Chapter 3 I Don't Need Your Help

• CHAPTER THREE - I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP
• Amelia's POV
• Our house had been robbed and all valuable assets stolen. The neighbours weren't home, or they'd have helped. A robbery had never taken place in the apartment building for five years, they had all said.
• But at the moment, all I could think about was Nana. The fact that she wasn't breathing made my heart clench and unclench. She had to be fine. There were no two ways about it. Nana was a strong woman even at 85.
• And most importantly, I wanted my baby to meet with her. So as I paced around the waiting room with Mum and Claudia my sister, I prayed silently. I'd give anything for my Nana to be safe and well.
• “Are you the family of er… Mrs. Kishi?” A short woman, clad in a white coat walked toward us. Mum nodded in response.
• “How is she faring? Is she going to be fine?” I asked the dwarf doctor.
• “She is breathing normally for now. Apart from her legs which have been damaged due to the impact of the fall, she is perfectly fine.”
• Mum and Claudia held hands while I probed the doctor for more information about Nana.
• “What does this mean for us?”
• “It means she won't be able to walk again. A wheelchair will be used for movement and she'll need supervision. Like a nanny… Or I'd advise a nursing home.”
• Mum and I exchanged glances. I knew we were thinking the same thing. I wanted to speak up but Mum beat me to it.
• “What do you mean by that, Doctor? Do you mean we can't take good care of her?”
• The Doctor shifted uncomfortably in her flats. “What I meant to say is that the hospital will not discharge her until we are sure she'll have a twenty-four, seven monitoring. If your family cannot provide that little for her, she's better off in our nursing home.” The Doctor walked away from us before Mum could give her a piece of her mind.
• “How dare she? Did you hear her, Amelia? She's saying we are incapable of taking care of Nana.” Mum said to me, with furrowed eyebrows.
• Claudia and I glanced at each other and we held Mum, leading her to have a seat. Once mum and Claudia were seated, I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled.
• Things were falling apart. Nana was bedridden. I didn't think Mum had the money for the bills. Our house wasn't safe. Heck, I couldn't let my family return to that dipshit. My head was spinning.
• “I have some money,” Mum began, drawing my attention to her. “I think we can settle Nana's bills with it. But I'm worried about the nursing home. I don't have that amount of money to get a nanny and we cannot let Nana stay at the nursing home.”
• “I can help. I'll ask ‘Matt’ to lend me some money,” Claudia offered.
• Matt was Claudia's boyfriend. He was well-to-do but had helped our family with almost all our needs, and the last thing I wanted was to burden him again.
• “No. Claudia, don't ask Matt for anything. I'll figure this out,” I murmured, a crazy idea was brewing in my head. What if I requested six months' salary in advance from my boss? No company would take such a risk. No boss would even contemplate an idea so ridiculous.
• But my boss was Jeremy.
• “What will you do?” Claudia's worried voice sounded.
• I shrugged, smiling sadly. The problem with this was that I felt like it was my duty to fend for my family. Technically, it was my duty because I was the first child. And Nana had sacrificed so much for me. The least I could do was to swallow my pride and ask Jeremy.
• “Amelia, look.” Claudia was staring behind me, her eyes wide as saucers. My heart thumped in my chest as I turned and locked eyes with my boss.
• “Hello, Amelia.”
• Mum squinted her eyes at Jeremy. Then she turned to face me, a disappointed look on his face.
• “Did you tell him to come here?” Mum half yelled, her glare directed at me was stony.
• “No, I didn't. I don't know what he's doing here.” I protested. Both Mum and Claudia didn't look like they believed a word I said, and I hated it.
• “I'm here to help you, Amelia. I've talked to my realtor and he has prepared a new home for you and your family. I'll foot Nana's bills and hire a nanny. Do you have any more requests?” Jeremy asked innocently.
• Innocent didn't do. Innocent didn't cut the fact that he cheated on me and hurt me. What stupid game was the universe playing with me? First, Jeremy came back into my life. Now, I was placed in a position where I had to choose.
• My family or my pride.
• “I don't need your help, Jeremy. Pretending to care about me is ridiculous. And just so you know, money isn't going to cut it.”
• “I know I hurt you, Amelia. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but this is for my child.” Jeremy said, his gaze resting on my belly.
• “Who says it's yours?” I snapped angrily.
• “I know it's mine, Amelia. And don't fight me. Let me help you.”
• “I. Don't. Need. Your. Help.”