Courtesan

Hello! I'm Harper Walker, the escort later named Walker Blue the Courtesan!

I am the last child of Robert Walker and Susan Walker. I have an elder sister named Sincere Walker and a brother named Philip Walker. Philip has a different mother-he was born to my father's mistress, Rose.

He was hidden away from the family until the day I was born and my mother died. That was when Philip was brought into our lives-not just as the only son, but as the illegitimate child who was suddenly placed above everyone else.

Philip and I were three years apart. Which meant my father had a child outside his marriage for three whole years... without my mother ever knowing.

This is a world where the name Walker changed everything. A name that erased who I was and forced me into the courtesan house.

This is my story...

Robert and Rose paced back and forth in front of the surgery room. The walls felt too white, the lights too harsh, and the air too heavy with tension.

Rose clutched her purse tightly against her chest, her lips trembling. She looked terrified, the kind of fear that aged a person in seconds. Robert's jaw was clenched tight, hands stuffed in his pockets as though holding back everything he couldn't say.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the surgery room door creaked open.

The doctor stepped out, pulling off his nose mask. He looked exhausted-eyes sunken, face pale, shoulders weighed down like someone carrying bad news.

They rushed at him.

"How is he?" they both asked at the same time, voices overlapping in a frantic blend of desperation.

The doctor sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck before looking them in the eye.

"He is not getting any better. We need money to place him on treatment."

Rose's voice cracked as she stepped forward. "Can't you just do something, doctor?"

He shook his head. "The cancer was already bad as it is, and now he got hit by a car. It's dangerous for him! But firstly... we need a blood donation."

Robert's eyes lit up with sudden hope. "Sure! Harper is here-she will donate for him."

The doctor's brows furrowed in confusion. "That little girl?"

He glanced over at the corner where Harper sat. She was curled up in the chair, hugging her knees, her wide eyes filled with fear. She looked like she wanted to disappear.

"She's not a little girl, she's fifteen!" Rose snapped, her tone sharp with urgency.

The doctor hesitated. "Mrs. Walker... there's definitely a limit to how far we can take someone's blood. That girl has been donating blood for Philip since he was five years old. We take her blood almost every month."

Rose scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "She wasn't the only one donating for him. Her elder sister did too!"

The doctor narrowed his eyes. "But she has been the regular one for a while now."

He sighed. "Since Philip has a rare blood group, only his sisters have the same blood group. They have to donate to save their brother."

His gaze sharpened. "Then where is the elder sister?"

Rose and Robert exchanged a glance-one of guilt, one of discomfort-and looked away from each other.

"She ran away," Rose blurted out, eyes fixed on the tiled floor.

"She did?" the doctor asked, raising a brow.

"Yes, doctor. So the only person who can save Philip till his cancer leaves... is Harper."

The doctor looked pained. "Maybe we should check out other hospitals for blood."

"We do not have the money, doctor!" Rose snapped, her voice rising with frustration. "For the past how many years, we spent all our fortune in this hospital and y'all didn't even cure Philip! What the hell!"

Robert stepped in, rubbing his temples. His voice was strained. "We've tried everything."

The doctor put his hands up in defense. "I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Walker. We are also trying our best to treat him. He was fine for a while, then it started acting up again. This is cancer-it's not just any disease. But I promise you... this time around, once we get the money, we will fly him out of the country and give him the best treatment."

Robert stepped closer. "We have your word?"

"Yes! One hundred percent, sir!"

Rose suddenly turned and called out. "Harper! Come here!"

Harper flinched, hesitating for a moment before rising slowly. She moved closer, her legs shaking slightly, voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm here."

"Follow the doctor. They need blood for Philip."

"Mum..." Harper's voice cracked.

"Go! Now!" Rose yelled, her voice laced with panic and something sharper-command.

Harper looked up at Robert, searching his face for some sign of support.

He looked away.

"Follow them, Harper. We need to save your brother," he muttered, not meeting her eyes.

Tears welled up in Harper's eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Her feet felt like they were dragging through cement, but she turned and followed the doctor out of the hallway, silent sobs shaking her small shoulders.

Harper came outside after a while and sat down quietly in the cold hallway. Her small hand trembled as she held the piece of cotton wool tightly against the crook of her arm, trying to stop the bleeding. Her skin was pale, and her lips slightly parted as she took slow, shallow breaths.

She leaned against the wall, her head tipped back, eyelids fluttering with exhaustion. The fluorescent light above her buzzed faintly, casting harsh shadows across her tired face.

Almost an hour passed. The air was tense and quiet except for the occasional footsteps of nurses and murmurs from passing staff.

Then, the nurse came out from the surgery wing with a worried look on her face. Robert immediately stepped forward, his eyes searching her face for answers. Rose crossed her arms, already bracing herself for more bad news.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Walker, but your son lost a lot of blood. We need one more to make sure he is fine."

Robert blinked in shock. "He needs more blood?"

"Yes, sir. We have contacted the other hospital and luckily they have the blood. We can have them send it down here-just make payment at the counter."

"Alright nurse, we will do that," Robert replied quickly, already reaching for his wallet.

But Rose turned sharply toward him, her eyes narrowing into a glare.

"We are definitely not doing that!" she snapped. Her voice was sharp enough to turn a few heads in the hallway. "Why do we have to buy blood when Harper is here? Did you draw her whole blood previously?"

The nurse looked uncomfortable, glancing between the couple. "No, ma'am, but she's weak now. We can't draw her blood anymore."

"I will take care of her when we get home. Just take more from her, please." Rose insisted, stepping forward as though sheer willpower would change the decision.

Robert moved closer and whispered sharply, trying not to cause a scene. "Rose! What are you saying? We can still buy the blood. What if Harper dies?"

Rose scoffed, her arms flailing in frustration. "Who dies from having their blood drawn? Are we that rich enough to be lavishing money at the hospital? We need $150k to treat Philip's cancer and $50k to settle the hospital previously. Why should we pay for blood?"

The nurse's face tensed as she turned to Robert. "What do you say, sir?"

He hesitated. His eyes fell on Harper sitting slumped on the bench, her head down and arm clutched tightly to her chest.

"Take Harper away, then," he said quietly, avoiding her gaze.

"Dad!" she called out suddenly, her voice broken and soaked with tears. Her shoulders shook as she cried, eyes red from both pain and disbelief.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. Just do this for your brother, okay? It's just a little bit more-he will be fine."

Harper shook her head, barely able to keep her balance as she tried to sit up straighter. "Dad, I'm not feeling well... How could you do this?"

Robert winced, but didn't answer.

Then Rose snapped. "You are not feeling well or you are just being lazy? Do you want to watch your brother die, Harper?"

Harper's mouth fell open, her voice stuck in her throat. Her eyes pleaded, darting from her father to the nurse-anyone who might stop this.

"But mum... you can buy the blood."

"We can't afford it, so follow them right now!" she stated sternly. Her voice was cold and final.

Harper stood up slowly, legs trembling beneath her. She swayed slightly before finding her balance. The hallway blurred through her tears as she began to follow the nurse again, her heart pounding against her ribcage like a warning bell.

Her footsteps were light, but heavy with pain.