Azalea excused herself and went to her room. The tension suffocates her and she wants to be alone.
Outside the living room.
Charles is looking at Celestine with a sad eyes and a heavy heart. He used to loved this woman or still have some feelings for her until now but he is not in the right position to express his feelings. He is a married man and his wife is at home with their two children. And he knows he already brought pain to this poor woman's soul, he doesn't have a heart to add some more.
"I don't want to pass my responsibility to you but I don't think I have a choice right now". Celestine smiled sadly.
"She's also my responsibility and I am more than ten years late, but I want to make it up with her and you, if you let me". Charles voice sounds apologetic to her. He studied her appearance and he can see that her illness is starting consume her.
"She is a smart and kind child and she is her grandfather's precious little girl. When my father died she cried a river and didn't spoke for almost a month". She paused when she remembered that time. "When the time comes... Please Charles... I beg of you, be more understanding to her".Celestine's tears falls like rain. Thinking the future of her only daughter without her breaks her heart.
" Please don't say that....". Charles wants to comfort the woman he used to love but he stop himself for doing so. "Why don't we look for another doctor". He suggested the last option he has.
" No need, I know I wont be here for long. All I ask of you is to take care of my beloved child". Her beautiful amethyst eyes is staring directly at his with tears on them and it looks like they are begging him.
The memory of this beautiful amethyst pair of eyes makes Charles heart bleed. He swore a thousand promises while looking directly to them before but after that he betrayed her. But after all the things he did, he can't see any hatred nor judgment in those beautiful pair. What he sees in them are contentment and forgiveness. But he is still feeling a heavy burden on his heart, maybe because he is the one who cannot forgive himself.
"I understand, I'll do as you wish". And that's the only word he can say.
Azalea already fell asleep in her room when her mom came in. She sat down beside her bed and started to touch her hair. She is a loving mother who treasured her most beloved and only daughter. The love of her life. And now she is going to leave her forcefully without a choice.
Celestine was diagnosed with a breast and ovarian cancer stage four already. She knows there's not enough time for her to stay besides her precious daughter. She needs to think fast how she can secure her daughter's future even if her father is on her side.
She started selling all their valuable things and she started a trust fund for her daughter that she can access after her 18th birthday. She also started to buy stocks and find reliable brokers who will take care of it. Then she funded businessess that will mature after ten years.
Everyday she keeps on teaching her daughter about this kind of business and dealings about stocks and investments, computers ang marketings. Celestine knows her daughter has already have a 160 IQ level. She is gifted and she understand things more than any average child can.
She keeps telling her to rely on her own ability and never trust her future to anyone but only to herself. She also keeps tabs and notes for Azalea so she won't be lost about this businessess she did. Even all of Azalea's grandfather's notes are kept in a place where she can easily access. This are all a very special notes. The name of the people written there owe's her father some great deed and one day she knows Azalea can make a good use out of them.