CHAPTER 1

"Where is the money?" The leader of the gang hollered, threatening to let the hand of the individual he was holding slip off his fingers.

Beaten by fear, David begged his wife to reveal the exact location of the money but guess destiny had it own way.

"No!" He screamed the moment her hand slipped.

******

"No!" Meerra screamed, jerking incessantly from the nightmare she just had.

Rosie ran into the bedroom in a jiffy. She tried holding Meerra in place but the trauma seem to be overreacting this time around. Meerra kept screaming and wailing, gaining the attention of every employee residing within.

"Please inform her nurse immediately" Rosie alarmed Clara the cleaner. Still engulfed in the quest to calm her down, she hurriedly took off her mother's beautiful portrait which hanged perfectly on the wall and handed it over to her.

Staring at the portrait, Meerra miraculously calmed down suddenly as tears streamed down her cheeks in a non ceasing manner.

"I'm sorry Meerra" Rosie whispered, coaxing the little girl to halt her tears.

The pain and incident of that day haven't been vague in her memory though she was just six then and since that day, her mental health was being threatened alongside the impeccable relationship she shared with her dad before the incident.

****

Being constantly frustrated by his daughter's repellant attitude towards him since the day her mother died drastically, he became a shadow of himself and only managed to look after his empire though all the stress are reflecting on him.

In the middle of his meeting while at the office, a call came in from home, informing him about Meerra's sudden trauma and without a second thought, he dismissed everyone then hurried home.

"Where is Meerra?" He asked the moment his feet stepped into the mansion.

"Thank goodness you are back" Rosie informed. Her heartbeat have been abnormal since the afternoon. She had grown to love her boss' daughter like her own. It pisses her anytime the little girl suffers from the trauma of the past incident.

"You've laid her to sleep already" David heaved a sigh of relief, seeing her tucked in her blanket, clinging to the portrait that had the figure of his beautiful wife.

"The portrait calmed her down" Clara inserted, standing few meters from the trio.

David wept internally. Sitting beside her bedside, memories of the past came rushing into his head prompting more tears to stream down his cheeks.

Rosie and Clara exchanged looks of worry as they both exited the room leaving the duo to themselves.

"I feel so sorry for boss" Clara lamented, wiping a few tear drops.

Rosie stared quietly at her before heading towards Miss Keller swiftly who just stepped into the building still on her working attire.

"I know I'm late Rosie. Please save the lecture for another day" She inserted the moment they both stood at an arm's length.

"She's already asleep" She replied.

"Oh thank goodness. What about David?" Keller enquired.

******

In tears, David groaned continuously, gripping the blankets that provided bearable warmth to her.

"I love you Meerra." He wailed on when suddenly, Keller walked briskly into the bedroom.

She stared at his pathetic state before going ahead with the treatment. Once done, she helped him out of the room.

"You have to be strong for her David. I know its hard but you can do it. She needs you now more than ever."

"Is she improving?"

"Not yet but I'm doing my best"

David gazed at her for a while then sunk deeper into the cushion due to the heart ripping news she just released about Meerra's health.

Keller settled on the other beside him then held his hands, whispering some words of comfort.

Halting in her steps the moment she entered, Rosie stared at the duo with so much pity.

"I should be on my way now David, I still have a lot to cover at work." Keller mentioned, making attempts to exit the building.

*****

The moment Rosie confirmed Meerra's condition, she made to retire for the night as her only daughter and best friend would be longing to see her home.

Standing few feet away from the door, she smiled sadly knowing she is in for another lecture from her callow daughter whose ignorance seem to be dominating her mentally and otherwise.

Before she could hit the door slightly, the door creaked open revealing a sixteen year old beautiful girl whose face suddenly brightened the moment her mother showed up.

"I knew you were the one" She screamed, stepping on her mother's body in extreme bliss.

"I've missed you" Rosie retaliated with a peck on her cheeks.

The duo waltzed into the little but graceful apartment, coming face to face with Catherine who ignored the duo as if their existence never mattered from the onset.

Rachel squinted her eyes at her before sinking into one of the cushion located in the sitting room with Susan settling down on her laps.

"Guess someone is giving me some attitude today" She said, gaining a grim look from Catherine.

"You are not on time today" Catherine released.

"My apologies. Meerra went wild today" She grimaced.

Susan's face suddenly held a scowl but Catherine's wore a worried look.

"Hope she is calm now?"

"You know if she isn't, I wouldn't have been back by now"

"Then what about me?" Susan threw, annoyed by her mother's obsession.

"I would have made time for you" She replied with a warm smile but got flabbergasted the moment Susan dashed off to her room in annoyance.

"She's just too much to bare" She exhaled painfully.

Catherine stared at her from her own end with so much going on in her mind.

"She needs you too Rosie"

"I just can't help it Catherine" She oozed out, burying her face in between her palms.

"Susan loves you beyond what you are offering. I know you have to be by Meerra's side but come to think of it, your daughter's sanity also lies in your hands"

"I wish I never made the mistake of getting pregnant for that imbecile" She cried out.

"No time for regrets now. Rosie, I need you to amount to your responsibility fully, your daughter needs you" Catherine coaxed, handing her a cup of coffee.