The cold night air reminded Margaret she was really homeless.
Her feet carried her wherever until she stopped on a bridge overlooking a large ocean.
“Why!!!?” she cried into the water as if she saw someone there. “Why did I have to pay for your sins, Natasha?” No answers, just the sound of distant cars and flapping of the water.
Margret knew nothing about her mother’s family or other relatives she could go to.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the snowy ground, her back against the cold metal railing before she could decide on anything.
Her teeth chattered painfully, while her hot tears didn’t help but make her eyelids grow heavier.
Perhaps… just perhaps, this is the end?
••••
“Find that woman Odette and her twins and bring them to my feet!”
Distant and muffled voices swirled around Margaret.
“…she must pay for….”
‘Who’s talking?’ She wondered. “….if my….”
Margaret tried to open her eyes but they felt glued shut.
‘What’s happening?’ Her body felt as if it were made of stone, and she couldn’t even lift a finger.
Panic crept in immediately. ‘Am I dead?’
She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Only her ears worked and she heard that grey voice again.
“Doctor, how is my granddaughter?”
‘Granddaughter. That word cut through the fog, she wanted to yell that she had no grandfather!
But it still felt difficult.
“My poor Natasha could….”
‘Natasha?’ Now this is where Margaret lost it all. Even if she was dead, didn’t want anything to do with Natasha, and while fighting with the darkness, her finger twitched.
She felt the doctor’s hand on her, then the cold stethoscope on her chest. “She’s coming back….get the drips”
“Chairman, she fainted from exhaustion and malnutrition, which mean she can’t wake up soon”
“Do anything to bring her back to life!” Margaret heard the old voice command again. “I will only be fine if I see her alive”
The doctor turned quietly and prepared a syringe and gently injected Margaret’s arm.
The moment the needle touched her skin, Margatet’s finger twitched, and her eyes snapped open.
“Urgh…” Came her slow grunt as she closed her eyes again before opening them again when it could adjust to the illuminated room.
“Marg, are you awake?” The doctor asked, tapping her. “Move a finger if you’re here with me”
Margaret obeyed, slowly turned her eyes, and found herself in the presence of a strange old man and the doctor.
“Doctor, Is she awake?” The old man asked. “Can I talk to her now?”
The doctor didn’t keep his hand off Margaret’s as he replied, “Let her adjust to the strange environment first, Chairman”
“How… How long was I asleep for?” Margaret asked slowly.
The doctor waved his hand over her face, “Can you see me clearly?”
Margaret’s vision was still struggling between life and death, she could only see the doctor’s outline, but she nodded. “Y.. Yes. Just a little”
The doctor rushed off again and came back with an optical touch-light, which he held to her eyes several times before Margaret confirmed that she could see him clearly.
She looked at the doctor and repeated her previous question and the doctor hurriedly replied. “You’ve been asleep for three days. I guess that’s why it’s so hard to adjust to the light.
Her heart sank. Fainted for three whole days? Margaret turned her head slowly, Thomas Royce, the richest man in Grimespring City, was watching her with guilt.
“Who are you?” She asked after staring at him even more.
The doctor helped her sit up on the bed, and bowed to the man. “I have other things to do, chairman”
Thomas nodded, and after the doctor was gone, he rushed to Margaret. “I’m so happy to see you my dear, I was so worried that you won’t wake up….”
“Who are you?’ she demanded, still doesn’t know who the old man was.
His expression changed to a sad one as he gulped, “All these are my fault. I should have accepted Natasha’s pregnancy and take care of it instead of making her live in a polygamous family”
Margaret was now getting out of hand. “What does Natasha have to do with you?”
“Natasha Royce, my daughter, your mum”
“What?” she arched her brow. “Don’t say her name to me!”
Thomas Royce sighed. “ I mean it. Natasha Royce, your mum was my daughter”
It took a while before she could accept the news. “You mean…..” Thomas nodded. “Yes, dear. I’m your grandfather”
Margaret stared at the old man. His face lined with age, but those eyes— awfully familiar to that of Natasha
“No!” She whispered. Her voice was hoarse, broken. “You’re lying”
But even as she said it, she knew he wasn’t.
She wanted to call the old man fake, but the words wouldn’t come. “N… Natasha Royce was your daughter?” Margaret’s hand gripped the hospital sheets. “The woman who destroyed my life, and left me to those monsters?”
Thomas flinched like she’d struck him. “She didn’t abandon dear.” His voice broke. “I… I pushed her out. I was too ashamed that a Royce got pregnant for a mere driver like your father and….”
“I don’t know you” Margaret cut into his old voice sharply. “I don’t have any family, so thank you for saving me from freezing to death”
She climbed down the bed prepared to leave, so far she wouldn’t get to hear anything about Natasha again.
“…blame me dear. Hate me forever, but don’t leave like she did”
“You…” Margaret’s voice shook. “You could have looked for me after her death”
The old man went silent. His head bowed in shame. Margaret continued regardless, “Your daughter brought me to this life to suffer for sins I never committed. Odette and her twins used me anyhow they wanted and I was even imprisoned!… you didn’t find me then, but only now?
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Margaret turned around, angrily. “Don’t tell me sorry! You abandoned your own daughter because of some reputation till she died while eloping. You haven’t come for me since I was a kid, and you think I would just follow you?”
All the bottled up emotions came rushing in great currents as she cried even more.
“I… I thought you also died, “the man explained. “You were with your parents, during the accident but how come that wicked woman raised you until now is very heartbreaking”
Margaret stopped. “I was there during the accident?”
“Yes. She sent me a message before leaving, but I ignored it”
He rushed to her and hugged her. “I was foolish to believe that you were not alive. I was too focused on the company”
“Grandpa why….” Margaret cried on his shoulders and hugged him back slowly. “I went through hell”
Deep down, through her anger, Margaret is also happy that she finally found another family, even though it was through Natasha again!
The door burst open, causing Margaret to jump; a handsome and confident man strode in, holding a bouquet of lilies.
Before she could react, he pulled her into a hug.
“Where have you been all these while, sister”
