Chapter 4 Misdiagnosed
1356 Words
"Marry me."
What? Fabiola's eyes widened again; she was like taking a roller coaster today. She thought she was going to be sold to some mafia boss as a bargaining chip for his business.
But she never thought that he would ask for this!
A marriage? And with her?!
Was he being serious right now?
She was seeking for a way to let these women know that she wanted nothing to do with him.
She wanted these women off her back and he wants her to be his wife.
She burst out laughing…
He’s just joking and why would he choose her anyway…
“You’re filthy rich…you can choose any woman you want for this joke…why me?”
"I guess that’s because you are cheeky enough. Your determination to fight me in spite of everything convinced me that you are not someone who gives in easily, and as you can see, any woman who has been involved with me has been attacked by other women, and most women can't handle that. But you, as tenacious as a cockroach, will be a perfect candidate taking the position as my wife."
Cockroach? Fabiola fell silent. Was this man complimenting or scolding her?
Although it was true that she would do anything to survive, marriage, in her perception, was only for people who loved each other, not as some sort of deal.
She had imagined countless times that there must be a prince who would see through her scruffy appearance to the purity of her heart, and at that time, all hardships could be offset.
But now the reality ...
Probably seeing her hesitation, Lorenzo changed his face all of a sudden. "Don't you want your bracelet back?"
Fabiola looked up at him. Of course she did! She could give up everything to get the bracelet back!
"Marry me and the bracelet is yours."
What a jerk! Fabiola gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly.
"Are you sure you want to marry me? I’ll put my words first, maybe I'll be a problem for you." Fabiola was used to hiding her inferiority complex with a bluffy attitude, and even though Lorenzo had told her clearly that he was only using her as a shield, she still felt she was not good enough for a rich man.
Not to mention that she only had few days to live. Although she used to like take petty advantages, making such a handsome man a widower at a young age is not her thing...
"Yes, or no? You tell me, and forget about the rest." Lorenzo frowned and said impatiently.
"Then what if I die in a month." Fabiola decided to tell the truth.
The room then fell into silence for a moment. See, which man is willing to marry a dying woman? Even the couple who have been together for most of their lives, if one of them is sick, the other one would get away, let alone this man who only wants to use her as a shield.
"Well, if you mind, I'll leave." Fabiola sensed what he meant by silence. She rubbed her nose and intended to take her bracelet and go out. Just when she turned around she heard the man's voice.
"Then that’s better."
Fabiola widened her eyes. What is he playing at? Lorenzo continued, "I can tell the public that you are the person I love the most, so I don't plan to get married again in this life. Once and for all, all the trouble is solved."
Fabiola soon realized his intention. She even wanted to exclaim, "good for you, bro!"
She didn't expect that by the end of her life, she had done someone a favor.
All her worries were disappeared, so Fabiola decided to accept the man's condition. As if remembering something, she raised her head, "But I have another condition aside getting my bracelet back.”
Hearing her words, Lorenzo gave her a look and nodded, gesturing for her to go on.
"Money. I need money." She announced.
Fabiola knew she was getting ahead of herself, that she was acting like a gold-digger who wanted to marry into a rich family, but she couldn't care less what anyone else thought, she needed better treatment.
She had given up on her cancer treatment since she came to Barcelona…
She had chosen to channel all the money she had left into looking for her parents…
Now that she had the opportunity to get everything she’s ever dreamt of….She would use his money to start her treatment and try to live longer until she’s found her parents.
“How much do you want?”He asked.
She nibbled her bottom lip.
“About a million.”She let out tentatively…
She could use that to get some treatment and more private investigators to hasten the process of finding her parents…
She was expecting him to start negotiating so she would beat down the amount but he turned and brought out a cheque book.
Her jaw dropped to see him write out a cheque for her.
He placed it on her hand as well as her bracelet.
“When should we get our marriage certificate?”He said.
She was still so stunned that she got such amount of money easily….in a twinkle of an eye.
“Anytime you want I guess.”Regaining her sense, she immediately flattered him.
“Let’s get it done today.After that,I would hold a press conference to announced our relationship.You only have to pretend to be my wife in public.”
“Sure.”She replied as she put on her bracelet.
Since she cannot reverse the future things, then accept and face them, which is her rules when she lived in the slums.
It is this motto that has supported her through many difficult moments.
*******************
As she sat with Lorenzo in the City Hall, she began to hesitate again. That was sacred marriage!
In fact, when Lorenzo told her to forget about the rest thing, she was touched and almost cried. It was the first time someone had been that gentle to her. She had been used to relying on herself.
Although her sense told her that it was just a deal.
All right, Fabiola gritted her teeth. Now she got the money, but it wouldn't necessarily cure her, since her life and death were unpredictable, why did she bother herself?
Just as she was about to sign her name, the phone in her hand rang.
She stared at the caller ID.It was her doctor in Madrid.
“Excuse me,I need to take this.”She said to Lorenzo.
“Be fast about it.”He said,impatiently.
She nodded and walked off to a corner to answer the phone.
“Hello…”
“Oh Miss Brosnan…thank God it finally went through…I’ve been trying to reach you for days now.”
She swallowed wondering what the problem is.
“You do not have a brain tumor….you were misdiagnosed.We’re so sorry,Miss Brosnan.”
Fabiola slowly pricked herself to confirm if she wasn’t dreaming right now…
She looked at the 1 million dollar check in her hand and laughed bitterly. God, this is more like a premeditated scam plot. Even those scriptwriters in Hollywood wouldn't make such story ......
“Miss Brosnan?Miss Brosnan?Are you there?”
“You…are…are you being serious right now?”
“We’re so sorry for the pain and agony we had caused you for this misdiagnosis…we are so sorry.”He apologized,remorsefully.
Without waiting for Dr. Madrid's words of apology, she hung up the phone, and just as she was about to go back and continue signing, she stopped.
"I didn’t have cancer, then it meant there's no need for this marriage, not to mention that I had got my bracelet back."
She would sent back the check to the Prestige Group anonymously once she was settled. She wasn't taking ill-gotten gains.
Although she needed money to find her parents, she could make money with her own hands since she was healthy.
Thinking of this, she did not hesitate any longer and walked out of the City Hall ...
- Writer
