FIVE MILLION

After requesting discharge, I realized that William already left me here at the hospital. He didn’t even wait for me to get discharged.

“But, based on the doctor’s records, you still need to rest,” The nurse insisted.

“I’ve rested enough. I need to go,” I coldly replied.

The nurse gave me a paper to sign for discharge. After a few minutes of waiting, my request was finally granted.

I asked for the hospital bill but she told me that all of them were already paid. So, William paid them all. For sure, he did it.

I went out of the hospital trying my best to be strong in this struggle that I have. There were only two people who knew my condition. The first person who knew this already abandoned me. And, I didn’t expect the other one either.

I was about to ride a cab when a black van blocked my way.

“Hey! Be careful driving, you almost hit me!” I shouted while harshly tapping the side door of it.

Suddenly, the window slowly went open. Then, I didn’t expect that I will see her face again this day. I’ve had enough of all the dramas. Oh, God! Can you just let me breathe at least for now?

Tessa looked at me from head to toe. “Such a pity. That’s what you get when you try to steal what’s not yours,” She smirked while looking at me.

This woman is full of herself. She is too confident to tell those things but she can’t even fulfill what his husband wants.

“Am I the one who should be pitiful here? I have your husband’s child inside my womb. But, you, as his wife, cannot even conceive from his blood. Now, tell me again. Who’s more pitiful?” I replied while looking at her.

Tessa scoffed after that. “You might be the other woman who has a child from my husband. But, you’re still not the legal wife. So, no matter how much you try to get his attention from him, you will just fail. I know him more than you do. He would rather choose his wealth than stay with a whore like you.” Then she closed the window.

I immediately wiped the tears from my eyes and sighed in disbelief. Then her window went open again.

“Before I forgot. I was the one who paid your hospital bills. In case you didn’t know,” She added. After that, she smirked and closed the window. Then, the van finally drove away.

I looked in the direction of where the van went and shook my head. “What did I do to become like this?” I whispered to myself.

As soon as the cab stopped on my way, I told the driver to bring me home.

It was already eight o’clock in the evening when I finally reached our house. From outside, I sighed. I think I should also tell my mother the truth about my condition. But, for sure, she will be disappointed. Really, disappointed.

I entered the house and removed my shoes.

“Finally, you’re here!” Mama Lynette came to me and looked at me with a bright smile on her face.

“I cooked your favorite…” She suddenly stopped. Then, she touched my face.

“What’s wrong with you? Your face is pale. You tire yourself too much from work again,” She continued.

I remained silent while staring at her. She smiled and grabbed my hand to the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, dear. I believe your stress will be relieved because of our dinner tonight!” She excitingly removed the cover of our food and smiled while staring at it.

Her smile eases up everything. She’s the only reason why I continue this life. Hardships may come, but as long as she’s here with me, I could win over things.

“Aren’t you happy?” She suddenly asked. I realized that she was already looking at me.

“I came from the hospital,” I replied.

She raised an eyebrow while looking at me. “What did you do there? Did something happen to you? Tell me!” She said while holding both of my arms.

“Mama, I need to tell you something…” I said while trying to hold back my tears. I know this will hurt her feelings. But, she has to know.

She slowly put down her hands on the table and looked at me intently. “Looks like that’s a serious matter. What is it?” She asked.

I sighed.

“I’m pregnant,” I replied.

She looked at me with a blank expression.

“I’m two months pregnant, Mama,” I added. Then, tears started to flow from my eyes. Here I go again. Crying never stops.

She sighed and held my hand. Then, she assisted me to sit down. Then, she looked at me worriedly.

“Okay. That was shocking. But, how did this happen? And, who’s the father?” She asked.

“It’s my boss,” I replied.

Her eyes widened in shock because of what I said. With a stuttering voice, she replied, “William Mendoza is the father of that child? But, that man is already married, Vanessa!” She exclaimed.

“I know…” I wiped the tears from my eyes and sighed.

Mother looked at me and closed her eyes. “Since when your relationship with your boss started?” She asked.

“Last six months ago…”

“Don’t tell me, you’ve been doing it since then?” She asked.

I remained silent while looking at her.

She touched her forehead. “Vanessa, what happened to you? Didn’t you realize what you did? You just became a mistress!” She exclaimed and started sobbing.

I didn’t say a word and allowed her to release her disappointment in me. Then, after a few minutes, she tried to compose herself and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Did you tell William?” She asked.

“He didn’t accept the baby. He wants me to get rid of it,” I replied.

As soon as she heard what I said, she angrily tapped the table and stood up.

“He did that even though he knew that he has a wife. And now that has a responsibility to do, he’s going to run away? What kind of man was that?” She shouted while pointing her finger toward my tummy.

“He told me that he will end our relationship if I didn’t get rid of this baby,” I added.

“Then, be it! Who the hell he thinks he is to treat you like that? We know that he’s a wealthy man. But, treating my daughter like this is unacceptable for me!”

She suddenly got up from her seat and immediately went out of the house. I ran as fast as I could to catch up. When I went out of the house, I saw her call a cab. Don’t tell me she’s going to William’s mansion!

“Ma! Please, stop!” I shouted to call her attention, but it was too late. She already entered the cab and went on their way without waiting for me.

“Oh, please! I’m already tired!” I shouted.

I don’t have any other choice but to follow Mama Lynette to the mansion. She might do a commotion there. I couldn’t stand her being humiliated because of me.

“Taxi!” I shouted while trying to get a cab to follow her.

As soon as the cab parked in front of me, I told the driver the address and went on our way there. I have to be there before Mama Lynette does something bad.

After a few minutes of travel, I saw a commotion at the entrance where I was about to drop. I saw guards trying their best to block a person from entering the mansion. Then, I realized that it was Mama Lynette.

“Sir, I’ll take it from here,” I said and gave the driver the fare. Then, I finally went out of the cab.

I ran as fast as I could to approach them. I stood behind Mama Lynette while the guards are trying their best to block her way in.

“I want to talk to your boss! I said, let me in!” She shouted.

One of the guards saw me standing behind her. “Miss, do you know this woman? Could you please tell her to stop?”

I came closer to Mama Lynette and grabbed her wrist. “Ma, please… Let’s go home. They will not listen to us,” I said while looking at her.

She looked at me in disbelief. “I didn’t raise you to be a coward, Vanessa! You have a child in your womb that you need to fight for! We couldn’t let that man ruin everything and let you carry all the burden! He should at least share something for the benefit of the child!”

Suddenly, the gates went open.

“Sir William allowed them to enter,” One guard came running to deliver the news.

Mama Lynette harshly removed the hands of the guards from her. What’s gotten into William that he suddenly allowed us to enter the mansion? What is he planning to do?

Mama Lynette and I entered the mansion. In the middle of walking, a maid suddenly approached us.

“Ms. Lorenzo, Sir William said that he’ll meet both of you at the lobby. Just wait for him,” She said.

“Yeah, sure! We’ll not leave until he showed up!” Mama Lynette replied.

As soon as we reached the lobby, we sat on the couch in front of the stairs and waited for him just like he told us.

“I’ll teach that man the proper way of handling responsibility!” Mama Lynette shouted with gritted teeth.

Suddenly, we heard footsteps approaching us. In the distance, we saw William and Tessa walking with some of the guards.

“Oh, Hello, Vanessa. It’s nice to see you again,” Tessa greeted me in a tone of sarcasm.

I smirked while looking at her. “As for me, there’s nothing nice to see,” I replied.

She gave me a blank expression. Then, both of them sat in front of us. I looked at Mama Lynette and saw that she was clenching her fists while looking at them. I touched her hand to calm her down.

William leaned on the couch as if nothing happened. Tessa faked a smile in front of us.

Mama Lynette suddenly cleared her throat and sighed.

“I believe you knew the reason why we’re here,” She said while looking at them.

“Yes, we do,” William replied. Then, he looked at the guard who was standing beside him all this time. To our surprise, the guard brought out a suitcase and opened it in front of us. Then, he left it on the table.

“Five Million,” William suddenly said.

We looked at him and the suitcase after that.

“Five Million in exchange for peace,” William added.

Mama Lynette raised an eyebrow while looking at him. “That’s cheap of an exchange,” She said. I instantly looked at Mama Lynette after hearing what she said. Did she understand the meaning of that cash in front of her?

Tessa scoffed in disbelief while looking at us. “If that’s not enough, we could give you more. Just leave us alone,” She replied.

Mama Lynette started shaking her head. “You wealthy people didn’t know the meaning of responsibility. Do you think that we’ll accept that in exchange for the child’s opportunity to have a father? As the mother of Vanessa, whom you just used…” She pointed her finger toward William angrily. “I won’t let my grandchild be fatherless. You have to accept this child, and I will fight for that!” She added.

William raised an eyebrow while looking at her. “Fight for it? Do you have enough money to do that? Or at least, to ask for a lawyer to defend you?”

Tessa laughed and added, “Do you think people would believe you more than us? Who are you fighting against anyway?” She asked while looking at Mama Lynette.

William sighed and leaned forward to me. “Is this what you want, Vanessa?” He asked.

I clenched my fists while looking at him.

After all those promises he told me. After all those dreams we made for each other. This is his true color. I couldn’t believe that I fell from those flowery words he said.

“Vanessa, do you want the people to know that you became a mistress? Imagine this, when that child in your womb grows older, he will know that his mother was a mistress. How’s that? So, if I were you. I’ll just choose peace and be quiet instead of calling out the attention of many. Because, honestly, you’ll never win against us,” Tessa said while smirking at me.

After what she said, I stood up. “This is enough! I’ve had enough of this!” Then, I looked at Tessa and William.

“I know I don’t have enough money. I’m just a simple woman. This child would never be a curse for me. If you want to get rid of me, I will not force myself on you anymore, William. But, remember this, if this child that I have here…” I touched my tummy while looking at them.

“If this child I have here accomplished many things in the future. I won’t give you any credit. I promise you that. I’ll raise him knowing the true meaning of responsibility. I’ll raise him knowing the true meaning of life. And, I’ll raise him on my own without asking for any help from you!”

Before they could say another word, I held Mama Lynette’s hand. “Come, Mother. We should not waste time talking to worthless people.” Then, we both left.