Chapter one

FIFTEEN YEARS EARLIER

 Careful with that coffee mug you darn one eyed idiot!!! Lincoln lashed out at the poor old man struggling to see with his one working eye with the coffee mug in his shaky grip.

     Old servants never useful" Lincoln said adjusting himself on his expensive vintage sofa turning his attention back to his guest George Finley Orchard square town's popular woodcutter. So what brings orchard square's most famous woodcutter to my wonderful abode" Lincoln asked with every hint of pride and arrogance evident in each word.

   George wasn't a man who would bring himself to such an arrogant unmerciful devil like Lincoln but his present situation was way worst than his self esteem. He sigh before clearing his throat to speak " I'm in dire need of money" he said with sadness enveloping his once irritated expression.

    Lincoln burst into hard laughter which echoed through the twenty two rooms of his mansion." Money...Money.... Money" he kept repeating like it was a sweet song stuck in his head.

   George was beginning to feel embarrassed and disrespected Lincoln was hurting his self esteem badly, but George love for his wife Gloria Finley surpasses any insult. " I would have never expected a man such as you to ever approach me for something as easy to earn as money" Lincoln said still trying to stop laughing." As easy to earn for an evil cunning devil like you" George muttered beneath his breath.

   "So why do you need money and how much do you need" Lincoln asked with a half serious expression on his face and a half curious expression.  Well my wife Gloria Finley was diagnosed with heart issue, the doctors said it would cost us ten thousand pounds to start with the surgery" George replied almost crying on the spot.

    "Oh now I see what a shame! Lincoln said with very little tone of pity in his speech, " I will lend you ten thousand pounds but the repaying comes with an interest I doubt yours and yours and your grandparents net worth would never reach" Lincoln said indirectly insulting George and at the same time saying the painful truth of the Finley's financial life.

   "I will do anything to pay you back I promise I will sell everything I have I promise to pay you please sir Lincoln my wife life is at risk" George pleaded with tears rolling down his cheek thinking Lincoln was about to refuse giving him the money due to his financial ability. "Relax you! I didn't say I wouldn't give paying is not the issue I will always get my money even if it means...." Lincoln stop his statement abruptly sending horror chills down George's spines.

   " How many houses and land do you have " Lincoln asked staring at George with a funny expression " was that a trick question" George thought before replying just one which the house is built on. Lincoln nodded In return smiling as he open his lips to ask another question.

  " How many kids and their age" he asked with a disgusting expression on his face he was thinking of something bad George was sure of that." Three daughters Rosie is six ivy is four and Bree is two" George replied staring at Lincoln expression which immediately changed to disappointment after hearing the age of the little girls.

   "Hmm can this work " Lincoln said out loud enough for George to hear. George was about to go on another pleading spree when Lincoln immediately spoke " I'll give you the money but if you don't pay you lose everything " Lincoln warned George with a smirk on his face " even your daughters"  he said sounding like the true cruel business man he was.

   George thought deeply for a moment . His eye remained fixated at Lincoln unmoving eye, Lincoln was playing a nice game here either way George would lose if his wife survive and he couldn't  pay he loses his daughter and if his wife dies and he still can't pay he still loses his daughter.

   "She will survive and I will pay" George assured himself putting in his faith in his gut feeling and assumptions on how he would work day and night to meet up with the payment .  Yes! George replied finally letting Lincoln blink.

  Lincoln laughed again his took a sip of his coffee watching George sweat all the liquid in his body out. And it is done meet my secretary she'll give it to your payment starts in a month" Lincoln told him with a serious tone before bursting into laugh again.

   Thank you so much" Gorge told Lincoln clearly happy he now had a chance to save his dieing wife. He hurriedly left the room beaming with joy as he dash down the stairs bumping into the old man who looked so tired and weak on his way.

   The secretary gave him ten thousand pounds in an envelope and for a spilt second George knew how wealth felt  holding that amount of money with him, but the feeling soon disappear when he remembered the money was only going to be with him till noon.

   He dashed home straight buying candy and ice cream for the girls. Wasting no time he showered at home then head straight for the hospital to pay the bills.

   The doctors office was a neat one with file shelf's arranged nicely at the corner with a huge framed picture of the doctor a forty year old man with neat stubble and handsome smile.

   Hi Mr Finley I see you are smiling you got the money right guess my advice payed off" Dr James said welcoming George into his office. " Yes I did " George replied slamming the envelope on the table happily smiling with every muscle he had.

   The surgery will commence immediately" Dr James told him writing down something in a paper.  Doctor will she be fine will the surgery go well " George asked staring at the doctor hoping for a positive reply .

  No one prays for a bad surgery " Dr James replied leaving George in confusion if that was a yes or no.

  George dashed out to deposit the money , his wife was in a special room so he couldn't see her ,he Wasn't worried he couldn't see her one last time before the surgery since  he was sure he would see her after.

   George waited all night for the doctors to come out of the surgery room , immediately he spotted Dr James exiting the ICU pulling off his gloves he blocked Dr James bombarding him with question asking if his wife was ok.

   He was smiling but Dr James wasn't the doctor looked like he would soon break down " what happened Dr James is my wife fine" George asked tears building up in his eye.

   The words the doctor uttered shattered George's miserable poor life .

  ". We lost her " Dr James  replied watching George break down like a little baby in the hospital.

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