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.

I..." At last, having run out

them waited in silence until it was dark. Soon, Andrew

father's blushing face and

a good look at Emily's face. Unexpectedly, he replied, "Mind your own

my business! Dad, where have you spent all the money I had sent to

it all away." With an indifferent expression, Andrew added, "Since you're

sneered, "So you can gamble and then

you speak to me like that! Believe it or not, tomorrow I'll double it all!" Andrew was hurt

you carry on this, I won't

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

getting

across the face without any warning, leaving behind

she's too good to care about

face, turned around and rushed out of

out from the back, while Andrew's cold

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

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

mattered in the end. They both

didn't have her in

return home, instead she found the nearest

had received recently, and since her Dad was not sick, she did not need to keep aside money for his treatment anymore.

000 back

few minutes later, she received a call from Jacob. When Emily answered, she heard his voice, "What? Is this my tips from the

and refuted blushingly, "No, this is

sounded lazy over the phone, as he snickered, "Why? Don't

anymore." Emily's voice sounded stuffy and it seemed like she wasn't in

parents don't