Chapter 4 The Parker family

The following morning, Richard prepared his daughter for school. Melvin said nothing apart from a good morning to his father. She was dull, paired with her pale skin from the fever last night. Looking at his daughter, a pang of pain and guilt hit him. He should never have let Cassy into the house last night. If she didn't step foot in the house, his daughter would not be heartbroken by the words her mother said about her.

After dropping Melvin to school, Richard headed to the eatery where he worked.

He helped Mrs Clark with cleaning and preparing the dishes and delivered a few take aways ordered by clients.

It was about noon when his cellphone rang indicating that he had an incoming call. He ignored it at first thinking that it was Cassy calling. He didn't have the strength to argue with her nor had he thought about signing the divorce papers.

The phone rang again, almost immediately. Groaning, he wiped his hands clean with his working apron before slipping his hands to his pants pockets producing an old fashioned phone.

He checked the caller ID and he frowned before picking it up.

" Hello, is this Mr Richard Williams?" A voice from the other end greeted.

" Yes, how may I help you?"

" Your daughter collapsed in school and she has been sent to St Luke's hospital as we talk." The voice reported.

Richard stumbled and almost fell but he managed to stabilise himself. His mind was in chaos as he tried to make sense of what was just said.

He immediately removed the apron he was wearing before dumping it on one of the chairs. Richard stormed out, reached for his bike before making his way to the said hospital.

His heart was racing, worry filling every fibre of his being.

" Please be safe." He murmured as he drove his bike at an alarming speed. At this point he cared less about traffic rules. He only wanted to arrive at the hospital and confirm that his daughter was fine.

He didn't want to think about anything going wrong with her because that would break him and rock his world.

Arriving at the hospital, he parked his car before making his way to the emergency unit.

He was not new to this hospital and knew almost every corner like the back of his hand, but that's a story for another day.

At the reception, he inquired about his daughter and the nurse confirmed that the little girl was undergoing tests and treatment.

Left with nothing to do, Richard could only sit at the bench outside the emergency room and wait.

His heart had not stopped beating loudly and as each moment passed, his worry intensified.

After about an hour which felt like forever to Richard,the door to the room was opened, revealing a doctor accompanied by two nurses.

Richard stepped forward, greeting the doctor before inquiring about his daughter.

" She has mild leukaemia and only a bone marrow transplant could help. Her health is deteriorating and the faster we perform the surgery the better." The doctor explained, his expressions serious.

" You have to look for a compatible donor and get the surgery fee ready." The doctor added before gently patting Richard's shoulders and walking away.

After inquiry, Richard got to know that apart from looking for a donor, he would have to pay two thousand dollars for the surgery.

Even if he sold everything he owned including himself, there's no way he could ever get even half of that amount. He had spent the little savings he had to buy a gift for Cassy, something that was not appreciated. Being a delivery man and a waiter, Richard earned very little and his salary could only manage him with nothing to save. That's how he lived in the past five years.The only hope to get such an amount of money was asking help from his wife's family.

His wife came from a rich family and two thousand dollars was something they could produce without batting an eyelid.

The Parkerfamily never liked him and always sought for any chance to humiliate him.

To them, he was a useless piece of trash that didn't deserve to breathe the same air with them.

Ever since he married Cassy, he became a target of their bullying simply because he was poor and crippled.

Richard always chose to ignore their insults and sarcastic remarks directed to him. He would avoid coming across them but now, he could only result in begging for their help to save his daughter.

His daughter's life was in the line here and he was ready to do anything just so she could be treated. He didn't care what they would say to him or gbe humiliation he would face. For the sake of his daughter, he could do anything.

Richard walked to the ward where his daughter was laying.

Her skin was even more pale than it was in the morning.

He sat beside her sleeping figure as he watched her sleep peacefully.

After accompanying his daughter for almost an hour, he left the room and made his way to the parking lot.

He drove straight to the Parker's Manor which was located in one of the wealthy residential areas in Los Angeles.

The guards at the gate stopped him, stating that he didn't have permission to step foot into the Parker Manor.

" I am Cassy's husband and I want to talk to my wife about something important." Richard tried to explain to the guards who in turn looked at him with disdain.

" Whoever you are doesn't matter. What matters is you are not allowed to step foot through that gate." The guards were adamant and still refused to let him in.

Richard was about to produce his phone to call Cassy when her car stopped right at the gate.

She stepped down before walking to the guards and her good for nothing husband.

" What's going on here? And what the hell are you doing here?" Cassy asked, her last question directed to Richard.

Richard was about to reply when the guard beat him to it.

" This man claims to be your husband and has been harassing us to open the gate for him." He said, pointing his fingers at Richard accusingly.

Richard pursed his lips as his gaze remained fixated on Cassy.

" You can return to your posts,I'll take it over from here." Cassy said, dismissing the guards before her eyes landed on Richard who had not uttered a word since she arrived.

" What do you want? I thought I made myself clear that you are not to show your pathetic face to me? What are you doing here? Do you want to anger my mother to death?" Cassy asked, her expressions not so pleasant.

" I came to see you. Our daughter is sick and needs surgery." Richard reported only to get a scoff from Cassy.

" I am not a doctor so why are you telling me? " Cassy asked. " Let me guess, you want me to fork out money and pay for her surgery?" Cassy added, her voice laced with mockery.

Richard nodded, afterall, that's why he was here in the first place. To ask Cassy and get family for help in saving his daughter's life.

" Why do you think I will help you?" Cassy asked condescendingly.

Yes, why did he even think she would help him?

He knew she hated his daughter so why would she extend an Olive hand and help Melvin?

But Richard still believed that there was some humanity left in her and that she would not watch their daughter die.

Richard said nothing, he only pursed his lips.

" I'll help you but with a condition " Cassy started, her face straight. No emotion could be seen on her face.

" What is it?" Richard asked, although he could already guess what the condition was, he still found himself asking.

" Sign the divorce papers."