The Heiress Is Back!

“You never failed to amaze me, Leah. All you create is such a masterpiece. If I were you, I would increase the payment for every piece of clothing that you’re making since the designs are all originally made by yours!” Colette, an assistant of a fashion boutique owner, praised Leah for the new collection that she made.

Leah could not help but just smile at her. She had been friends with her after she became the supplier of the boutique since she was the one who kept on assisting her and insisting that she should sell her designs higher than what she usually sold.

“You know that I just want to sell clothes for my daughter’s needs and for our daily necessities, right?” Leah responded. She handed her the stripe where the clothes were. “And one more thing, I am already content with how I am earning in this job. Luckily, what I get paid for is already more than enough for us both,” she added.

Colette pouted her lips, being problematic of how kind and good person Leah was. If it was really her who had this talent in fashion designing and sewing clothes, she would take that opportunity to get rich.

But Leah was not her. So she was left with no choice but to sigh in defeat. “Fine. Kindly say hello to your Phoebe for me,” she said.

Leah smiled at her as she nodded her head. “Will do. Thank you again, Colette. But I need to go now. I still need to cook for my daughter,” she bid her goodbye.

She left the boutique with a wide smile on her face. She would not need to think about the payment for Phoebe’s tuition fee for this semester now since she managed to sell enough this week.

She roamed her eyes around the road. Seeing the greenery around her also calmed her mind. She could not believe that she managed to live and support Phoebe all these years.

It had already been eighteen years since she ran away from the Thompon’s mansion. She went to a remote place where nobody knew her. She never planned to return Phoebe to her real parents. She was hers now. Even if she knew that she was not biologically related to her, she still treated her well, like her own child.

Phoebe became the light of her life since Lily died. That was why she was doing everything that she could to provide anything that Phoebe would ask for.

Phoebe once asked about her father’s whereabouts. But Leah lied to her. She told her that her father already died before she was born in a place that she did not want to return to.

“Mom, I’m home! Are you there?”

Leah’s lips automatically curved upward after she heard her daughter’s beautiful voice. She just arrived at the right time. She just finished cooking dinner. “I’m in the kitchen, honey,” she shouted in response.

“Coming!” Phoebe cheerfully responded.

A few moments later, Phoebe entered the kitchen. She immediately went behind her mother’s back and hugged her from behind. “Hmm. That smells delicious, mom,” she commented.

Leah chuckled as she turned off the stove and faced Phoebe. She narrowed her eyes at her, but the curve on her lips was irremovable. “Hmp! You’re just fooling me!” she accused her jokingly.

Phoebe laughed at her mother’s childishness. “Of course, not, mom! When did I fool you?” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at her as she pouted her lips. “Your dishes are the bestest in the world!” she continued.

“Really?” Leah narrowed her eyes more.

“Yes! I promise!” Phoebe exclaimed, then raised her right palm.

Leah surrendered and reached for her daughter’s hair and messed it up. “You go and change your clothes first. I’ll prepare the dinner,” she said.

Phoebe saluted. “Aye, aye, captain!” Then she ran to her room.

Leah was left there, shaking her head.

Her Phoebe was undeniably the sweetest.

***

Phoebe, who just got out of her room, wearing her school uniform, carrying her backpack, gazed at her mother, coughing hard while sewing clothes. Worry started to fill her heart. She rushed towards her mom and knelt down the floor to level with her face.

“Phoebe…” Leah stopped from what she was doing and faced her daughter. There was a knot that was visible on her forehead. “What are you doing there? Stand up,” she instructed her.

But instead of following what her mom said, Phoebe remained kneeling on the floor and held her mother’s hands. “Mom, you’ve not been feeling well these past few days. You kept on hiding it, but I still noticed it. Why don’t we go for a check-up? I’ll go with you,” she tried to convince her.

Leah smiled genuinely at her worried daughter. She felt so lucky having Phoebe by her side. “I’m fine, Phoebe. I already took medicine. You must go to school before you get late,” she responded while tapping her shoulder.

Phoebe shook her head. “But, mom–”

“Sshh.” Leah cupped her face. “I’m fine, honey. I can handle this. This is just a normal cough. And also, didn’t you tell me that you still have a quiz today?” she reminded her.

“Oh, shoot!” Phoebe facepalmed when she remembered that. She looked at her mom apologetically. “I’m so sorry, mom. But I promise to get home early so I can accompany you to the hospital. I promise!” she exclaimed, almost rapping.

Leah nodded her head. “Sure. I’ll wait for you here. Good luck on your quiz, Phoebe. I love you.”

“I love you, too, mom.” She even kissed her mother goodbye before she ran outside their house.

Leah let out the cough that she was suppressing after Phoebe left. She felt her chest aching because of too much coughing. It was like there was something piercing her chest.

It was true that she had been feeling unwell these past few days. And she was trying her best to hide it from her daughter because she did not want her to worry and just focus on her studies. And each day that was passing, her illness was getting worse.

Maybe, Phoebe was right.

She needed a check-up.

So she finished sewing the last piece of clothes that she started to sew, then she prepared and went to the hospital.

“This will be hard to hear, but Ms. Leah, I’m sorry to let you know, but you have stage 4 lung cancer,” the doctor announced after reading the findings.

Leah was dumbfounded at what she just heard.

Did she hear it right?

She had lung cancer?

And it was already on the terminal stage?

“Oh my God!” She covered her mouth using her palms as she gasped. Tears fell down from her eyes upon processing the information.

The doctor looked at her with pity.

She still looked young yet fate was already on the verge of taking her life.

“H-How long do I-I still have?” Leah managed to ask despite breaking down.

The doctor pressed his lips in a thin line before answering. “Two to three months.”

If only she was not sitting on a chair, Leah probably fell down the floor as she felt her knees turn jelly.

Where did it went wrong?

Why did she got the disease that killed her first daughter?

Was this her karma for taking Phoebe away from her real parents?

Leah could not stop crying even when she already got home. She did not know what to do now. Sadness and fear filled her heart. But not for herself, but for her daughter, Phoebe.

She did not want to leave Phoebe this early. She had still not finished her studies. And also, who would take care of her and provide for her needs when she passed away?

Leah massaged her temple because it was already aching for many thoughts that were running in her mind right now.

“Are you okay, mom? I’m sorry that I went home late. We had a practice for our school project after our class dismissal,” Phoebe apologized when she noticed her mother staring at her while they were having dinner. She was thinking that maybe her mother was sulking at her for not fulfilling her promise this morning.

But Leah just smiled at her. Her eyes turned glassy as she reached for her hands. “You’ve grown into a beautiful young lady, Phoebe. I love you so much. Always remember that,” she said in a broken voice.

Phoebe’s eyes furrowed. “Is everything alright, mom? Is there something that happened while I was at school?” She could not help but to worry.

Leah coughed once more as she shook her head. “No. I just realized how fast the years are passing by,” she lied.

Not believing what her mother was saying, Phoebe stood up from her seat and went to hug her mother from behind.

Leah closed her eyes to savor her daughter’s hug.

She would miss this feeling. She would miss everything about Phoebe.

Phoebe sighed. “If you have a problem, mom, please tell me. I am always here for you. You don’t need to own every problem that comes in our family,” she whispered to her.

Leah caressed her arms as she nodded her head.

Tonight, Leah had already made her decision. She would do the right thing to do now.

She would return Phoebe to her real parents, to the place where she really belonged.