Episode 3

Amanda approached Laura and asked, after completing her patient rounds:

""All done, Laura?

""Not yet, thanks to the CEO who came in for tests and cried on my shoulder.

""Let me see what’s left, I’ll help you.

Amanda was an excellent friend and they had been through many hardships together and managed to achieve their goals, together. They always lent each other a hand and that's how they succeeded.

They finished their duties and left, but when they reached the hospital door, Onofre was there, waiting for Laura, with the look of a loving father.

Onofre

""Hi, daughter. How about having dinner with your old man today? It's been a long time, hasn't it?

""Hi, Dad. What’s up?

Amanda stepped back a bit, but waited for her friend.

""I miss you, honey, I'm your father. Come have dinner at home. Your sister is sad, she lost the baby and her fiance broke off the engagement, help me console her, please.

Laura looked at Amanda, who nodded in consent, and reluctantly she agreed to go with her father. His car was parked nearby and they walked towards it. They got in and drove off and Amanda had to go to her studio apartment by herself.

Laura had always been suspicious of her father's actions and paid close attention to what he said and did, and so she entered the family mansion, which at the moment looked more like a mausoleum. Leda was already in the living room, waiting, and she knew what her father was going to do and she was furious.

""There she is, the prodigal daughter returns home, but what a sly one you are, little sister"," she said, getting up and going over to Laura.

""What did I do?"asked Laura, already prepared, with both feet back."

""Don't think you can fool me with that Mother Teresa face, defender of the destitute? You're a snake, a fiance stealer, that's what you are.

Laura just raised her eyebrows and kept her distance.

""Calm down, Leda. The only one to blame for your problems is yourself. Your sister came to dinner with us, at my invitation, to support you and not to receive your insults. Come on, Laura, sit down.

Laura became even more suspicious. Her father had never defended her, she lost count of how many times she had to hide to avoid being unfairly beaten by him or Leda, who accused her of everything wrong that happened. She walked towards the sofa, but Leda was quick and grabbed her by the hair, throwing her to the floor.

Laura was no longer that silly child of the past, who took the beatings quietly and silently. She simply reacted, turned, and when her sister approached, she kicked her shin hard, knocking her to the floor, and sat on her hips, holding her wrists pinned to the ground.

""What’s up? Do you think I'm still that defenseless little girl who would just take a beating without fighting back? I came because they told me you were sad because you lost the baby, but apparently, you are doing just fine.

Leda squirmed, but couldn't break free and started screaming:

""Let go of me, you treacherous bitch.

""Why treacherous, what did I do to you?

""You left and left me here alone with him"" she looked at her father accusingly, and Onofre lowered his eyes.

""Why did you stay, you could have just left too and you had the money to do so. Coward, always a coward.

""Stop it, girls, this fighting won't solve our problems.

Laura looked into her sister's eyes, let go of one of her hands, and slapped her to destabilize her and get up without getting hit back.

""Dinner is served, sir", announced the cook, since they had fired the butler due to lack of funds."

""Let's have dinner.

They went to the dining room, where a huge mahogany table stood, with only three places set at one end. There were no more butlers and after they sat down, they had to serve themselves from the stew that was placed in the center of the table, between them, in a fine china platter.

""From the looks of it, things are grim around here", commented Laura, after seeing the lack of care for the mansion and the staff."

""Tough times, daughter.

""Tough times, daughter", mimicked Leda."Tough times my ass, it’s all the drinking and gambling! You gambled away all our money"."

""If things are so bad, why don't you sell the mansion?

""Because it's yours, you idiot! It's tied to your inheritance", spat Leda, without mincing words."

""I see, and is that why you called me here? Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do, you know about the marriage clause,"Laura reminded them."

""So, daughter. My partner's son, your sister's ex-fiance, needs a wife and an heir, urgently. He is ill and may die without a compatible bone marrow transplant.

""I know, so what?

""He took a liking to you and asked me if an alliance would be possible.

She knew there was something fishy going on. Her father was being too nice to her.

""How much do you owe, Dad?

Leda's laughter was loud.

""I told you you wouldn't fool her with that 'pity the dying man' talk.

Onofre punched the table and shouted:

""Stop it, Leda. You had your chance and you threw it away, now shut up.

""Just tell me, Dad."Laura was the only one eating, as she was hungry and missed her nanny’s cooking, which was unmistakable."

""My life is being threatened and I'm only still alive because Jason promised to settle the debt as soon as the wedding takes place.

""And why do I need to sacrifice myself for you, it wasn’t me who incurred the debt,"said Laura, sucking on a chicken neck bone."

""My, you eat like a peasant,"Leda implied, disgusted."

""And you, are you a queen or a duchess? Last time I checked, you were more like a courtesan.

""Both of you, stop it!"He took a deep breath and went back to the subject."Marrying Jason Willis will be advantageous for you, he is very rich, handsome and only asks for a child. You don't have to stay with him after that and you can have your inheritance in your hands.

""And we will still have a place to live.

""He just wants a child, a place to live, is that all you can think about? What about my life, what about everything I’ve dedicated myself to achieve, is it worth nothing? I hope you both rot in hell!

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