ahl

hat followed

me, waiting for me

ood them. Despite being rich and influential, it didn't excuse

to murder a child simply bec

whispered. "I

lips parted slightly with disbelief

ou out of your mind?" My mother sna

ort this baby. I have already disappointed m

e snapped, irritated and angry. "If you get thrown out into the streets,

oul

ze my way out of this. Convince them to let me ke

are disappointed but please don't send me away. I am really sorry and I

d coldly. "If you are determined to raise

rning on the cold floor, but th

'm begging you. I'll do anything. Just... don't

, his tone sharper than I'd ever heard it. "You think this is about you, Dahlia? About you

loding. "You think the world will be kind to a pregnant high school dropout? You think col

something out

o take care of yourself. And now you want to raise a baby? Wake up, Dahlia. You're not str

id, but he didn't look a

rt plu

ha

ffly. "After that, your mother and I

at my mother, hoping she woul

rue colours came out and

appe

ked through th

I didn't wait for a reaction. I stoo

oarsely. "You've always wante

ever in your miserable life raise your filthy hands on my dau

urred my

rd the closet. My vision blurred wit

ved everything into a duffel bag, hands trembling. I didn't know where I was going, but

m was empty. I didn't even get a fina

IVE YEARS LATER

my! Look wh

d daughter, Haven, came racing into the kitchen with a c

ked, crouching to her level

t's our house! And that..." she pointed to a squi

way through my ribs and pushed the pain of the past a

her arms around my n

e y

ed out of that house with nothing but a duffel

own to the wolves, and lea

ng me penniless. Williams never returned my calls and the one

o with me. The only person who made an atte

day, he was just gone. His aunt passed away and he

mily and I was back in the streets once a

as blissful but I was happy I could feed my child whenever she

Haven said suddenly. "Your

Lecturing me about being late when

and I don't like the other kids making f

hard. I took a s

very hard and make sure you don't have to

if we don't get there on time

! Of c

picked her up. I would have to ask m

restaurant down town. When I got there, I found

Heather, talking to some of

n't even smile like she usually wo

ws?" I

billionaire. The boss needed money and since he was offering a ridicul

my rent was due? I still had Haven's school fees

to burst

ared sadly into mine. I forced a sm

earns meet from here. They can't just fire

place. We don't know if he's going to build a hotel or a five star restaurant. The constructi

d. He was the only chef employed alongside me and his cooking skills were a

ke I said, he is a big shot. A billionaire.

lionaire is?"

Ler

. "Sorry, could

m? Zac Leroy, the

cc

was sp

onaire soccer player?