Red String of Fate [PUBLISHED by Bookware]

Chapter 4: Old Scars

"Paano yang anak mo!" 

"Clarissa, you have no right to mistreat any of my daughters." Atty. Carbonel said and Clarissa sat back down. "I will be going to the U.S. for treatment." He serenely announced. "Merong nadevelop ang American doctors na bagong enzyme to treat my disease but it's still in its testing phase. I volunteered to be one of their test subjects." He finished and Alexa's gaze flew to her father's face in surprise. If there's one thing she knew about her father it's his extreme dislike to be used. Pero papayag syang maging test subject ng isang clinical study? She thought suddenly getting worried. 

"Dad, the tests might worsen your condition." She started to say and stopped when Atty. Carbonel smiled bitterly at her. 

"It's my only chance, Lianna. I'm no longer responding to medication." He murmured and Lee Ann instantly cried. 

"Daddy, sasama ako sayo." She sobbed. "Sasama po ako!" She cried pitifully. "Ate, samahan natin si Daddy please." She turned to Alexa, tears pouring down her face. Alexa tried to open her mouth to say no but her voice wouldn't come out. She looked at Lee Ann's tear-stained face and sighed. 

"Okay." She finally replied. Her father's announcement had shocked her into silence. Ganun kalala ang sakit nya? She asked herself, her chest squeezing painfully. 

"I can't go." Lia said quickly ignoring her mother's gestures. "I'm sorry, Dad ayokong nakakakita ng hospital o kaya ng may-sakit, you know that." She added and Atty. Carbonel nodded his head. 

"I understand." He muttered. The initial hatred Alexa felt for her older sister doubled. She was not too fond of what her father did to her mother but seeing how sick and desperate he was she was willing to forget her own pain. 

"Bakit ganyan kang makatingin, may sasabihin ka?" Lia asked her with an arch of her brow and Alexa narrowed her eyes. 

"Wala. My mom told me that if I have nothing good to say, I should just keep quiet." She answered. 

"Sabihin mo kung anong gusto mong sabihin at isipin mo kung anong gusto mong isipin!" Lia bit out. 

"I'm tempted, my dear but frankly speaking you're not worth the effort." She retorted before she turned to her plate to resume eating.  

Alexa looked around her bedroom. She remembered sleeping there when she was a child and her heart ached as memories of her mother flooded through her mind. The room was kept in excellent conditions as ceramic dolls and wooden dollhouses still stood where she left them fifteen years ago. She stood up to open her bedroom door when she heard a knock thinking it was Lee Ann. She was surprised to see her father and his nurse hovering outside her door.  

"Iwanan mo na ako dito, Marco." Atty. Carbonel said and Alexa took over wheeling her father inside her bedroom.  

"How do you like your room?" Her father asked as soon as she rolled his wheelchair beside the large, oak study table. She pulled the wooden chair and sat across him.  

"Okay lang po. Parang di po ako umalis..." She replied politely.  

"I made sure everything is order in case you come back." Her father said and Alexa felt the prickling of unshed tears behind her eyes.  

"Kelan po tayo aalis para sa treatment nyo, Daddy?" She asked, changing the topic abruptly.  

"You and Lee Ann will not be coming with me." Her father replied and Alexa's gaze searched his.  

"Pero gusto naming sumama sa inyo." Kailangan nyo pong gumaling para makaalis na ako dito. She wanted to say. 

"You're home and that's what matters. Lianna, I want you to look after your sister and our businesses. I want you to make sure that everything runs smoothly. I want you to be strong for Lee Ann and me."