using her to jump. She had separate rings for each of them, so she recognised her

steady. But her mother's voi

the hospital now." She announced, her voice

t, gripping a dining chair for support as she felt herself about to

Camilla. Please, h

s, and hurried out of the house. "Open the gate!" She ordered her gat

nd up, lay unconscious in a hospital bed. The drive felt like an eternity, ea

gh the sliding glass doors. The overhead fluorescent l

breath. The hospital was their family facility; sh

toward the elevators. "

, her mind racing with fear. As she arrived on the second floor, she noticed her m

cried, rushing

finally spilt over. "Camilla, I'm so glad you're here." Sh

tors say?" Camilla asked, pulling

way. "They're still working

he thought of losing her father. "Can I s

inside," her mother repl

er, she reminisced about his infectious laughter, the knowledge he shared, and his constant s

F FLA

rved as their family doctor for many years and is also a close friend of her father. Ms. Bennett," he said, addre

Camilla asked w

conscious, but you

y were close to her father's room, she felt her heart be

s arms, and a breathing mask covered his face. Hot tears rolled down Camilla's eyes, watching her f

er. She held his hand, feeling its

cleared his throat. "I'll give you some privacy, but I need t

tly, trying to hold back her tears. It was hard to see him like this, so vulnerable. He

in. He had a serious look on, and C

the door behind him. "We need to ta

asked, almost whispering. What was the doctor going to say? If anyone could speak ex

us Global is in trouble. The company is on the brink of bankruptcy. And your father has been s

you mean? How did this happen?" Sh

" Meyer explained steadily but gravely. Camilla raced to remember a conversation she stumbled upon a few weeks ago. She heard her father m

s Harrison?" she asked, "I've heard him

bal owes a huge debt. He's known for his ruthless business

ously raking her hands through her already-worn hair. "Why didn't Dad share any of

dn't want to burden you with the weight of the company's troubles whi

lmed by both anger and sorrow. The tears she fought to suppress finally streamed d

ief from his pocket to wipe her eyes. "You have to be strong, Camilla. Your father needs you now more than ever. If he doesn't

aced her father, who lay unconscious, and tears started to stream down her cheek

la said suddenly, her heart ra

be right outside if

. She found her mother in the waiting area, pacing anxiously. "Mon!"

octor say?" her mother a

tioned, her voice filled with apprehension. "He

tempting to soothe her nerves. "Mom, why didn't you tell

t want to worry you. Your father thought it would be better to ha

y she had known collapsed dramatically in front of her. She was angry because this huge thing was hidden

er voice breaking. "Your father didn't want to bu

of man is he?" Camilla asked, feelin

He's a loan shark, Camilla. He doesn't forgive debts easily. If we don't

mother's words. "What are we going to do?" she whi

lied, her voice steadier now. "We

s was more than a business; it represented her father's dream and her family's legacy. "I promise I w

e. "Camilla, it's a huge responsibilit

I won't let Dad's hard word go to waste.

ila experienced a se

her chance. She could not only fulfil the role of a daught

rry in her eyes. "I believe in you, Camilla. Yo

were tears of courage this time. "I'

coming stronger than ever. She would do whatever it tak

lence. "Let's go back to your father. He

ward together and discovered Robert gasping for breath, his chest heavin

her father struggle for his life. "D