Cristina had anaemia for a very long time.
It often made her feel lightheaded and dizzy.
And the sudden announcement of her precious daughter’s wedding with that Adrian Lawrence had her completely lose her control over her body.
Adrian Lawrence.
Eldest son and heir to the Lawrence group, his father Louis Lawrence’s company.
He was rumoured to be a blind, handicapped man who cannot even take care of himself.
But he was also rumoured to be ruthless and dictatorial to his company members.
Just like Arnold Ravenwood.
And that is why Cristina fainted.
She couldn’t accept that her precious flower was going to get defiled by that brute.
That monster.
Kevin and Juliette were waiting with fear and anxiety, sitting beside admitted Cristina’s bedside.
She was admitted to a VIP room in the hospital.
The doctor entered looking grim and said, “Her iron levels are too low.
I think it’s best that we proceed with blood donation.
Which one of you has blood type A positive?”
Juliette sprang up and said, “Me, doctor.
Please take my blood.
It’s all my fault that she is in this state.
Please take my blood.”
“Hmm.
We’ll check for compatibility and then proceed with the donation,” the doctor said and left.
The nurse came in and took out a lancet.
She took some droplets of blood in a test tube and left.
Juliette held her mother’s hand and said to Kevin, “I can’t marry a man like, daddy.
Not just because of the rumours, but also because of mumma’s health.
I can’t.”
She broke into sobs.
Kevin brushed her hair and said, “I’ll make sure that something can be done.
Don’t worry.
I’ll be your shield.”
Forty-five minutes later, the doctor rushed into the room and said, “Miss Juliette.
Your blood.
Are you sure you are A positive and not A negative?”
“What do you mean, doctor?
Juliette was marked as A positive at birth.
That’s what we know since her birth.
That’s what we have marked her in every medical form.” Kevin stood defensively.
“We just did a test…
and we would like another one, sir.
I think, your daughter has a different blood group,” the doctor tried to negotiate.
“What do you mean…” Kevin was about to raise his voice against the doctor, when Juliette touched her father’s arm and said, “Please do the test, doctor.
Also, do a DNA test.”
“Juliette!” Kevin was surprised.
“What do you mean by DNA test?
You are our daughter, alright?”
“But that’s what grandpa doesn’t believe.
Maybe that’s why he finds it fine to make me marry that handicapped person.
Otherwise, why would he be choosing me?
He could make Third Aunt’s daughter marry him.
Her daughter is eligible ’cause she too shares the same surname,” Juliette said.
“Daddy, I want to prove to Grandpa that I am his granddaughter.
He always showers so much love to cousins but hardly talks to me.” Juliette teared up again.
Kevin’s heart melted, and he said, “Ok, fine.
Doctor, find a suitable blood donation for my wife and get my daughter’s tests done as soon as possible.”
“Ok, sir.
Miss Juliette, please follow me.” The doctor bowed and showed the way to Juliette to the testing room.
Kevin held his wife’s hand and said, “May Christ give you strength to fight.”
*****
“These eyes are looking at you, only you
For you, I wrote a melody, melody
You’re the muse, so listen carefully
In fact, it’s true since high school
I watched you, I was starstruck
I am still circling around you
Like the Moon around Earth, can’t believe?
Oh-oh-oh, if ever…
just ever
Do you also feel the same way?
I’m not curious, just asking
‘Cause I like you.
Your eyes are quivering
You are looking at my lips, aren’t you?
You already know what you want
‘Cause your smile is spreading around your lips
I told you, you already know
I like you because I love you so
These eyes are looking at you, only you
For you, I wrote a melody, melody
You’re the muse, so listen carefully.”
A melodious song filled the streets of M city.
As everyone was going about their day, they just briefly paused their frantic runs and tight schedules to listen to the woman who was busking.
Just a guitar, mic and amplifier.
She busked.
She was singing a beautiful R&B song that she had written recently.
There was a guitar case kept open for people to tip.
And people tipped.
She has a voice to make office-going people stop and rewind them to their first love.
She has a voice to make high schoolers gigle and blush about their high school crushes.
After finishing the song, the crowd cheered her.
“Thank you.
Thank you, everyone.” She bowed and started packing up.
She pooled up the tip money and put it in a separate purse.
“Are you an aspiring artist?” A few high school girls approached her.
“Hmm.
“I am,” the woman replied.
“Wow.
No wonder why!
Your voice is so beautiful.
Can I get your finsta?
I’ll definitely follow you and support you!” A high school girl stretched her hands to shove her phone to the woman.
The woman chuckled and said, “Just search Lara Collins.
Do stream my upcoming album.”
Lara packed up quickly and left.
She still had to busk at two more spots.
Releasing her own album without being signed to any label was hard, and she just realised that the past few months.
After all, in her previous life, she was signed to a company, and advertising her music was handled by the company.
Though, the percentage she got as her rights from her albums was 3%.
Never again was she going to sign another contract like that with any company or record labels.
Yes, Lara Collins is living her second life.
After being tortured to death by her record label in producing and composing super hit music not just for her but for other groups and artists of the company, she died miserably by taking her own life.
When she opened her eyes again, she had reincarnated as an orphaned one-year-old slum child.
What about you guys?