Chapter 2

Elleina POV.

In an instant, he denied me without hesitation or remorse. And with that, any chance for reconciliation was lost, leading to the death of all my hopes. I took an oath to stay far away from him for the rest of my life. Regrettably, I find myself in the situation where I have broken my word. Even though it makes me feel sick, I am pleading with him for his mercy. If only I had someone I could count on in times of need...

As I felt the need for more air, I took in a deep breath, allowing it to fill me up. We were left with no choice, which was incredibly frustrating for us. We had no choice but to turn to him as our last resort.

As the rain began to pour down, I found myself still waiting outside the iron gate.

“Go home!” the guard shouted at me, but I shook my head.

“Please, let me in. There is an urgent need for me to have a conversation with my grandfather.”

“That won’t be possible, miss,” he answered, and a car pulled at the gate, coming from the inside.

Witnessing the presence of the white-haired older man in the passenger seat of the moving car brought about an uplifting sensation within me, as if my heart were being lifted up.

“Grandpa!” I yelled and ran towards the car when the gate opened.

“Grandpa!” He refused to hear me. Intentionally disregarding my presence, he kept his aristocratic face directed straight ahead.

“Grandpa please! Mom is very ill, she needs your help so badly!” my trembling hands on the car’s glass window, “please help mom... she’ll die if you won’t...”

As the rain poured down on me relentlessly, I found myself soaked to the bone, tears streaming down my face, and desperately pleading for his mercy. Despite my efforts, it appeared that he was completely unaware of what I was saying. As the car carried on through the gates, I made an effort to keep up, running in tandem with it.

“We need your help Grandpa... please, I beg you. I’ll do anything for you, grandpa. Whatever you want... I promise! Just help mom survive.... she’s dying...”

The car gradually increased its speed, quickly accelerating, and as it zoomed away, I remained there, rooted to the spot, my gaze fixed upon it until it disappeared from sight. The rain poured heavily, same with my tears. Overwhelmed by a profound feeling of helplessness, I sank to the ground and knelt down.

Later, I arrived home. I took the opportunity to show my appreciation to our neighbor for their kindness in looking after Mom while I was away. As time went on, mom's health declined and she became increasingly weaker. She was skin and bones already. She needed intensive treatment immediately for her stage one, liver cancer.

I felt a heaviness in my heart as I looked upon her, overwhelmed by emotions. Throughout the years, she tirelessly worked to ensure that all of us would survive. She had no choice but to undertake every manual work opportunity, as she was not qualified for any office job. Throughout my childhood, I witnessed her constantly feeling exhausted, neglecting proper meals, and consuming unhealthy food. She became sick as a result of her unhealthy eating habits.

When I graduated from high school, I worked as an all-around assistant in a fashion design and manufacturing company. From the income I generated, I successfully aided my mother in fulfilling our financial obligations, including the payment of our house rent and our daily expenses. The quality of our lives improved, resulting in an easier lifestyle for both of us.

Unfortunately, the company faced financial hardships and ultimately went bankrupt. Rather than seeking out a different job, my best friend and I opted to embark on the journey of creating our own online shopping business. Just as we were getting started with it a few months ago, we received the unfortunate news that Mom's health had taken a turn for the worse.

“Did you see him?”

I refocused my thoughts on the present moment and directed my attention towards my mom.

“Yeah, I did.”

Her eyes instantly lit up. “What did he say?”

“I told him you’re sick, but he just ignored me,” I heaved a long sigh. “I’ll think of other ways, Mom.”

“No,” she shook her head weakly, “I believe he heard you. Please go back tomorrow, Elleina.

—————

She was right. When I arrived at the Pallister mansion the following day, I noticed the gate guard, along with the other guards, were exceptionally friendly. If it were possible for them to lay down a red carpet on the floor, they would do so in order to create a welcoming atmosphere for me.

“Mr. Pallister wants to see you. A caddie car will take you inside the mansion.”

As I approached the Pallister mansion, I was met by an elderly butler who graciously opened the door for me. He welcomed me with a bright smile and ushered me inside the huge, luxurious living room. The entire setting resonated with an overwhelming sense of affluence, sophistication, and timeless beauty. From the spotless black tiled floor, the chandeliers hanging in every corner of the room, the expensive ornaments of the room, the gold moldings on the ceiling...

Disgust filled me, causing my lips to twist. Unfortunately, I did not find it impressive. My wince was a result of the vivid imagination that painted a picture of my mother's imprisonment within the realm of wealth and privilege, under the oppressive control of her uncompromising father.

Settling myself in the center of the grand Victorian couch, I was taken aback by the unexpected entrance of two maids into the living room. Their arrival was accompanied by the rolling of two carts, one overflowing with an assortment of delectable desserts, while the other housed an array of refreshing drinks.

“What do you like to eat, madam?” one maid asked with a smiling face.

“No thanks. I’m not hungry or thirsty,” I answered and saw the disappointment on the maids’ faces.

The two maids bid their farewell, leaving me in solitude once more. Once again, my eyes began to wander aimlessly around the room, taking in every detail of the clothes and ornaments. The walls were adorned with numerous paintings, while the shelves displayed an assortment of rare and priceless ceramic vases and figurines. A single vase or painting could last a lifetime of our food supply or enough for Mom’s medical treatment. The very thought of it filled me with an intense rage.

“Elleina.”

At the sound of my name, my heart came to a sudden halt, leaving me momentarily breathless. Without budging from my seat, I inhaled deeply and directed my gaze towards the elderly man with his tall stature and white hair, making his way towards me.

“Grandpa.”