As Malcolm left, Joanna looked at Travis in disbelief. "Why did you do that, Travis? You think we can afford any pride at the moment?"
Travis was silent for a moment as he was in deep thought. He dropped the confectionery box he was holding onto the table and he answered in a low voice, "I'm going to borrow money."
"You're going to borrow money? Who do you even know? Where on earth are you going to get it, Travis?! The only person we have right now who happens to be our only hope is Director Baker!" She bawled out resentfully.
Madame Alice looked at her daughter and sighed since she could tell her daughter was slowly regretting her relationship with Travis. The illness of their child is opening the blinds Travis used to cover her eyes.
But it's too late. Old lady Elizabeth will not accept them ever again. Except there's a miracle. The only way out is to make her divorce Travis and find someone perfect for her. Perhaps when that happens, Old lady, Elizabeth will see reasons to accept them back with open arms.
"I'll find the money, Joanna," Travis assured. He shook his head in annoyance and walked out through the corridor.
Being poor didn't stop him from losing friends. Although he decided to cut ties with some of them but he can find his way back even though it will be embarrassing.
"Travis!" Joanna's voice rang out from behind him. "Travis, don't make me hate you!" She yelled in anger and with a strained voice.
Travis ignored and sped up his footsteps.
As Joanna watched Travis disappear from her sight, all the strength drained from her body and she slumped down, her heart so wretched that it felt like dying embers.
She regretted it!
She regretted her impulsiveness in the past! She regretted how she was ready to go through hell and high water for him! She regretted turning her back on her family and wealth just to marry him and subject her life to this!
Madame Alice could only shake her head at her.
Travis walked out of the hospital. His eyes were red in anger.
Money! Money! Money!
Everything because of money!
Money wasn't everything to him but now he's desperate for it.
He found a place to sit down, looking completely lost in deep thought. He was thinking of how he would go around to look for money, or speak with his friends for help. Friends that he left.
He's gonna have to choose between going back to his family or begging his friends.
But could he beg forever?
They haven't even been able to find a bone marrow for his daughter.
With the way things are going, he really needs to let go of his pride.
So he pulled out his phone and dialed an unregistered number.
"It's me," Travis answered in his deep and cold voice.
"Oh! It's little master!!"
"Don't call me little! Don't call me young! Call me master!" Travis shunned.
The old man over the phone chuckled. "Of course. You're not a kid anymore, Master Travis. Wait…does this mean you've thought it through and you're going back with me?"
"I can't go back." Travis bluntly refused. "Uncle Fred, I'm calling you regarding a different matter. Can you lend me five hundred thousand dollars privately? It's urgent."
"I understand you might not be cognizant of this but everything under my name belongs to the Danforth family. You can take my decrepit life and turn it upside down and I wouldn't breathe a word of objection but you won't find that amount with me." And the old man chuckled before continuing, "But only on the grounds that you sign the contract of succession. That's the only way for you to receive the money."
"Can't it be later? I need that money as soon as possible." Travis insisted. He knew he would have no choice in signing the contract even though he didn't want to have any relationship with his family. This was for his daughter. Not just for her illness but for her future too.
"Unfortunately, I can't allow that. The old master said Master can only use the family's resources only when he had signed the succession contract." The old man adamantly said.
Travis gritted his teeth in annoyance. "So there's no room for negotiation?"
He heard the old man sigh. "I'm sorry, Master."
Travis took a deep breath and looked up at the blue sky, the hint of a self-deprecating sneer on his lips.
It was now or never.
He has to give in! For his daughter, yes!
"Fine, I'll sign it!" Travis finally said. "Where are you now?"
"Golden Tower. May I know where you are so I can get someone to pick you up?" The old man inquired.
Travis shook his head. "No need for that. I'll be there." He said and hung up.
He sighed in frustration at how f**king ironic life can be.
To him, he felt like there was a river of blood between his father and him. A river he promised himself he was never gonna cross.
But now, he's about to cross that river like a coward. So friggin 'annoying!
He stood up, hailed a taxi, and en route to Golden Tower.
Upon arrival, he stepped out of the taxi only to come in contact with Joanna's cousin, Alison, and her once-upon-a-time bitch of a secretary who betrayed her, Sandra. They were both coming out of the entrance of the building.
He wanted to ignore them and walk past them but they were not gonna let him slip by.
"I've been unlucky for the second time today. It's that son of a bitch, Travis Danforth!" Alison spat out and stopped in front of him.
Sandra sneered mockingly at him.
Travis equally stopped since she blocked his path and he sighed before saying, "I think it's best for us to mind our business, Alison! Go your way and I'll go mine."
"And where do you think you're going? Don't you know whose land you're standing on?! This is Golden Tower, son of a bitch! Even the red carpet before their doors is worth more than your useless life!" She ridiculed him coldly.
Travis knew he was gonna have to say something. He even wondered if they didn't know their daughter is going through a crisis. "I'm here to borrow money." He answered.
"Ah!" Alison gasped, putting her hands over her mouth. She dropped them down, and looked at him with resentment. "You have guts, Travis! Who are you to come here to borrow money?! God, you always think too highly of yourself!"
Travis stared at her in anger.
Alison Bloom. The manager of one of Bloom's construction subsidiaries that are located in the City North. The position she stole from Joanna after doing all it takes to make her grandmother seize the position from Joanna.
The secretary, Sandra reported that Joanna was no longer doing her work. She was taking money from the company to give to him. And it was obvious it was planned by her and Alison because after Joanna's family was banished, Alison took over with Sandra as a partner in crime.
Alison was there since lately, they've been discussing a huge business deal with Danforth Group; Anyone who acquires it could get a lot of commission from their grandmother.
But it didn't work out well for Alison. She was even barred from entering the doors of Golden Tower after the stunt she pulled with Sandra and this made her furious.
And since she was not in a good mood, it was natural for her to take it all out on Travis since she had to bump into him.
"Nothing changed at all, Lady Alison. He's still looking like a migrant worker." Sharon insulted him while looking at him in disgust.
Alison nodded. "Of course. This man has no sense of responsibility. But anyway, it worked out well for us when Joanna left with him. Good riddance!"
Travis didn't have time to waste so he walked, but he wasn't able to go far when Alison held his hand and made him stop. "Where the hell do you think you're going?! It seems you haven't had a big lesson to learn in life!"
Travis pushed her hand off him and answered, "I'm going to meet Manager Frederick Marshall."
Their jaw dropped in surprise.