Chapter 1 The Price of a Life

‎If someone told me that one night could rewrite my entire destiny, I would have laughed.

‎But standing inside the freezing hospital hallway, with my mother fighting for her life, I learned that fate doesn't knock but ‎it storms in.

‎

My hands felt numb as I clutched the bill the doctor handed me. The numbers looked unreal, like a cruel joke printed in black ink. $10,000 That was how much it would cost to save my mother's life.

‎

Acute kidney failure.

‎Stage four.

‎Rapid deterioration.

‎"She needs surgery within two weeks," the doctor had said. "Without it... she won't survive."

‎The words stabbed into me over and over like sharp needles. I stood beside her bed now, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. She looked smaller than I remembered, as if sickness was shrinking her little by little.

‎Her eyelids fluttered open. "Mia... why are you still here? Don't you have work in the morning?"

‎I forced a smile. "I'll manage. Just rest, Mom."

‎She weakly reached for my hand. Her skin felt cold. Different. "Don't worry about me."

‎But I did. It was all I did.

‎I worked double shifts at Sunrise Mall, balancing between the perfume stand and the small cafeteria whenever someone called in sick. But even if I worked for ten years, I could never raise the money in time.

‎Desperation sat on my chest like a heavy stone.

‎I stepped into the hallway to catch my breath, closing my eyes, trying not to cry. That was when I saw him for the first time.

‎A tall man in a black suit stood at the far end of the corridor, speaking with one of the senior doctors. He didn't belong in a place like this. His aura was too sharp, too commanding, too... dangerous.

‎Even from a distance, I felt the air change around him.

‎Damon Black.

‎I knew that name. Everyone did. CEO of Black Corp. Billionaire. A man who could buy the hospital and fire everyone inside if he wanted to.

‎I knew he visited this hospital often, but only for special reasons private research funding, charitable surgeries, or meetings with elite doctors. Nothing that involved ordinary people like me.

‎He wasn't even looking my way, yet I felt nervous. His presence was like gravity; you noticed it even without trying.

‎I turned away, hoping to disappear into my own sadness. But the next voice I heard made my heart jump.

‎"Mia? Hey!"

‎I blinked and saw Dr. Collins, my former senior in college, walking toward me. He'd been two years ahead of me in school, always kind, always gentle. He was one of the few faces in this hospital that didn't make me feel alone.

‎"Are you okay?" he asked, studying my face.

‎I tried to smile. "I'm fine."

‎"You're lying." He crossed his arms.

‎He sighed softly. "I'm sorry, Mia. I really am."

‎"What do I do?" My voice broke without warning. "How do I save her?"

‎

‎He hesitated for a moment, then glanced behind him toward Damon Black.

‎

‎"I know you don't want pity," Dr. Collins said quietly, "but someone just asked me about you."

‎I frowned. "Who?"

‎He stepped aside slightly.

‎

‎And that was when Damon Black looked directly at me.

‎

‎His gaze hit me like a punch to the chest dark, intense, unreadable. He didn't blink. He didn't smile. He simply saw me, like he was piercing through my entire life in a single glance.

‎I froze.

‎"He... asked about me?" I whispered.

‎Dr. Collins nodded. "He overheard us talking earlier at the reception. He asked what you were going through."

‎

‎My heart stumbled. "Why?"

‎"I don't know." Collins looked confused too. "But he told me he wants to speak with you."

‎

‎A cold shiver ran through me. Damon Black didn't "speak" to people like me. He commanded, ordered, directed-but he didn't speak.

‎And definitely not in hospitals at 11 p.m.

‎

‎Before I could protest, Damon started walking toward us. His steps were slow, measured, purposeful. His suit fit him perfectly expensive, dark, intimidating. His expression was unreadable, like he was carved from stone.

‎He stopped right in front of me.

‎

‎Up close, he was even more overwhelming. His eyes were the kind of eyes that held secrets... and power. A lot of power.

‎"You are Mia Carter," he said, not asked. His voice was deep, smooth, and strong. "Correct?"

‎My throat tightened. "Y-yes."

‎

‎He studied my face with unsettling focus, then glanced at the file I was gripping. The bill.

‎"Your mother is dying."

‎The bluntness made tears burn behind my eyes. "She... she needs surgery."

‎"And you can't afford it." He said it like he already knew the entire story like someone had whispered my life into his ear.

‎I swallowed. "No."

‎

‎He took in a slow breath, as if he was making a decision. "I can help you."

‎

‎My heart thumped once, hard. "Help me?"

‎

‎Damon Black helping someone was like lightning striking the same place twice rare, strange, and dangerous.

‎"Yes." His eyes didn't leave mine. "But I do nothing for free."

‎I felt my stomach flip.

‎"What... what do you want?"

‎

‎His jaw tightened slightly.

‎"Come with me," he said. "We'll talk privately."

‎Every instinct in my body screamed that this man was trouble. But he was also the first person who had offered help. And right now, help was oxygen.

‎So I followed him.

‎

‎We walked into an empty consultation room. He closed the door slowly behind us. The air felt heavier with only the two of us inside.

‎He turned toward me. "Your mother's surgery will cost Ten thousand dollars."

‎I nodded slowly.

‎"I'll pay it."

‎Shock punched the air from my lungs. "What?"

‎

‎"I'll pay everything," he repeated. "Her surgery, her medications, her recovery."

‎I stared at him, confused, afraid, hopeful all at once. "Why? You don't even know me."

‎His eyes darkened. "I don't need to know you. I only need you to do exactly what I say."

‎My heartbeat stuttered. "What are you asking?"

‎

‎He stepped closer. Not touching me just closing the distance until I felt the heat of his presence.

‎"You will marry me."

‎The room spun.

‎

‎"What?"

‎"I need a wife," he said calmly. "For a year. A contract marriage."

‎

‎My lips parted, but no words came out.

‎"Before you ask," he continued, "this is not about love, emotions, or romance. This is business. Nothing more."

‎I felt my breath shake.

‎

‎He wanted me... as a wife?

‎

‎"You will sign a secrecy agreement," Damon went on. "No one knows about our marriage. You will not appear in public with me. No photos. No interviews. No shared bedroom."

‎My head swam. "Why me?"

‎

‎He held my gaze.

‎"Because you have nothing to gain," he said quietly, "and everything to lose. Which means you won't betray me."

‎His words sliced through my chest.

‎"And if I refuse?" I whispered.

‎

‎He leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper.

‎"Then your mother dies."

‎My knees weakened.

‎

‎Damon straightened, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. "You have twenty four hours to decide."

‎He walked to the door, opened it, then paused.

‎

‎"And Mia..." He turned slightly, his eyes locking onto mine again. "If you accept, your life will no longer be your own." Then the door shut behind him.

‎

‎I stood there shaking, breathless, drowning in fear.

‎Because I had no money.

‎No options.

‎No time.

‎And I knew something terrifying, ‎I was already considering saying yes.

‎

‎But before I could take even one step, I heard a voice behind me: "Don't trust him, Mia."

‎I spun around.

‎And froze.

‎Someone was standing in the shadows of the room someone I knew.

‎Someone who wasn't supposed to be here.