Damien trudged along the streets of New Orleans, his mind in a haze. He had been out all night and was now making his way back home, exhausted and defeated. As he reached his doorstep, he could see Isabella waiting for him with a worried expression.
"Papa, have you heard from Gabby?" she asked urgently. "She went to the market yesterday but never came back. I've looked everywhere for her but no one has seen her."
Damien's heart sank as he realized what he had done. His addiction to gambling had finally caught up with him and it was now affecting those closest to him. He tried to hide his guilt but Isabella knew something was wrong.
"What happened? Do you know where she is?" she pressed on.
Finally, Damien spoke. "I'm sorry, dear. My habits have gotten me into trouble.''
Papa's Addiction
"Papa, I thought you had quit gambling," Isabella said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I tried," Damien replied with shame in his eyes.
Damien had fallen into the trap of drinking and gambling after his wife passed away. But today, this addiction had gotten him into trouble that seemed impossible to escape.
"Tell me what happened exactly? How is Gabby involved?" Isabella asked curiously.
"A few days ago, I was supposed to deliver drugs to some Mexicans at a casino downtown. They paid for the drugs, but since it's a casino, there were people playing games and having fun. I got invited to join them, and since I always won at my regular spot, I thought I could double the money for our use. Eventually, I lost it all."
"Papa, what kind of pharmacy delivers drugs at casinos?" Isabella couldn't hide her confusion.
"It's not a pharmacy; it's a hard drug empire," Damien admitted.
Isabella's heart sank as she realized how deeply her father had fallen into this dark world of addiction and illegal activities. She remembered when he promised he would never gamble again.
Damien sat there, his heart heavy with guilt and shame. Isabella's words rang in his ears like a never-ending chorus, reminding him of the mess he had created for himself and his family.
"So who owns the money and how much is it?" Isabella asked, her voice laced with worry.
"It's owned by the CEO of Gonzalez enterprise, Mr Christopher Gonzalez," Damien replied, his eyes downcast. "I have a month to pay back 2.5 million dollars and I have no idea on how I'd raise that."
"2.5 million, papa," Isabella exclaimed in anger. "Gabby would definitely die by his hands. Everybody knows never to get on the bad record of the Gonzalez family and here you are, involved in illegal activities and even had the mind to squander his money."
Damien couldn't bring himself to speak. He knew he was stupid, but hearing it from his own daughter made it all the more painful.
There was silence for a while till Isabella finally spoke again, her tone softer this time. "Papa, let's sell the house."
Immediately, Damien shook his head vehemently. "No, I'll not sell it, where would we go?"
''Back to Pensicota, grandmother's home.''
"This house is the only thing that reminds me of your mother," he whispered to Isabella, who stood beside him with her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"Mother is dead, Gabby is still alive, choose between her and the house," Isabella replied coldly, her voice cutting through Damien's thoughts like a knife.
Damien felt his heart sink as he looked at Isabella's hard expression. He loved her dearly, but this house was everything to him. It held all of his happiest memories.