A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"I was worried about Dad, so…"

"Didn't I tell you not to come back? Your father is in the hospital, but he is feeling much better now. The follow-up treatment will require some more money…" Unable to come up with a good excuse, Debby's voice had a trace of guilt and nervousness.

Emily looked deeply into her eyes, and asked, "Mom, why are you lying to me? Dad is not sick at all, is he?"

Debby was completely nonplussed. "What did you say?

Why would I lie to you?"

"Fine, I believe you. Let's go to the hospital to see Dad now, " replied Emily.

"Emily, don't be in such a hurry. You must be tired from travelling…"

Emily said nothing; she just looked at her mother quietly. After a long pause, she asked, "Where is Dad now? In the gambling house?"

Debby's face stiffened. Her lips moved, but she could not speak of anything.

Emily knew that she had guessed correctly. With mixed feelings, she asked, "Why would you lie to me about such a thing? Do you know how worried I was?"

"Emily..." Debby lowered her head in shame and took Emily's hands. "Let's go inside and I can explain..."

"No, I'll go and get my father back now."

"No! I beg you!" Debby hugged her daughter and pleaded, "He'll be back home soon..."

Disappointed, Emily sighed deeply, and finally entered the house with Debby.

"Emily, I was forced to lie to you. Your Dad gambled a lot of money and ended up with a large debt... Our relatives didn't want to lend us the money, so we had to make up an excuse."

"But, I am your daughter, and you can tell me anything. Why would you keep something like that from me?" Emily couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice any longer. She realized that they never trusted her.

last, having run out of excuses, Debby murmured.

both of them waited in silence until it was

face and

look

have you spent all the money I had

it all away." With an indifferent expression, Andrew added,

you can

or not, tomorrow I'll double it all!" Andrew was hurt by her words. The veins on his

carry on this, I won't give you a cent

have raised you for so many years, and it's only fair that you give us something in return! Is this how

right, all right. Don't make a fuss." Afraid of the two getting

could finish, Andrew slapped Emily across the face without any

she's too good to

swollen face, turned around

Emily..." Debby cried out from the

her go! She doesn't have her dad's best interest

sneered at his words, with a broken heart. She didn't have her dad's best interest at heart? If that were true, then why did she work so hard to find the money to "cure" him? Why did she lose sleep every night, worrying about him?

in the

who didn't have her

didn't return home, instead she found the nearest hotel and checked

to bed, she thought about the bonuses she had received recently, and since her Dad was not sick, she did not need to keep aside money for his treatment

transferred 100, 000 back to

answered, she heard his voice, "What? Is this my tips from

refuted blushingly, "No, this

lazy over the phone, as he snickered, "Why?

it seemed like she wasn't

parents don't need