003

My mom kept looking at him and I wondered why she pulled me behind her.

"What are you doing here? I've got a week more to do the needful "

"I only came to remind you and of course, to let you know that an interest amount has been added " .

He had a smirk on his mean face when he made that last sentence. I wondered if it was the doctor handling my mom's treatment that sent Mr Draco to remind my mom of the payment deadline. But why the word "interest amount" ? Is the treatment now a sort of business? I thought to myself.

I watched my mom's countenance fall, but she maintained a straight face again.

"This is not part of the deal. Why asking for interest this time ?" my mom said again.

Then, Mr Draco walked two steps closer to her. An angry look was on his face as he beckoned on the man he came with, who in turn, handed over a stick of cigarette and lighter to him.

"Vivienne, " he called my mom with a hoarse voice. She drew back a bit, immediately Mr Draco lit up his cigarette.

Puffing the smoke out of his nostrils, he asked ;

"Is paying me back part of the deal? Since you decided to pay back when I didn't ask for it, I've decided to add an interest rate. After all, it was a loan and it was given seventeen years ago. Which bank would give you a loan to pay after so many years, or not to pay at all?"

I was confused at this point and just then, my mom asked me to go inside. This is indeed, not a medical issue! I obeyed her and walked inside my room. There I stayed, battling with my thoughts.

"Draco! You're really trying to do everything possible for you to take my daughter away from me. I won't let that happen." My mom spat out.

"I see that you're equally trying to get on my last nerves, Vivienne. You're preventing her from knowing the truth. " he paused .

Turning his back on her, he said "You have a week to pay me Fifty-five million dollars or I'll take Lorna home forcefully. Let's go, Alex" .

He entered his limo and Alex drove out.

******

I overheard everything, but still I was confused. I just couldn't wrap my head around the whole thing.

My mom walked back to the living room and sat down on the nearest cushion. Her mood had changed. She looked defeated.

"Mum, what was Uncle Draco talking about? I overheard everything, mom"

"I thought I had asked you to go inside?" she asked and I noticed how faint her voice was.

"I did, but uncle Draco's voice was loud enough for me to hear it from the inside. "

She said nothing else and began to pack more kitchen equipment. She packed in our expensive oven.

"Mom, I asked you something just now. What was he talking about?" I was getting irritated by her silence and reluctance in replying to me.

It was already clear to me that this isn't about treatment at all. She might be really sick, but this is not in line with medical matters.

"It's nothing serious, Lorna. I'll fix it"

"Something about me isn't serious? Mom, am I really still a child to you? I'm 19 and will be 20 very soon!" I was almost yelling at my mother.

I didn't actually hear the amount Uncle Draco called as his interest amount. All I knew was that my mom seemed to be owing Uncle Draco...since seventeen years! I was even irritated by the fact that I was actually confused.

Then, my mom turned to me and said ;

" I have a week to pay him fifty-five million dollars. I'm owing Draco...I and your dad actually, but he's now late" . Fifty-five what? I was getting confused again.

"I'm not sick, Lorna. We were supposed to pay Draco fifteen million dollars in a week, but he just added an interest amount. " she paused and continued "I'll have to pay him fifty-five million dollars by next week. That's the amount now"

Her voice was sounding teary.

How on earth are we supposed to pay that kind of money in a week? The former amount isn't even attainable yet and then, this!

What sort of loan is this?

"Mom, why didn't you and Dad pay fifteen million dollars all these years? You and Dad could have jointly paid it then!"

Or wasn't that the best option then?

I felt tense all of a sudden.

"He didn't want the money anymore. He gave it to us freely then. He only started requesting for it recently "

"Why?" I asked immediately.

My mom paused. I saw tears fill up her eyes, but she refused to allow them to drop .

I sat beside her and placed my hands around her shoulders and whispered "Mom" . I couldn't bear to see her that way. She was fighting the tears.

"Draco wants to take you away from me, Lorna "