CHAPTER2

1015 Words
I was in the doctor’s office, and I felt like the walls were closing in on me and the look on Dr. James’ face was so serious and what he had just said was like a heavy weight that has just dropped. “I am sorry, Mrs. Allison, but I think time is almost up, and the p*****t must be made within the next two days, or... “ He stopped for a moment and did not say the rest but I understood what he wanted to convey. My daughter was dying and I was helpless, I had no money to help her. My mind went blank as I attempted to make sense of it. $10,600. But where was I to get that kind of money? Ariel. My beautiful, sweet Ariel. I had already lost Andrew and now. .. now this? I couldn’t lose her too. I wouldn’t survive it. “Doctor, how… how am I supposed to come up with $10,600 in 48 hours?” I choked out, my voice shaking as my tears started to well up. Dr. James looked at me and sighed, ‘I understand,’ he said in a gentle tone. ”I understand this is difficult but Ariel is very sick and she requires this transplant and she requires it urgently.” I simply agreed, but the anguished shriek that wanted to escape me was stifled. I know, I know! But how can I save her when I am currently sinking? I choked on the lump that rose in my throat and got up, trying to clear my tears with my hands. “I’ll figure it out,” I muttered to myself, not to the doctor. “I’ll get the money. “ I did not even wait for his reply, I got up and rushed out of the office feeling the burden of the world on my chest. How was I going to do this? The only thing that I was certain of was that I had to. I couldn’t let Ariel die. I couldn’t. That night I could not sleep because my mind was full of thoughts and ideas. Plans and strategies were proposed and discarded one after the other, all of them unimplementable. My salary was not even close to it. Seeking finance from friends and family had only started. I felt like a bird in a cage, struggling to fly, with my wings flapping in vain against the cage bars. Then, as if a light bulb was switched on in my head, I realized what it was that could be done. Loans. I woke up quickly, quickly reaching for my phone. It couldn’t be all that hard; there had to be a way. There were loan apps, right? Everybody received fast money all the time! It is just that I wanted to download a few, complete some forms and. .. Maybe this could work. Maybe. I searched for every loan app that I could see and began inputting the necessary details, my hands shaking with anticipation and anxiety. Oh, God, let this work, please. My mind was a whirl of confusion and I was acting in a very irrational manner but I kept on going through the desperate haze. The knock on the door later that day came as a shock to me I opened the door to find three men fully dressed in white shirts and black trousers. “Hello, ma’am, we are from LOAN US, we came to assess the property,” one of the men greeted me. I just stared at them and nodded, opening the door for them to get inside and my heart was racing. This was it. This was my chance. I took them round the house explaining each and every feature, attempting to persuade them that the house was worthy of the loan. But when they are through, one of the men gave his head a shake. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but this house is made of wood, it does not have the great value that we need.” I gazed at him, my heart dropped down to the pit of my stomach. “Oh no, no, it is worth something! The structure is sound! The wood is still usable!” I attempted to protest but they were already denying it. “I am sorry ma’am,” he said, as he made his way out of the room. This is usually in the form of: “We can’t approve your loan. " The next day, with no other options left, I found myself standing outside my boss’s office. Mr. Dre. A ruthless billionaire, but maybe... just maybe... he could help me. I knocked, and when he called me in, I stepped inside, wringing my hands nervously. "Sir," I began, my voice shaking. "I need to ask for a favor. A... a loan. My daughter, she’s sick... she needs surgery, and I don’t have the money. Please, I’ll do anything. I’ll work extra hours, take on extra tasks, whatever it takes." He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "I’m not a bank, Allison. What makes you think I can help?" I swallowed hard. "Please, sir... she’s dying." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "I might be willing to help... but it won’t come cheap." "What do you mean?" I asked, my heart racing. "I need something in return," he said, his voice cold. "I want you to marry me. A contract marriage. Two years." Marriage? I stared at him, my mind reeling. "But... but sir, I..." "You have 24 hours to decide," he said, cutting me off. "If you agree, I’ll give you the money. If not... well, I’m sorry, Allison, but your daughter’s life is in your hands now." I left his office in a daze, the weight of his offer crushing down on me. Marry him? Could I really do that? But what choice did I have? Ariel’s face flashed in my mind, and my heart broke all over again. I had 24 hours to decide. 24 hours to choose between my dignity... and my daughter’s life.
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