**

Harsh language ahead for readers.

If you can't read violent and abusive scenes, I advise you to not read this chapter.

I giggled when the baby stuck her fingers in her mouth and drooled. It was a few days after Christmas Day and was New Year's Eve. I was pleased that this baby had successfully recovered in such short time. I wondered who would've abandoned such an angel.

I spent Christmas Day at the orphanage and I had a marvelous celebration with all of my colleagues, Darcy, Ms Anally and also the children. It felt like home.

As it was New Year's Eve today, Mrs Hayes invited me for dinner at her house. I didn't tell my parents about it cause I knew that they didn't trust me and would stop me from attending that dinner. Maybe I could tell them later or creep out of the house, it's not like they would care anyway.

Darcy and I got a message from the hospital stating that we needed to discuss some important things about the baby. So here we were, sitting on 2 chairs that were placed in front of a desk where the doctor sat, ready to talk.

The baby made gurgling noises making me laugh. She was so cute, especially her wide eyes that I was in love with. She squealed and jumped up and down on my lap in excitement while clutching onto my hand where the breathtakingly stunning ring was hidden from sight.

"Ms Cherie, are you listening to me?" I averted my attention to Doctor Simon who had a stern expression on his face as his round glasses slid down till the tip of his nose.

I looked between him and Darcy like a lost puppy. Doctor Simon sighed and shook his head. "We apologise, she can't talk, can you please continue?" Darcy asked him. Dr Simon watched me skeptically then looked away shaking his head.

"Moving on," he sighed and opened a blue file that was situated on the desk. "I've noticed that you 2 are struggling to pay off your debt as you've only paid a quarter of the total amount." Doctor Simon pursed his lips and flicked onto several pages of the file as a small frown appeared on his forehead.

Darcy and I looked at him curiously. "As you know, this baby was left abandoned, and alone. The officials still haven't found her parents or guardians. If no one steps up for the baby then she would be sent to the orphanage or adoption agency only if the payments are fulfilled." Doctor Simon pushed his round glasses back and lifted his eyes up at Darcy and me.

"I would like to propose a deal, that is not only financially beneficial for you and the hospital but also the baby would be in safe hands." I furrowed my eyebrows in bewilderment. "I'm sorry but what are you meaning to say?" Darcy asked with a puzzled expression on his face.

"What I mean to say is..." Doctor Simon drifted off. "That this baby has no one to take care for and will need to be sent to an orphanage as she would find a family that will adopt her there. But this will cost the hospital quite a lot and I was thinking that since you both are struggling to pay off the bills, maybe you would consider adopting of this baby and avoid paying about 75% of the payments required."

I gasped in shock and stared at Doctor Simon. The deal sounded appealing as we wouldn't have to pay the full amount of debt but, adopting a baby? Me and Darcy? It would be difficult to keep up with a baby as our lives are already laborious. And how would we bring her up?

I caressed the baby's face and was awarded a smile. The thought of the person who decided that to abandon this baby enraged me. I felt the need to scream at the person until they understood what kind of a mistake they had done. Abandoning a young life at a dumpster was demonic. I couldn't imagine if this baby hadn't survived, she proved us all that she is a fighter.

I felt a soft nudge on my left shoulder as I spun my head over to Darcy who now gazed at me with a perplexed emotion raking through his eyes. I nodded my head. "What do you think?"

What do I think? I feel like as if it isn't a good idea to adopt a baby as if she were a deal to reduce the cost of the bill. But what chance of actually paying the bill within the time limit would ever happen with us? I'm utterly confused and my feelings are confused about this.

I shrugged my shoulders at Darcy avoiding my inner emotions. Darcy nodded and played with the baby on my lap as she narrowed her eyes at him curiously. "Vivi... I know that what I'm about to say might not make any sense. I feel as if this deal is beneficial for both of us as Dr Simon said," Darcy looked over at Dr Simon for a split second, who was just reorganising his files nearby the wall shelf, clearly oblivious to our conversation. Darcy then looked back at me.

"So do you want to do it? Adopt this baby? I know this is all of a sudden. We have no plans for this baby or even how to deal with a baby. But we would be able to pay back the debt. It might seem complicated now but we can sort it all out. Maybe the baby can stay with you and me." I furrowed my eyebrows and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

Maybe we could manage this baby. Or maybe I could. I could maybe ask my mom for permission, but that would be a disaster. Mrs Hayes maybe? I don't know but I had a feeling that I wanted to adopt this baby. I felt as if I would take care of her and love her as if she were my own child.

She could be my friend in the dark times when I need someone by my side, the times when Darcy couldn't make bright even of how close he is to me.

I stared down at the baby's eyes. Her big brown eyes that replicated melted chocolate. I could do it. I swirled my head back to Darcy and smiled at him. He seemed to have gotten the message and grinned at me. "Is that a yes, Vivi?"

Tears sprung to my eyes as I nodded my head with a cheerful smile spread upon my face.

This could work out.

———

I quickly slipped out of the passenger seat and gave Darcy a soft smile then waved bye. "Bye Vivi. I'll see you again at work. Have a Happy New Year!" Darcy returned the smile. I shut the car door and made my way up to the front lawn of the house where I lived at and Darcy drove away before making sure that I safely arrived. I refused to call this house my home.

I quickly unlocked the front door with my key as my teeth clenched and shook in the freezing conditions. I stepped inside while closing the door just to be suddenly slammed against it and my heart jumped at that moment.

"Do you think that we didn't see you with that boy? Huh?" I heard stepdad seethe into my ear. I kept quiet as I was forcefully turned around and slapped harshly on my cheek that my head flew to my left side. I was under the mercy of the devil that would burst any second now.

Stepdad grabbed a fistful of my hair in a tight grip. "What was he doing with you? Are you going out with him?" He spit on me aggressively and I squinted my eyes shut when the disgusting liquid made it way onto my face. I felt shameful for not knowing that my family would be watching me.

I heard a clatter of footsteps entering the entrance room. "What did she do now Mark?" Mom's voice rang out in rage. I could only imagine her killer glare conveyed towards me. I didn't realise that I was sobbing until I felt two rough palms wrap around my neck.

"I will kill this her! She wants to ruin my reputation by going around boys while she has a marriage to be faithful to!" I snapped my eyes open as I felt my throat being squeezed tightly like death itself came to greet me.

I could almost make out my mom's blurry face that was covered in hostility. Just before I began to see complete darkness, I was hurdled into a wall. I screamed when I was pushed into the small table that was situated in the central place in the entrance hallway. The real pain struck me when I knocked down the glass vase that once stood elegantly on the table, to now being entirely shattered into irregular sizes that sliced through my skin.

I cowered away in fright as my body felt weak and hurt from this brutal abuse that I was receving. Maybe death was here already, waiting for me to be welcomed into it's darkness. "Dad, mom? What's happening?" A voice dusted of sweetness asked, for that I knew was anything other than it was portraing to be. My eyes found their way to Christy who was standing near the staircase as she latched her arms onto the wooden guard of the staircase.

A hint of ammusement sparkled within her eyes full of hatred as she gazed at me. "Your dad has seen her with a boy. Flirting around him if you ask me." Mom replied and sighed loudly, like she was carrying a ton of bricks on her shoulders.

Turning my attention towards stepdad, I noticed as his heaving back faced me. "A disgrace of a person. You're just like your dad. F*cking useless."

I was mad, and I will admit it. Stepdad had no right to say those words about my dada when he never even knew him, or even saw him. Stepdad could say all those things about me, even though they were false statements. But I would rather be faulted than my beloved dada who I'll protect with my heart from these evil people and their disgusting insults.

"I've also seen her lurking around boys. Last week I saw her at the driveway and she kissed a guy." Christy lied again making me shiver as I recalled memories of being beaten up for no reason. Christy's words were more powerful than mine in this house even if it was a lie. I never tried to speak the truth cause I knew it was a waste.

The room went silent as only emotions can be felt within the room. Stepdad's rage steamed out of him, mom's distasteful stare burned through me and Christy smirked.

I sat planted in my spot the entire time the silence was held, without moving a muscle. I was exhausted and I thought that maybe if I did move, I would be asking for my end which my family would waste no time and effort in doing.

I flinched when mom spoke up, parting the heavy silence. "I've had enough." She seethed and glared at me. "The freedom that we all kindly offered her with, she is playing with it and I have had certainly enough."

I trembled and winced at the tone of her words. Mom's words did hurt me. I was her own daughter and she hated me. I feel defeated and like a failure of a daughter.

A chuckle escaped mom's lips as she continued speaking her piercing words that stabbed through my heart like knives. "I know just the right thing to do to teach this disgrace for how much nonsense she is creating." I looked straight at my mom in curiosity.

What was she going to do?

"Christy, grab that rope for me." Mom told Christy. Christy nodded and walked of into the kitchen, not before smirking at me slyly.

"A little punishment would set her back into control. Won't it?" Mom crouched down to my height on the floor, then grabbed my chin in a forefull grip and dug her long and sharp nails into my skin, making tears well up in my eyes in fury.

My eyes followed stepdad as he moved from his position that he was in earlier. "It will, Audrey." A satisfied look on his face had me closing my eyes in fear.

I knew that this was the end. I would get very hurt today. Badly and severly hurt. I just prayed to God that if I did fail to survive and lose my life today, then I would live with dada in heaven where I would get some peace with the person I love and who loves me too like no one in this entire world.

———

I was pushed down harshfully on the soft carpet of my room. I screamed and clutched onto my right hand which stung due to the large cut which was carved into it. "YOU STAY IN HERE AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SNEAKING OUT! AM I UNDERSTOOD?" Stepdad shouted at me as I frantically nodded my head.

Mom and Christy stood behind him, through the doorway, looking down at me with distate. Stepdad glared at me as he stepped back from the doorway whilst grabbing the door handle and then slaming it shut. I heard keys jiggiling from the keyhole, indicating that I was locked in my room.

For a few moments I had no clue on what to do, think or feel. I just stared horridly at the door. I sucked in a huge breath of air, that I was fighting for. My voice cracked into a terribe whimper. My body gave away under me, to a lying position.

My body felt fragile. Like glass that was broken pieces by pieces. My entire being was tarnished. My hands and left shoulder had large cuts and bruises on them, reflecting the rage that was used as a weapon to damage me.

My vision was faint and I couldn't properly see. My nose was bleeding, and blood was leaking from my neck. My once smooth skin was no more. I was battered severly.

My mind for once felt, blank. With all the manageable effort within me, I was able to push myself to the edge of my bed where I uncomfortably leaned on against. I knew what to do. I had to do it. Atleast to numb the pain.

I searched under one of the legs of my bed where I kept my weapon out of the knowledge of my parents, not that they would care. My attention caught the sparkle of the ring which reminded me of Adrian. I wanted to destroy the ring, but some part of me softened up to the ring and felt reluctant to let it go.

When I finally felt the cold and sharp edge of the object, I pulled it out and held it a few inches before my eyes.

A little bit of pain would strain away the rest, I told myself. I positioned the deathly looking blade to my wrist. With one last glare of the shinning ring that stood on my finger, I inhaled a deep breath as I closed my eyes and pierced my skin with the blade as my mind sank into pain and discomfort.

I whimpered and I was lost in a haze that distracted me from my entire world.

I could feel the warm blood seep down the coldness of my hand soothingly as the light in my mind dimmed down. I was in complete darkness and I knew death was close. Tears streamed down my face.

My last thoughts were of mom, Christy and stepdad haunting me. Mr and Mrs Hayes. My childhood to adulthood. Flashbacks of the orphanage I worked at. The blissful laughter of the children. Darcy, who made me forget about my bad times in life and spread positivity. He was my hero, and he'll always be.

My life was flashing before my eyes. Right before my thoughts and mind collapsed into nothing, I was thinking about Adrian, who I was almost forced to spend the rest of my life with and who I utterly despised.

Too bad that my heart would

give up by then.