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 of

in silence until it was dark. Soon, Andrew staggered home,

frowned at her father's blushing face and

Andrew struggled as he took a good look at Emily's

business! Dad, where have you spent all the

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

sneered, "So you can gamble and then

it or not, tomorrow I'll double it all!" Andrew was hurt

I won't give you a cent in the

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

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

Andrew slapped Emily across the face without

good

baffled, Emily slowly covered her swollen face, turned around and rushed out of the door!

Debby cried out from the back, while Andrew's

She doesn't have her dad's best

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

that mattered in the end. They both

have

return home, instead she found the nearest hotel and checked herself

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

back to

minutes later, she received a call from Jacob. When Emily answered, she heard

refuted blushingly, "No, this is

some reason his voice sounded lazy over the phone, as he

and it seemed

parents don't