Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Milana Rumpley was twenty years old that year. Ever since second grade, she had been skipping school after learning it from someone else.
She was known for smoking, drinking, and returning very late into the night. Those were her “special” labels.
Avery didn't like her older sister, with whom she shared no blood relation.
Leonardo wasn't a rich man. His total life saving up until he got sick was six hundred thousand. He worked hard every day for his family until he fell ill when his liver began to fail.
Even as the doctor told him he was about to die, he still insisted on not using his life saving to save himself.
Two months ago, Leonardo declared he wanted to give up the treatment.
If that was what the patient wanted, there was nothing anyone else could do, not the doctor or his own daughter.
He even tearfully forced his daughter to listen to his last words—”I never did anything impressive with my life, Ery. The only thing I have is the six hundred thousand that I've saved for you. When I die, don't get too sad. Once you take care of my funeral, take the money and study overseas! My only hope is that you'll lead a good life in the future, unlike your greedy mom and me, a useless man of no renown. I'll be able to rest peacefully if you do as I say.”
Whenever Avery thought about that, her eyes would turn red.
It was because she knew her father was willing to die than use the six hundred thousand he left for her that she forced herself to sell her body. It was the only way she knew to get the money and liver to heal her father.
As she stood outside of the ward and stared at how her father and stepmother were acting lovey-dovey with each other, she didn't feel happy. Instead, all she felt was a negative feeling she had never experienced before.
In the end, she didn't go in. Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
After Avery headed downstairs, she bumped into Milana.
“Well, well, isn't this our family's precious daughter, Ery.” Milana pushed Avery lightly with her hand that was holding a cigarette. Then the former blew a mouthful of smoke toward the latter and studied the latter's body. “Your body developed pretty well for an eighteen-year-old. Your dad's about to die, and he has no money to treat himself. How about you sell your body for a few 'bangs' for enough bucks to save your dad, eh?”
Avery stared at her disgusting sister emotionlessly, as though she would suffocate if she couldn't vent, and retorted word-by-word, “Your suggestion is about as great as a fart!”
Milana glared and was instantly enraged by Avery's attitude. “How dare you talk back to me, you brat!”
Avery sullenly left.
Milana got so angry that her hand was trembling. She turned around, stretched her neck, and continued yelling, “Stop acting like you're all pure and innocent! I want to see when you'll reveal your true nature! You know, your dad said your mom's a sl*tty wh*re! I suggest you find a reliable hospital and do a DNA test! Maybe you'll find out that you're a b*tch born from the mixture of a hundred men's genes!”
When Avery was seven months pregnant, she could start to feel the life in her belly getting active clearly.
Sometimes, the baby would even kick. It made her feel a sort of bliss she had never experienced before.
She started to imagine what her baby would look like after they were born. Will it be a boy or a girl? I wonder if my belly got so big because they're over-nourished.
Ever since she heard her dad promising to send Milana to study overseas with her at the hospital, she rarely revisited him.
It wasn't that she didn't like her father. It was just that her belly had gotten so big that she was afraid her father would notice it, even if she wore an oversized jacket to hide it.
Additionally, Henrietta had been staying by his side all day. Avery couldn't help but wonder if her stepmother actually cared about her father or if she was just trying to get the six hundred thousand for Milana.
I hope Henrietta really does care about Dad. Otherwise... Avery's head ached.
After some time, she learned Leonardo had been working nonstop again. He even went so far as to work overtime and go on business trips.
Avery felt angry and helpless. She tried to communicate with her father again and again on the phone but to no avail.
After new year's day had passed, it was time for her to give birth.
In the most high-class maternity ward of a private hospital, several female doctors cared for and examined Avery throughout the day, not daring to be the least bit negligent.
She never cared about who her child's father was, but those people would occasionally talk about him in front of her. They never mentioned his name, but she was certain that he was definitely not an ordinary businessman.
She had no clue about her body's condition and only heard the conclusion of the doctors' discussion, which was that a cesarean section was required.
Then she was pushed into the operating room.
She didn't feel even a bit of pain throughout the whole process, though that changed after the effect of the anesthesia had expired.
Her baby, who had been growing in her body for the past nine months, had suddenly been removed.
The feeling of her child separating from her body was very painful.
The pain was so intense that tears were flowing past her nose bridge and onto her cheeks uncontrollably.
Everything about this has been a fair, professional trade since the very start, yet I can't help but feel pain in my heart!
Lindsay paid attention to Avery's emotions throughout the whole process. The former watched the latter cry and appeared helpless.
Finally, when Avery was pushed out of the operating room, Lindsay told her things that she was instructed to say. “You're only nineteen years old. This matter is only going to be a secret you'll have to keep to yourself forever. I hope you'll quickly recover from this and live a happy life for the rest of your days, child.”
It was partially her attempt to comfort the young woman, but it still sounded cruel.
“Can you at least tell me... Is it a boy... or a girl?” Avery asked weakly.
“It's a girl, and she's very healthy.” As per Jeffrey's instruction, in order to avoid any future troubles, Lindsay had to lie to Avery.
In reality, Avery gave birth to a pair of twins—a healthy boy and a healthy girl.
Avery closed her eyes tiredly as her face remained pale. A girl. From this day onward, there'll be a new life in this world, and it's my daughter...
She stayed in the hospital for ten days.
The boring life in the hospital was driving her a little crazy as she couldn't stop thinking about her daughter.
It was a sad trade.
Avery returned to her rented room after she left the hospital.
The first thing she did was call her dad.
However, Henrietta was the one who answered Leonardo's phone. “Your dad's busy right now, Ery. What's the matter?”
Avery was stunned. She couldn't believe it was that hard to reach her father.
So, she asked, “When will he be free?”
“That's hard to tell. Your dad has been working hard in order to let you study overseas. I'll ask him to call you once he's free, all right?” Henrietta replied.
“I'll be waiting.” Avery then hung up the call.
In reality, she knew Henrietta wouldn't do that.
In this world, she only had less than a handful of living family members left.
Her father had gone to yet another city to work hard and support his weird family.
Her baby daughter might still be in the city or in other cities at that point. In any case, her daughter would only know and belong to one parent, and that was the man who set up the contract.
As for her mother, she basically never showed up at all, as though she never existed.
Avery had no idea what her mother looked like, where her mother was, or what kind of life her mother led. Despite that, or maybe because of that, she never once missed her mother.