GOLD DIGGER

Three days passed.

Ethan was better now.

He could sit for twenty minutes. He drank water by himself.

He went to the garden every day with Olivia.

Today he said for the first time. Olivia, shall we go out.

Olivia smiled. Yes Ethan. Lets go.

They were on the lawn. Sunlight and tea.

Then a car stopped at the gate.

Black car. Number plate said HALE 001.

A woman stepped out. Around forty. Red dress and diamonds.

Two more women followed her. All in designer clothes.

Victoria came running. Her face fell.

Caroline, what are you doing here.

Caroline Hale. Ethan's real mother's younger sister. His aunt.

The biggest gossiper in the Hale family.

Caroline looked Olivia up and down. Old shirt. No makeup.

She smiled with poison on her lips.

Oh, so this is the new nurse.

Everyone sat in the living room.

Victoria said, Caroline, this is Olivia. She takes care of Ethan.

Caroline laughed. Takes care. Or, she made a dollar sign in the air with her finger.

Olivia lowered her head.

I heard there was a contract marriage. Ten million, Caroline said.

She looked at Victoria. Sister, have you lost your mind. You picked a girl from the street and made her the CEO's wife.

Watch your words Caroline. Olivia is a respectable girl, Victoria said.

Respectable, Caroline said and looked at Olivia's hands. Rough. Working hands.

Bank clerk by day and club waitress by night. What a match.

Olivia's heart sank.

Ethan was in his wheelchair. He looked at Caroline.

Do not, say bad things.

Caroline turned to him. Oh my nephew. Do you even know why this girl came here. For money.

No, she is good, Ethan said.

Good, Caroline said. It has only been one week. How do you know so soon.

She stared at Olivia. Tell me how much you want. Twenty million. I will pay.

Just leave my nephew alone.

Caroline's two friends also started talking.

Look at her shoes. Ten dollars maybe.

And that bag. From the street market.

Victoria, do you not feel shame, Caroline said. You are dragging the Hale name in the mud.

When Ethan dies this girl will take all the property.

That is enough, Victoria shouted.

Truth hurts right. That is why it stings, Caroline said.

She pointed at Olivia. Girls like you come from poor homes.

You see a rich man and you cling to him. Gold digger. All about money. No love.

Tears came to Olivia's eyes. But she held them back.

She lowered her head. I will go.

You are not going anywhere, Victoria said.

Ethan's blood pressure rose. The machine started beeping.

The nurse ran in.

Ethan looked at Caroline. His breathing was fast.

Get out, he said.

See, she turned him against me too, Caroline said.

Ethan tried hard. Olivia is my friend. Respect her.

He said those two sentences and fainted.

Doctor, Victoria screamed.

There was chaos for ten minutes. Injections. Oxygen.

When Ethan was stable, Caroline was still sitting there.

Happy now. Because of your drama.

Olivia sat in her room.

Her hands were shaking.

Her phone buzzed. The hospital. If the bill is late, treatment will stop.

She looked at the contract. Eight million left.

Is Caroline right. Am I a gold digger.

There was a knock on the door.

Victoria came in with a food tray.

Eat dear, she said.

Aunt, should I leave, Olivia asked.

Victoria put the tray down and held her face.

Look at me. You are not a gold digger.

A gold digger would have left Ethan when he was unconscious.

You stay up all night. You bring his fever down. You sing him lullabies.

Olivia started crying. But everyone.

Everyone is stupid, Victoria said and hugged her. Do not listen to them.

Ethan woke up in the evening.

The first word was, where is Olivia.

Olivia came right away. Her eyes were puffy.

I am here, she said.

Ethan held her hand. It was weak.

Sorry, for my aunt, he whispered.

Olivia shook her head. You be quiet. Do not talk.

You were crying, Ethan said.

It hurt me.

Olivia tried to smile. I am not crying.

Ethan wiped a tear from her face with his finger.

Be strong, for me.

Olivia nodded.

Victoria said everyone will have dinner together. Caroline too.

Fifteen people sat at the table. Hale family relatives.

Caroline started again.

So Miss Brooks, where is your father being treated. Hale Hospital. Free. Nice.

Olivia stayed quiet. She was not eating.

And this contract. Six months. Then divorce. Then ten million.

Very good business, Caroline said.

One relative nodded. She is right. Girls today.

Stop it, Victoria said.

Why. Does the truth taste bitter, Caroline asked.

Then Ethan hit his spoon on the table. Clack.

Everyone went silent.

Ethan tried to stand. He fell.

Olivia caught him right away.

In a shaking voice he spoke. Everyone heard.

Stop it.

Do not say anything to Olivia.

She is here because of me.

Then he looked at Olivia.

She is my friend.

The room went quiet.

Caroline's face turned red.

Caroline went to her room angry.

She took out her phone.

Yes, is this the reporter. I have a story for you.

CEO of Hale Group's new wife. Poor. Ex club waitress.

Ten million contract. Yes I have photos. From the camera.

She sent the garden photo of Olivia and Ethan.

Make it famous. Let the world know what is happening in the Hale family.

She hung up.

Olivia's phone rang the next morning. Unknown number.

Miss Brooks, this is City News. Is it true you married Ethan Hale for ten million.

Did you used to work at a club.

Olivia dropped the phone.

She turned on the TV.

Breaking news. The trillionaire's new wife. A gold digger.

Below was her photo with Ethan in the garden.

Comments were everywhere.

No shame.

Hungry for money.

She wants Ethan to die.

The ground slipped from under Olivia's feet.

There were twenty reporters at the gate. Cameras and mics.

Miss Brooks, tell us the truth.

How much money did you take.

When will you kill Ethan.

Servants were closing the gate.

Olivia ran inside crying.

Victoria caught her. Do not be scared.

Then Caroline walked in clapping.

Wow. See. I told you so.

Now the whole world knows what you are.

She walked close to Olivia and whispered.

Listen girl. Twenty four hours.

Either you sign and leave on your own.

Or I will hand you to the police. Fraud case.

Olivia was shaking.

Then a voice came from upstairs.

Everyone looked up.

It was Ethan in his wheelchair. With oxygen.

But his face was red with anger.

He picked up a mic a reporter had thrown.

His breathing was heavy. But he spoke.

Everyone went quiet.

Do not, take my wife's name.

Olivia Brooks.

She is not a gold digger.

She is my life.

Then he collapsed. Unconscious.

Ethan, everyone screamed.

Olivia ran and held him in her arms. Ethan, open your eyes.

The sound of an ambulance.

Caroline smiled. Job done.