Desmond walked into the room and met Daniella already asleep on the bed. He was surprised that she was still fast asleep at that time of the day.
A confused look rested on his face when he saw his phone resting next to her. He shook his head slightly and picked up the phone without suspecting a thing and walked out immediately.
When Daniella woke up, she couldn't find the phone. She suspected that Desmond must have come to take his phone.
Daniella stood up from the bed with a frown on her face and went towards the window to lean against the mansion she now called home. Daniella's thoughts were anything but serene. Her manicured fingers drummed against the windowpane as she stared out at the perfectly landscaped garden.
“They think they can just waltz back into Desmond’s life,” she muttered under her breath, with her voice laced with hate. “I have a mission in this house, and I won't let any of them be an obstacle. T.”
Daniella’s lips curled into a tight smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “Not this time. They’re nothing but parasites, clinging onto his success. Desmond doesn’t need them anymore. He has me, for now…”
She turned away from the window and walked to the marble-topped counter in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine. She took a sip, the rich flavor doing little to calm her stormy thoughts.
“Bella,” she sneered, setting the glass down with a loud clink. “Always playing the victim. And that mother of theirs, always so self-righteous. They had the nerve to root for me, to encourage Desmond to choose me over that pathetic Anabel. And now, they expect me to care about their miserable lives?”
Daniella shook her head, her long, dark hair swaying with the movement. “No. Desmond belongs to me now. I’ve worked too hard to let them ruin what we have. If that old woman needs help, she can find it somewhere else. But not from Desmond. Not while I’m around.”
Her mind whirred with schemes. She had already blocked Bella and their mother from contacting Desmond. Now, she needed to ensure that even the tiniest thread connecting them to him was severed. Daniella’s eyes gleamed with determination as she made a mental note to speak with Desmond later. She would convince him, once and for all, that his family was nothing but a liability.
..
At the hospital, Bella was sitting at the sterile waiting area, her hands clutching her phone tightly. Her mother lay in a nearby room, her condition worsening with each passing day. The faint hum of machinery and the distant chatter of nurses created a backdrop that only deepened Bella’s sense of helplessness.
A doctor approached her. “Miss Bella?” Looking at the doctor's face, Bella could tell that he did not come with good news.
She jumped to her feet, hope and fear clashing in her eyes. “Yes, doctor. How is she? How is my mother?”
The doctor sighed, glancing down at the clipboard in his hand. “Her condition is critical. We need to proceed with a more aggressive treatment plan, but the hospital policy requires an initial installment payment before we can move forward.”
Bella’s heart sank. “How much are we talking about?” she asked with her trembling voice.
He mentioned a figure that made Bella’s knees weaken. She swallowed hard. “I… I’ll see what I can do.”
The doctor placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I understand this is difficult, but time is of the essence. Please try to arrange the payment as soon as possible.”
Bella watched him walk away, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She slumped back into the chair and stared at her phone. Desmond was her only hope. Surely, if he knew how serious things were, he would help. He wouldn’t abandon their mother.
Her fingers trembled as she dialed his number. The line rang and rang before going to voicemail. She tried again, desperation clawing at her chest, but this time, the call didn’t even go through.
“What…?” Bella stared at the screen, panic rising. She tried again, only to see the dreaded ‘number not reachable’ message flash across her screen. A sob escaped her lips as she realized what this meant.
“She’s blocked me,” Bella whispered, her voice breaking. “Daniella blocked me.”
Tears streamed down her face as she thought of their mother, lying helpless in the hospital bed. How had it come to this? Desmond, the brother who once adored their mother, had been turned against them by the very woman they’d once celebrated.
Just then, a nurse approached. “Miss Bella, the hospital administration is asking if you’ve made any arrangements for the payment.”
Bella shook her head, wiping her tears hastily. “I… I’m trying. Please, just give me a little more time.”
The nurse nodded sympathetically but left her with a heavy heart. Bella decided to visit Desmond in the house. Staying there won't do her any good. She left the hospital and entered a taxi. Desmond was just leaving the mansion when Bella arrived.
She knocked on the door, waiting to see her brother. She was disappointed when Daniella showed up.
"What are you doing here? The last time I checked, you were not allowed to visit this house." Daniella asked.
""Desmond is my brother. I have every right to visit whenever I choose to. Anyway, I'm not here to fight with you. Call Desmond for me. I'm here to see him."
"Desmond is not around. And let's say he's around. I won't bother to call him. Now leave this house." Daniella said, pushing out of the doorway.
"If anything happens to my mother, I will make sure you pay dearly for it. You will not go scot-free."
"I don't give a fuck. You can die with your sick mother. Desmond will not give you guys any money."
"I'm going to find him, and nothing will happen to my mother. You will regret turning your back on us." Bella said and left. Daniella hissed and closed the door. "I'm going to deal with all of you."
Bella headed to his company, but he wasn't there. He got exhausted and made his way back to the hospital.
The doctor approached her immediately after she got into the hospital. "Where have you been? We have been looking for you."
"I went to look for money. That amount is not something I can get so easily. I hope there is no problem. Is the sickness getting worse?"
“No, rather, there’s been a payment made for your mother’s treatment,” he said to Bella, who was about to break down into another verge of tears.
Bella couldn't believe what her ears had just heard. "Did you just say that payment has been made for my mother's treatment?"
"Yes, Miss Bella, someone who has chosen to remain anonymous paid for your mother's treatment." The doctor informed.
"You mean my brother...."
"No, I don't think your brother paid for the treatment; someone else did.
"I have to take my leave now, Miss Bella." The doctor said and walked away, leaving Bella to ponder over who had taken it upon themselves to cover her mother's bills.