "
• " But aunt..."
• " Calm down, my dear. Lilly will be fine. Come back tomorrow. I swear, I'll convince him to pay you the money by tomorrow, trust me " Monica assured her.
• Not having an option,
• " Ok aunt " Phoenix accepted.
• " That's my girl. Come give auntie a hug, come on. And stop crying " Monica spread out her arms and Phoenix slowly hugged her.
• " Don't worry, Lilly will be fine, I assure you. I won't let anything happen to her? " Monica pretentiously said, trying hard not to hiss.
• " Thanks, aunt, I owe you " Phoenix mumbled as tears rolled down. Monica only rolled her eyes, a grin forming on her lips.
• Immediately, Phoenix left,
• " Don't worry. The deal is done. She will be ready tomorrow " Monica said over the phone, the evil smirk on her lips widening.
• ×. ×. ×
• " You're back " Glinda said on seeing Axion storm into the house. Looking behind him,
• " Where is she? " She asked on seeing no one with him. Axion stopped and sent her a hard glare. Glinda flinched back a bit on seeing his eyes turn purple.
• " What's wrong, Axion, why are you angry? " She demanded. Axion closed her eyes, exhaling before snapping back open. His eyes went back to normal.
• " Why didn't you tell me earlier, aunt? " He threw the question at Glinda, who had a frown on her face, confused at his question.
• " Tell you about what? " She asked.
• "That the Red Phoenix was a stripper? " Glinda's eyes widened a bit in shock.
• " She's what? "
• " She's a fucking stripper aunt, how can she be a Red Phoenix? " Axion questioned, already boiling in anger.
• " Calm down, Axion. Are you sure of what you're talking about? "
• " I went to her house today and her neighbors gave a different address and when I followed it, I found myself in a fucking stupid stripping club, and there she was, stripping half-naked aunt and you think I don't know what I'm talking about?! " Axion roared in anger, his eyes turning purple again.
• Glinda didn't even know how to start reacting.
• " But how possible is that? " She mumbled in shock.
• " I have the same question, aunt...how is that possible? " Axion asked.
• " You said she was the Red Phoenix...a stripper... how?! "
• " She is the Red Phoenix, that's for sure " Glinda pointed out, receiving another hard glare from Axion.
• " What are you talking about, aunt? How can a stripper be my Red Phoenix?! " He thundered.
• " Calm down, Axion! " Glinda yelled at him.
• " How can I calm down aunt?! " Axion yelled back. His angry yell was followed by a strong wind which almost carried Glinda off the ground. Instead, the vase on the table went crashing into the wall, breaking into pieces.
• " Calm down, Axion " Glinda said in a much calmer tone. Axion exhaled deeply, trying to calm his burning anger.
• " I'm trying to calm down...but I just can't " He said with gritted teeth as his eyes went back to normal.
• " Listen to me Axion, she is your Red Phoenix, I'm one hundred percent sure of that " Glinda repeated.
• " A stripper? " Axion scoffed in disbelief.
• " You know how much I detest strippers, right? " He groaned.
• " I know Axion but it doesn't change who she is " Glinda replied.
• " Why are you so convinced she is the Red Phoenix? What if she isn't? "
• " That's not possible, Axion. Only a Red Phoenix can have that red-feathered hair tie. Let's not overlook that just because she is a stripper " Glinda expressed.
• " What if she picked it up from somewhere? What if the real Red Phoenix lost it and she took it, what if? " Axion demanded.
• " That's impossible! " Glinda groaned, making Axion scoff, looking away.
• " The only reason you were able to take that hair tie from her is because she is bonded to you. A normal human can't lay their hand on that hair tie, not even me. It has so much power in it that only a Phoenix can handle " Glinda pointed out.
• " From what I know, a Phoenix...is supposed to be pure and innocent. So why is her case different? " Axion wasn't convinced.
• " Maybe she is but on the inside. You don't even know her yet and you're judging her already. Come on Axion " Glinda replied.
• " A stripper can never be pure on the inside, aunt " Axion said, as his eyes turned purple once again.
• " And she...she can never be my Red Phoenix. And even if she is...I don't accept her " He spat in disgust and, with that, he barged out.