Mia's POV:
"Mmmmm..." I winced and took a deep breath.
I tried opening my eyes and blinked several times before getting accustomed to the blinding lights.
"You are finally awake!" I heard Mrs Green's voice and looked towards the door.
She came beside me smiling and wiping her tears. I gave her a confused look. What is going on here?
I looked around and realised that I was in a bed and not in that basement room anymore. The room is neat with a black theme. I guess too black which gives me a weird feeling like it doesn't have a soul. But the bed is soft, like a really expensive kind of soft. Even my bed was not this soft. Yes, I had a good room and bed back at my dad's place and that was only because it came with the house, no, let me correct myself, mansion.
My dad really is rich but why am I in this rich room and expensive bed?? I remember really well that I slept in that dusty room.
"Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Mrs Green asked me bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Where am I?" I asked and tried to get up.
"Let me help you sit." She said and help me sit placing pillows in the back.
I took a deep breath. My nose feels itchy and my chest feels heavy but I feel fine. I rubbed my nose and sneezed.
"Are you still feeling unwell? Do you have pain anywhere?" She asked concerned.
"I am ok. Where am I? Did something happen?" I asked her still confused.
"You had an allergy reaction. It was really severe! If you were not found I don't know what could have..." She started crying unable to finish her sentence.
"Hey...I am ok. I am fine. Please don't cry." I said holding her hand.
She really is such a sweet person. And she cares a lot about everyone even me, who is hated by her employer. She wiped her tears and smiled.
"I am glad and relieved that you are fine. But I am angry at you." She said looking away.
"Why? What did I do?" I asked worried. Did she get in trouble because of me?
"Why didn't you tell me about this before? Why didn't you mention that you are allergic to dust to this extent? Why did you hide such an important thing from me when you were living in that death room?" She asked me looking hurt.
"I...l am sorry. I thought...l mean he hates me so...l..." I struggled to reply to her. How can I say I didn't trust her, that I thought she will tell about this to Bryan and that I will get in more trouble and torture. I can't say this to her. She will be so hurt. I am so ashamed of myself for doubting her. God! Why did I do that? She is so hurt now! She is crying because of me! I made her worry so much! Tears brimmed my eyes.
"Hey! It's okay! I get it!" She said noticing my tears and hugged me, patting my back.
"You didn't answer my question, honey? Are you feeling ok? Should I call for a doctor?" She asked looking at my pale face.
"No. You don't need to trouble yourself. I am fine." I said shaking my head.
"That's good. Then, I will bring you something to eat so that you can take your medicine. You must be hungry too, you haven't eaten anything yet." She said smiling.
"I will also come with you. I can't stay in this room." I said looking around.
"Why? You can stay! You have to stay here until you get better, you hear me?" She said in a strict voice.
I nodded my head smiling. She smiled back and kissed my head before leaving. Mrs Green is just like my mother.
She used to do the same thing whenever I got sick. She used to stay by my side the whole time, bring me food, feed me, take care of me, shower me with extra love. I miss her so much! I bet if she was still alive, she would never have let dad do this to me. She used to fight with dad for us. Even dad was much more calm that time, he cared about money but cared about us too. He used to at least send a good doctor even if didn't come to see me when I was sick.
But he changed so much when mom died, he stopped even caring about us. He doesn't care if we live or die. But I guess he didn't care about mom too. I mean he cared but didn't care. She was depressed and he turned his back to her. He did get her the best doctors and everything but never gave her his time. I don't even know anymore, did he love mom or not? He didn't come to her funeral!
But I still can't hate him, he was not like this before and I know that.
He was so caring, so loving... how I wish to go back to those days when we were together and happy.
"Mia!" I heard Mrs Green's voice and looked at her. She was sitting beside me holding my hands.
"Are you hurting anywhere?" She asked me panicking. I shook my head in a no.
"Then why are you crying?" She asked still panicking.
I couldn't control myself and hugged her sobbing.
"Have you calmed down now?"
She asked after a while. I nodded my head in a yes.
"Here, drink water." She handed me a glass of water. I took a few sips relaxing myself.
"What happened?" She asked me cautiously.
I shook my head. I don't want to talk about it, not right now.
"I get it. Eat something, please." She said and tried to feed me a piece of apple. I took a bite and she smiled relieved.
"Just one more bite. I promise this will be the last one." She said feeding me an omelette.
"Good girl! Now, time for your medicine." She said giving me tablets.
" You have to take them to get better." She said when I made a face. I sighed and took them.
"Now, rest. I will check up on later." She said smiling.
"Ummm...Mrs Green?" I called out to her. She turned back to look at me.
"Is Bryan at home?" I asked her.
"Do you need him? I mean to say that do you have anything important to talk to him?" She asked hesitating.
"No. Actually, I was thinking... maybe I can borrow your phone, I just need to make one phone call.
Just one!" I said sounding desperate. She hesitated.
"I just want to talk to my brother. I haven't talked to him since I came here. He must be really worried about me. You see...l used to talk to him daily. I promise I won't call anyone else, not even my dad, never! I promise! Just one phone call! Please!" I begged her.
She sighed and nodded her head, She took out her phone and handed it to me.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I said with tears in my eyes.
"You talk to him, I will be waiting outside. Just call me out when you are done." She said and left the room.
I hurriedly dialled his number. It's a good thing that I remember his number and his friend's number and his dorm mate's number. I had to! I mean I made such a difficult plan about running away from dad so l need to be well prepared all the time.
Ring... He picked up on the first ring.
"Hello! Who is it?" He asked.
"Liam..." I whispered.
"Mia!! Is that you, Mia?!!! Mia!!" He shouted in the phone.
"Hey man! Are you ok?" I heard his friend's voice in the background.
"Leave me alone for a while, please." He replied to his friend.
"Mia! Answer me! Hello!" He said almost crying.
"Liam! It's me." I said tears rolling down my cheeks.
"How are you? Where are you?
Why didn't you call me? You know how worried I was! Are you ok?" He asked. I can hear the panic in his voice. He broke down because of me.
"Liam, I am fine. I really am. I was just sick that's why I couldn't call you before." I lied.
"Tell me the truth! Are you really fine? Did he do anything to you?! I swear I will.." He said fuming.
"Hey...calm down. I am fine. He didn't do anything to me. I was just sick but now I am all better." I lied again.
"Thank god! I thought something happened to you... I was so worried!" He said relieved.
"Liam, listen to me...I won't be able to call you from now and I think it will be better if we don't talk much.
You know... what if he gets suspicious of us. So..." I tried to make an excuse.
"Something happened, right? I know something happened otherwise you would never say this. What happened? Please don't lie to me." He begged me.
I held my sob by putting my hand on my mouth. I took a deep breath to calm myself down.
"Nothing happened. I just want to be extra cautious with things now.
You know I started my second job and dad doesn't know about it, I just don't want him to get suspicious of me about this. If he suspects anything then it will be over for us, you know that too, don't you?" I said convincing him.
"I get it but..." He said sounding desperate.
I bet he was really worried about me. He must be thinking of coming back home or even calling dad to know about me. I know him too well. He must have thought that there is a possibility that I ran away so he waited patiently for me to contact him. He is my brother, and I am glad to have him in my life. I can do anything for him! Really anything!
"Please, Liam. We have to escape from him and all these things are trivial matters compared to our goal." I said.
"... get it." He said and sighed.
"Liam, I want you to promise me that you will study well for me. Can you do that?" I asked him.
"I can do anything for you and you know that. I will study well so that we can run away from here and after that, I will be the one taking care of you." He said holding back tears.
"I will be waiting for that." I said smiling as more tears roll down.
"I have to go now. Liam, please take care of yourself for me." I said.
"You don't need to worry about me. Just take care of yourself. You are living with that devil. Call me if there is anything, please. I am not a kid anymore so please rely on me, Mia." He begged.
"I got it, big boy." I said chuckling.
"I am serious. Please call me if you are in trouble." He said in a serious tone.
"Ok, I will. Take care of yourself. Bye, Liam!" I said.
"Bye, Mia." He said as I hung up the call.
"Mrs Green!" I called out and she came inside the room.
"Are you done?" She asked me.
"Yes. Thank you so much! I owe you for this!" I said giving back her phone.
"Don't be so formal." She said.
"Can I ask you something?" She said and I nodded my head.
"Your brother doesn't know you are here?" She asked. I shook my head in a no.
"Why did your father do this?! mean..." She hesitated.
"For the money." I shrugged my shoulders.
"But...doesn't he already has a lot of money?" She asked confused.
"Ummm...actually, I kind of feel really tired. So, can I..." I said looking down.
"Oh...Of course! I am so stupid!
You should rest!" She said and hurried out of the room.
I can't tell her about my dad, what if she tells him. I am not suspecting her in the wrong way. But what if she wants to help me and so she tells Bryan and then he uses this against my dad. The second most thing my dad loves after money is his reputation. And if this gets out then he will know it was me who disclosed it. I am far away from him but Liam is not. I can't risk Liam's life or his future.
I only want Liam to have a better tomorrow.
I cried just thinking how worried my little brother was. I always made sure he was well protected and now I made him worry so much. It's all dad's fault! Why is this happening?!! More tears rolled down my eyes.