“It’s not his fault if he didn’t love me the way I loved him,” When Simione said the words, her soul felt thin. Something sparkled within her, like some match had been lit and she enjoyed the flame for a little while before it became ashes. There was a time when she loved  a man and thought love was a journey without an ending. However, in the middle of somewhere, a storm came and  she was left behind, alone in the cold and rain.

“Sisi—” 

​​

“It’s okay grandfather, it’s been a long time already,” She smiled bitterly at the old man. He knew how Sisi and Lyndon used to be lovers and although how much the Tang elders approved of their relationship, it did not end well. 

They all thought that when the time would come, Simione could officially become part of their family as their grandson’s wife but their hopes faltered when the two broke up and decided to separate ways. That was the same time that Simione left the Tang’s mansion and although that household brought her one of her greatest heartaches, she looks back and remembers them as the only family she knew. Now that a certain tragedy befell them, she can’t just turn her back on them.

“The pain had long been gone,” Simione added but her words were full of lies. The pain never left and she doesn’t know if it ever will. Lyndon was her first love and she had loved him so deeply that when they broke up, she had been lost for a while. She had a hard childhood and during those times of despair, Lyndon had been her sunshine. He was her great defender, her superhero, her best friend and the man, apart from her father who had cared and loved her. She had known no love then aside from him and so growing up, her world revolved around him. 

When they broke up, Simione’s world fell apart and yet she had no choice but to let him go. She decided to leave the Tang’s mansion to avoid any more complications with the Tangs and also to give herself some chance to move on. Yet, after so many years that passed, the moving on didn’t happen. Until then, Simione was hurt but like she had previously, she had no choice but to bear the pain and longing alone.

“I’m now okay grandfather. Lyndon and I had long been okay,” The girl assured the old man. 

Grandfather William held a deep sigh and tapped Simione’s head. “You are a good girl. Sisi. You always were and you always have been. We the Tangs were so honored to have kept you in our home and we could just wish to keep you as ours forever but you have dreams and a life of your own now,”

“Taking care of me until I can already fend for myself was the greatest thing you had ever done for me,  grandfather. I will never forget Tang’s kindness,” Simione, no matter what, will always be thankful of the Tangs. She owed them her life, if not for them she would never have survived the streets and all the cruelty of the world.

Soon, Simione bid her grandfather goodbye and left the prison. Away from grandfather’s presence, she thought of many ways to fix their predicament. The lawyer went missing in action again and as much as she wanted to go and confront him, she knew he would just make excuses. This was always the problem when you have public lawyers as defenders, their services were all voluntary and they have so many clients on a daily basis so there was a high chance the reason why he wasn’t able to come to grandfather William’s court hearing was because he was busy with all the others. 

Right then, the only available option for her was to hire a private lawyer, someone who has all the time and expertise to help her. The problem was, the Tang’s don’t have much resources now and they can’t afford to hire a private lawyer. Usually, private lawyers come with great salaries, which was what Simione was worried about. Although her salary in the firm as a secretary was big enough to sustain grandfather’s case, she can’t keep up with all the extras fees, especially that she was also the one paying for Lyncon’s medical fees and the expenses in the Tang’s mansion.

Simione closed her eyes frustratedly as her thoughts were full with nothing but money. If only she was rich enough like Hawk Monsanto, she wouldn’t have to deal with all these difficulties. However, unlike those lucky people called elites, she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Or probably she does, but all the silvers she was born with were stolen and left her with nothing. 

“What am I going to do? Should I call Lucy?” Simione’s brain cornes were exchanging ideas about how to solve her recent predicament. Lucy’s name of course emerged in her mind constantly but she was already too ashamed to ask Lucy anything, especially that it was for the Tangs. Besides, Lucy had already helped her too many times and she had so much debt with her already plus the fact that she was until then living under the singer’s house. All was just to much she can’t drag Lucy to this matter anymore, h however at that time, she basically don’t have a choice,”

“Yes Sisi?” Lucy’s sounded sweet at the other end. “You need something?”

It was obvious from all the background she heard that the singer was busy, probably with another photoshoot but since she had already managed to disturbed her, she pushed on her business with the singer.

“Lucy…” Her voice was shaking and was full of hesitation. “Lucy I don’t really know how to tell you this but…”

“I know, I know. Its grandfather William’s case,” Lucy hollered at the other end. “I’ve seen it in the news. He had already been stood up by his lawyers before, this is the third time,”

“Yes. I don’t think I have any other options left. Lawyer Tsu was the last lawyer I know, I…I don’t know anyone anymore that I can convince to help grandfather,” Simione explained. The previous lawyers grandfather William had were all acquaintances of Simione and it was she who begged them to help the old man. However, both of those lawyers promised that they would help but ended up being absent from the court hearing, never to be seen again.

“Sisi I had already told you before. You can’t keep relying on public defenders. They wouldn’t take his case seriously since it was a case of embezzlement,” Lucy emphasized. “I don’t understand why you haven’t gotten a private lawyer by now. I already told you to get one,”

“Lucy you know I couldn’t afford their fees,” Simione replied pitifully. What Lucy said was true, she had once told her to get a private lawyer but because of financial difficulties, she relied on the attorney’s she knew that would help her more than those she can pay if she had good money.

“I already offered to pay for his lawyer,” Lucy brought up her past offers to Simione which the latter declined.  “Yet you continually declines me,”

“Lucy you are a celebrity, if people know you have been helping a man they thought was a people’s money thief, your career will have a blow. This is the reason why I really don’t want you to be dragged onto this. Just please… Can you let me borrow some money to pay for a private lawyer? I promised to pay it as soon as I can. I really am so sorry Lucy, I’ve already asked too many things from you,”

“Simione, why are you borrowing money?” Lucy’s brow raised at the other end. “As if you don’t have money,”

“I sure don’t have any money. You are very aware of that Lucy,” She answered and thought that perhaps Lucy was already tired of all her misfortunes that’s why she chose not to answer. “If I do have anything big, I won’t be here calling you,”

“But you have some money, Simione,” She heard Lucy chuckled, the kind of small she does when trying to annoy anyone. “Or did you forget you have money?”

“What are you even talking about?  Lucy you know very well how  broke I am right now,” Simione refused Lucy’s statement. She was very aware how naughty and evil Lucilla can be at times and she was afraid she was pranking her.

“But Simione, did you forget? You just earned twenty million last night,” Lucy tried to bring her memory back to when she danced raw and seductively in front of many men to draw Hawk Monsanto’s attention. The latter paid Lucy and she forwarded the money to Sisi’ bank account.

“What?” SImione’s shock and relief came to her face at once. She was shocked Hawk Monsanto did pay twenty million for her company and couldn’t believe that she became a millionaire in just a span of one night. She barely even gave her audience a full dance performance as Lucy turned off the music before it hit the climax.