Chapter 45 - Chapter 44

CHAPTER 44 A HOME?

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(CLAIRE)

I couldn't remember how stricken I was when I heard brother will have to undergo a surgery. The entirety of the fees had been miraculously settled and Dexter has been moved in to private room after the operation.  

And few days later, a lawyer came to our house to give us a notarized deed and a certificate of title for a fully furnished house and land property named to my father. Suspiciously enough, a demolition in the slums took place and forced us to move there.  

In just a day, we owned a house that we didn't work for to have. We didn't deserve something like that and I was anxiously worried that a huge price is waiting to be reaped from me in return.

The house was gigantic and my family marveled at the sight as they entered the mansion. Amy and Nadine hurriedly wandered around to pick their own rooms while I walked slowly in full curiosity.  

"The left room is mine," Amy declared.

Everything that you could ever wish for a house is in there. The drawing room was spacious and a kitchen greeted at the side of an arched entryway.

A wide and elaborate staircase led to several more rooms at the second floor. The ceiling was high with an ornate chandelier that hung beautifully on its center and accentuated its ash mauve paint.  

"This must be your room Clarita," Nadine called out from nowhere. I turned around and felt lost at the immenseness of that place.

"How sweet of your suitor to place your name at the door!"

I followed and stood agape at what I saw. My name was inscribed in a small golden sign at the heart of the door.

My eyes almost fell out when I opened it. The room was thrice in size of what was previously mine. The bed was too large to fit my whole family on it. A tall bay window stood at the side to offer a lavish view of treetops. It also has its own bathroom with a Jacuzzi to add.  

But all of it frightened me. All the repercussions I had to pay back must be as surprising as all the things I had accepted.

Derick.  

Derick must be behind all of these.

Noticing Ma and Pa's absence, I turned to Amy.

"Where's mom?"

"Oh," Amy smiled for the first time I had seen her since she became estranged to everyone.

"Several specialists went to the temporary relocation site and took dad to the grandest hospital ever…the Zel Cantheliz Hospital!"

I was surprised.

"Why would they do that?"

"Father was lucky enough to be a beneficiary of the Hope Charity project for the poor," she narrated as she gently caressed her stomach that was yet to show the evidence of her pregnancy.

"I…and my baby were beneficiaries as well. I can't wait to get there someday."

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