CHAPTER 001

****Lana’s POV****

I used to think my life was hard. But nothing prepared me for when things truly fell apart.

The year Dad got sick and Mom left. Again. This time she took everything Dad had saved up. That year I knew what true pain felt like.

She showed up three years later, today, when I had just turned 22 and gotten a job as an assistant nurse at the hospital where Dad was admitted.

"I'm broke."

Those were the first words that came out of her mouth.

How foolish was I to think she'd ever change? All she ever cared about was money. Family came last, or maybe never at all.

I wanted to lash out so badly, to yell at her for being such a bad mother and for letting us all down, but I held it all in, for Dad's sake.

"Say it," she said with a smirk when she noticed my teary eyes.

"Say what?" My voice cracked.

"That I'm a bad mother and that you hate me."

"No, I don't."

She smiled, rolling her eyes. "You see, this . This is the problem I had with your dad, pretending to be so cool with everything. I guess the leaf doesn’t fall far from the tree, after all."

"Aren’t you going to ask how Dad’s health is?"

"I know he's not getting any better." She punched in. "I’m not doing better myself. Like I said, I’m broke, and I need money."

"And?"

"And... you're my daughter, and I know you work at this hospital where he’s being admitted. They pay you well."

I shut my eyes as the anger rose to my chest, but I wasn't going to let the better part of me.

"How much do you need?"

She smiled. "That’s more like it. Well… enough to last me six months."

"I can only do three."

"Six. I can't commute back here in three months for more money, it’s expensive."

"You’ll be back?"

She shrugged. "Just give me the damn money, Lana."

I nodded sadly, walking off to my locker where I kept some stash, grabbed half of what I’d saved up, and headed back to her. I didn’t know why I gave her so much, but maybe a little part of me wished she’d see how much Dad and I cared about her and she’d return the gesture.

I lied.

A big part of me wished she’d really care about us.

She was off the next minute, like she was never here. She didn’t even say thank you after getting the money or ask after Dad. I just stood there in the middle of the hospital reception. I could feel hot tears streaming down my face but I showed no emotions, I was too hurt to.

"Lana," Kayla, my colleague and best friend called out, interrupting my wandering thoughts. "Is that who I think it is?"

I bit my lips, holding back tears, as I nodded. Kayla flew to my side and embraced me in a tight hug. Kayla was my best friend, my real solace in all of this.

"It’s okay, don't cry.” with that she wiped off my tears and guided me away from prying eyes. “Listen to me, Lana, you can’t give that woman the right to hurt you this way, stop crying please,”

I sobbed rubbing my eyes as I held in the rest of the tears.

“That's more like it, now…guess what? I got a surprise for you."

I gave her a side-eye. "What’s that?"

"It’s a surprise, like I said." She chuckled. "Let’s go to my locker."

She hung her hand over my shoulder and dragged me to the dressing room and to her locker.

"Tada!" she screamed, holding out a small cake, and my heart almost leaped right out of my chest.

"Kayla..." I pouted. "You shouldn’t have... really."

"Why not? It’s your birthday, girl. Cheer up, you know I got you."

I flew into her arms and hugged her so tight she started choking dramatically.

"La... Lana, you’re choking me."

We both chuckled after I broke the hug, my eyes tearing up again.

"Come on, don’t do that."

It’s a shame my own mom didn’t remember my birthday.

"What would I have done without you, Kayla? You’re the world’s bestest friend."

"And you, my dear, are lucky to have me, right?" She snorted.

I spent a few minutes celebrating my birthday, but the sadness in my heart still lingered. I might be happy right now, but I knew it couldn’t last long. My happiness was cut short by the doctor in charge of my dad’s ward.

"Your dad’s condition isn’t getting any better. I’m afraid he might need another surgery. The tumor has spread further."

"A surgery?" My voice trailed off.

"Yes, Lana. We don’t have much time. You need to deposit the amount of $10,000 so we can begin treatment."

"What? Where am I supposed to get such an amount of money from? Please, doctor, help me. I don’t want my dad to die. Please, do something, anything, please."

"I’m sorry, Lana. There’s nothing more I can do. I’ve tried my best. " With that, he walked away, leaving me to my misery.

I stumbled to my director’s office. He was the last person I knew would help me, but still, I needed to try. At least he owed me.

"$3,000, that’s a small amount of money. I can help you with that."

"Really? Thank you so much, Mr. Lance... I’m truly..."

"No, no, no, don’t thank me yet. You know what to do to bring out that money and even more."

With that, he came close to me, almost brushing against my bust. He brushed my hair, caressing my face.

"What are you doing?"

He smirked. "Don’t act like a kid, Lana. You know by now that I want you."

"But sir," I said, pushing his hand off lightly. "We’ve been through this. I don’t want such. I’ve never done this before."

He burst into uncontrollable laughter. "You make me so hard, Lana, and that’s why I want you. I want to be the one who feels that juicy kitten of yours first."

His hands trailed down to my thighs, and just when he was about to shift my dress, I pushed him away.

"See, you like it. Why do you hold back? Trust me, it’s not going to hurt. I’m going to take it easy. Come on, don’t be such a good girl, we both know you’re not."

Good girl. That’s what I’ve been known as all my life. And my mom hated it, calling me a pretender. And now Mr. Lance? What was it on my face that made people treat me so badly?

He pushed me hard against the wall, parting my legs forcefully. I don’t know when I pushed him off and landed a hot slap on his cheek.

"How dare you?!"

He growled. "You slut. Come here."

He came angrily at me with full force. My eyes landed on a vase, and I reached for it, smashing it hard on his head. He let out a loud scream, and I knew damn well my job here at the hospital was officially over.

Fuck!