"Are you crazy. Why will you suggest something so outrageous?." Reina scolded Julia. "I'm not interested in something so crazy".
"Well I'm just trying to help. Half a month has already gone by. I heard that evil Mr Smith wants his full payment or you have to marry. I'm just trying to help". Julia spoke in dismay.
"Here. Take it just in sake you changed your mind" Julia gave her the business card before leaving. The two had been friends and classmates since kindergarten. However, Reina had to drop out of school to work to support her family.
Reina wanted to throw away the card but her phone ringing distracted her. She hurriedly picked it up and what the caller said almost made her collapsed. Shocked and crying, she run out of the house while making a series of calls on the way.
Central hospital.
At the emergency room, Reina and Annie's homeroom teacher stood outside anxiously awaiting any news. She was the one who called Reina earlier to inform her about Annie's condition.
Apparently, the other students had been bullying Annie, taunting her for being a weakling during the physical education class. Feeling the need to prove them otherwise, she had run across the field for several over an hour.
The strenuous exercise had caused her already fragile condition to get worse and she collapsed, fainting. They had to call the ambulance to get her.
A short while later, a worried mother Nova and Axel came rushing to the hospital.
"What happened to my baby girl". Mother Nova cried.
"The doctors are still attending to her. I don't know anything else". Reina spoke. Her face pale, eyes red from crying and her expression helpless.
"It's okay. I'm here" Axel comforted her. He hugged her tightly.
After some time, the doctor came out to tell them that Annie has to stay at the hospital because she needs surgery as soon as possible. Her condition has deteriorated and needs treatment as soon as possible.
They need a lot of money for such a surgery and they wouldn't be able to raise so much money in such a short time. It seems the Lyle family has angered the god of luck because they're plague with endless string of bad luck without catching a break.
As if things couldn't get any worse. It actually did!. Three police officers arrived at the hospital and arrested Axel with charges of robbery shocking both Reina and her mother.
" I think you're wrong. My son is not a thief. You can't arrest him. You've got the wrong person". Mother Nova cried as she struggled with the police officers. Beating them to free her son.
"Officers. My brother is not a thief. He would never steal from anybody. Axel, tell them that you're innocent." Reina cried. Despite their efforts, the police wrestled Axel away. He looked at his despairing family, and tears of helplessness fell from his eyes.
Crying, Mother Nova passed out from hysteria scaring Reina to death. She shouted for help calling the doctors to attend to her mother.
Burdened with shouldering the problems all alone, for the past two days, Reina has been shuffling between the hospital and the police station. She was on the verge of collapsing.
She needs to hire a very good lawyer for Axel because he's being charged with robbery, assault and sexual abuse. Apparently, a young man from a rich family had a fight with Axel when he defended a girl from being assaulted by him.
Now he's accusing him of stealing his valuable and assaulting him in the process. He'll use his family's influence to keep Axel behind bars.
It was late night and returning from the hospital, Reina made her way home under the summer rain with an umbrella.She looked tired and pale. A gush of strong wind forced the umbrella from her hands and blew it away. The rain was falling hard and soon she was soaking wet.
She just stood at the side of the road feeling at lost.
"Am l that easy to bully?. Why are you doing this to me?" She cried, screaming at no one.
A black car stopped by the road and a man quickly rushed out. Shivering from the cold, with arms wrapped tightly around herself, Reina trekked on persistently.
In all her adversities, she'll continue to move forward. Harry took off his coat and put it on Reina. The sudden warmth shocked her. She turned around to find a tall handsome man standing there.
She recognized him immediately. He was the prince charming who saved from the pervert. Harry saw her looking so haggard and asked," Are you okay?".
His words seems to trigger Reina who shook her head vigorously.
"I'm not okay. It's so difficult. I feel like I can't continue anymore but I can't give up. Everyone is depending on me to make things better again. What do I do?." She cried helplessly.
Her tears mixed with the rain. Harry hugged her while she cry, gently patting her on the back."It's okay. I'm here".
In a luxurious suite, Reina clad in a white robe looked at the perfectly dressed man in front of her and her cheeks turned red. She smiled sheepishly.
"I could've gone home. You.. you didn't have to bring me here."she spoke softly. Seeing her shy expression, Harry unconsciously smiled. Reina stared at him awestruck. Her heart skipped a beat.
Mesmerized, she said." Your smile is so beautiful". Harry felt very happy. "You think so?" he asked.
Reina nodded."Then I'll smile more for you. Will you like that?." Blushing, Reina smiled. The atmosphere is heated but the knock on the door interrupted them. It's room service.
A waiter walked in with a trail of delicacies. Seeing the food, Reina eyes widen with delight, she licked her lips. All her life she has never eaten such exquisite and expensive food before. She hasn't eaten a good meal in these two days and her stomach grumbled at the feast.
She covered her tummy with an embarrassed look. Finally seeing an expression befitting her age, Harry grinned. They sat down to eat. She quickly dig in with much gusto but quickly felt embarrassed upon seeing Harry's elegant table manners.
She blushed with shame as the latter stare at her eat with adoring gaze. She has met this man on two occasions only and doesn't even know his name but he has been the one to come to her aide in her time of distress.
"You stay here for the night and get some rest. My assistant will get you a new dress. I'll be leaving now".said Harry.
His eyes filled with reluctance and longing. Reina nodded and sincerely thanked him for all his help. Standing there and watching him walk towards the door, Reina called out.
"Sir?!"
He stopped. "I don't know your name?"she uttered.
"Harry. My name is Harry Zelkowicz".He replied. Reina smiled brightly as she murmurs his name. "My name is Reina Lyle. Nice to meet you". She introduced herself, stretching her hand for a handshake. Harry looked at the small and delicate hand and slowly stretched out his hand to hold hers.
"Nice to meet you too". Reina smiled sweetly at him.