Chapter 3 Marry me or die!

2020

Karla walked out of the hair salon, feeling satisfied by the pay she received that day. She waved down a cab, and took out her phone. Since she worked for months, her money must be sufficient for her mum's treatment by then. She calculated the complete amount on her phone's calculator with a smile.

"Yes!" She jubilated loudly, ignoring the cab driver who thought she was crazy. Her heart was gladdened by this satisfaction. The money was damn complete! Those hard times were gone. Her mum would finally be alright, and she wouldn't need to worry about losing her anymore.

"Here! Here!" She tapped the cab driver as she arrived at her destination. The old man stopped, wondering what was going on with her. He stretched his hands for his fee, and she gave him a smile.

"You are one strange lady," the driver admitted. When she walked in, her mum was struggling to walk. She held her walking stick, trying so hard not to fall. The poor lady was barely 60 years, and she was already struggling with heart issues. Karla couldn't guess when it all started. And worse of all, her mother wouldn't say anything about it. Karla wrapped her hands around the woman's waist. The lady giggled and kissed her on the hair.

"What now, my baby girl?" Her mother's voice has a sudden brightness in it. "I got my full pay!" Karla announced, showing her the calculated funds.

"I finally have 1000 dollars!" Her mother's eyes widened in surprise, and Karla could tell that she was impressed. Her mother's smile faded and her face turned pale.

"You do not have to work so hard my dear," her mum said. "We can seek help elsewhere. You don't have to do so much for me." "Mama, what are you saying?" Karla looked disappointed. "I have all the money here. I personally kept track of all the funds. I can bring out my savings box if you want, and I will show you all I have accumulated. Your surgery can finally be done. You won't be in pain anymore."

"That's where you get it all wrong, my dear. The surgery is 4000 dollars and not 1000," her mother corrected. "1000 dollars can get us the drugs, but it cannot be used for the surgery." Karla's smile disappeared. She stepped away from her mum unsure of how she could skip such a detail. All the while she's been aiming for 1000 dollars. She never knew the true amount would be back breaking. She felt anxious about what else to do. "It's fine, Mama," Kala feigned strength.

"I will figure out how to help out somehow."

"Baby girl, it's okay," her mum hissed. "I am as strong as ever. If I have to go, then I will go. There is nothing we can do about it."

"Mama stop it!" Karla cried. "Just stop. You are the only family I have. Do not talk like this."

"Karla, I will always be here with you. It doesn't matter what happens today or tomorrow. What will happen will happen. Come here my love,"

Her mum stretched her hands out for a hug. Karla accepted, feeling her mum's weak hands wrap around her. She tightened the hug unsure of what step to take next. There was something about her mother's hug that felt so comforting. The same feeling that her younger self couldn't deny. Her mum was a single mother, and the lady single handedly raised her for 21 years. Karla couldn't forget the sleepless nights her mum faced, and the constant sacrifices she made. The poor girl could barely understand how strong a mother could get. As the hug lingered, she felt her mum's hands trembling. The lady began to struggle to breathe, and had lost her grip on the stick.

"Mum, are you fine?" Karla asked, but there was no response. Her mum's eyes were bloodshot, and her hands were gripping her heart tightly. "O! Goodness! O! Goodness!" Karla recognized those symptoms and felt a nostalgic feeling of helplessness. She hurriedly sat her mum down and went to the phone. "It's happening again!" She cried. "It's literally happening again!"

***

Karla thanked the doctor as he attended to her mother. He waved her to the door, ignoring the nurses questioning her mum on what she's been eating.

"We need to do that surgery as soon as possible," the doctor reported. "We cannot keep managing her like this. She is not a machine. She could die any moment."

"I am working on it," Karla admitted.

"I know it's not easy, but try harder. Her life is more important at this point," the doctor advised. She nodded and watched him scurry off with a nurse. How unfair life was?! What the hell could she do? She had no high class job nor was she educated. She wasn't as fortunate as a common layman. She pulled out her phone wondering who to even call. Her fingers barely tapped on the phone call app, when her eyes caught something that intrigued her. It was a common trend. People dressed like paupers and pleaded for money before companies just for the fun of it.

Some got lucky and were given some huge amount of money, while others were kicked out. Karla couldn't even believe she was thinking of that.

Her clothing already looked tattered, since she could barely afford new ones. She took a deep breath and walked out. She wasn't sure what company to go to. There were tons of them in San Diego where she lived. If she was lucky enough, she could stumble into a good one.

As she walked along the busy road, her sandal snapped to her anger. She hissed in annoyance and tried adjusting it. As she raised her head from the sandal, she caught sight of a fashion industry before her.

The sight of models in wealthy outfits intrigued her a lot. She smiled and hurried through the open gate without thinking. She let down her bonded hair, and sat before the entrance singing a song of gratitude.

The models were shocked to see her and they thought that she was crazy. They waved her off but she refused to leave. She showed a picture of her mother, and pleaded for their support. "What the hell is this nonsense?!" A lady screamed from the entrance.

She turned to the security guard and slapped him at the back of his head.

"Why would you allow such people in?! Kick her out now!" "Please, I just need some money," Karla pleaded.

"O! You keep quiet! Shelly doesn't give money to dirty people! Now get out!" The lady roared before turning to the guard.

"You do not understand. Your support can go a long way! I am clueless of what to do!" Karla cried as the guards approached her.

"Perhaps sleep with men!" Shelly threw a five dollar note at her, before walking back inside. The others giggled in a mockery tone, commenting on how ugly she looked.

Karla gestured to the guards not to touch her, before walking out with the 5 dollar note. She wasn't even sure why she collected it. That lady freaking insulted her.

"I can help you," a deep voice said beside her. She turned to her side, and caught sight of an expensive Lamborghini parked beside her. Inside was a very handsome guy she'd never seen before.

His dressing style was breathtaking, and his voice was freaking sexy. She looked around unsure of whether to speak to this stranger.

"Get in," he gestures to her. "We can help each other here."

"And who are you?" She asked.

"I am your future boss and husband," he smirked before opening up his Lamborghini. She still felt reluctant to go in. In fact he sounded crazy!

"I am sorry. I do not know you and..."

"Your name is Karla Yina. You are the only child of a single mother and your mother is at the prick of death. You went into my company to make a fool of yourself just for your mother. Well, it is over now, because you do not have to do that anymore. Very soon you will own this company, and hurt those who hurt you," the guy smirked. Karla was confused. How the hell does the guy know her in the first place?

"This is too much for me. I cannot..."

"Do not refuse me, Karla Yina. I am Anderson Stone, and no one refuses me. Marry me and work in my company as the face of my business. It won't take a lot for me to save your mum's life." "You are weirding me out right now. This is obnoxious. I cannot..." He wasn't done.

"Refuse me, and I will make sure that your mother dies faster," he shows her the photograph of her mother, and throws her his business card. "Choose your mum's life or your selfish interests."

Karlas feet went cold. She was speechless. Who the hell was this person?!