Lightning illuminated the entire sky as if it were a fireworks display, it was raining torrentially as a result of the terrible storm that was raging that night, it was a very large and passable city, however, that night there was only one person outside, Sofia ran desperately under the storm, anyone who saw her would think she was completely crazy to go out in such a storm, but she didn't care, she was only interested in the health of her little daughter who had been hospitalized again a few hours earlier.

The girl stopped dejectedly in front of the huge white bars, took a breath and wiped her wet face a little with the sleeves of her soaked jacket, she wondered if she was doing the right thing in returning to her house, but despite the fact that her father had kicked her out when her pregnancy was revealed, at this moment she was willing to do anything for her daughter.

She rang the bell with trembling hands, she was afraid, her father was a despicable man, but even so she had the hope that the man would keep at least a little compassion in his heart.

A few minutes passed which seemed like years to the young woman when a gray-haired man of about seventy years old appeared at the door with a black umbrella covering him from the rain.

"Miss Zambrano, but what are you doing here?" "asked the man surprised to see the girl in the rain, he never thought he would see her again not after the way she left the mansion."

"Victor, I want to see my father, let me in" asked the young woman desperately when she saw that the man had no intention of opening the gate.

"I'm afraid I can't let you in, your family doesn't want to see you again, for them you no longer exist, suffice it to say that they have burned all your things, your photos and when someone asks about you they say that you died in a terrible accident, I'm very sorry, Miss Zambrano, you know that I have a lot of affection for you, but at this moment my loyalty is with your family, they are the ones who pay my salary."

"Victor, please it's very important, I won't leave until they receive me."

"I can't let you pass and if you keep insisting I will have to call the police."

The girl frowned annoyed, she had always thought that Victor was an adorable butler, but now that he was showing his true face she wanted to scream at him, but at this moment she didn't have time for that, Sofia grabbed the gate tightly and began to scream like a madwoman, she screamed so much, but so much that the whole family came out to see what was happening.

"I finally managed to get their attention" thought the girl when she saw her father coming out followed by the others.

"But what is happening here? Why so much screaming?" "asked the imposing man angrily."

Carlos Zambrano a man of about fifty years old, hair neatly combed back, green eyes, tall, with a coldness that could freeze even hell itself, owner of a chain of hotels and supermarkets, a man who only cares about money and nothing else, looked at the girl with all the hatred in the world.

"You damn immoral brat how dare you come to this mansion after the humiliation you have put the family through?" "asked the man clenching his fists."

"Please I need you to help me!! What happened six years ago has an explanation please dad I ask you for five minutes of your time to listen to me."

"Not even five seconds I would listen to you, for this family you are dead get out" spat the man with hatred.

"Carlos please let her in I think that despite all the bad things Sofia did she is still our daughter don't you think?" "asked Serena his wife."

"Daughter? I only have one son and nothing else, this one is not my daughter."

"My brother is right I don't know how you have the face to come and bother us after what you have done, indecent if you were my daughter I would have already corrected you with whippings" spoke Lorena Carlos's sister.

"Thank heavens I don't have such an ugly and opportunistic mother like you who lives off your brother's money because you are nobody" the woman put her hand to her chest pretending pain.

"My God, but you have become more vulgar than you were before, you don't deserve to bear the Zambrano surname, you are not worthy of it" said the offended woman while the young woman shrugged her shoulders paying no attention to what her aunt said.

It was no secret that Lorena Zambrano was a witch disguised as a little lamb, she had never loved her niece, she had always wished that her daughters had at least some of Sofia's beauty, Lorena was a widowed woman who upon the death of her husband was left in complete misery if it weren't for her brother Carlos who took her and her daughters to live in the great mansion they would live under a bridge.

Lorena always took attributions that did not correspond to her and even to a certain point she managed to make her daughters have more rights in the mansion than Carlos's own daughter.

"Leave me alone with her" said Carlos looking at the others.

"Dad she doesn't deserve it let's go inside soon they will serve the food" mentioned Gabriel Sofia's older brother.

"Gabrielito is right brother don't waste your valuable time with this shameless bad immoral daughter."

"Hey aunt if I am all that then what are your little daughters?" "asked the young woman tired of the humiliations of her aunt Lorena."

"Despicable brat I will not allow you to disrespect my precious girls" the woman tried to open the gate to hit the young woman, but her brother prevented her.

"Lorena please go inside."

Reluctantly they all left leaving Sofia alone with her father.

"Dad please I need money to pay for my daughter's hospital please help me I beg you"

"After the humiliation you made us go through in front of such a distinguished family as the Marques you have the face to come and ask for money for your bastard daughter? You are more stupid than I thought."

But I am willing to forgive your offense and allow you to return to the mansion and enjoy your queen life and if you do what I tell you.

"I will do anything if you help me save my daughter" said the girl desperately and the man let out a sarcastic laugh.

"I would never pay a penny for the life of that bastard who knows who is the daughter of, for me let her die..."

"You are a monster how can you talk like that about your granddaughter? She carries your blood."

"Unfortunately but I will never consider her my granddaughter, I offer you a wonderful deal, Adela and Hugo want to adopt a boy or girl, give them your bastard and return to the mansion you could go back to study, wear jewelry, designer clothes and travel the world."

They I am sure would pay all the medical treatments that the brat needs and I could get a good match for you one that makes us richer than we already are.

"Isn't that you have told everyone that I have died in a terrible accident?"

"We can fix it, I would say that miraculously you were saved and were in a coma in some hospital and no one knew your last name or something similar" the girl let out a loud laugh.

"You are insane! I would never lend myself to your dirty game you have never seen me as your daughter for you I was always a thing to be able to get the best out of nothing else, I would never abandon my daughter for all the gold in the world."

"Well then go putting on a black dress because I do not plan to give you a penny to save your daughter."

"I hate you, I hate you, your sister, your nieces and your perfect little son you are all damn people who will one day pay me" shouted the girl before being pushed by her progenitor into a puddle of water.

Then the man shook his hands with disgust and re-entered the mansion as if the one he had just left lying on the ground was not his daughter.

Sofia got up with pain, looked one last time at the immense mansion and swearing that one day she would take revenge on everyone she left sobbing to the hospital where her daughter is hospitalized.

...Sofia ...

"Doctor, please, tell me how my daughter is?" "asked the young mother, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, she had been waiting for more than two hours to know about her little girl's health."

"Miss Zambrano, I'm not going to lie to you, the girl is still in a delicate condition. We were able to stop the nosebleed, but she still has a high fever. We will leave her in the ICU for tonight and tomorrow we will re-evaluate her situation. But I must warn you that if you don't pay last month's bills, we won't be able to continue caring for the girl here, I'm really sorry" said the doctor very apologetically before leaving.

The girl fell to the ground crying. Her little girl had been sick almost all month, so she hadn't been able to work and the little money she had saved had been spent on food and medicine for her little one. She hugged herself and continued crying, not knowing what to do. She had no family since the only one she had had turned her back on her when she got pregnant, no friends either, nor anyone to turn to. At this moment she felt desperate, she didn't understand why life had been so keen on hurting her so much, when she was just a twenty-four-year-old girl wanting to be happy with her little girl.

Sofia got up immediately and walked to one of the bathrooms and washed her face with cold water, then she looked in the mirror and said motivating words to herself. She had to stay strong for her little girl, she couldn't show weakness, her daughter needed her strong.

She spent the whole night sitting in the waiting room with her old rosary in her hands. An old woman had given it to her when Sofia was going through another very distressing moment in her life. She had gone to ask for mercy at the church and suddenly that old woman appeared and out of nowhere approached her and gave it to her. Since that moment, Sofia has not let go of it.

"Miss, why don't you go rest or eat something for a while? I'll let you know if anything happens" offered a nurse, she felt sorry for the poor mother who had been sitting for hours without moving from the waiting room.

All the hospital staff knew about Sofia and her little girl's case, they felt very sorry for both of them. More than once they had done some fundraising in the hospital to help her pay the bills. Sofia looked so fragile and helpless that she could move anyone.

"Thank you very much, but I'm fine, when will I be able to see my daughter?" "asked the girl with a tired voice."

"You won't be able to see her until noon."

"I understand, thank you" Sofia gave the nurse a sincere smile, who gave her a light pat on the back before leaving.

Sofia walked to the coffee machine and poured herself one, at least that was free. She didn't have the money to afford to pay for one. While she drank the coffee, she remembered her luxurious life before getting pregnant and being thrown out of her house like trash.

"Miss Zambrano" the voice of the hospital's administrative secretary took her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" she asked, jumping so quickly that she ended up spilling almost all the coffee on her blouse, at least it wasn't hot.

"Come with me, please, the director wants to talk to you."

The girl nodded and silently followed the elegant woman who wore expensive clothes and sported precious jewels like the ones Sofia once had.

She was led to an office quite far from the other areas. Upon entering, she could see the director Matias Torres, who was reviewing some papers. The man was tall, very tall, really living up to his last name. He was about fifty-five years old, with a neatly trimmed beard, brown eyes, a Rolex that was worth as much as the money the girl needed at this moment and he wore his medical coat with the description of hospital director.

"Doctor.." "said the girl nervously, she didn't like the doctor's blatant way of looking at her."

"Sofia Zambrano, you have become quite a woman, you are a true beauty, the latent desire of any man" he said licking his lips. The girl instinctively took a step back.

"What do you want? Why did you call me? If it's about the debt, I swear I'm going to pay it."

"Relax, you're too young to stress so much, please sit down."

Reluctantly, the girl obeys.

"Look, this is how it is, your little one will no longer be able to continue her treatment here, we will give her an emergency discharge and" the doctor couldn't continue with his speech because the girl interrupted him desperately.

"No, they can't do that, they can't take away my daughter's medical help, she's sick, they can't leave her adrift, what you want to do is abandonment of a person, I promise you that as soon as I get money I will pay you every last penny I owe but please don't take away my daughter's medical attention" asked the girl crying.

"I'm sorry beautiful Sofi, but things are like that, but it's not just because of the money you owe that I'm forced to deny your daughter medical attention."

"And why else do you do it? Out of malice? For the simple reason that we are poor? Is my daughter's life worth less than that of those children who are the sons of politicians, lawyers or engineers? I never thought you were one of those who classify people by what they have, so much they have, so much they are worth."

"That's not it, Sofia, the real reason is that your father offered me a millionaire sum to literally let the girl die" says the director frankly and I had to hold on to the desk so I wouldn't fall, I knew my father was a very cruel being but not so damn in this way.

"So you are accepting a bribe, I should report you, I could make you lose your job or even a trial where I would win."

"Sofia, honey, I thought you were more intelligent, all your ideas will be truncated by your father, he will pay so that no one trusts you, all you have left is to take his daughter and take her to a quiet place to die, you have no option" he says so coldly that I would like to break something on his head.

"No matter what you say, I'm going to sue you. I'm going to let everyone know that you're a damn doctor who lets his patients die for money. I'm not going to stop until they take away your medical license and you go to jail" shouted the young woman, full of impotence.

"Sweetheart, whatever you do, you will never beat your father, don't forget that he and I are close friends and he will support me in everything so don't get your hopes up because you won't achieve anything, you will only remain as a crazy young woman who only wants to take money from me."

"You and my father will pay for this, I swear" I said before turning towards the door.

"I have a proposal that can help heal your daughter" he said and in my desperation for my daughter's health it made me stop abruptly and turn to see him.

"I'm listening" I say and he smiles maliciously. I think I shouldn't have stayed.

"Look, I'm going to be honest with you, you seem like a very pretty and extremely sensual girl to me, whom I would love to have under me screaming with pleasure, be my lover and I will pay all your daughter's medical expenses and I will help you with your father, I'm giving you the best solution to your life, you just have to be my whore."

I can't explain the courage I felt at that moment. How can a man who has seen me grow up, since he and my father are close friends, offer me something like that? It was disgusting, I would never behave like a prostitute, I have dignity and values, I will find another way to save my little girl.

Without saying anything, I walked coquettishly to where he was sitting. Seeing my intention, he smiled satisfied and stood up, adjusting his disgusting package inside his pants. I wanted to vomit, but I continued with my plan. I got to him and with a smile I wrapped my arms around his neck, the very degenerate wanted to kiss me, but at that moment with all the strength I had, I raised my right knee and gave him the blow of his life in his crotch. The disgusting doctor fell to the ground on his knees and I smiled satisfied.

"You are a disgusting man, I would never sleep with you."

"Well, then say goodbye to your beautiful little daughter" he said between gasps of pain.

I left that office in a fury, I felt totally destroyed emotionally, I didn't understand why life was so keen on hurting me so much if I have never killed a fly...

...Sofia...

I ran to the nearest bathroom and washed my face with cold water, I needed to find a solution urgently, I had heard of some places that buy blood, I have always been a very healthy and athletic girl, before I got pregnant I used to run kilometers, I was a national champion in rhythmic gymnastics and a very good swimmer, maybe I could sell some of my blood and pay the doctors to take care of my princess, I should go find out as soon as possible, but first I wanted to go see how my girl is doing.

I left the bathroom and went up the two floors by stairs, when I arrived at the intensive care area I found the door open, I entered immediately finding a horrible situation, two doctors or nurses, the truth is that with the tiredness and headache I had at this moment I could no longer distinguish them well, they were in the room removing all the devices that my daughter had on.

"What do you think you're doing? Leave her alone" I said angrily, trying to push one of them away from my girl.

"Madam, first of all calm down" one of the nurses or doctors ordered me, the other didn't even register me and continued with her thing.

"What are you doing? Why are you doing this to her?"

"Mrs. Zambrano, I repeat, I am very sorry, believe me I am very sorry, but we have orders to give your daughter a mandatory discharge, she can no longer stay here, we are going to apply an injection that will make her wake up in a matter of a few minutes or a maximum of half an hour and then you must take her away" I got a lump in my throat when I heard that.

"But is she going to be okay?" I asked with tears in my eyes.

"She is going to be fine, she is a strong girl, the danger has passed as long as she doesn't have a fever again, we will give her some analgesics and something to keep her temperature down, but we recommend that you take her to a specialist as soon as possible" the other woman who had ignored me until recently finally spoke to me, I managed to read the name Elena Vera in her coat pocket and that she was a pediatrician.

"Please we need you to wait outside" the other nurse asked me.

"No, please I want to be with my daughter" I begged them.

"Madam, don't be stubborn, it will only be a few minutes, then you can be with your daughter as long as you want."

Reluctantly I left the room, once in the hallway I leaned against the wall and let myself fall to the floor crying uncontrollably, I felt so tired, only God knew how I had struggled during these years to raise my little one alone.

I was lost in my misery when a white handkerchief appeared before my eyes, followed by a hand that encouraged me to stand up, I looked up and with my eyes still blurred by tears I saw a very handsome but older man standing in front of me with his hand extended to help me stand up.

I took it and got up quickly, standing up I could see the man better, he seemed to be over fifty years old that was for sure, he was wearing a very expensive suit of those that my father has by the dozens, I observed him carefully, everything in this man screamed money and power.

"A young woman as beautiful as you shouldn't be crying" he said with a smile that instead of making me nervous or uncomfortable gave me peace?

"I have my reasons" I replied while wiping away my tears.

"I am Mr. Romagnoli and I have an offer for you that could solve all your financial problems" he said and I looked at him confused, who was this name and what kind of proposal did he have for me? I just hoped it wasn't another indecent proposal or no matter how powerful he seemed I was going to break his nose.

"What kind of proposal? I'm not a harlot, if you dare to" my words were left in the air when the man raised his hand somewhat annoyed and made me shut up.

"Very beautiful but you don't let your elders speak, you should be more silent" he said looking at the time on his very expensive watch "So that you can rest assured I am not one of those men, you could be my daughter, besides I am happily married" he said giving me peace of mind.

"I don't understand who you are and what you want?" I asked somewhat impatiently.

"Look I'm going to be honest with you, some time ago I saw you and you seemed like a very beautiful girl, I investigated you and from what I've learned you are a woman with values, hardworking, educated, excellent mother, the perfect daughter-in-law that any parents want for their children" he said and I looked at him begging him not to postpone what he was thinking.

"I'll be quick because my time is very valuable, I have a somewhat rebellious son who needs to settle down, I want to propose that you marry him and help him be a better man to find his way again and in return I will take care of your girl and all your problems" he said just like that, I let out a small laugh that echoed throughout the hallway.

"You're crazy, sir, you better leave."

"Silly girl, I'm offering you paradise for you and your daughter, just because I'm a good man I'll let you think about it for a bit, you have two days to give me a decision, don't think I'll wait long" he said giving me a card with his phone number, then he put on his sunglasses again and left as he came.

I stood there like an idiot watching the man leave, it never crossed my mind to live such a strange situation, what a strange man, after what happened when I got pregnant I swore I would never fall in love much less get married and this guy comes and pretends that I accept to marry a stranger? I may seem silly right now but I'm not, I would never commit such madness.

"Madam you can come in now" the nurse tells me taking me out of my thoughts.

I run into the room finding my little one already awake, her eyes are teary and she looks somewhat pale.

"Hello my love, how are you feeling my little fairy?" I ask stroking her cheek.

"I feel good mommy don't cry" she says hugging me tightly when she sees that I am about to burst into tears.

"No my love mommy doesn't cry."

"Can we go home now? I don't want to be here" says my little one making a cute and tender pout.

"Yes my love come let's get dressed" I tell my girl, I dress her, I fix her blonde hair a little and then I take her in my arms to leave the room.

At the reception I meet the nurses and some doctors who come to say goodbye and give my girl a color palette, I turn around feeling observed and I see the degenerate director of the hospital looking at me lewdly, he smiles at me in a sinister way and locks himself again in a room, I force myself to smile and thank all the nurses and doctors for having taken care of my daughter so well and then we leave.

I don't have money to take a taxi so I have to walk a block with my girl in my arms to the bus stop, I take out my card and pray that it doesn't come so full, otherwise I will have to travel standing with my princess in my arms.

I signal the bus when I see it approaching, I shake my head when I see that it is full, thank God a young man gave me his seat, nowadays these actions are not so frequent, many times I had to travel standing even pregnant, people are increasingly losing empathy, many times they don't even give their seat to the elderly or blind people.

The trip was twenty minutes, Luna had fallen asleep so I carried her the two blocks that were left from the bus stop to my little house, I couldn't wait to arrive and be able to take a bath with warm water, I felt so exhausted that there was not a single muscle in my little body that didn't hurt, to my bad luck the problems didn't end here, when entering and wanting to turn on the light I found that they had cut it off for delaying the payment, really I was pissed on by a decent of elephants, I didn't know whether to bathe with rue or holy water.

...💮💮💮💮💮...

...Luna...

...💮💮💮💮💮...

...Sofia...