Chapter 3

Diana's POV

I drove home and went straight to the bar. I poured myself a drink and gulped it down in one go.

It burned my throat, but the pain felt good. I started chugging down the alcohol straight from the bottle.

I got dizzy and lightheaded.

Sam came in, and he ran to me. “Diana. No, stop.”

“Go away,” I shooed and chunked another large gulp of whiskey.

“Child, that's enough!”

The loudness of his voice made me shake and I sobbed. This wasn't supposed to happen. Everything was falling apart.

My hand lost I grip and the bottle dropped to the floor, smashing into pieces.

I felt the world spinning, and I fell, his old strong hands held me as I passed out.

~

The morning sun reached my face. I groaned and slowly woke up.

I had a bad hangover and held my forehead, enduring the banging headache.

I got out of bed and tried to remember what happened yesterday.

I went down to the living room and saw the servants all lined up.

They had downcast looks on their faces.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

They bowed at once. "Forgive us, mistress," they spoke together.

I watched them in surprise. My eyes looked down at their hands and saw the envelopes. Then I checked the room sneakily and saw their packed bags by the side of the room.

Finally, I understood. They wanted to quit.

I fought back the tears and told them that I understood and they didn't have to feel bad.

They each came over to me, handed over their envelopes, and walked away, taking their bags with them.

Only Sam was left.

My voice cracked as I spoke. “Y…you can leave too.”

It got harder and the tears welled up in my eyes. Gosh, I was such a cry baby.

“It's okay. It's…”

He walked over to me, pulling me in for a hug. “Hey, I'm still here. I'm never leaving you darling. I watched you since you were a child and I'll still be here for you.”

“Thank you,” I cried, pulling away from the hug.

“We're in this together, child.”

I nodded and hugged him back, crying my eyes out.

Few Hours Later:

I poured a cup of filling coffee. Sam walked in and I took a sip. “I'm going to see dad.”

“Alright. I wish you well. Get back home before 8pm.”

I waved, grabbed my jacket from the chair top, and left for the hospital.

When I got there, I went to the register with my card to pay for my father's treatment.

The machine beeped. “IDeclined,” the nurse said.

I smiled awkwardly at the nurse and told her that it had never happened before. I swiped my card again. “I'm sorry, it's declined again.”

The nurse looked at me with pity after I muttered, "What's going on?"

She told me to check my father's insurance as it could cover most of it.

“Thanks,” I said and turned around, dialing my father's insurance company.

“Hello,” the receiver responded.

“Uhm. Hi. I'm Diana Derkins. My father Mark has an insurance in your company and he's comatose. I need his insurance to pay his bills.”

“Okay,” the man said. It was shallow and had no warmth. “The company doesn't cover all the bills at least not for somthinf as big as his medical bills. We can cover half and maybe you clear the other half.”

“Are you kidding me?!” I yelped. Half the patients and everyone present turned their attention to me.

I smiled nervously and shook my hand to apologizes. They all returned back to their business.

“My father has millions of dollars of insurance in your company. His bills are barely up to three hundred thousand and he needs them.”

“I'm sorry, ma'am. It's the company's policy.”

“I don't care what your company's policy is and I want his bill cleared or God help me, I'll sue your company to ashes.”

“I'm sorry but your father was aware of the policies. If something goes wrong, his insurance goes to a relative.”

“I don't want the money. I want his bills cleared up.”

“The company will pay half. The documents will be sent to you as evidence. Do have a lovely day, ma'am.”

“Don't you dare…” the line beeped and I blinked, checking the connection.

He had hung up on me.

I returned to the nurse. She took one look at me and typed into her computer. “A deposit has been made the insurance.”

She printed a receipt and handed it to me. “Thank you,” I managed and walked out of the building.

I had only one choice left. I had to get to the bank and get money from my joint account with Julian.

~

“I'm sorry, Ma'am. The account is empty.”

I made a nervous laugh then stopped when I noticed the serious look on the cashier's face.

She had better be joking. Let this be one big joke.

“Empty?” I repeated.

“Yes,” she answered calmly. That didn't help. I lost my mind, finding imaginary birds circling around my head.

“I could show you a copy of your transactions,” she began and my phone beeped.

I held my breathe, refusing to check my email. “So I can't withdraw?”

“No, Ma'am. It's blank.”

The last word rang a bell in my ears. “Okay,” I muttered. “Did you know who came here to withdraw?”

She hesitated for a bit. “Please, I have a bad memory,” I lied.

“Sure. It was your husband, Mr. Julian. He made the withdrawal yesterday around noon.”

I was speechless. I summoned all the courage, checked my email and almost choked in disbelief.

My eyes widened in horror as I saw the balance of my account was zero.

“Miss Diana?”

“Yes,” I answered. “Thank you.”

I walked towards the exit slowly, avoiding hitting anyone as my legs turned to jelly.

My breathing raced when I got outside.

I got to my car, got in, and rested my head on the steering wheel, telling myself not to cry over and over again.

I started banging my head slowly on the wheel.

I was startled when a car honked behind me.

I stopped, looking back, and saw a man waving angrily at me from his car. “Move your car!” He yelled.

I raised my hand in apology and drove off.

I returned to the hospital and went to the ICU unit, to my father's room.

He laid with an oxygen mask.

I touched his face, wondering how everything changed in just a couple of days.

My hand dropped from his face and I turned to leave then the door opened.

A younger, handsome doctor entered the room.

My eyes stayed fixed on him, my heart beating as I watched him adjust his glasses.

Then he cleared his throat, breaking my out of my trance. “Hi, I'm Doctor Xavier.”

His name sounded familiar. He extended his hand for a handshake and I paused, looking at him from head to toe. The hair was the same, the face structure, the voice and…

Oh my God, they had the same eyes.