The Next Morning...
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, stabbing at Bethany's throbbing head.
She groaned, turning over in bed...
As the haze of sleep lifted, the events of the previous night began to surface, and her stomach twisted in shame.
She sat up abruptly, clutching the sheets around her. The other side of the bed was empty.
The man was gone.
"What did I do?" Bethany whispered as she buried her face in her hands.
Her self-loathing was interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. She hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
"Miss Bethany, it's me. The driver." The voice on the other end was urgent. "Your mom collapsed this morning. She's at the hospital."
"What?!" Bethany's heart dropped. "Is she… is she okay?"
"I don't know. You should come now."
"I'm on my way."
Bethany threw on her clothes and rushed out of the hotel, barely noticing the curious stares of the staff as she ran to her car.
After a few minutes of intense driving, she arrived at the hospital and rushed to the nurse's station.
"My mother," she said breathlessly. "Margaret Blake. Where is she?"
The nurse glanced at a chart. "Room 214. The doctor will be with you shortly."
"Ok," she barely answered as she swiftly ran towards the direction given to her.
Bethany burst into the room to find her mother lying pale and unconscious on the bed.
The sight was like a punch to the gut.
She twirls her head and sees the driver standing awkwardly in the corner. "I brought her as fast as I could," he said.
"Thank you." Bethany nodded, her voice barely a whisper.
The door opened, and a doctor stepped in. "Miss Blake?"
"Yes," Bethany said, stepping forward and the doctor sighed.
"Your mother's brain cancer has advanced significantly. She needs another surgery immediately, but the costs are substantial. I understand your family's financial situation, so…"
"I'll figure it out." Bethany cut him off. "Just do whatever you need to do to save her."
The doctor nodded. "We'll need approval and payment soon from your father. Call him."
"Alright."
As the doctor left, Bethany pulled out her phone and dialed her father. He picked up after the second ring.
"Dad, Mom's in the hospital. Her cancer's gotten worse. She needs surgery as soon as possible."
"I see." Her father's tone was indifferent.
"That's all you have to say?" Bethany's voice cracked. "She could die, and you don't care?"
"I never said that," he replied calmly. "But I can't justify draining continuous resources on her unless there's something in return."
Bethany's grip on the phone tightened. "What are you talking about?"
"I'll pay for the surgery," her father said. "But only if you agree to the arranged marriage."
The air seemed to leave the room. Bethany's knees wobbled as she gripped the edge of a chair for support.
"You're blackmailing me?" she whispered.
"Call it what you want," her father said. "This is the only way to secure the funds. I can't keep wasting money on Margaret."
Following his response, Bethany glanced at her unconscious mother, her face pale and fragile.
She couldn't lose her.
"Dad," she said, her voice breaking, "this isn't fair. You're asking me to destroy my life. Isn't she your wife?"
"She is... but you have a choice, Bethany," he replied coldly. "Save your mother or don't. It's up to you."
Then the line went dead.
Bethany stood frozen, her mind spinning with what could be her decision. Save her mother's life… or sacrifice her own future.
She sank into the chair, her hands shaking as tears streamed down her face. She had no idea what to do.
She checked through her phone but saw that the money saved In her bank account would not be enough for the surgery, not to talk of the aftermath treatment.
The muffled beep of the heart monitor filled the room as Bethany sat beside her mother, gripping her hand tightly.
The pressure of her father's ultimatum loomed like a dark cloud.
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor seemed to grow louder, each sound a reminder of how little time they had left.
Her mother was fighting for her life, and Bethany knew she couldn't delay the inevitable any longer.
She held her phone, staring at the screen for what felt like an eternity before finally dialing her father's number again.
He picked up after three rings. "Bethy," he said, his tone clipped.
"I'll do it." She swallowed hard, her voice low but her father didn't miss a beat.
"Good... I expected you'd come to your senses."
Bethany's hand tightened around the phone as anger simmered beneath her resolve. "What next?"
"Tonight," he replied. "Get yourself ready. We're meeting with the Williams family and your future husband at their mansion."
"Tonight?" Bethany's breath hitched, her grip on the phone loosening.
"Yes," her father said firmly. "It's time to solidify this arrangement. And I don't expect you to embarrass me over there."
Before she could respond, the line went dead.
Bethany lowered the phone from her ear, her heart throbbing aggressively in her chest. Tonight, she would meet the man who was about to take over her life.
The gravity of her decision pressed down on her as she glanced back at her mother.
This wasn't the life she wanted, but it was the only way to save the one person who she loves the most...
Later that day, Bethany left the hospital to the hotel with a heavy heart knowing her mom was still unconscious.
Tonight was crucial, and she needed to prepare.
She stepped into her room and sat on the bed, staring at the dress she had just laid out. A simple black dress...nothing extravagant.
She didn't want to impress anyone, least of all, the Williams family or their second son.
As she slipped into the dress and tied her hair into a neat bun, her thoughts betrayed her.
The stranger from last night kept invading her mind...his strong grip when he caught her, the way he looked at her, the moment she crossed the line with him.
"Stop it, Bethy," she muttered to herself, shaking her head as she focused on zipping up the dress.
With no makeup on her face and her outfit modest, Bethany felt prepared...or as prepared as she could be.
Everything was happening too fast. She didn't even have the energy to think about Sebastian anymore. Her mother's health was her only priority now.
Even Tasha hasn't gotten in touch with her since yesterday.
Leaving the hotel, she spotted the car her father had sent waiting by the curb. She climbed in and silently braced herself for the night ahead.
Back at her family home, Bethany stepped out of the car and froze when she saw Clara and Mrs. Helen already dressed, standing in the living room.
"Why are they coming?" Bethany demanded as she approached her father, but he barely looked at her.
"They're family, Bethany. Since your mother is still in the hospital, it's only right Helen and Clara come along."
"That's not necessary. This has nothing to do with them."
Her father straightened his tie, dismissing her anger. "We need to present a united front. Don't make a scene."
Clenching her fists, Bethany swallowed her frustration. For her mother, she told herself. She was doing this for her mother.
She turned away from Clara, pretending her stepsister didn't exist as they all stepped out of the house.
The drive to the Williams estate was long and silent, but Clara broke it with her usual lack of tact.
"This doesn't look like a bankrupt family," she said, her tone laced with envy as the mansion came into view.
Bethany rolled her eyes. Shameless as always, Clara was already plotting something in her mind.
"Appearances can be deceiving, Clara." Her father responded casually, "focus on why we're here."
"Shameless bitch!"
Bethany cursed under her breath as she looked away from Clara, who was seated next to her in the back seat.
When they finally arrived, Bethany stepped out of the car and took in the estate. It was grand, almost intimidating.
A butler, an older man with a formal air, greeted them and led them inside.
The interior was just as lavish as the exterior, and Bethany couldn't help but feel out of place.
They were ushered into a grand dining room, and as they sat down, the Williams family entered.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams walked hand in hand, their expressions warm as they saw them. Following behind them was their second son, the one Bethany was supposed to marry.
When he stepped forward for introductions, Bethany's heart sank.
He was average-looking at best, with an awkward demeanor that explained why he had stayed out of the public eye for years.
"This is Nicholas, our second son," Mr. Williams said proudly.
Bethany forced a polite smile, but she felt nothing. Now she understood why they were so eager to marry him off.
No woman would willingly choose him.
Beside her, Clara smirked, clearly enjoying the situation. Bethany ignored her, focusing instead on keeping her emotions in check.
After pleasantries, they all sat down to dinner. Just as Bethany picked up her fork, the door to the dining room creaked open.
A figure walked in, his steps slow and deliberate. Bethany glanced up, and her breath caught in her throat.
The fork slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor as she froze in place.
It was him.
The stranger from last night at the hotel stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room before they landed on her.
"Ah, there you are," Mr. Williams' voice broke through the silence. "Everyone, meet my first son, James Williams."
'First son?!'
Bethany's eyes popped out in shock as her gaze locked to James', who let out a smirk...