Chapter 1

It was a sunny day and the city of Rochester was busy, the sound of sirens and car horns was heard buzzing around the beautiful city. People sauntered back and forth as they all headed to their various places of duty.

Since the hospital was not from where he was, Alex decided to run. Alex was seen running faster like someone being chased by a lion. He was sweating profusely. 

His heart was beating fast and was like it was about to burst out after he was informed that his daughter Naomi had an accident on her way to school.

It was his job to always take her to school but his mother-in-law Mrs. Charlotte Williams had sent him on an errand that morning to deliver a package to someone at the restaurant and he had left early that morning and didn't take his daughter to school.

His wife Claire has always been a busy woman and never cares to take their daughter to school, Claire and Alex have been married for three years. Alex lives with his in-laws. He had endured a lot of humiliation and embarrassment from the Williams family. Especially from Mrs. Charlotte Williams who dislikes poor and penniless males.

Upon arriving at the Central Care Hospital, Alex rushed to ask the nurse about a little girl who had been brought to the hospital. The nurse was scared, she stepped back in confusion, she abruptly stared at him from top to bottom before pointing towards the direction of the ward his daughter was admitted into, and Alex hurriedly ran to the ward, his shirt had been soaked from the sweat making his body visible.

Getting to the ward where his daughter was situated he saw his wife Claire Williams and her father Jacob Williams seated close to each other.

Claire's eyes were filled with tears, mucus escaped her nose like a stream, making her look weird, the tears from her eyes had spoiled the makeover on her face. Her father was seen consoling her, she curled herself like a snail into her father's arms. 

“What happened? Where is she?” Alex asked with a concerned face.” He was curious.

There was no response from either of them, he asked again but it was still the same, the both kept mute as they gave him a cold glance. Then he saw a doctor and his nurse coming out of the room, he walked towards the doctor.

“Doctor, how is my daughter? The little girl that was brought here an hour ago.” Alex said stammering. He was out of breath but still managed to voice out.

“Are you the father of the girl,” the Doctor asked as he looked at him from up to down, how could a beautiful girl have a father like him, his clothes were worn out and his hair was in a mess, he wore a slipper. The doctor stared at Claire who was still leaning down towards her father.

“Yes, I'm here Father.” Alex retorted Alex noticed how the doctor had stared at him, but he was not bothered. He wants to know the condition of his daughter.

The doctor shook his head and said “Uhm! She needs blood and we also need to carry out surgery on her. She has an internal injury and broken bones, which need to be attended to immediately or else you might lose her. Please sign the documents and make the payment for the surgery.

“How much for the surgery,” Alex with his voice barely above a whisper.

“The surgery will cost you a hundred thousand dollars, and it needs to be deposited immediately. You can make a half payment which is fifty thousand dollars.” The doctor stated.

“Hundred what!! Claire exclaimed.”

She took the documents from the doctor, as she glanced through each page.

Alex turned towards his father-in-law and his wife, Claire and her father looked at each other, before she gave Alex an evil and cold look. 

Even if Alex should sell all he has it wouldn't be enough to save her life. Her mom, Mrs. Charlotte wouldn't help her because she had married Alex against her will.

Alex was shocked after going through the file he had collected from Claire, his eyes widened in shock. His expression was entwined with pain and disbelief.

He knew he didn't have that kind of money with him and the only person who could help him was his family-in-law, the Williams. Naomi is his only daughter and also the granddaughter of the Williams. they will need to help to save her life.

“I will be in my office, You can go over to the cashier to make the payment,” the doctor uttered as he ambled towards his office whilst his nurse trailed behind him.

Claire stood up from where she was seated and walked towards Alex, she hurled her hand towards his face and the slap echoed through the hospital corridor.

Alex looked shocked and he placed his hand on his cheeks, the slap felt hot on his face. 

The people who were sitting close looked at each other, as they tried to feel pity for Alex and they enquired why the lady would slap him that hard.

“Where have you been? you left her alone, You were supposed to take her to school, where did you go? What kind of father are you.” Claire asked in an angry voice.

She was expecting an explanation from Alex, “I…..” when he tried to say something she waved her hand to interject him with another slap to his face again. His voice went blurred as he staggered backwards using his head to hit the white wall.

“You left her to go alone, You didn't inform anyone where you were going. What kind of a man are you, the only useful thing you are good at and you failed. Where did you go to?”

“You didn't care for your daughter. Why would you leave her and run out this early morning? if anything happens to her, I will not forgive you.” She yelled out.

“I'm sorry it was all my fault. I should have taken her along with me.” 

Mr. Jacob tried to hold his daughter as she was creating a scene at the hospital and eyes were beginning to gaze at them.

“Your mom sent me on an errand and I was coming back when I received your call about the incident. and you know I love you and my daughter so much. She told me it was urgent, that was why I left early.” Alex said.

He was trying to hold her hand but she flinged her hand and it hit his face again.

‘Claire, we need to look for money to pay for our daughter's surgery. I didn't have any money, You can help with the money if you have it or you can help talk to your mother. I promise I will pay it back.” Alex said calmly.

Mr. Jacob and Claire looked at him from head to toe, they knew he didn't have any job or any way of getting the money to pay back. Just then a nurse walked up to them and said. “Are you the parents of Naomi?” 

Alex without hesitating replied “Yes.”

“You will need to follow me, so we can conduct a test on you to see whose blood matches hers.” The nurse said.

“Okay,” Alex said, as he followed her to the laboratory for the test. Claire followed them after her father asked her to follow. 

After the test at the laboratory, they were all standing outside. Alex was seen using his left hand to press the spot he was Injected, while Claire and her father walked towards their Audi car. He asked to follow them home in their car but Claire refused and she angrily drove off with her father, who sat at the co-driver seat.

Alex stood still as he stared at them while they drove pass him without caring for him, he shook his head in disappointment, and he stood still thinking of how to raise money to pay for his daughter's surgery. He waved down a taxi and he entered, ordering the taxi to take him to Elmwood Avenue.

After a few minutes, the driver finally arrived at his destination. He alighted from the car and gave the taxi driver his money, Alex stood in front of the Williams mansion for a while as he looked straight towards the building. 

He knew he would face another embarrassment once he entered the house. He is willing to endure for the sake of his daughter. He needs money and help from his family in-laws, even if it means going to the bank to get aloan. His daughter's life is important and he couldn't afford to lose her.