CHAPTER 7

Lisa's POV

I quickly get out of the vehicle and rush inside after telling the cab driver to wait for me.

Even though I am in shock about what has occurred to me today, I don't want to dwell on it too much until the operation is complete.

Last night, Grandma and I struggled to sleep due to the excruciating discomfort she was experiencing.

She had completed the painkillers she typically takes, so I was holding out for my next paycheck to get her more.

Because of how much agony my employer was in, I had already considered considering her offer. I don't know how it occurred, but something kept stopping me.

I suddenly found myself $50,000 wealthy in only a few short seconds.

When I go into the little living room, Grandma isn't there watching old movies on our TV in her cane chair; instead, I hear whimpers coming from her room.

I enter the room without thinking twice to see her moaning in agony on the bed. She was still asleep when I prepared breakfast for her and left it by her bed before I went to work this morning, figuring the discomfort would have subsided by the time she woke up.

However, it seems like Grandma hasn't been out of bed since I left. I went to work two hours ago, and I'm wondering whether she's just waking up at this point.

"Lisa?" She calls while struggling to get up and gasping in pain. She is always asking me to wait and to have trust in God since she is aware of how hard and how desperately I have been trying to find a way to pay for her operation.

She used to claim that God would work marvels, and I know she generally tells me this so I won't end up making the wrong decision in order for her to live and move on from the suffering.

I wonder whether this is the good fortune that granny has been predicting or if I made a mistake on my end now that I've given myself twice as much money as we would need for the operation thanks to what I did.

I run to help her. She had a melancholy grin.

The question, "Why are you here?" She is working so hard to talk clearly.

I'm telling myself not to weep when I see what's there. She seems uncomfortable and hurt.

Even though what I've done could be the worst mistake of my life, I'm prepared to carry it through in the hopes that Grandma will be able to recover from her suffering.

I can sense your suffering. I also feel anguish at being unable to intervene.

I say, "I'm here to take you to the hospital," while I consider what to say to her after the procedure is over and I'm left to marry my boss. I didn't even inquire about the wedding date with my supervisor.

I couldn't ask since I was too delighted. I was determined to get Grandma to the hospital before returning home.

"Hospital?" She whimpers in pain as I pinch her forehead and touch her cheeks. "Have you received the funds?" Her voice has become really quiet.

My subconscious tells me it's time to move on.

I agree, Grandma. Please, let's leave. I inform her that a taxi is waiting outside for us.

I lift her up with her body laying on me and her arms around me as soon as I hear an outside horn.

She has a lot of questions for me about where I obtained the money and who gave it to me, but they will have to wait until after we leave her room and the home carefully since she is having trouble speaking.

Helping her out was exhausting since she feels heavier today. By the time we get to the taxi and the cab driver comes down to help me get her into the cab, her whole weight is on me, leaving me feeling fatigued.

As the cabbie moves over to the driver's seat and starts the vehicle, I sag next to her.

As I lay my head down on the seat and turn to look at Grandma's closed eyes, I tell him the hospital's location.

Does she have a bed?

She has a frown on her face, but as she opens them to find me looking, she smiles at me. I turn away from her in return.

I know what will happen when her hands come into mine.

Bella, from whence did you get the funds?

I close my eyes and hope we could put off talking about this issue until later. Right now, all I care about is her health; as soon as the operation is a success, I will tell her the whole truth.

Despite her state, she speaks sternly and advises, "Child, don't lie to me," making me nearly grin.

I smirk at her and add, "I won't lie, Grandma," to which she responds by nodding.

Talk to me, then. How did you behave?

I was aware of it!

She must believe that I have caved into my desperation and sacrificed my pride and dignity as a woman in order to ensure her existence.

That is not it, however.

At the very least, what I did was preferable to becoming someone's slut. I want to accomplish something honorable.

I gently squeeze her two hands and say, "Grandma, I did nothing," as if to persuade her to believe me.

She gives me a brow furrow. "Nothing?"

I nod. She isn't going to believe my lie, but I still want to try. Maybe someday she'll let go.

She exhales a sigh before being quiet and seems to give up. Until she speaks out again, I am on the point of concluding that she has given up completely. "So, a magic happened?"

I faintly chuckle. Yes, you have always encouraged me to trust in God's power to work miracles, haven't you?

She has a serious expression on her face and a pout tugging her lips; she doesn't seem persuaded or pleased.

She is assuming the worst of me, so it's better that I let her know now rather than when she decides not to have the surgery because she believes the funding is coming from the incorrect source.

As I glance out the window and sigh in unison with her, I release her hands and reflect on the struggles we have faced since her injury.

Grandma is aware of my unending devotion to her. Sincerely speaking, I didn't want to do this, but the offer was too alluring and alluring to refuse.

I'm starting to realize that the contract is not a huge problem. We will only be together for a year, after which we will part ways, and I will go on with my regular life.

Will Grandma understand, though?

She says, her eyes half closed, "I see you don't want to tell me.

"No," I firmly say. She looks at me as she turns. Simply said, "I just feel like this isn't the right time to tell you about this."

"Is it really that bad that you can't tell me right now?"

"No, Mom." I did nothing improper," I quickly respond while keeping a close eye on her. Her expression is emotionless. I didn't do anything wrong, trust me on that.

She says, "I can't believe you until you tell me what it is," and I groan in frustration before cocking my head back as I can see the hospital.

I say, attempting to maintain a straight face so she won't suspect anything or figure out there is more going on, "I asked my boss for help."

She nods and tells me to continue.

"I'll pay it back with my monthly salary; it's more like an advance salary." I falter, unsure of what I am really saying. I sound perplexed.

Grandma doesn't seem as perplexed as I anticipated. Instead, she nods in agreement, and a wave of relief sweeps through me, making me believe that this is already over.

What will you do for him in exchange for this assistance, then? My mouth drops in disbelief as she asks me a question with assurance as if she already knows the answer.

We sat here looking at one another. Until the taxi stops yanking us out of our daydream and bringing us back to reality, I am speechless with my mouth open and she isn't even blinking her eyes.

The taxi driver announces "We are here" and steps outside to open the door for us.

Grandma ultimately talks into my ears as I seal my lips. If I get it through this, we'll speak about it afterward.