Chapter 1 The Deal

The thunder boomed and crackled, making her jump in surprise as Amelia got to the hospital. She let out a sigh of relief, She just made it to the hospital before it started raining.

The hospital's hushed corridors seemed to whisper grave diagnosis and uncertain outcomes. She was beginning to get used to the smell of antiseptic.

She got to her mother's ward, opened the door and met an empty bed. She screamed and ran through the corridor.

"Please, my mother. I can't find her". She held back the tears as she tried to talk to the nurses, the nurses didn't even respond to her. "I'm going to sue you for not doing your job well, how did someone who's critically sick leave the hospi...tal".

She stopped in her words, when a doctor approached her, she felt cold chills down her spine "Noo, it can't be". He held her hand and led her to the ICU.

" We moved her to the ICU when her condition worsened, her current condition requires urgent surgery". He said.

His words drowned in her ears, her vision was blurry as hot tears rolled down her cheeks. This can't be happening now. She just lost her job.

With one last look at her mother, she ran out of the hospital like an enraged woman. She had just one option, going to beg her dad for help. Even if it meant taking a loan from him.

She sighed as she stepped out of the car, each step she took she felt a jumble of emotions swirling inside her,- guilt, and anxiety. The smell of old memories, she cleaned her eyes with the back of her palms.

She took a deep breath, as she pushed the door, she felt like she was surrendering to a fate she tried to avoid.

"Nobody is at home" a voice said, Amelia turned to see a maid walking towards her.

"I'm here to see my family" Amelia replied as she walked towards the living room.

"I can't let you in, Miss. Are they aware you are coming to see them?" The maid asked, looking at Amelia with disdain.

Amelia looked at her for a few seconds, before she left her.She walked towards the living room, It still looked the same,the apartment's modern design which featured state-of-the-art technology and appliances.

"Amelia?" a familiar voice said, which made her stop in her tracks.

"It's been a while, Amelia" her dad said, he was heartless. He could still recognise her after he threw them out of the house and never cared to contact them.

"What brought you here?" her stepmother said, she still had her devilish look. She was the last person Amelia hoped to see.

A maid suddenly came in, " I'm sorry I tried to stop her from coming in".

"It's okay, she's as stubborn as her mother". Her stepmother replied, " you can leave" she told the maid who bowed and turned towards the door leaving them.

Amelia simply went on her knees, "please, lend me some money, my mother's condition is critical, she needs urgent surgery".

Her father hardly looked at her as he went through his mobile phone like that tiny device was the most precious thing in the world!

Her knees were hurting from how long she had knelt down trying to beg them and her fragile heavy eyes held unshed tears. She tried not to cry in front of them. Never!

"Do you really want her to die under your watch? Please, help me" she pleaded for the umpteenth time.

She was vexed, and very much helpless.

"Wow, look who we have here, my loser sister, begging?". a familiar voice spoke behind her. " What else do you want from us?"

She looked at the newcomer, she still looked good and still carried herself like the spoiled brat she knew Ava, her stepsister, she was the true replica of her mother. Amelia knew with the devil's little brat around, it would be difficult to convince her dad to help her.

" We'll lend you some money, on one condition" Ava said."Marry Lucas Iyke in my place". Ava said with a mischievous smile. Amelia stood up immediately, her legs felt heavy and stiff.

"Lucas Iyke? the illegitimate son of Iyke's family?" she asked. Unsure of the name Ava just mentioned.

"Yes, that Lucas, that bastard, good-for-nothing illegitimate son of Iyke's family". She said as she leaned over to whisper in Amelia's ear " I heard he's a loser that's why I can't marry him" she chuckled.

" That's my daughter, she's as smart as her mother" Rose her stepmother said, she looked at her husband "Amelia is also your daughter"

Mr Rossi chuckled, "as long as the debt is written off". She expected him to say something better.

"Dad, please help me just this once". Amelia's lips trembled as she cried.

Her dad sat there, his face impassive, as he listened to her outburst passively. With the look in his eyes, she knew he had made up his mind.

A cold and piercing silence enveloped the whole house. She had to make a decision, it was her or her mother and as much as she loved her mother, sacrificing herself was one thing she never imagined.

She glanced at her phone, her pay off salary was not enough to cover up half of her mother's medical bills not to talk of paying for surgery. She was still paying off her college debts.

"You don't like the offer," her dad said as he stood up to leave. He was more concerned about his debt being written off.

Fear of losing her mum crippled her and all her thoughts were messed up too.

Without second thoughts, "I'd marry him", she said. The only sound she could hear was the tickling of the clock.

"Please, promise me you'll take care of her medical bills" she said amidst tears.

"Yes, you just keep your part of the deal, the wedding is tomorrow". Her dad said as he dialled a number on his phone.

Amelia knew her mother would be so heartbroken when she found out about this. She would have preferred death than allow Amelia to beg her father for help.

She went outside and looked at the sky, hoping to see a sign or the appearance of a fairy godmother telling her she made a wrong decision.

She was lost in thoughts, what was I thinking when I accepted to marry Lucas? Would my father really pay for my mum's medical bills? What if after everything she doesn't survive? What would happen to my marriage?

She jolted when someone touched her "Amelia.' She recognized the voice. It was her dad's. What was he doing outside?

" I'm sorry for everything, I'm really in debt and this marriage is the only way my debts will be written off". He even had the guts to apologise.

"I know you don't love us, would you be saying these same words if she died? She asked him. He couldn't even look her in the eyes.

" I thought as much, you can't even look me in the eyes".

"Just keep to your part of the deal" she said as she walked back into the house. She went into the room and her brain was flooded with thoughts again.

She wished she had another option, but marrying someone she barely knew to pay her mother's medical bills. Her family really backed her into a corner. They really got her this time

She would never forgive herself if anything happened to her mother because she couldn't meet the demands of her father.

With that she laid on the bed and closed her eyes. unsure of what tomorrow holds for her.

Her sudden wedding day!