Chapter 1 The Hospital

Once she made her payment to the taxi driver, one would expect the driver to press his pedal, and leave immediately, but instead, the middle-aged man ogled admiringly at the black–headed young lady.

She had gotten into his car at a restaurant and told him to drive her to St. Lewis Hospital. Expectantly, he did so, yet their ride there consisted of a cheerful conversation that the undeniably pulchritudinous young lady ignited.

Although a long-time taxi driver in the streets of New York, he had never seen a woman so beautiful in all his years. Her russet brown eyes were mesmerizing, and her way of speaking could effortlessly hypnotize a simple-minded fellow.

His retained gaze on her would have gone unnoticed, but Raven swerved her head slightly to the side and when her eyes caught sight of the driver, she smiled.

"I pray your father regains consciousness soon, Miss. Raven. He shouldn't be sleeping when a daughter as loving as you exist".

His words brought a wide smile to the pouty yet plush lips of Raven Lockheed. She hadn't responded to the taxi driver's kind words when his car drove off, and she stared shortly at it.

Afterward, Raven lowered her eyes to her hand, which fingers were wrapped around a bouquet of primroses – her father's favorite.

The rumbling of the dark clouds sounded, but Raven paid no attention to it, instead diverted her eyes to the gigantic medical establishment – St. Lewis Hospital.

"Please come back to me, Dad. I've missed you so much" Her low utterance was accompanied by a hopeful smile. Today wasn't the first day she frequented this place – precisely, today's been 28 days; a whole 4 weeks!

Raven's legs moved swiftly towards the hospital when the rumbling dark clouds began pouring down fat balls of water.

Fortunately, she wasn't too far from the hospital's main door, so got inside quickly. Thereafter, she made her way to the recipient, who immediately recognized her as the pretty lady.

Yes, that was how radiant Raven's beauty was.

The essentials were done, and she resumed her walk to Mr. Salvador Lockheed's ward.

Then again, she paused at the doorstep with head lowered to the ground – would he be awake? Or still in a deep slumber?

Her worries were centered on the expensive fees that have been made ever since her father got admitted to this hospital. Sincerely, Mr. Salvador would've been completely healed if Raven could afford the fee for the surgical operation.

But…a mere waitress at a fast food restaurant couldn't possibly come up with such a gigantic sum of money. The entire situation was overly sad that it brought unknown tears rolling down her freckle-covered cheeks.

"Raven?"

He suddenly called her name and successfully disrupted her trains of bittered thoughts. She lifted her head and the face of a doctor came into view.

"Dr. Lee" her voice laced with enthusiasm as her lips stretched into a weak, frail smile – lately, she tried little to hide her sadness.

"You're crying again, aren't you? Don't do that" Lee, the neurologist in charge of Raven's father, scolded lightly, and his response was a low chuckle from Raven.

"I can't help it. Dad has been in a state of comatose for almost a month because of my incompetence to bring the money. I'm…so fucking useless!" Raven sniffed, trying to fight back her tears from falling.

Lee's next words surprised her, while his right hand reached for the doorknob of the ward. "Dr. Lee?"

"Raven, are you sure about that? Mr. Salvador's still unconscious? Here, have a look for yourself" He gave the doorknob a light twist, and pushed it back and the conscious face of Mr. Salvador came into view.

Raven's legs shifted backward due to shock, while her eyes dilated repeatedly, surprisingly.

"D-dad?" her lips quivered unstoppably but Mr. Salvador's smile expanded as he widened his arms, suggesting a hug.

"No hugs, birdie?"

With tears shielding her eyes, Raven rushed at him, literally jumping into his arms. He engulfed her warmly in his arms while her hands gripped his hospital dress tightly, and overly happily.

"Dad! Dad!!"

Her cries filled the entire ward while he stroked her lengthy black hair affectionately. Oh, how much they've missed each other.

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"Careful, Dad. You'll burn yourself" The cuteness of her pout got Mr. Salvador laughing heartily. How much he has missed seeing the beautiful face of his sole daughter.

Throughout her 21 years of existence, his life has been filled with different yet fun events; a boring moment seemed impossible whenever Raven was with him.

Currently, he was in bed, having breakfast with Raven – not like his arms were dysfunctional, but his over-caring daughter insisted on feeding him.

"At least I'm capable of drinking by myself, right, birdie? So let me do this. Jeez. You're so doting!" Mr. Salvador's statement was responded to with a sassy eye roll from Raven. Reluctantly, she allowed him to eat his breakfast by himself yet ogled gleefully at him.

No one could comprehend how joyful she is right now – after so long, he's back to her. The past weeks without her father by her side were hell on Earth.

Her delight that he was awake couldn't be measured, then again something bothered Raven immensely.

Inwardly, she had continuously pondered about it ever since he regained consciousness yesterday but found it difficult to ask her father.

However, her curiosity could no longer be contained as she parted her lips to speak, but the abrupt entrance of Lee delayed her question.