Chapter 3 A MOTHER'S TERROR

A lone red balloon danced on the hot Singaporean tarmac of the Tanaka Holdings car park, tugged by a playful breeze. Five-year-old William watched its erratic journey with wide, fascinated eyes. He sat patiently on a low concrete barrier near the entrance, his small legs swinging rhythmically, waiting for his mom, Aiko. She had gone inside the luxurious building some time ago, her face a mixture of hope and nervous anticipation as she went for a job interview.

The car park hummed with the comings and goings of expensive vehicles, sleek and polished under the tropical sun. William's attention remained fixed on his balloon, now bobbing near a gleaming white sedan. He considered getting up to retrieve it, but Aiko had told him to stay put. "Wait for me, okay, William? Be a good boy."

Just then, the reverse lights of the white sedan flashed. William, momentarily distracted by the brightly colored balloon fluttering past, didn't immediately register the low hum of the engine as the car began to back out of its parking space.

Suddenly, a sharp yelp pierced the air, followed by a sickening thud.

Aiko had been pacing anxiously in the building's reception area, her mind replaying snippets of the interview. A wave of dread washed over her as she heard the commotion outside. Her heart leaped into her throat. "William!"

Security personnel, sharp and alert as always on any Tanaka property, reacted instantly. One of them, a tall, imposing man in a dark suit, moved swiftly towards the source of the sound.

Behind the wheel of the white sedan sat Miss May, a young woman with striking features and an air of cool indifference. Her designer sunglasses remained firmly in place, and a barely perceptible frown creased her perfectly sculpted lips as the security guard approached her vehicle.

"Excuse me, Miss," the guard's voice was firm but polite. "Please turn off your engine."

Miss May sighed dramatically, tapping a manicured nail on the steering wheel. "Honestly? I'm already late."

"There has been an incident, Miss May. "You will need to remain here." The guard's tone brooked no argument. He recognized her; she worked on the tenth floor, the floor reserved for senior staff and shareholders.

Just then, Aiko burst through the automatic doors, her eyes scanning the car park frantically. Her breath hitched in her throat as she saw a small figure lying near the rear of the white sedan, a deflated red balloon a few feet away.

"William!" she screamed, her voice raw with terror. She stumbled towards her son, her legs feeling like lead.

The security guard, seeing her distress, moved quickly to intercept her, but she brushed past him, her focus solely on the small, still form on the ground.

Miss May finally deigned to look at the scene unfolding behind her car. Her expression remained largely unchanged, a flicker of annoyance perhaps, but certainly no discernible panic or remorse.

Aiko knelt beside William, her cries of anguish echoing across the car park. He was unconscious, a small scrape visible on his forehead. "My baby! Oh, William!"

"We have called for an ambulance, Madam," the security guard said, his voice concerned.

Aiko looked up, her eyes blazing with a mother's fury. "Ambulance? My son needs help now! You!" she pointed a trembling finger at Miss May, who was still sitting impassively in her car. "You will take us to the hospital. Now!"

Miss May blinked slowly, as if Aiko had just asked her for time. "Excuse me? I have important-"

Before she could finish, the security guard intervened, his voice leaving no room for debate. "Miss May, your vehicle will be used to transport the child and his mother to the hospital immediately. "We will handle the necessary procedures here." He opened her car door. "Please step out."

Another security officer had joined them. He stood beside Miss May's car, his presence a silent but firm directive. Miss May, finally sensing the unwavering resolve of the security personnel and the raw desperation in Aiko's eyes, reluctantly got out of her car, a look of utter disbelief on her face.

Aiko didn't wait for an invitation. She carefully scooped William into her arms and got into the back seat of Miss May's pristine white sedan. The security guard who had spoken to Miss May got into the driver's seat.

"To the nearest hospital. "Quickly," Aiko commanded, her voice tight with urgency.

The guard nodded and started the engine. Miss May stood on the tarmac, watching her car speed away with a look of bewildered indignation. Her designer handbag lay forgotten on the passenger seat.

The drive to the hospital was a blur of fear and silent prayers for Aiko. William remained limp in her arms. The security guard drove with focused speed, weaving through the Singaporean traffic.

Finally, they arrived at the hospital's emergency entrance. Aiko practically leaped out of the car, cradling William tightly. Nurses and doctors rushed towards them, their movements efficient and practiced. William was immediately taken inside.

Aiko sat in the sterile waiting room of the hospital's emergency department, her anxiety a tight knot in her stomach, the automatic doors slid open. Miss May entered, looking slightly disheveled but composed. She was no longer wearing her sunglasses, and her eyes, though still holding a hint of their earlier coolness, now carried a flicker of something akin to unease. She was dressed in the same expensive attire but somehow looked less imperious, more vulnerable. She must have taken a private taxi.

A security guard, the same one who had directed her into the car park, accompanied her into the waiting area. He gestured towards a row of unoccupied chairs before discreetly stepping back, maintaining a professional distance but keeping a watchful eye.

Miss May hesitated for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the anxious faces in the waiting room before settling on Aiko, who sat hunched over, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Slowly, with a noticeable lack of her earlier sassy swagger, Miss May walked towards Aiko and sat down in the chair beside her, leaving a small but perceptible space between them. The silence in the waiting room seemed to thicken, punctuated only by the hushed whispers of worried families and the distant beeping of medical equipment.

The silence stretched, thick with unspoken tension. Just then, a kind-faced woman in a white coat, a stethoscope draped around her neck, entered the waiting room. "Ms. "Aiko?" she called gently.

Aiko looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. "Yes?"

"I'm Dr. Tan, the pediatrician. I've examined William. He has a fracture in his left arm. It's a clean break, and we've set it. He's resting now, but he's awake and asking for you." Dr. Tan offered a small, reassuring smile. "We've also prepared the initial bill for the consultation and the setting of the fracture. It comes to SGD 850." She handed Aiko a clipboard with a printed sheet.

Aiko's eyes scanned the figures, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. Eight hundred and fifty Singapore dollars was a significant sum, more than she could afford at the moment.

Dr. Tan continued, "We also recommend a follow-up procedure – a closed reduction and casting – to ensure the arm heals properly and to prevent any complications. This will likely cost an additional SGD 1,500."

Before Aiko could even process this new information, Miss May interjected, her voice sharp and laced with her old arrogance. "Well, this is hardly my fault, is it? "If the child had been properly supervised, he wouldn't have run into the back of my car."

Aiko stared at Miss May, her initial shock quickly turning into a burning fury. "My son was sitting where I told him to! You were the one reversing without looking! "You hit him!" Her voice trembled with anger and the injustice of the accusation.

Miss May scoffed, crossing her arms. "Don't try to pin this on me. Children are unpredictable. This is clearly a case of negligent supervision."

Tears welled up in Aiko's eyes, a mixture of fear for William and outrage at Miss May's callousness. "Negligent? He's five years old! He was waiting for his mother, who was trying to secure a future for us! And you... you just carelessly backed up and injured him, and now you refuse to take responsibility?"

"Look," Miss May said dismissively, waving a hand, "accidents happen. I'm sure your insurance will cover this."

That was the last straw for Aiko. Her voice, though still trembling, held a newfound steel. "Insurance? I don't have some fancy insurance like you probably do! I came here for a job interview! You injured my son on their property! And let me tell you something, Miss May," Aiko leaned forward, her gaze unwavering, "I have your license plate number. The security here saw everything. They have cameras all over that car park. I will call the police right now, and I will sue you for every single cent this costs, and for the pain you've caused my son!"

Miss May's dismissive facade finally flickered. A hint of uncertainty crossed her face as she considered the implications of Aiko's words and the presence of the security guard nearby. The mention of cameras and the police seemed to have finally pierced her arrogant bubble.

Dr. Tan nodded understandingly at Aiko's distress regarding the bill. Miss May pulled out her phone with an air of someone accustomed to having things handled for her. "I'll call my insurance company. "They can deal with all of this." She tapped a few numbers, her voice cool and detached as she spoke to the representative on the other end, providing details of the incident.

After a brief conversation, Miss May hung up. "There. "They've opened a claim. "They said they'll process everything, but it usually takes some time." She looked at Aiko with a shrug that conveyed a complete lack of personal responsibility. "They'll probably want you to submit the bills for reimbursement."

Aiko's heart sank. "Reimbursement? My son needs the follow-up procedure! "I don't have that kind of money right now." She looked at the initial bill for SGD 850, a sum that represented more than half of her meager savings. The thought of having to front another SGD 1,500 for the casting was overwhelming.

Miss May stood up, seemingly unaffected by Aiko's obvious distress. "Well, that's how insurance works. You'll have to sort out the initial payment yourself, I suppose. "They'll refund you eventually." She picked up her designer handbag, which the security guard had retrieved for her. "I really must be going. I have a very important appointment."

With a final, dismissive glance at Aiko and a curt nod to the security guard, Miss May walked away, leaving Aiko feeling utterly helpless and consumed by a rising tide of anger.

Later that evening, Aiko sat on the bus, cradling a sleeping William, whose small arm was now encased in a temporary splint. The initial bill felt heavy in her purse, a significant chunk of her already strained finances gone. The promised reimbursement from Miss May's insurance felt like a distant and uncertain hope.

Her mind drifted back to the job interview at Tanaka Holdings. Had she made a good impression? Would they call her back? The hope she had felt earlier now seemed fragile, overshadowed by the immediate worry about William's health and the looming cost of his treatment.

She thought of Miss May, her callous indifference, her easy dismissal of the pain and inconvenience she had caused. A wave of resentment washed over Aiko. "That arrogant, heartless woman," she muttered under her breath, the injustice of it all burning within her. She hoped the cameras in the car park had captured everything clearly. She would hold Miss May accountable, one way or another. The well-being of her son was all that mattered now.