Chapter 3. Refusing Help

"We'll talk outside," said Amanda.

Amanda rose from her seat before leaving the child. She first pulled Alana's blanket up so her child wouldn't get cold.

Amanda came out first, followed by Henry. She deliberately spoke outside so Alana would not hear if she woke up.

Alana can't hear her conversation with Henry, let alone the matter being discussed about her.

The young mother did not want Henry to discover the truth about her twins.

Amanda and Henry headed to a hospital garden right behind Alana's ward.

The young mother sat on one of the park benches. Henry wanted to sit in one chair but knew his ex-wife would refuse to sit near him.

"Manda, answer my question honestly!" Henry asked. "Is Alana my daughter?" the man asked again.

Henry repeatedly asked Amanda the same question. He hoped that his ex-wife would give a different answer than before.

Amanda was silent momentarily after hearing Henry's question, which she had been asked more than twice. She exhaled roughly, then answered firmly.

"She's not your daughter!" Amanda confirmed once again. "She is my daughter!"

"She is my and your child. Alana is our child, isn't she?" Henry wished that Alana was his daughter.

"Can't you understand what I'm talking about? Alana is not your daughter!" Annoyed, Amanda emphasized once more.

"But her blood type and mine are the same, Amanda. You don't lie to me?"

"I'm not lying to you. I'm telling the truth. Alana is not your child!" hit Amanda one more time. She will not get tired of saying that Alana is not her ex-husband's child.

"If she's not my daughter, why is her blood type the same?" His ex-wife's words did not convince Henry. He kept pressing Amanda, to be honest.

He hopes Amanda is honest with the facts. In Henry's little heart, he was sure that Alana was his flesh and blood.

"Are you the only one with an AB blood type?" Amanda asked sarcastically. But I'm still grateful, and I thank you very much for helping Alana."

"If she's not my daughter, then whose? We haven't been separated for six years, but you already have a child who is five years old. It is that she is my child, Manda!" presses Henry.

"If I say no, that means no!" Amanda answered firmly but didn't dare to look into the eyes of Henry, who was standing before her.

"Look me in the eye and tell me it is not my daughter!" he ordered.

Amanda was silent. Instead of looking into her ex-husband's eyes, Amanda lowered her head.

"You are not brave?" asked Henry a little sarcastically.

Getting that question made Amanda a little angry. She stared at Henry closely. "You want the real answer? OK, I'll answer. She is not your child!" Amanda said while looking into her ex-husband's eyes.

Even though Amanda had met his eyes, Henry didn't just believe it. The man is still pressing his ex-wife to say yes to his question.

"Alana is my child with my new husband," said Amanda.

"You've remarried?" Henry stared intently at his ex-wife.

"After divorcing you, it wasn't long before I got married and got pregnant with Alana. Now she is only four years old, not five years old," said Amanda, breaking Henry's conviction.

"After the divorce, you immediately got married? You are great!" Henry's voice was sarcastic. The man also dared to sit next to his ex-wife. Amanda shifted slightly.

"Yes, I'm great. It's not difficult for me to find a replacement husband after we divorce."

Amanda was forced to speak so Henry would no longer question her daughter.

"Is she the daughter's your mistress?" Henry smiled mockingly. 

"You are so right. Alana was my daughter and my first affair. So, don't ask again about Alana because she's not your child!" Amanda said emphatically.

Inside, Amanda felt guilty for hiding the facts, but she couldn't do anything but that.

Henry and Amanda were still sitting together on a park bench. They fell silent, their thoughts racing. Henry's mind was filled with lingering questions about Alana.

"I will still be responsible for paying for hospital administration." Finally, Henry spoke after a long silence. The man also stood up to prepare to leave.

"You don't have to do it!" Amanda replied spontaneously.

The woman also stood in the way of Henry, who was about to step. The man frowned at his ex-wife.

"I have to do it?" Henry still insists on being responsible to be closer to Alana because he wants to find the truth for himself. "She's my responsibility."

"But she's not your child," Amanda replied.

"Yes, she is not my daughter, but I have run her over. So, I'm responsible for caring for Alana's entire administration."

Henry can use that as an excuse to keep meeting with Alana and discovering the truth about the girl he ran into.

"No need. I can do it myself. You better go home!" Amanda said, walking away. However, her ex-husband blocked her hands.

"Amanda, I only have good intentions for you. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable, but I must do this. Hospital fees are costly, you—"

"Do you think I am incapable? You think that I am still poor?" Amanda asked, interrupting her ex-husband's words while curling one corner of her lips. "Don't forget! I already have a husband. He will be responsible for me and Alana."

Memories of events a few years ago entered Amanda's brain when her in-laws didn't like her existence because she was a poor girl. Now Henry insults her, saying as if she can't afford the hospital bills.

"Amanda, that's not what I meant. I only "

"Even though I'm a poor woman, I can work hard for my child. I also have a husband, so you don't have to do it," Amanda explained, interrupting Henry's words again.

"What's wrong if I pay? Don't be stubborn, Amanda." Henry slightly raised his voice.

"Alana is my daughter. She is my responsibility," Amanda said with emphasis. She threw at her ex-husband's hand.

It's not that Amanda doesn't want her ex-husband to be responsible. It's just that she doesn't want her daughter's identity to be revealed. She doesn't want Henry to know that Alana is his biological child.

So far, Amanda has been raising her child. Under no circumstances does she fight for happiness for Alana and Alan. Now Henry comes again when Alana is five years old. Amanda is not willing for Henry to take her children.

Amanda ran to the administrative center to pay for her daughter's medication. The woman's tears were forced out when she saw such a large hospital bill.

"Where can I get this much money?"