It was bitterly cold in Onistead, with the north wind howling.
Standing outside the Lawrence family’s newly purchased villa were several young men in uniforms, holding tape and seals. They affixed a white seal with bold letters that read “Court” and signed off on it before leaving, leaving the Lawrence family of four standing there staring at each other.
George’s face was as dark as a thundercloud as he watched them drive away resolutely while clenching his lips tightly. “You can’t leave! Give us back our house!” cried out Malaya, tears streaming down her face.
“Don’t go! Give our house back!” Sean dropped his suitcase and ran after the car for a short distance while crying.
Malaya clung to a lamp post by the door, sobbing uncontrollably. The Lawrence family’s company had changed its legal entity; they had used the company to mortgage their house and apply for bank loans to buy it. Now that the company is gone and they cannot repay their loan, the bank has applied for legal procedures to auction off their house as collateral.
So now they have been evicted from their home; all of their assets have been frozen including gold necklaces, bracelets and watches worn by mother-daughter duo. Apart from this expensive clothing on them right now, together they only carry less than ten thousand dollars in cash which would not even be considered pocket change by Nora before all this happened.
Now it has become everything that gives them hope for survival especially in Onistead where land is scarce and prices are among some of highest nationwide – this ten thousand dollars may only last half a month at best!
It’s winter time without housing or hot water… are they really going to end up homeless?
“What do we do now? Should we just go back to Akloit?” Malaya wiped away her tears but choked up reminding everyone present about returning home.
Go back? But when they moved away initially, they bragged about never coming back again. What kind of message does it send if they slunk back defeated?
George valued his pride; he’d rather beg here than return like a loser.
Sean seemed tempted though – all his friends were still living in Akloit whereas he doesn’t know anyone here nor does he attend any good schools either…
The decision ultimately rests upon Nora…
Unexpectedly, the young girl stood with her arms crossed on the railing at the door, her eyes full of indifference and disdain.
With a slight opening of her red lips, Nora’s words almost made George furious.
“I will never go back to Akloit. With a useless father like you and a lazy brother, I am ashamed.”
George was already upset enough, but now he had to endure his daughter’s sarcasm. His expression became even more unpleasant.
“Nora, I am your father. How can you talk to me like that?”
Facing his anger, Nora wasn’t afraid at all and continued disrespectfully: “Isn’t it true?”
“Did you ever think about us when you bought that woman a $20 million house?”
“At almost fifty years old and still getting played by a woman? I feel embarrassed for you.”
“Nora…”
Furious beyond measure, George slapped her hard across the face with a loud sound that frightened Malaya.
Nora was born into the Lawrence family as Cierra; her skin was delicate. After this slap from George, her face turned red with clear five-finger marks left behind.
She looked pitiful and heart-wrenching.
Although Malaya also thought Nora was wrong just now but she couldn’t bear it since she was their only daughter after all.
“Nora, be good; apologize to your dad quickly.”
She persuaded Nora while pulling her towards George and pressing on her neck asking for an apology from Nora herself. But no matter how much they tried cooperating with each other, Nora refused to do so; instead, she pushed away Malaya fiercely while glaring at them both in anger.
“Why should I apologize? Everything I said is true!”
After pausing for several seconds, Nora roared rebelliously, “I hate you! You ruined my artistic dreams of studying abroad!”
“I’m the school belle of Akloit High School; there’s no way I’m living on the streets!”
Nora ran away crying, and soon disappeared into the rain curtain without even bringing an umbrella along. Malaya watched worriedly as she left, “Nora… come back quickly! Where are you going?”
It was cold outside, and it rained heavily. She didn’t even bring an umbrella. Sean remembered what happened when she tried calculating his assets before. Now seeing Nora leave in anger, his heart felt relieved rather than worried anymore.
“Don’t worry about it, Mommy, she isn’t worth your concern anyway.”
“But…”
Malaya wanted to follow up, but George stopped him coldly with an icy expression.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. I think Sean is right, let her be,” George said.
“You spoiled her and that’s why she has this temper today!” Malaya retorted, not willing to back down.
“You spoiled her too in the beginning!” The couple stared at each other before giving up the argument.
After running out of the Lawrence family’s house, Nora rushed onto the street without a second thought. She looked around and saw a city full of cars and skyscrapers. The trees on the pedestrian walkway were covered in sparkling ice crystals while people hurriedly walked by with their coats tightly wrapped around them.
In this unfamiliar city, Nora didn’t know anyone and could only stare blankly at all the strangers passing by. For the first time in her life, she felt so small and insignificant. The city was like an endless universe while she was just a meteor without any orbit – always at risk of falling apart.
She had no home anymore. After losing their villa to foreclosure, she had nowhere else to go.
“Beep…” Several car horns honked behind her as drivers occasionally glanced over at this beautiful young woman dressed in thin white lace pajamas with curly hair cascading down one side of her face while wearing pink cartoon butterfly slippers on her feet.
The cold winter wind mercilessly blew against Nora’s body as strands of hair danced freely behind her slender figure.
Suddenly, a black Volkswagen slowly pulled up beside her.
The window rolled down revealing a Mediterranean middle-aged bald man who waved his hand towards Nora before whistling like some kind of rogue.
“Hey pretty girl! Where are you going? Want me to give you ride? It’s free!” he asked with oily words and gasps for breaths.
Nora knew immediately that he wasn’t someone trustworthy just from his demeanor alone; so she glared coldly into his eyes before angrily telling him to “Get lost!”
Feeling insulted, he muttered under his breath, “Who do you think you are? I’m trying to offer a ride, but you don’t appreciate it.” He then drove away looking quite frustrated.