Chapter 4 Don't be

Chapter Four – Flora's POV

"Hop in," he said, opening the car door with a casual gesture.

"Did I ask for your help?" I snapped, not even slowing my pace as I walked away, my heels clicking sharply against the pavement.

He didn't say another word. Just stood there for a second, watching me with that maddening calmness he always wore like armor. Then I heard the car door slam shut and the engine rev. A moment later, the sleek black vehicle sped off down the street, leaving a trail of dust and my seething rage in its wake.

How dare he? The nerve of that man! One minute he's offering me a contract like we're characters in some soap opera, and the next he's playing chauffeur without being asked. I didn't need him. I could handle this on my own.

But as I stomped down the sidewalk, my bag slung tightly over one shoulder, reality began to press down on me like a weight I couldn't shake. The city seemed colder tonight, the wind biting at my skin through the thin fabric of my jacket. Every step reminded me that my life had changed overnight. I had signed away two years of it-for her.

I walked for what felt like miles, the anger eventually fading into a numb ache. My thoughts churned, tumbling over themselves like an avalanche in my head. By the time I reached my apartment, I was bone-deep tired. Not just physically-emotionally, mentally, all of it. I dropped my bag by the door and barely made it to my bed before collapsing.

Lying there, I replayed the restaurant conversation for the hundredth time. His offer. The contract. My signature. And the look in his eyes when I agreed. Calculated, cool, but almost...relieved.

What had I done?

Still, a quiet comfort snuck in amid the chaos: my grandmother would get the treatment she needed. No more late bills, no more agonizing over money. That alone made it worth it. And tomorrow, I'd finally get to see her.

I let that thought cradle me as I drifted to sleep, holding onto the one bright spot in a sea of uncertainty.

---

The next morning, I woke up much later than I intended. My alarm had gone off, but apparently I'd turned it off in my sleep. Classic. I scrambled out of bed, tripping over the pile of clothes I'd tossed on the floor the night before.

"Great start," I muttered, shoving a clean shirt over my head and pulling on a pair of jeans. I grabbed my bag, stuffed a few things inside-wallet, keys, charger, snacks-and practically flew out the door.

The air was crisp and fresh, the kind that stung your nose but still felt oddly invigorating. I made it to the bus stop just in time, boarding the faded green coach that would take me to the countryside.

The ride was long, but I didn't mind. I watched the scenery change from gray city buildings to rolling hills and winding dirt roads. There was something about leaving the city that always made me feel lighter, like I could finally breathe again. No contracts, no Lucas, no pretending. Just trees, sky, and the smell of fresh earth.

My phone buzzed once, and I glanced down to see a text from an unknown number.

Lucas: Let me know when you're back. We have a few things to go over.

I stared at the message for a second before locking the screen and tossing the phone back in my bag. Not today. Today was for her.

When the bus finally reached the small village near my grandmother's cottage, I practically ran down the hill, my boots kicking up pebbles as I went. The trees here still had hints of green clinging to their branches, though most had surrendered to autumn's golden palette.

I spotted her standing by the porch, wrapped in a knitted shawl, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight.

"Flora!" she called, her voice warm and steady as always.

I rushed into her arms, holding her tight, burying my face in her shoulder. She smelled like rosemary and chamomile-the same way she had since I was a little girl. For a moment, the weight of the last few weeks melted away.

"I've missed you so much," I whispered.

She smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Well, it's about time you came to visit. I thought the city had swallowed you whole."

We spent the day catching up. I told her about work-well, the parts I could tell without diving into the fake-marriage part-and she told me about the neighbors, the garden, and the birds that had started nesting by the window again. We drank tea on the porch, just like we used to, the two of us wrapped in blankets as the sun dipped behind the hills.

She looked tired, but there was life in her eyes. Hope. And I knew I couldn't let her down.

As we sat together watching the sky shift from orange to deep purple, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye.

"You ever make a choice that didn't feel right... but you knew it was the only one?" I asked quietly.

She didn't look at me. Just sipped her tea. "All the time," she said. "Those are the ones that end up mattering most."

I didn't respond. I didn't need to.

Later that night, after she'd gone to bed, I stood by her door, watching her sleep. The lines on her face were deeper now. She looked fragile in a way that scared me. But peaceful, too.

I went back to the guest room, pulled out the contract I had folded in my bag, and stared at the signature on the bottom. My name. His name. Two strangers bound by desperation and circumstance.

What would happen in two years? Would I be the same? Would he?

I folded the paper again and slipped it back into the envelope. I wasn't sure what the future held, but for now, I had made my choice.

---

The next morning, I made breakfast for both of us-scrambled eggs, toast, and the strawberry jam she loved. We ate in companionable silence, the quiet broken only by the occasional bird song outside the window.

When it was time to leave, she hugged me longer than usual.

"Be brave," she said softly.

I nodded, though my throat tightened. "Always."

The bus ride back felt heavier somehow. The city came into view like a wave crashing down, reality waiting to reclaim me. I turned my phone on again. Another message from Lucas.

Lucas: Dinner. Tonight. 7 PM. Don't be late.

I rolled my eyes but didn't respond. Instead, I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.

The contract had been signed. My fate was tied to his-for better or worse.

But for now, I still had one last moment of peace.