Call the police!

Immediately, everyone began to laugh out loud. Anika was too stunned to even understand the situation. How could she be this humiliated like this?

Anna grabbed her purse, "I'm gonna head out. Bye, friend." Then ran away.

They laughed and kept chatting as if Desiree had not just bullied her. Anika just stayed there on her knees. "Desiree, so will you lend me the money?" She still managed to ask, though her voice was not as loud as she'd wanted it to be.

"Oh you fool. I would rather take that money and throw it inside the toilet, then flush it. Mary was just a slave, and you want us to waste that much money on her? That loser probably was just too fat, something blocked her chest."

The words Desiree said always got to Anika so bad, but now, it was ten times worse. "It's a heart condition. She's really hurting, and it hasn't been too damaged but eventually—"

"—so what? There are some cheap things she could drink. Like natural juice." Tori chipped in.

"I think that bill is way too much." Lark added.

"There have been other complications. The doctors are managing it but they said—"

Anika was cut off. "This discussion is over. Now, baby?" She turned to face Lark, "it's your wedding anniversary. Why don't I take you out with your sister, so we get drunk."

"Amazing mom! Who needs to work when I've got a mom like you."

"No son, you still need to work. We'll talk about that on our way out. I'm trying to put in good words for you at Delacroix, the biggest franchise in town. They are really—"

"Aren't they a beauty brand? You want me to sell makeup and expensive outfits?"

"They're into everything! From fashion to skincare, everything. I just think that if we can get you a slot as one of their interns..."

Anika could not hear the rest. She forgot how to use her legs because she was still there on her knees, trying to understand this situation. Mary is a good person and didn't deserve this.

The vibration of her phone shook her a little as she tried to sit up. It was from a strange number. "Oh no, what if it was from the hospital?" She shook her head and ignored. Watching the phone continue to ring.

The call ended. It seemed to hit her now. Anika bursted out in tears. "Oh God no...what am I doing?" Her hand was pressed tight against her lips as she shivered, crying uncontrollably.

The phone began to ring again, this time it was Dr. Yolanda, the person attending to Mary. "Dr. Yolanda, hi." She said as soon as she picked up. Her voice sounded shaky and it was an effort not to continue crying, but she had to toughen up.

"Mrs. Gold, hi." Said Yolanda. "I'm just calling in to stress the level of urgency needed for your auntie Mary. I'm sorry but her condition is getting worse. If she doesn't have the surgery by tonight...I'm afraid I don't know what could happen next."

Anika nodded her head, wiping a tear from her eyes. "Oh, thank you Dr. Yolanda. I will be...uh, thank you." She hung up, "this can't be the end."

Enough crying.

Anika jumped up to her feet. Something dark was forming in her mind. The house was empty. Tori and Desiree had been living with them for a long time; they've even got rooms upstairs. Sure they came and went, but most of their stuff was still pretty filled up in their rooms.

Tori wore a lot of expensive jewelry, and it wouldn't hurt to take just one and sell it. "She wouldn't even know it was gone," Anika consoled herself. And by the time she's made enough money from her little job as a waitress at this big fancy restaurant.

"Sure, this is a solid plan, Nika." She nodded proudly. Her heart was beating fast, and she knew this was a bad thing to do. Stealing from the Gold. If they found out, it would be game over for her.

Suddenly, a voice startled her from behind. "What are you doing talking to yourself?"

Anika jumped up in fear. "Ahh! Anna, don't scare me like that!"

"Sure baby. Now tell me, what's going on in that talented head of yours?"

Anika rolled her eyes, "don't be so competitive with me now, Anna. It's the last thing I need." Anna had been so obsessed in spelling out how better she was than Anika. When they both submitted their applications as waitresses at that fancy restaurant, Anika had been picked. And it had hurt Anna ever since. So she always teased and called her "the talented one".

"No, it's not like that." Anna rushed forward to meet her best friend. "I am so sorry I ran out like that. That was pretty mean what they did to you."

Anika found herself smiling, "so you just...waited for me outside?"

Anna blinked, she had just come back because she'd forgotten her card, but why ruin the fun for Anika? "Of course, love, you're my best friend."

Anika's face brightened up. What could she do without her best friend? "You've gotten real pretty since your new job. I mean, fancier dresses, expensive makeups, your blonde hair is starting to literally shine right now."

Anna and Anika were nothing alike; with Anika's long silky brown hair that cascaded down her back like water, she had thick neatly shaped brows and long lashes with big pretty brown eyes, resembling a doll. Rosebud lips that used to be brighter were now dry and chapped.

Her friend on the other hand was much more slender, taller and although, relies heavily on makeup, Anna has always been beautiful.

"I'm going to steal one necklace from Tori's collection." Anika blurted out.

Anna's whole face squeezed into a frown. "What?"

"I have no other option. Aunt Mary needs the surgery tonight. It's my last option. Now, go clear the coast. I don't want anyone seeing me." Anika hyped up her friend to watch guard for her.

"Of course, I'll help." Anna promised. Immediately confirming Anika had gone upstairs, Anna heaved in a deep sigh, then dialed a number. "You will not believe what's happening."

Anika knew she should just hurry up and grab the necklace, but she had to be careful as well. There were beautiful collections here, and Tori surely would notice something was missing if Anika dumbly picked a more recent necklace.

She needed to dig back to a couple of months ago. One that Tori had worn repeatedly till she was tired of them. A certain piece caught her eyes. "Bingo."

She quickly brought them out of the box, wrapped them in a tote bag she would be carrying to the hospital, and wondered what to do with the box. "Idiot." She heard herself say. "Just throw it inside the bag too."

Great. Her work was done.

On her way out, she'd managed to do everything, grabbed a couple of things she'd need at the hospital for staying over, everything was going according to plan now. Until Tori's voice ruined everything.

"I swear on my life, I will call the police, and make sure you rot in jail. You thief!"