"I know someone who can help you with that kind of money," Philip whispered as he leaned into Oliver's father's ear.
"Are you serious?" Oliver's father's eyes widened in amazement.
"Yes, my cousin took a loan of two hundred million from this guy," Philip explained.
"Are you sure?" Oliver's father asked in disbelief, as he felt this loan shark seemed too good to be true.
"Believe me when I say this guy is the real deal. Any amount you want, he can give you with a zero interest rate."
"I think something is shady about this guy," Oliver's father replied, unsure if he should believe Philip's words because he didn't want to get his hopes up and have everything turn out to be a joke.
"You know how all these rich people make billions, and they don't know what to do with it. Okay, if you don't believe me, it's fine. Anytime you're ready, I'll introduce you to my cousin so he can link you up."
"Alright, Philip. Thank you so much," Oliver's father said as he shook hands with Philip.
"Hey, no need to thank me. We are pals," Philip replied.
Oliver's father walked into the house in a not-so-bright mood.
His wife and son were waiting for him to come home as he had hurriedly left the hospital.
"Honey, where have you been?" Oliver's mother exclaimed with a sigh of relief upon seeing her husband.
"I went to ask my boss if he could loan me money or at least if I could get a salary advance," Oliver's dad responded with a heavy heart.
"And... what did he say?" Oliver's mom inquired, her face filled with curiosity.
Her expectations were cut short when her husband shook his head, signifying that he didn't get the money. Oliver's mom slumped back on the chair as tears filled her eyes, and she sobbed loudly while Oliver comforted her.
"What are we going to do about Mia?" Oliver's mother sniffed as she wiped away her tears.
Oliver's father explained to his wife about the loan shark Philip told him about, and she was just as skeptical as he was when he mentioned Philip's cousin.
Philip's cousin Reo had a notorious history of arrests due to his illegal activities. Likely, this loan shark was somehow connected. As a result, they all decided they should try other options.
"We should all get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day for everyone. I'll go into town and see if I can get money. Everything is going to be fine," Oliver's father reassured his family with a comforting smile.
Oliver lay on his bed; he couldn't fall asleep with everything that was going on. He felt helpless about his family's current situation.
He tried to figure out how he could help his parents. He didn't even have a job. After carefully weighing all his options, he decided that the way was to beg his manager to help him with money. It wasn't going to be easy, but he had to try for Mia.
The next morning, Oliver didn't even have breakfast before he hurried to meet the bakery manager. He requested an audience with him through the secretary, and he was granted passage.
His manager sat on his chair with a huge bandage on his head. If it wasn't under such dire circumstances, Oliver would have laughed his lungs out, but he came here on serious business.
Oliver swallowed his pride and pleaded with his manager, explaining his current situation.
"You think because you came in here begging like a baby I'm giving you the money?" his manager chuckled, motioning for his men to teach Oliver a lesson.
"Take this as payment for what you did to me. I'm capable of helping your little sister, but I don't help lowlifes like you," his manager sneered, enjoying the brutal beating Oliver was enduring from his men.
Once he had his fill, he motioned for his men to toss Oliver out of the gate.
Oliver let out a pained groan as he struggled to rise, his battered body aching. He attempted to hold back the tears, but they streamed down his face.
He always knew the world was a cruel place, but he didn't know it was this cruel. He forced himself to get up and walk to the hospital to see how Mia was doing.
"What happened to you, Oliver?" his mother hurriedly moved to meet him. She gently cupped his face, turning it sideways to get a good look at his injuries.
"I'm fine, Mom. You worry too much," Oliver said as he gently grabbed her hand from his face.
"I went to meet the bakery's manager so I could get money for Mia's treatment," Oliver said as his head dropped to the ground.
"Are you crazy? You're lucky he didn't kill you! Your father and I are adults, so let us worry about the funds," his mother scolded him.
Oliver strode over to his sister's bed and smiled softly at her. She looked lean and pale.
"How do I look?" Oliver arched an eyebrow, questioning his sister with a curious expression.
"You look like a sorry thing," Mia chuckled in her response.
"I appreciate everything you and our parents are doing, but I think it's for the best if you all let me go..."
"Shh, don't say such nonsense. Dad promised he's going to fix this, okay?" Oliver said and pressed a gentle kiss on her head.
Oliver's father went through all the contacts he knew that could lend him money, but all of them failed him. He was finally down to his last, which was Philip. Although he didn't like the idea and his wife warned him against it, he called Philip's number, and he answered on the first ring. It was almost as if he was waiting for the call.
"I've thought about it. Please, I need your help, Philip," Oliver's father pleaded in desperation.
"I got your back, Adam. Just send me your address, and my cousin Reo will come and pick you up," Philip said over the phone.
Oliver quickly sent Philip his address, and not long after, Reo drove down to meet him. The way everything was moving smoothly, he wondered if it was just luck, but he shoved those thoughts aside and followed Reo.
Reo informed him that the person they were going to meet was in Sterling City. That city was the place he lived in before tragedy struck and he became bankrupt.
When they stopped at the mansion, Oliver's father realized that this place looked somehow familiar, but he quickly decided against it.
Oliver's father and Reo were directed to the waiting room and were received by the boss.
Oliver's father was starting to grow uncomfortable as panic built up in his stomach. It had been over an hour, and their so-called boss was nowhere to be found.
The door opened, and a man strode in with a cane in his hand. He looked like he was in his mid-sixties with strands of white hair and beads, which helped to complement his wonderful physique.
Oliver's father couldn't believe his eyes when he finally recognized the man in front of him as Lewis Jackson; he owned a loan shark company.
Oliver's dad, who was the CEO of a real estate agency, had a big fight with Lewis. Lewis wanted to buy a piece of land to expand his business, but Oliver's dad couldn't sell it because someone else had already made a down payment, and it caused a lot of tension between them.
"Boss, this is the man I informed you about," Reo said.
"Leave us," Lewis gave a direct order to Reo, who immediately exited the room.
"Hello, Adam Miller," Lewis narrowed his eyes, throwing a mischievous glance at Oliver's father.