Forcing a smile, I said, “Sir, I don’t need to go in. Could you just deliver this for me? It’s Homemade Herbal Soup I made myself. He’s been so busy, drinking too much coffee and skipping meals. I found a retired doctor to get the recipe…”
I pulled all the coins from my pocket and handed them to him. “Please, take this and give it to him.”
The guard stared at the handful of nickels and dimes, speechless.
“This is New York’s top five-star hotel. We can’t just let any stray dogs or cats in.”
Sophia Carter stood nearby, arms crossed, towering over me.
True to her name, in the spotlight of her father’s love she shone like a radiant jewel.
Even when she yanked the thermos out of my hands, no one dared stop her.
She shook it slightly, her gaze filled with disdain. “I’ll take this. But you don’t belong here. Go back to wherever you came from.”
I refused to step back. “That soup is for my dad.”
The next second, Sophia’s eyes suddenly reddened. She clutched the thermos to her chest and collapsed to the floor.
A furious shout rang out, followed by the sharp sting of a slap across my face.
My left ear buzzed, and the world fell into terrifying silence.
“Dad, it’s okay. I know my sister didn’t mean to snatch the soup I made for you. She just wants your attention. Please don’t be mad at her.”
Dizzy and reeling, I tried to explain, but the words died on my lips when those familiar, cold eyes fell on me.
“You’re that low, huh? You have to steal everything from Sophia? Do you think I can’t feed you or clothe you?”
I looked up at the face so similar to mine, pale and weakly murmuring, “Dad, it wasn’t like that. The soup was from me. I only wanted to—”
Richard cut me off impatiently, turning to the guard. “Who brought the soup?”
The guard swallowed hard, his eyes darting between Sophia and me before lowering his head. “Miss Sophia told me to take it up. This young lady just tried to grab it.”
Richard sneered, disgust clear in his eyes. “Just like your mother—you make me sick.”
He gave me a once-over, his impatience deepening. “Always pretending. You love playing the pauper? Fine. Starting this month, not a single cent from me. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.”
I lowered my head, my fingers icy cold.
He didn’t even know—I hadn’t received a penny of support from him in eight years.
Richard left with Sophia, and as they brushed past me, Sophia deliberately slammed into my shoulder.