Chapter 3

Chapter 3

**DAHLIA'S POV**

"Mum.. I.. why." I stammered not able to put my sentences together.

The room began spinning in my eyes and i felt like if I didn't hang on to my last thread of sanity then I would run insane.

"Baby, don't worry about it... Just forget you ever saw that." She said and took the envelope from me as she tucked it into the pillow that was at the head of her bed

"Why do you always have to act like everything is okay when it apparently isn't?". I yelled in anger and mum stared at me looking shocked with her mouth wide open

Well,. She should be shocked, that's the first time I had ever raised my voice on her but this was worth it.

"Dahlia..." She called but i stopped her with a wave of hand. This isn't time for her to bring up everything is alright look.

"Don't Dahlia me now!! You're sick and you need a surgery else..... But where and how are we supposed to get $250,000?. " I shouted as my vision was getting hazy due to frustration. I can't believe all this is happening.

"Don't bother about it, we'd definitely find a way." She assured and i rolled my eyes with hands akimbo and that defiance that bewildered my mum.

"And please tell me if you have a medium or hope on how to accomplish that?." I asked and she shook her head in negativity.

"Great news!." I shouted and stormed out of the room in anger.

I headed directly to my room and laid there till it was evening.

I came out, made dinner and we botha the with that awkward atmosphere hanging in our midst.

Well, none of us considered it worthy to bring up the matter again and i love the fact that she didn't talk about it.

I already had my plan in mind and was just waiting for the next day to break so I could set it in motion.

After having dinner, without a single word... I cleared the dishes and went back to my room drafting out my plan for the next day.

I woke up quite early the next day and prepared breakfast then told mum that I had an appointment I had to meet early that morning.

Well, we all know the part of the appointment was a lie but I had to meet someone that morning.

Don't ask me who?? Just listen on.

Getting out of the house and booking a cab with the money that I extracted from mum, I set out on my way to my dad's house.

Yeah, I needed that idiotic man's help.

I eventually got back to the place where I once called home and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?." I heard a lady's voice ask as she came and opened the door.

"What are you doing here?." Monique questioned and i rolled my eyes.

Why does it have to be you to open the door now!! How dare you!.

"I'm here to see my dad." I answered and she chuckled a bit..

"Well, I guess you're talking about my dad." She said.

Heavens knows I'm not in the mood to answer any of her questions or blabber my mouth with her so she better shut it and get out of my way.

"Is he in?." I asked totally ignoring her last statement and she nodded in the affirmative before shutting the door right in my face.

What was that for?. Did she just shut the door on me?

Inwardly, my heart broke.... My only hope for my mum's treatment to be paid for was if I was able to convince my dad but how would I be able to do that when I couldn't even lay eyes on him.

I was about giving up and retreating my footsteps when the lock creaked open again.

"Well good thing for you, he agreed to see you." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm but I couldn't care less as she opened the door widely making space for me to get into the house..

I got into the house and memories of when I was a kid threatened to make me burst into tears but nah.... I'm not a kid neither am I a cry baby.

"Dahlia, what brings me to my house today?." Dad asked and it took all my willpower for me not to start screaming and insult him..

If this mission was to be a successful one then I have to sulk in anger.

"Good morning to you too dad." I greeted with a tone of haughty disdain.

"Good morning...." He said and trailed off.

"She's not blind, is she?." His new wife which I couldn't bring myself to call her my stepmother asked.

I guess she was asking that question because I didn't acknowledge her presence neither did I greet her.

"Good morning Mrs Mary, if the greeting is so important to you. I'm here for a very important discussion dad." I said and he immediately became attentive.

Or no... They all became attentive.

I took my time to explain mum's illness and surgery to mw and begged for his assistance but just like I expected, as his wife was present it would be abortive.

She refused and he heeded her advice but as I was about leaving, Monique stopped me.

"We could do this in barter, you do something for me...

Dad sponsors your mum's treatment." She said , her lips curved up in a weird smile.

"What can i do for you?." I asked expectantly as I sat back down.

"Well, I received an invitation for a contract marriage that I can't turn down but I'm not interested in it, if you can help me on that...Dad would sponsor your mum's treatment. " She explained and i stared at her in bewilderment.

"In other words, you want me to get married to this person in your stead. ".

" Exactly! "

" What?. "