Chapter 2 A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

Lillian

I clench my fist tightly, and for a second, I feel my whole world crumbling. I stare deeply into his eyes, trying to fathom what he meant by asking me to marry him. After leaving me years ago without any explanation, and marrying Sierra. Now he wants me to marry him when he is married and he has a daughter?

"Excuse me?" I say, trying to keep my anger at bay.

"You are excused," he says, giving me his nonchalant look.

"You want me to marry you when you have a wife and a daughter?"

"What do you take me for, Grayson?" I say, holding back the tears that are threatening to spill.

"I take you to be an attention-seeking wh*re who would do anything for money. And I am a divorced man, so do not flatter yourself," he says coldly, making me stumble back a bit.

The hatred I feel towards him intensifies. But he has the upper hand here, as I remembered the state my mum was in this morning. I cannot let his words get to me. I need money to save my mother's life. But I cannot marry Grayson. Our relationship ended years ago, and the only thing I feel towards him is immense hatred. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Without thinking twice, I run out of the house with hot tears streaming down my face. I had high hopes this morning that I was going to get a job and finally pay my mother's hospital bills, but now my mum is going to die because of me. I checked my phone to call Sebastian when I saw that he had messaged me earlier. I wipe my tears as I walk towards the car park. Immediately he sees me, he envelops me in a hug, and he doesn't say anything as he opens the car for me.

I feel like I am being watched, but when I turn back, no one is there.

Throughout our drive back home, Seb did not ask me anything. He just holds my hand and gives me his reassuring smile. Even when we get to his apartment, he gives me food and asks me to rest without pressing further, which I am grateful for. Because I do not plan on telling him that the interviewer was my ex, who abandoned me when I was pregnant, and now he is asking me to marry him.

I can neither eat nor sleep. I am feeling restless. But my mind drifts to Rachael. There was a kind of peace I felt when I was with her. It felt genuine, which made me miss my daughter. I was pulled out of my thoughts when the doctor called me. This is the second time I will be receiving his call today, and the first time was nothing to write home about.

"Good afternoon, doctor."

"Good afternoon, Lillian. I am really amazed by the love you have for your mother. We received an order to transfer your mother to the best hospital in Chicago immediately and start operating on her. I am really proud of you for not giving up on her. Everyone deserves a daughter like Lillian," he says, not waiting for my response as he hangs up.

I am so confused right now, but I know this is all Grayson's doing. He wants me to cave in to his demands. How did he find out about my mum's health so quickly? Without any second thought, I head to his house. I still remember the way Sebastian took me there this morning.

How dare he think he can control my life after what he did to me?

When I got there, I was not surprised that the security recognised me and let me in easily. As if he were expecting me, Grayson stood at the entrance, still in his three-piece suit, staring into my soul in an intimidating manner.

"Is this how you visit men at night without any prior invitation?" he says, still staring at me.

"Please stop whatever game you are playing, Grayson," I say weakly. I already have enough going on in my life, and I don't want him to complicate things further.

"I am not playing any games with you, sunshine," he says, still staring at me.

And for a second, it felt like my Grayson, but I know he's just putting on a facade. The person standing in front of me is selfish and emotionless.

"I do not want your help, Grayson. I can take care of my mother on my own."

"But that was not what the doctor told me. But if you insist, then it's fine. I just want you to know she is currently on life support, and the doctors are waiting for my permission to begin the surgery. But if you want your mother to die because you cannot sacrifice for her, then it's fine."

Once again, I let him get to me. For a moment, I wanted to tell him how much I have suffered and sacrificed for my mother, but I owe him no explanation.

"You are blackmailing me," I whisper.

"No, Sunshine, I simply want to help an old friend from the past."

"How does forcing me to marry you count as help?"

"That is for me to know, Sunshine."

"Can you stop with this 'Sunshine nonsense'? I cannot marry you, Grayson." I say, looking down at my feet.

How can I get married to someone who was once the bane of my existence? Even if the urge to revenge is burning deeply inside me, I know there is a part of me that still cares about him. And I cannot afford to put myself in a situation where that part would resurface.

Instead of replying, he pulls out his phone and calls someone who I am assuming is the doctor.

He puts the phone on speaker, and immediately the person picks up the call.

"We are waiting for your permission, Mr.Blackwood. If we wait any minute longer, we might lose the patient forever," the doctor says, and Grayson makes eye contact with me.

I knew I had lost. And he has gotten what he wanted. With tears falling from my eyes, I muttered a low 'I will marry you.' and he permitted the doctors to start the surgery.

The silence between us is loud. I am too tired to speak because I know I have just signed my life to the devil.

"You can come inside, my maid will show you to the guest room. Make sure you wake up early tomorrow. I will see you at the altar."

He says without waiting for my response before disappearing.

What the fuck does he mean by meet him at the altar tomorrow?