The following day.
The whole family was busy packing things for their stay in the hospital.
Irene decided to get a private room for her mother's post-surgery recovery. She just want to make sure that if a complication arises, a doctor can attend to her mother's condition right away.
Good thing, the hospital allowed the children's presence as well, as long the private room is fully paid for.
Adoora was comforted with the fact that after the surgery she will be surrounded by her children. Her fear of the operation gradually lessened knowing that her family will be there to take care of her and cheer her up.
She wants her illness to go away forever so that she can take good care of her children properly and not become a burden to them.
Hours went by.
After finishing their lunch, Irene's family hired a taxi and proceed to the hospital.
When they arrived to their destination, Irene and Adoora settled the children in the private room, giving them corn snacks while watching TV. Then they proceed to the doctor's office for the surgery.
Fifteen minutes later.
Adoora and the doctor entered the room to start the surgery.
Irene waited patiently outside the surgery room, holding her rosary in her hands, praying fervently for a successful operation. Hopefully, no complications afterward.
She was just thankful that this time she has enough money to pay the medical bills. She's making sure that her mother will have a good recovery experience after the surgery without worrying about the money.
The surgery operation will take more or less 4 hours, she should go back to their private room to watch over her siblings.
She rose to her feet and left the surgery room, going back to the private room that she had rented in the East Wing of the hospital.
Six hours later.
The surgery was successful. After staying in the recovery and observation room for a few hours, Adoora was then transferred to the private room to continue her recovery. The doctor will visit her several times a day to monitor her condition.
Before the nurses and doctor left the room, they made sure that Adoora's condition in the room was good.
Irene looked at her mother. "Are you okay, Mother?" she asked worriedly.
Adoora smiled brightly. "I'm feeling fine, don't worry about me. I'll just need to rest, I'm feeling sleepy," she answered, stifling a yawn.
"Okay. Rest well, Mother," Irene said, feeling relieved.
Irene and her siblings spent the rest of the evening watching TV while Adoora continued sleeping after eating her dinner.
That night.
Irene and her siblings sleep at 9:00 in the evening.
Half an hour later, she was already in a deep sleep.
She dreamed of Brent again. This time the location of her dream is on a secluded beach.
They were sitting, facing each other on the white sand beach.
Brent looked at his woman with adoration shining brightly in his eyes. "So... how does it feel when you already have lots of money in your position? Did you enjoy my gifts, sweetie?" he asked.
Irene looked at her with narrowed eyes. "How is it possible that the gold nuggets are real? But you only exist in my dreams! How did you do it?"
Brent took a deep breath. "I only exist in your dreams for now. I will appear to you for real anytime soon," he said.
"Who are you really-?" she asked, eager to discover his identity.
"I'm a powerful vampire that was trapped inside the ring that you are wearing in your finger right now. You awakened me, therefore, you and I are meant to be. You are my woman whether you like it or not," he said, looking tenderly into her eyes.
"Y-you are a vampire? I can't give my heart to a vampire! I won't love someone like you! Please leave me alone!" she yelled into his face.
Brent released a deep sigh. "Don't be stubborn! Don't resist your destiny! Don't waste your time pushing me away. I won't leave you alone because you are my woman!" he said in a hard commanding tone.
Irene shook her head. "No! I'm not your woman! I will never associate myself with someone like you! Leave me alone!" she said, screaming at his face. She rose and ran in the direction of the woods.
Sighing, Brent watched Irene disappeared into the woods. These are the series of dreams that he created in her mind during her sleep. But based on how she reacted right now, things are not going to be easy for him. Irene appeared so feisty in her dream already, how much more in real settings? So disappointing!
"Such a stubborn woman!" he murmured to himself.
A few minutes later.
Irene woke up in the middle of her dream, panting hard after running around in circle in the woods trying to avoid the vampire in her dream.
Having a vampire admirer in her dreams terrifies here.
The owner of the golden nuggets was a vampire named Brent.
He claimed that she freed him from his hibernation inside the ring, it's not true, isn't it?
But it can't be denied that if the vampire didn't inform her about the existence of the golden nuggets then she would have no idea of their existence.
That is a fact!
She stared at the silver ring on her finger, she tried removing it from her finger but failed each time. C-could it be the vampire's making?
Is it really her destiny to be the vampire's woman?
She was shaking her head, trying to expel the thoughts of the vampire from her mind.
The more she thinks about him, the more she's getting paranoid. She feared that she's going crazy anytime soon!
Wondering if he is real or not... or just a figment of her imagination was mentally exhausting!
Sighing, she stood up and left the folding bed, going to the table, pouring water into the glass.
While drinking the water, her confusion intensifies.
Maybe, she was just imagining things in her mind.
Maybe, the vampire only existed in her hyperactive imagination and was incorporated into her dreams.
Maybe...
If she will ignore the vampire in her dreams, perhaps, he will go away and never come back.
But what if the vampire will continue bothering her in her dreams? What is she going to do?
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a few seconds.
As long he won't exist in her reality, she can bear his presence. He should exist in her dreams only!
Because if he will become real, she will go crazy!
She glanced at her mother and her siblings, they're already sleeping soundly. She should return to sleep. She went back to the folding bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling of the room, waiting for sleepiness to take over her senses.
Financially wise, everything is going well for her and her family right now. The only thing that is not right with her life is the presence of the vampire in her dreams, it's bothering her a lot.
Her greatest fear would be that the vampire will terrorize her reality, soon.
She hoped it wouldn't come to that point.
Because she will never fall for a vampire!
She will never associate herself with beings of his kinds!
But if the vampire is real and it he will get mad at her because she refused to submit to him then there's a big possibility that will remove the gold nuggets from her position. What she's going to do if things will come to that point?
She just can't let the gold nuggets disappear just like that!
No!
She won't allow it!
She will find a way to sell them all before the mysterious vampire takes them away.
After her mother's recovery and house repair, she will start selling the gold nuggets all over the country.
Seven days later.
Adoora was already discharged from the hospital based on the go signal of her attending physician who was amazed by her speedy recovery. After the surgery, there was no complication, making Irene and the entire family happy and deeply relieved.
The mother and daughter duo can be seen in the kitchen preparing the ingredients for the chicken curry, their special dish for lunch.
"Daughter, let's just go home. I want to go back to the ancestral house within this month so that we don't have to continue renting this place any longer. Besides, I don't want to wait anymore. I'm eager to go back there even if there's renovation going on. I miss that place so much!" Adoora said, misty-eyed.
Irene processed her mother's suggestion slowly.
Silence fell upon them for a few seconds.
Adoora looked at her daughter. "Why are you hesitating? The men can make repairs all over the house, the children and I will make sure we stay out of their way so that the workers can finish their job quickly..."
"Mother, why are you in a hurry? You can continue staying here for a few months until the renovation is finally completed. I'm sure that you won't like the noise when the men start tearing apart those crumbling structures," Irene said, worrying about her mother's health. A noisy place is not good for her mother's complete recovery from her surgery.
Adoora released a deep sigh. "I don't like staying here anymore..." she said, biting her lip in agitation.
Irene saw the lines of worry on her mother's forehead, she asked, "What is it, Mother? Tell me? Is there someone pestering you while I'm not here?"
Adoora took a deep breath. "Those people still come here every other day to collect the payments of debts left by your stepfather. Every time they come to our doorsteps, I feel guilty and terrified as well," she explained.
Irene groaned. She smacked her head with her hand. Damn! Why did she have forgotten that those people collecting payments of debts made by her stepfather will never stop unless they will get their money back? "I'm sorry, Mother. I almost forgot about them," she said.
"You don't have to worry about me and the children, we can always stay in the basement while the men will perform repairs around the house. The basement is the most convenient place for us to stay while the repair is underway," Adoora explained, trying to convince her daughter that leaving this rented place is good for them, especially for the state of her mind.
Irene looked at her mother. "Alright, just give me two weeks so that I can hire the men who will make immediate repairs to the room on the second floor. Is that okay with you, Mother?"
Adoora's eyes lit up. "Fine with me. Two weeks then," she said.
"You and the children will occupy the rooms upstairs on the second floor while I'm going to stay in the basement. That will be my place from now on," Irene said. She needs to keep the basement safe, off-limits from other people's interference including her mother and siblings.
Adoora's brows furrowed. "Why would you like staying in the basement? Why not on the second floor?" she asked, confused.
Irene smiled. "I just like staying in the basement, Mother. Please don't ask me anymore, I just like that place and I want it to be my room and my private space," she elaborated further.
Adoora picked up the chicken cutlets and put them in the drainer. She washed the chicken under the running water in the sink. "Okay, as you wish. I will no longer ask you about the basement. Go now, watch TV with your siblings while I cook the chicken curry."
"I don't like watching TV. I would rather stay with you in the kitchen. I like watching you while you're busy cooking our meals, Mother," Irene stated.
Adoora smiled and went to her daughter's side, she planted a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, daughter, for everything," she said and resumed her cooking.
Irene looked at her mother lovingly. "Thank you for always being a wonderful mother to me and to my siblings. I love you, Mom!" she said, her heart was bursting of love for her mother.
Adoora looked at her firstborn, tears shimmered in her eyes. "I love you more, daughter!"
The mother and daughter smiled at each other, their hearts filled with gladness and happiness.
Adoora saute the herbs and spices on the frying fan then added the chicken cutlets.
The delicious aroma of the herbs and spices filled the tiny kitchen.
Irene gathered the dirty utensils and washed them in the sink. She looked at her mother. "Mom, can you make a list of those people who keep coming here to collect debts payment and the corresponding amount that my stepfather owed them," she said.
"Why?" Adoora asked.
"I want to pay the money that my stepfather owned them. Some of these people are not even rich, to begin with. I want to return the money to them so that they can finally move on with their lives instead of repeatedly coming here to collect debts despite the debtor is already dead. Which means one thing, they really do need the money. If they're rich enough they won't come back here to collect payments," Irene explained.
Adoora was silent for a moment. "Do we really have to pay them?" she asked.
"Of course! I want to settle our debts and everything before we leave this place," Irene said. "Now that we already have lots of money there is no reason not to pay our debts," she added.
Adoora smiled. "I got your point. Thank you, daughter!"
Irene planted a kiss on her mother's forehead. "No need to thank me, Mother dear."
One hour later.
The dishes were finally cooked to perfection. The family gathered around the table to eat their delicious meals.
After lunch was over.
"Mother, I'll go out of the house today to sell more golden nuggets. When I return here I want to know how much the total debts that we have to settle so that we can begin paying the neighbors, for our peace of mind," Irene said.
"Okay. Do I have to include those who already stop coming here?" Adoora asked.
"Yes, please include them on the list. We need to pay them as well," Irene responded.
"Alright, I'll make a list. There will be a total of twenty people here in our neighborhood, and the big one is a gang leader claiming that your stepfather owed them half a million dollars. I'm not sure if it's truth or not," Adoora said, feeling ashamed of what her late partner has done.
Shocked, Irene's eyes grew saucer like. "Huh? That's too big amount? Why didn't I know about it?" she asked, feeling horrified.
Adoora sighed and looked at the window. "I didn't tell you about it because I don't want you to worry about that issue. Besides, it's Arnold's debt, it has nothing to do with you."
Irene shook her head. True, it has nothing to do with her but her mother was already suffering emotionally and psychologically because of it, even before her stepfather passed away. She hugged her mother, comforting her. She knew that until now her mother was still suffering internally because of her late partner's gambling addiction that left them mountain of debts to settle.
Adoora looked at her daughter lovingly. "You are such a good daughter to me! You are my greatest blessing in life," she said. Her unconditional love for her firstborn shone brightly in her eyes.
Irene smiled. "I love you, Mom!" she beamed. "I'll go to my room to take a shower and then sell more golden nuggets," she said in a low voice.
Adoora nodded her head. "OK."
Half an hour later.
Irene can be seen leaving the house and boarding a taxi on the way to the heart of the Evergreen City to find another store to sell the golden nuggets.
She brought a total of 15 golden nuggets with her, the smaller ones. She left the rest of the pouch in her mother's care, just in case pickpockets will snatch her bag the rest of the gold nuggets are safe.
She will find a store that will transact online banking payments as well cash. She needs lots of cash to settle all the debts of her stepfather.
Settling the debts will bring closure to all those people who trusted her stepfather's lies only to realize in the end that their hard-earned money was used in gambling.
Although her stepfather was a gambler and a drunkard, he never mistreated her. He considered her one of his biological children, he was always treated her kindly. He tried hard to become a second father figure to her.
But his addiction to gambling and drinking put an end to his life prematurely.
A painful tragedy for her mother and siblings.
Then there's the issue between her mother and her grandmother...
"Miss, we're here!" the driver of the taxi informed her.
Irene's trip to memory lane was cut short by the driver's interruption.
Irene handed her fare to the driver and said, "Keep the change."
"Thank you so much, Miss!" the driver replied happily.
Irene left the taxicab and strolled on the sidewalk. She looked at the establishments lining up the streets.
Multitude of stores selling and buying gold and jewelry can be seen lining up a few meters away.
Irene entered one of them to sell the gold nuggets.
Inside the store.
In front of Irene, the appraiser ran a series of tests to verify the authenticity of the stones
"Congratulations, your gold nuggets are real, Miss!" the appraiser said.
"Of course they are!" Irene grinned. "How much?" she asked excitedly.
"You will get a total of $900k for the 15 pieces of gold nuggets," the appraiser answered.
Irene's eyes widened in surprise, her heart leaped with joy. "That's good!" she gushes in delight.
"How do you want the payment to be made?" the appraiser inquired.
Irene was silent for a moment. "Okay... I want each of the $200k to be deposited in my two online bank accounts and the remaining $500k will be in cash. Can you do that?"
"Sure!" the appraiser responded with a smile. "Give me your online banking details and I will send the payment in a short while."
Irene was given a piece of blank paper, she wrote her bank details on it.
Half an hour later.
Irene left the jewelry store carrying the paper bills in her large shoulder bag. She immediately flagged a taxi outside the store and went home.
When she arrived home. She and her mother holed up in the bedroom and went through the list. Afterward, they put the money inside the brown envelope labeled with names. It will be easier to distribute the payments that way.
The next day, in broad daylight, they will distribute the payments to the people on the list.
Thank you for reading!
Creation is hard, cheer me up with your vote!
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