Chapter 5 Unfolding Secrets.

Harper

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The antiseptic scent lingered in the atmosphere, melding with the soft chatters of hospital workers, and patients alike.

I strode towards my mother's hospital room. Opening the door, my eyes fell on my sister.

Vivian lunged herself at me, pulling me into a hug. "How did you do it?" Tears streaming down her eyes and settling on my shoulders. She pulled back, a grin slipping onto her lips.

My gaze zeroed in on her, as I attempted to make sense of her words. An unsteady chuckle escaped me.

"The doctor came in and said the payment had been made. Mom will be having her surgery today."

A sense of relief tugged at every inch of me as my eyes widened. Despite selling my soul to the devil to make this happen, it was worth it.

Her gaze lingered on me as her smile fell to a neutral expression. "How did you get the money?"

I took a deep breath before heaving out a puff. Does she need to know? Does she need to know the price of the surgery was my soul? Of course not.

I patted Vivian on her head. "Does it matter?" I flashed her a smile. "As long as mom will be fine, isn't that good enough for us?"

An unsettling look settled in her eyes as she nodded her head. I knew she didn't agree with my words, but we were both too concerned with our mother's health to bother with such trivial matters.

I drew closer to my mother's bed. Her eyes shut. Her chest heaving, in rhythm with the medical monitors.

Cupping her hands into mine, I muttered, "You are going to be fine. I found a Good Samaritan who was willing to help us." I continued, despite knowing Trevor was anything but a Good Samaritan.

But the doctor had said Although she was in a vegetative state, we should still be having conversations with her. So we always said positive things around them and made no mistake of crying in her presence.

After a while, the doctor and nurse came and took my mother out of the room for the surgery theater while Vivian and I waited outside, in the hallway.

Vivian stretched out on the chair. "I feel like licking ice cream." She cushioned her head with her arms.

Belying the knots in my stomach, I chuckle. Vivian had a habit of eating ice cream when she was nervous. I remember during my father's burial, Vivian had stepped out to get a bowl of ice cream. And when she returned, my aunt slapped her and rained thousands of insults on her: Saying she was heartless and her brother deserved better kids.

I still remember the sharp snort that flared through my nostrils when I heard those words. He was never there for us. He always came home reeking of alcohol and cigarettes. In his drunk state, he would pounce on my mother as though she was a sinner who had committed an unforgivable crime.

When we thought things couldn't get worse, he upgraded into using drugs and gambling, plunging us deeper into poverty.

So when I heard my aunty say those words, I felt like ripping her apart. It was we who deserved a better father. It was my mother who deserved a better husband.

"I've always wondered how you can stomach anything," I said, glancing at the theater door.

"That's the only way I could drown the nervousness in my stomach." Her eyes lingered on me. Her lips parted but then it tightened into a straight line.

"Say what's on your mind." I exhaled. I already have a lot to worry about, I had no strength to wonder what was going through her mind.

Vivian straightened up as she fidgeted with her fingers. "Who's the good samaritan you talk about?" She questioned.

I heaved out another exhale. There was no need to hide it. Sooner or later, she was going to find out about it. "I am getting married."

Her eyes widened. "Adam took you back?"

A short chuckle bubbled out of my throat. "Of course not. Another man."

Her eyes dimmed. "Were you cheating on Adam? I mean you guys just divorced barely a week ago, where did you meet a man who wants to marry you in less than a week?" her speech came out fast and it somehow grated on my nerves.

"Isn't the heavens gracious?" I teased.

Vivian wasn't satisfied with my response a frown formed on her face. "Don't tell me it's a contract marriage?" She jerked upward.

When all she got was my silence, she raked her hand through her hair. "After how Adam treated you, you still entered another one." She let out a thin air of exasperation. "Don't you get it? Rich men like Adam, don't care about poor women like us."

Of course, I knew that-all thanks to Adam.

My voice sank and my gaze deepened. "But what was I supposed to do? It's not like I could find $500,000 lying on the floor somewhere."

"I am sorry." She leaned back into the chair. "You are right."

"But I have learned my lesson." I tilted my body and faced her. "I won't let this man use me like Adam." I cupped her hand into mine. "Besides, he is also paying for your college tuition."

Vivian's eyes tore at me as they widened. "So I'll be going back to college?" Her speech came out slowly as if she was trying to process the information. "I want to be happy... No, I am happy. It's just that, I don't want you to sacrifice yourself."

I let out an exhale. "Well, I am your elder sister. I have to be the one."

The theater doors opened and the doctor came out. We jolted to our feet.

The man pulled down his nose mask. "The surgery was successful."

Almost instantly my sister pulled me into her arms. Our sobs, one out of pure joy, filled the once-cold hallways.

**********

After my mother's surgery, I returned home to take a shower. I slipped into a simple black gown.

After putting on my red lipstick, I stepped outside my house.

My eyes fell on the black sleek car that looked out of place in the scrawny area. Like a diamond amid dirt.

The driver came out and opened the car door. As I entered the car, a familiar musky scent filled my nose, and whipped my head to the figure beside me.

Lo and behold, the devil in the flesh-Trevor. My body tightened as I wasn't expecting him but his P.A.

His eyes lingered on me. The intensity reviving up flutters-one so faint but not unnoticed-in my stomach. "How did the surgery go?" His eyes returned to the newspaper caught in his hands.

Remembering our last encounter this morning, the air suddenly thickened in the confined space of the car.

"It was successful, thanks for your assistance." I fidgeted with my fingers. "I thought I was meeting with your P.A."

Without moving his head, his eyes tore to me. "You're not happy to see me?" A smirk played on his lips.

And there went the nervousness as his cocky behavior grated my nerves. "Yes, I am so happy I could die," I said with a straight expression.

Trevor snorted with a smile. "He had an important business errand to attend to." The paper fluttered as he turned the pages. "Besides, He won't be able to pick our wedding rings."

"Wed..wed...wedding rings?"

Trevor snapped the newspaper shut. "Yeah. What are we supposed to get married with? Swords?"

"That's better, it would be easier to rip your devilish heart out." I tucked my hair behind my ears and fixed my gaze on the bustling city unfolding outside the car.

Trevor smiled and returned his eye to the newspaper. "Our marriage will happen in a week. But, you are moving into my house today."

My eyes fluttered as I faced him. "Why so fast? Must I move in today?"

"I like my things moving at a fast pace."

Well, he did pay my mother's bill faster than expected.

After another ten minutes, the car finally came to a stop. "Sir, we have arrived Si,"

The driver announced.

Trevor stepped out of the car and stretched out his hand.

Cynicism did not attempt to hide on my face as my brows furrowed.

"I might be a devil, but I am also a gentleman." Trevor smiled with his eyes.

Trodding into the designer boutique, the sales rep dashed at us. "Good day Sir, Good day Ma. How can I help you?"

Trevor turned to her. "My fiancée here needs some beautiful dresses." He glanced at me, before plopping onto the sofa.

The sales rep led me to the dressing room where she showered me with different designs and colors of clothes, bags, and shoes.

I should have been used to wealth, after all, Adam was rich. But I wasn't used to this. When we went shopping, Adam usually bought a dress or two.

But now, I was getting a full closet. The price of the clothes made my heart thump.

After Trevor paid for the clothes, bags, and shoes that filled up the boot, we went to the jewelry stop.

The rings sparkled beneath the showglass. The male sales rep's eyes were fixed on us as Trevor and I observed the goods.

My eyes clung to one, but the price made me swallow my desire back.

Following my line of gaze, the male sales rep said, "This is a 2-carat, colorless D-F diamond. It's perfectly cut. The rare colorless quality makes it an exceptional investment."

"And how much does it cost?" Trevor leaned in.

"$100,000, sir."

My stomach twisted. I leaned in and muttered to Trevor. "We don't have to buy it." We had already spent about $500,000 on clothes and now this. Even my soul didn't cost this much.

Trevor leaned in, till his face was mere inches away, his warm breath teasing my skin. "Is this how you are going to pluck every leaf and fruit till I'm barren?" A taunting smile burnt on his lips as he shot his perfectly arched brows up. "You were so bold this morning when you said those words and I had thought you meant it." Amusement flickered in his eyes, one that mocked me.

With a straight smile, I turned to the Sales rep. "I want this design, but in 5-carat."

The man's eyes flickered to Trevor. "That would be $500,000." His voice quivered a bit.

The smile persisted on Trevor's lips. "Give her what she wants."

"Okay, sir."

Trevor turned to me, confidence still glinting in his eyes and his gaze lingered longer than usual. "Is that all you want?" He questioned with a sweetly teasing tone.

"Do you want me to buy every jewel in the building?" I retorted.

"If you can wear them all." He smiled once more. But his eyes... They were daring me to try anything stupid and he would come for both my sister, mother, and unborn children's souls.

I pursed my lips as I shot him a squinted look. "Yes, that's all." I folded my hands and turned away. Curse his wealth.

After rounding up at the jewelry store, we continued the shopping spree.

********

Night came and I had begun arranging my clothes in the large closet that seemed like its own little world.

My eyes glanced over the heap of clothes sprawled across the bed, the bag and shoes, the jewelry, and the expensive makeup.

My phone beeped. A message from an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.

"Trevor isn't a good man. If you want to live, cancel the marriage and get out of that house now."

A photo was attached to it. Opening it, it showed a picture of one of his ex-wives, tied in a chair, her eyes blindfolded and her hands and legs chained to the chair.

I gasped and quickly my hand stifled my mouth.

Another text came in: this is the last picture of his wife.

Zooming in on the picture, I froze the warm air turned chill against my skin. The room in the picture-the dark, haunting space-was the exact room I was in.

My heart thudded against my chest and my breath stilled.