Chapter 1 1

Chapter 1

Mara's POV

"I'm so sorry, Miss Mara, but after conducting the tests on your father, I found out that he doesn't have much time... He will die if the money is not provided for his surgery." The doctor said to me earlier in the hospital.

"How much are we talking about here, doctor?" I asked in tears.

"We need five hundred thousand dollars to conduct a kidney stone operation. I'm afraid he has only twenty-four hours to live. If you have anything to do, or any suggestion, now is the time-or you will lose him."

The doctor's words struck me like thunder as they kept replaying in my head over and over... I couldn't even breathe; I could feel my knees trembling beneath me as I staggered down the hospital hallway... Streaks of dry tears were still in my eyes.

I fumbled the test result in my hand as I left the hospital's big gates, stepping into the cold night ... . I couldn't even watch where I was going because my vision was blurred from hot tears rushing down my cheeks.

All my life, my father has been my backbone and provided for me... even though sometimes he believes whatever thing my mom says... My mom hates my guts for no reason; she always mistreats and beats me like I wasn't her real daughter.

My name is Mara Gabriel. I'm twenty-two, and this is the wreck of a life I've been forced to live. And now, the only person who sincerely cares about me a little apart from my mom and only brother, who treated me like trash is my dad, is going to die if I don't provide enough money.

His sickness even made me stop school and sell milkshakes in the streets just to save up for his expensive medications... but it still wasn't enough.

As I stumbled into the street, the cold air just kept hitting me like a cruel reminder that life kept moving while mine crumbled ... my legs felt so heavy, and I couldn't help but ask myself questions.

Had the heavens cursed me from birth? Suffering had been my only companion and part of my story since childhood. The way my mother looked at me, like I was nothing but some kind of unwanted burden to her...like a scar no one should see.

I never believed it would turn into this... At first my father's kidney stone disease seemed manageable, and I thought we could outrun it... But as time went by, it grew into something else, and the moment he started having difficulty breathing, he stopped going to work, and my mother is not doing anything to help the situation.

My own future shrank with every passing day while I scraped coins together to put food on the table.

Only months ago, I thought that heaven had started answering my prayers when I got a scholarship at one of the biggest nursing universities in the city.... Although tuition fees were covered, I wasn't even able to pay for the textbooks and other supplies...I barely had enough money for transport fare, let alone the expensive requirements for my first semester.

But even with all of that, I still have hopes and dreams of finishing school, getting a new job, and bringing my family out of this endless hardship.

But now, it feels like all my dreams are crashing because I have just twenty-four hours to save my father's life... My mom has told me to better go look for money... Where can I get that amount of money? Five hundred thousand dollars!

Savings? Yes, I had one, but I got the most disappointing result when I tore it open and saw just twenty dollars inside... A pathetic twenty dollars against a wall of five hundred thousand.

Panic clawed at my chest. I couldn't just watch my father die.

I was still thinking of what to do when my mind clicked on someone... Mr. Swag. Rumors have it that he is a laboratory scientist who paid generous money to people for blood donations.

Being that he doesn't require excessive interviews to help, and my blood type is O positive...which means I could donate blood to anyone. That was why I had to go to the hospital to get my blood test results with the last twenty dollars I had for evidence at least.

I clutched the blood test papers in my hand and rushed straight to his clinic... When I got there, it was getting darker on the streets because I had no money on me to take a cab.

I saw a small light from his glass door and breathed out in relief, "Thank God...he's still open!" I said to myself... I made to enter, but I heard a loud noise coming from his clinic, and I froze midway.

It sounded more like a muffled sound and had these rhythmic noises like someone watching pornography.... My stomach turned. Still, I forced myself to push the door open.

Mr. Swag looked up sharply from behind his desk. Immediately I entered as his face was looking so pale and he was sweating profusely...he quickly turned off his computer screen with a quick tap.

I stood there as my eyes were fixed on him, and I swallowed hard...for some reason...I was nervous.He smiled deliberately at me as his eyes swept over my body in a way that made my skin crawl...it was more like a predator hungry for its prey.

"Hello, young lady," he said, voice silky and too smooth. "Why are you here at this hour?"

I tugged at the hem of my skirt, trying so hard to be bold and cover up my shaky legs despite the quiver in my knees.

"I...I want to donate blood. I'm ready to donate to anyone ... . I just...need the money because my father is in the hospital, and if I don't pay for his surgery, he'll die." I said sharply without breathing; my voice cracked with each word.

He smiled at me, licking his lower lips, and I narrowed my eyes. What's wrong with him? I could see the corners of his lips curled into a mischievous smile like sunlight on a poisonous flower.

"Why don't you calm down, sweet girl, and tell me exactly what you need?" He said simply while touching his beard deliberately.

"I heard you pay higher rates for blood donations, and I'm O positive," I said carefully, twisting the paper in my hand. "Please, if there's a way..."

I said, stretching my hand to give him the paper, but before I could finish, he cut in sharply. "Yes, pumpkin! You're in the right place, cutie," he interrupted as he stood up from his seat and started taking a few steps towards me. "But tell me...are you desperate for cash?"

My lips trembled. "Yes. I am." Tears blurred my vision. "My dad needed this money urgently...please..." and insurance won't cover it. I need the money tonight."

He fixed his hand on one of his pockets as his smile widened... He stepped closer. "I see. Don't worry, I can help you. I'm a laboratory scientist, after all, and I will give you a huge amount of money if you agree to my terms."

When he said that, I felt so relieved. He's really generous, as said, but then he talked about terms, and even though I didn't understand what exactly he meant...I was still thankful.

Just immediately, I was about to say something else; he rushed to me and pulled out something from his pocket ... it was a small silver spray bottle. Before I could react, he swiftly sprayed the content on my face... The scent was sweet, but it felt like pepper and mint burning my eyes.

I yelled in pain as I struggled to open my eyes... What the hell did he spray on my face?

"What...what did you..." I cried out, staggering back. My vision splintered.

I couldn't even finish my statement due to the intense pain on my entire face. It occurred to me that I made a mistake in coming here...he wants to take advantage of me!

My instinct kicked in immediately. He wanted to grab me from behind while laughing loudly. I swung my handbag in his direction with all my strength; it hit him on the hand, causing him to stagger backwards.

He charged at me again, and I hit him the second time; he fell to the floor groaning in pain. At that moment, I rushed to the door, opened it, and ran off down the street, leaving behind the test results.

My heart pounded against my chest as my lips quivered as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I could hear his footsteps behind me running faster as well...

."You can't run away from me, cutie pie!" his voice echoed down the empty street, mocking and cruel. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging for me to help you with your father's surgery!"

The scent from the spray on my face filled my nose. It was sickly sweet and intoxicating, causing me to be dizzy, and my head spun ... . It felt like the streets were tilting, but I didn't stop ... . I continued running even though I could barely see where I was running.

The streetlights in my eyes were like stars. I was getting so tired when I yanked out my phone from my bag and dialed my mother's number with trembling fingers...maybe she can help.

"Mom! Please, help me! A man... He's chasing me... Please call the police!" My voice cracked with panic and tears. My mom laughed out over the phone, to my surprise.

Her reply sliced deeper than any knife. "What are you even saying? Don't be dramatic, you silly girl.... . Where is the five hundred thousand dollars for your father's surgery? It's almost too late. How you get the money is not my business. If he pays well, just sleep with him and bring the money."

"Mom...please!"

I tried to talk, but the line went dead...even though I wasn't that surprised because I had expected this from her. She never cares about me whether I'm dead or alive... She only cares about what I offer!

"Come back here!" I heard Mr. Swag's voice from far behind and sped up on my track.

I didn't even watch where I was going as I tried to cross the road when a car honked at me and stopped instantly before it got to me. I froze as the headlights shone brightly on my face... I looked up, and it was a shiny black car; its body was gleaming under the streetlights.

I was so desperate because Mr. Swag was getting closer, and I immediately went round the car in a way that he would think that I ran past it and knocked on the tinted window from the other side. "Please! Help me! Someone's chasing me!"

The rear window slid down to reveal a man in a black shirt with broad shoulders, sharp cheekbones, and eyes like dark steel. Handsome didn't even begin to describe him, but I had no time to notice his looks particularly ... he's coming!

"Please," I begged him in tears. "He's coming... He wants to... Please, help!"

The stranger gave me a stern gaze and exchanged a look with his driver, giving him a curt nod. And just immediately, the door opened with a soft click, and I rushed in.

I crouched under the car seat behind, pressing myself against the stranger's legs as my heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

I seized my breath, and as I heard footsteps coming closer to the car, I could see Mr. Swag through the tinted glass as he stopped in front.... His face twisted with frustration.

"Excuse me," he barked at the driver's window. "Did you see a girl pass here? About five feet tall, black curly hair, and round black eyes? She is wearing blue shorts." His gaze darted over the car, searching for me.

Oh God! Please let him not expose me. The stranger darted his eyes at me for a while, and then he turned to Mr. Swag and shook his head. He answered calmly, "No. Haven't seen anyone. Maybe she went the other way."

Mr. Swag hesitated, narrowing his eyes inside the car, but then he cursed some inaudible words under his breath and rushed off into the night.

The man waited for a while until his footsteps faded, then he turned in my direction and said with a low and steady voice, "You can come out now...he has left. What happened? Why was that man chasing you?"

Slowly, I lifted my head, and that was when I noticed the sweet smell of leather and cool cologne inside the car... He smelled like cedar. So intoxicating!

I blinked twice and sat up on the seat as my eyes met his. He had golden brown eyes, which were flashing under the car light.

My eyes went down to his lips; they looked so soft and succulent, but then I controlled myself and said, "I..." I'm sorry for barging into your car like this. I..." My words faltered as a sudden wave of dizziness slammed into me. My head felt so heavy instantly, and my thoughts were suddenly sluggish.

All of a sudden, I felt so hot and heated up... Sweat prickled across my forehead, and my palms became sweaty... My vision was so blurry as I fought so hard to focus on the stranger's concerned face, but his face was so blurred in my eyes, like a watercolor.

What's happening to me? I held my head tightly with both hands, struggling to catch my breath.

"Are you all right?" he asked, leaning closer. His dark brows knit in worry...as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Please...could you...turn on the AC?" My breath came in short, shaky bursts.

The driver switched it on, but the air conditioner felt so useless...it felt like nothing was on, and the heat rushing around my body couldn't stop.

My crop top clung to my damp skin, revealing the curvy shape of my breast... The man's neat scent and the warmth of his body made my heart beat faster than usual... I felt like kissing him immediately.

I don't know what's happening to me, but I tried to focus, remembering that I can't try anything stupid, being that my father is still struggling for his life in the hospital, but the drugs in that spray are pulsing my veins and making everything drowned and hazy.

My fingers trembled as they fumbled the top buttons of my top; I was so desperate to pull everything off, breathing heavily.

The man's eyes widened, sharp and startled. "What are you doing?" he asked, voice rougher now.

"I...I don't know but please help me...something is wrong with me" I whispered; my own voice was strange to my ears.

"He sprayed something on me...." I tried to talk but then he drew closer holding my shoulder and said "You've been drugged. Whatever that man sprayed on you....it's messing with your system. You're not thinking clearly and I don't want to take advantage of you."

"No," I insisted, grabbing his wrist, my lips trembling. "It's not just the drug.... I want this and I want you." My eyes locked on his, wide and pleading. "Please...don't leave me like this."

Without thinking twice, I pulled him closer to myself like I was being drawn by a force I couldn't fight; my heart pounded faster, as well as his.

The shock in his eyes explains his surprise, but his lips parted like he also wanted this.

"Please, can you touch me? Can you have sex with me, please?." I said, His jaw tightened, and his gaze locked on mine... I made to talk again, but then I couldn't talk.

And then he said, "Are you sure about that? You don't even know me." But I didn't care at that point.

I actually wanted someone, and I think I can't stop myself right now. This drug is a powerful aphrodisiac, which was sprayed on me.

Am I feeling these because of the crimson rush inside of me or because I really wanted him? He's so handsome...

"I don't care, you're not taking advantage of anything, can you...have sex with me!? I asked, breathing heavily.