THE BILLIONAIRE'S TRAP

"Come on, Miles, you're falling behind!" One of his friends called out, glancing over his shoulder with a light grin.

Miles smiled, adjusting the straps of his backpack as he quickened his pace to catch up. "I'm right behind you," He called back. He loved being outdoors, the freedom of hiking with his friends, and the wind on his face that allowed him to think.

"So, who's ready to race to the top?" Another friend suggested

Miles laughed, feeling a surge of energy as he looked up at the peak in the distance. "You're on," he said, breaking into a jog.

But as he took his first few strides, something felt off. His foot slipped slightly on the loose gravel beneath him, but he recovered quickly pushing his body forward. While the other sprinted, he was at the back trying to keep up, but his legs felt heavier with each step.

Suddenly the ground beneath him seemed to shift. His ankle twisted awkwardly, sending a sharp pain shooting Jo his leg, "Whoa-" he gasped, his arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance. But it was too late. His body pitched forward, and the world tilted violently as he lost his footing completely.

"Miles!" One of his friends shouted, but the shout was distant, muffled by the sudden rush of panic he was feeling.

His body hit the rocky ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. Pain exploded in his sides as he rolled, tumbling down the slope. The world became a blur of trees, dirt, and sky as he spiraled uncontrollably. He tried to grab onto something-anything-to stop his fall, but his fingers only scraped against the earth.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck...."And then, everything went dark.

---

Bambi's hands trembled as she gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. The voice on the other end was still talking, but she wasn't listening anymore. The moment they had said Miles's name, her heart had stopped cold. Accident. Hospital. Critical. The words swirl in her mind, making her feel like the floor had dropped out from under her.

"No... no, that can't be fright." She whispered weakly. "Miles was just-he was fine. He was just fine."

"Ma'am, I understand this is difficult, but you need to come to the hospital right away."

Bambi blinked, tears streaming down her face as she tried to focus. The hospital. She had to go. She had to see him. But her legs felt frozen as if they no longer obeyed her. It was like a nightmare, like the world had suddenly tilted on its axis and nothing made sense anymore.

Her phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor, the sound echoing through the silent room. She stood there for a moment, paralyzed by the weight of the news, her mind trying and failing to make sense of it.

And then, it hit her all at once.

"No... no... God, no!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face, hot and fast, as her knees buckled and she collapsed to the floor, the grief tearing her apart from the inside.

Her baby. Her sweet boy. Miles. No.

She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was cry, her body shaking with the force of her emotions. The room seemed to close in on her, suffocating her as the world outside no longer existed. At least Zoe wasn't here to see her like this at this moment, Nothing mattered except the fact that her don-her precious son-was lying in a hospital bed, and she wasn't there."

"I should've been there," she choked out between sobs, her hands clutching at her chest "I should've not let him go" More sobs "I should've-"

But the words wouldn't come. There was no way to fix this. No way to make it right. And lying on the floor with grief wouldn't make anything right either. She was only wasting time and she knew it. Eventually, she pushed herself up, wiping her tear-streamed face, Bambi grabbed her keys with trembling hands and rushed out the door.

She couldn't lose him. She couldn't lose her son.

Not now.

Not ever.

** ** **

"Are you sure it's safe?" she asked, her tone cautious.

Miles rolled his eyes "Mom, I'll be fine. We've been planning this for weeks now, and everyone else's parents are cool with it. I could use the break, you know? It's been a rough few months with school and everything innit."

Bambi sighed, knowing that he was right. The past few months had been difficult for all of them, with the pressures of school, the growing distance between her and her husband as he was always traveling and barely around, and the general stress that seemed to hang over their household like a huge storm cloud. Miles had been bearing it all as usual, never complaining, but she could see the weariness in his eyes. He was tired. They were all tired and maybe he could use a break.

"All right," she finally said, trying to ignore the knot of worry tightening in her chest. "But you have to promise me you'll be careful, and you'll check in regularly, okay?"

Miles's face broke into a wide grin. "Thanks, Mom! I promise I'll be careful, and I'll call you as soon as we get there. You won't even notice I'm gone."

Bambi couldn't help but laugh at that, even as she stood him. "I always notice when you're gone, Miles. You and Zoe are my world. Which is why I think Zoe should come with you."

Miles pulled back from the hug, staring at his mother like she said something ridiculous. But she did say something ridiculous. "Zoe can't come with me. She's a lazy ass and she can't climb."

"But, Miles,"

"Mom, there are a lot of boys there. Zoe is just seventeen. I can't let her go anywhere close to those horny teenagers. I'll be fine, alright. Trust me. When have I ever not been?"

"Miles... you forget you're both twins?"

Miles pulled her into another hug, "We'll be back before you know it."

** ** **

The memory faded as quickly as it had come.

The hospital room was quiet, save for the steady beeping of the machines that monitored her son's fragile condition. Miles lay motionless on the bed, his once-vibrant face, pale and still, his chest rising and falling with each mechanically-assisted breath.

Bambi sat by his side, her hand gently resting on his. She had barely left his side since the accident, unable to tear herself away from him for more than a few moments at a time. The doctors had told her that his condition was critical, that the damage to his brain was severe, but she refused to give up hope. She had to believe that he would wake up, that he would come back to her, and that everything would be okay again. But believing, and having 'hope' was quite hard because the fall he had was hard, from a high hill. The ribs he had broken couldn't be counted.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the doctor enter the room until he cleared his throat softly. Bambi's head snapped up, her heart racing as she stood up quickly, her eyes wide with desperate hope. Maybe the doctor was here for good news, maybe Miles would be alright after all.

"Doctor, do you have any news? Is there any change?" she asked, her voice trembling. She had cried for hours, hoping that maybe if Miles heard her, he would notice how sad she was and wake up.

The doctor, a middle-aged man with kind eyes, shook his head gently. "I'm afraid not, Mrs. Harris. Miles' condition remains the same."

"But it's been days now." She slumped back against the couch as she allowed her heart to sink further. The familiar weight of despair settled over her once again. She had clung to the possibility that today would be different, and like every other day, that there would be some sign, any sign, that her son was fighting his way back to her. But there was nothing. His words were nothing.

The doctor hesitated for a moment before continuing, his expression turning serious. "There's something else I need to tell you."

Bambi's stomach tightened with dread. "What is it?"

"There's someone here to see you. He says he's your lawyer-Rick Matron?"

Bambi's brow furrowed in confusion. "Rick? Yes, he's our family lawyer, but... why is he here?"

She couldn't imagine why Rick would show up at the hospital, especially now. Her mind raced through the possibilities, each one more worrisome than the last. Was there some issue with her husband's business? Some legal matter that needed immediate attention? If it was that, she wasn't sure if that was more important than her son's life right now. Business can wait.

She looked back at Miles, reluctant to leave his side, but the doctor's expression told her that this was something she couldn't ignore.

"I'll be right back," she murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to her son's forehead. "Stay strong for me baby, okay?"

With a deep breath, Bambi followed the doctor out of the room and down the sterile, brightly lit corridor. The hospital felt eerily quiet, the usual bustle of activity subdued as if the entire building were holding its breath. A hospital isn't the right place to spend your weekend in.

When she reached the waiting area, she saw Rick Matron standing by the window, his back to her as he looked out at the darkening sky. He was a tall man, with a strong, broad build that always reminded her of a football player. His graying hair was neatly combed, and he was dressed in a sharp, dark suit, as usual. But there was something about the way he stood, his shoulders tense, that set off alarm bells in Bambi's mind. No. Something was wrong. Something other than business issues.

"Rick?" she called out softly, stepping into the room.

Rick turned around, and the look on his face made Bambi's blood run cold. His usually confident, professional demeanor was gone, replaced by an expression of deep sorrow and regret.

"Bambi," he began, his voice gentle but filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place. "I'm so sorry to be here under these circumstances. I know what you're going through. But this is important."

Bambi's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening as panic began to rise within her. "What... what do you mean? Why are you here?"

Rick hesitated, his eyes filled with something she could only describe as pity. "I need you to sit down, Bambi." No, no, no. I don't need anyone's pity I just need to know what the fuck is happening.

She shook her head, fear building inside "No, just tell me. What's going on? Why are you here?"

Rick took a deep breath, his gaze steady on hers. He knew this was going to be the worst news of her entire life but he couldn't prolong it anymore. "There's no easy way to say this... Your husband... He's been in an accident."

Bambi felt the floor shift beneath her, her vision blurring as the words sank in. "An accident? What do you mean? Is he okay?"

Rick's expression softened even further, his eyes filled with grief. "I'm sorry, Bambi. He... he didn't make it. He was killed in a car crash."

"Wh...wha...what...no."

"Last night."

The words hit Bambi like a physical blow, knocking the breath out of her. She staggered backward, her mind refusing to process what she was hearing. Her husband was dead? How could that be? She had just spoken to him last night, had just seen him. It was a video call. It couldn't be true. It couldn't.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head in denial. "No, that's not possible. There must be some mistake."

Rick reached out to steady her, his grip firm but gently holding her in place so she wouldn't fall. "I wish I were wrong, Bambi. I'm so, so sorry."

Bambi's legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed into a chair, pushing Rick away from her, her hands covering her face as the reality of it all crashed down on her. Her son was in a coma with broken bones, limbs, and an injured skull, Her husband was also gone. The father of her children, the man she had shared her life with, was dead.

A low, anguished wail escaped her lips, growing louder as the pain pierced through her like a knife. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but scream as the grief consumed her.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, everything went black.

When Bambi came to her senses, she found herself lying on a couch in a small, dimly lit room. The faint smell of antiseptic filled the air, and she realized she was still in the hospital. Her head throbbed, and it took her a moment to remember what had happened. And when she did, that pain came back to her chest again, she immediately stood up and went to throw up into the bin. No matter how much she tried to make sense of the situation, there was this emptiness in her which ached more than ever. Her husband was gone. Her world had shattered, and there was nothing left but the pieces.

Rick was immediately beside her as he helped her sit back down, his expression filled with concern. "Bambi, are you okay?"

She nodded numbly, though she knew she was far from okay. She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, one she couldn't wake up from. Maybe it's all just a bad dream.

"What... what happens now?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

Rick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'll need to take care of the legal arrangements, of course. But right now, you need to focus on yourself and your kids. Zoe especially. I'm here to help with anything you need."

Bambi nodded again, though she didn't know how she was supposed to do any of that. Her mind was a blur, filled with the image of her husband, alive and well, only to be replaced by the terrible realization that he was gone. And in such short span of time.

"How am I supposed to tell them?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "How am I supposed to tell Miles and Zoe? I know Miles is in Coma now but this would break Zoe."

Rick's face softened, and he reached out to squeeze her hand. "You don't have to do it alone, Bambi. We'll get through this together."

But even as he said the words, Bambi knew that nothing would ever be the same again. Her glass house had shattered, and she was left standing in the wreckage, trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces.

Bambi's eyes, still wet with tears, locked onto Rick as she struggled to pull herself out of the deep well of bad luck and despair. "What do we do now?"

"I've sent a team to recover his body from the site of the accident. We're going to bury him this evening."

Bambi nodded absentmindedly, her mind numb, barely processing the words. "Do it," she murmured, her voice hollow. She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Rick standing alone in the small, dimly lit room. Her feet carried her automatically down the sterile hospital corridors, her thoughts all over the place.

When she reached Miles' room, she paused for a moment at the door, trying to steady her breath. But the sight of her son lying so still, surrounded by machines and sterile white sheets, shattered whatever fragile control she had left. She walked slowly to his bedside, her legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

The tears that she had managed to hold back earlier now flowed freely down her cheeks. She collapsed into the chair beside his bed, burying her face in her hands as sobs wracked her body. "Miles... Oh, Miles..." she cried, her voice trembling with the weight of the grief. "Your father is gone... He's gone, and I can't... I can't bear to lose you too."

She reached out, grasping his limp hand in hers, her thumb stroking his skin as if that simple touch could somehow bring him back to her. "You have to wake up, baby. You have to come back to me. I can't do this alone. I can't lose you both. Please, Miles, please... I'm sorry if I've done anything to wrong you, just wake up for me, please..."

Her words dissolved into sobs as she laid her head on his chest, her body trembling. She had never felt so helpless, so utterly broken. The pain was suffocating, so crushing that it threatened to pull her under and drown her.

Then, as if her desperate pleas had reached him, Miles's chest suddenly heaved. His breathing quickened, the sound ragged and erratic. The machines monitoring his vital signs erupted into loud noises, the beeping growing faster and more frantic.

Bambi jerked back, her heart racing in fear and confusion. "Miles? Miles!!" she cried out, her voice rising in panic as she watched his chest rise and fall in quick succession.

The door immediately burst open, and a team of doctors and nurses rushed in, with tense expressions as they loved with urgency. One of the nurses gently but firmly ushered Bambi out of the room, guiding her to a seat just outside the door. She tried going back in but they locked her out. Bambi's heart was pounding in her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps as she watched the medical team swarm around her son from the window.

She tried to listen, to make sense of what they were saying inside because they also looked tended. Could it be that Miles was going to be fine? All she could do was pray, her hands trembling as she clasped them together, begging for a miracle.

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged from the room, his expression calm but serious. Bambi jumped to her feet, her heart in her throat. "Is he okay? Is Miles waking up?"

The doctor shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. "No, Ma'am . I'm afraid not."

Bambi felt the world drop out from under her. "But the machines... the way he was breathing..."

The doctor nodded. "The alarms went off because the oxygen port had been slightly dislodged. It caused his breathing to become irregular, but we've fixed it now. His condition hasn't changed."

Bambi stared at him, unable to comprehend what he was saying. "So... so he's not waking up?"

The doctor sighed softly, his eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Ma'am . Miles is still in a coma. We'll continue to monitor him closely, but there's no indication that he'll wake up soon."

The words hit Bambi like a punch to the gut, and she slumped against the wall, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. The doctor reached out to steady her.

"I know this is difficult," he said softly. "But you need to take care of yourself too. Your son needs you to be strong."

Bambi nodded weakly, the tears blurring her vision as she tried to gather herself. "Thank you, Doctor," she managed to whisper before the doctor turned and left her alone in the hallway.

For a long moment, she stood there, staring blankly at the door to the room her son was put in. The weight of everything that had happened-the accident, her husband's death, Miles condition-pressed down on her like a shroud. She felt as though she might shatter into a thousand pieces if she moved.

But she couldn't fall apart. Not now. Not when her children needed her more than ever.

With a deep breath, Bambi pushed herself away from the wall and headed back down the hallway, her steps slow and measured. She knew what she had to do, even if every part of her ached with the effort of holding herself together. But first, Where is Zoe?

***

The burial site was a sad scene, the sun had just begun setting as the small group of mourners gathered around the freshly dug grave. The air was thick with the scent of freshly dug earth and the quiet murmurs of those who had come to pay their respects. Bambi stood at the front, her daughter Zoe clinging to her side, the girl's small body trembling with sobs.

Bambi's heart broke all over again as she looked down at her daughter, the tears streaming silently down her pale cheeks. She wished she could take away her pain, could somehow make this nightmare go away, but there was nothing she could do. All she could do was hold Zoe close, offering what little comfort she could.

She wanted to cry, to scream, to break down here and cry, but she couldn't. She had to stay strong for Zoe, for Miles, for both of her children. They needed her to hold it together, even as her world crumbled around her.

As the priest began to speak, his voice a low, Bambi found herself staring at the casket that held her husband's body. It didn't seem real. How could he be in there, lying so still and cold, when just days ago he had been alive, had been with them? The finality of it all hit her like a physical blow, and she had to fight to keep herself from collapsing.

The funeral service passed in a blur, the words of comfort and condolence washing over Bambi like waves, leaving her numb and hollow. She barely registered the people who came up to her afterward, their faces a blur of grief-stricken fake sympathy. All she could focus on was the fact that her husband was gone, buried beneath the cold earth, and she was left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Zoe was in tears. She couldn't stop crying no matter how she tried to stop. Bambi knew comforting her here would be useless. And also, Zoe needed to cry if not she would be worse later on

As the last of the mourners left, Bambi stood by the grave, staring down at the headstone. She could feel Rick's presence beside her, his hand on her shoulder offering silent support. But she didn't want comfort. She wanted answers. She wanted to know why this had happened to them, why their lives had been torn apart so suddenly and violently.

"I don't understand," she whispered, her voice raw with pain. "Why? Why did this happen?"

Rick sighed, his presence here was a reminder to Bambi of the years he had been intertwined with their lives. He wasn't just some hired attorney-they had trusted him with their deepest secrets, their dreams, and even their fears too. Richard had often called him the rock of their family, someone who could be counted on when everything was uncertain or going wrong.

Her husband had respected Rick more than anyone else outside their family. One time, When Bambi and her husband had hit a rough patch in their marriage, Rick had been there, offering advice not just from a legal standpoint but from a place of genuine care. And if he wasn't there to give them the advice they needed then Bambi was so sure the relationship that lasted so long between her and her late husband wouldn't have happened because it would have ended long ago. Rick was loyal.

Bambi looked up at Rick now with glazed eyes, and saw the pain reflected in his face. He wasn't just delivering news as a lawyer-he was grieving too. The loss of her husband had shaken him, the same way it had torn her world apart.

"Life doesn't always make sense, Bambi. Sometimes things happen that we can't explain, that we'll never be able to understand. But we have to keep going." He said as he gripped her shoulders slightly but kept on talking anyway even if he wanted to cry too. "We have to find a way to move forward."

Bambi didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the grave. The tears had stopped, leaving her feeling empty and drained. She didn't know how she was supposed to move forward from this, how she was supposed to keep living when everything she had loved had been taken from her.

"Come on," Rick said gently, guiding her away from the grave. "We need to talk."

***

Back at the house, Bambi sat in the small, cluttered living room, staring blankly at the papers Rick had spread out on the coffee table. Zoe was upstairs, trying to get some sleep, but Bambi doubted either of them would find any rest tonight. Not with everything hanging over them.

Rick cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to the matter at hand. "I've been going over your husband's will," he began cautiously.. "But there's something you need to know."

Bambi's heart sank further, if that was even possible. "What is it?" she asked, her voice flat, without any emotion.

Rick looked at her with pity and concern. He didn't know how she was going to cope, but he had to tell her. "Your husband had significant debts, Bambi. He sold off most of his assets to try to cover them, but it wasn't enough. There's... there's nothing left."

The words echoed in her head, each one hitting her like a hammer blow. "What do you mean there's nothing left?"

"There's really nothing left."

Bambi sat at the small, rickety dining table, her hands clasped tightly together as she stared at Rick, waiting for him to repeat what he said. She had sworn she misheard but she wanted to be sure this wasn't another misfortune knocking at her door and trying to rip her family apart. The silence was still too suffocating as her pulse quickened. She had no idea how much worse things were about to get.

"You're scaring me, Rick. Please, tell me you're joking."

"Why the fuck would I mess with your feelings after everything you've been through? Huh?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "No... no, please no"

Rick shifted uncomfortably as though the words themselves were too heavy for him to continue. "Your husband owed a lot of people and before he got into the accident, he used up everything except the house to pay up...."

"No...no, Richard wouldn't do something like that without telling me."

"He paid some of them, but unfortunately he wasn't able to pay some of the huge debts he owed and it turns out that one of the people your husband owed money to is Gregory Blackwood."

And then it was like her heart stopped. Gregory Blackwood. The name hit her like a slap to the face. Gregory Blackwood was the ruthless billionaire known for crushing anyone who stood in his way. His reputation preceded him-cold, calculating, and utterly without mercy. The kind of man who thrived on power, on bending others to his will.

She would know because she and her husband had experienced his cruelty firsthand sometime around last year when he came wanting to buy off the company but God intervened. She doubted God would intervene now because the odds were totally against her. Then, they knew what to do and they had the resources. Now it was a different story entirely.

"How much does my husband owe?" She asked, her voice trembling.

Rick hesitated, and for a moment, she thought he might not answer. But then he leaned forward, his expression grim. "Eight million dollars."

"WHAT?!"

"Excluding the Three million he borrowed again sometime around last month."

The room seemed to tilt, and Bambi felt the air leave her lungs. She pressed a hand to her chest as if that could stop the panic rising inside her. "Eight million dollars?" She repeated, her voice cracking "And three million? How... How did I not know about this? Why didn't he tell me?"

Rick's face softened with sympathy. He had told Richard to tell his wife that the business was struggling and he was in a bad place and that if she finds out later it's going to be an issue. But Richard had assured Rick that she would never find out and he would resolve everything before she did. But now, look. The innocent woman had to find out in the worst way possible. "Your husband was trying to fix things, Bambi. He didn't want you to worry. But things spiraled out of control faster than he could manage. And now, with him gone..."

Bambi's mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of the situation. Her husband could owe the bank for all she cares. That she could handle but not Gregory Blackwood. Nobody owes Gregory Blackwood. Now how was she supposed to come up with eleven freaking million dollars? The bills were already piling up, her son was still in a coma, and now this? Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to break down again. Not now.

"What... What does Gregory want?" She asked. Although she already knew the answer wouldn't be good. Things with that man were never good.

Rick looked away for a moment before meeting her eyes again, his gaze filled with regret. "He wants his money, Bambi. And he's not the kind of man who takes no for an answer."

Bambi swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "But you know I don't have that kind of money, Rick. I don't even know where to start."

"I know," Rick said softly. "And that's why I'm worried." He didn't know how to break this to her. He didn't know how to tell her that he met with Gregory Blackwood and he had messages. He took a deep breath and spoke "Gregory met with me during the funeral and he had messages for you."

Bambi's heart lurched, "He was at my husband's funeral? What? Why? What did he say to you?

Rick hesitated again, "He says he's giving you two weeks to come up with the money. If you can't... he's going to take drastic action. He's going to take the house, and he's also threatened to arrest you for fraud."

Her blood ran cold. "What." Her voice was barely audible, "He can't do that? I didn't know about the debt. That's... that's not fair. Eight million, three million dollars In two weeks?? How the fuck am I supposed to raise such an amount in such a small amount of time? That's not fair.

Rick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Gregory Blackwood doesn't care about fair, Bambi. He cares about getting what's his. And he's not above using threats to make sure it happens. I'm worried for you."

Bambi's mind spins, panic clawing at her chest. Losing the house was one thing, but the idea of being arrested, of being separated from her children... of Miles being taken to some rundown facility because she wasn't able to take care of him... it was too much to bear. The walls felt like they were closing in on her.

"I can't let him take the house, Rick. I can't. Where will we go? And Zoe? She needs stability. Miles, he-" Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands, feeling the weight of it all crash down on her.

Rick leaned forward, his voice soft but urgent. This wasn't the way forward and he knew it. Richard won't be happy about it either but right now he fucking had no right or say in this because this is where he put his family and escaped through death "Bambi, there's something else." So if he sees a way out for them then he's sure as hell gonna tell them.

She looked up, her tear-filled eyes searching his

"Gregory...he offered you a way out."

"What do you mean?" She asked, dread pooling in her stomach.

Rick swallowed hard, his gaze darkening. "He said there's one way to settle the debt, one way to make it all go away." He didn't like this but he knew he had to. He just had to. He couldn't let the children suffer like this.

Bambi stared at him, confused knitting her brows. "What way?" She knew Gregory wasn't so generous and that the only way to make everything all go away was through another big sacrifice.

Rick hesitated, his mouth opening and closing as though the words were too bitter to say because truly, they were. But eventually, he forced them out. "He wants you to marry him."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Bambi's heart stopped, her breath catching in her throat. She stared at Rick, unable to process what he had just said. Marry Gregory Blackwood? The thought was so absurd, so monstrous, that for a brief moment, she thought she might have misunderstood.

"What?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "Could you like repeat what you just said

"He proposed marriage, Bambi."

"Marry him? That's insane, Rick. I can't marry him."

Rick nodded, his face filled with sorrow. "I know. But he's serious, Bambi. He said if you don't agree to marry him within 24 hours, he'll take the house, have you arrested, and send Miles to a psychiatric facility and then Zoe would have nowhere else to go Bambi. She would be put into homes and you know how she is. She would run away,please. Think about this."

Bambi felt like the ground had been ripped out from beneath her. Her entire body shook as the reality of the situation sunk in. She was in trouble. Her entire family was. Gregory wasn't just asking for his money-he was demanding her life in exchange. Marry him, or lose everything.

"I can't... I can't do that," she stammered her heart racing. "I don't even know him, Rick. He's a monster. I can't just marry him."

Rick reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know. And I wouldn't ask you to do it if there was any other way. But Gregory has the power here. He's backed you into a corner, and if you don't agree... I don't know what's going to happen."

Bambi's mind raced, her thoughts blurred from fear and desperation. How had her life come to this? Only days ago, she had been a wife, a mother, someone with a future. And now, she was faced with an impossible choice: marry a man she despised or lose everything that mattered to her just because her husband borrowed a lot of money he couldn't fucking pay back without telling her. She had the urge to curse him but she couldn't.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at Rick, her voice barely a whisper. "There has to be another way. There has to be something we can do."

Rick shook his head, his expression grim. "I wish there was, Bambi. But Gregory holds all the cards. He's not giving you a choice here."

Bambi's hands trembled as she covered her face, the sobs coming in waves. She couldn't do this. She couldn't marry Gregory Blackwood. But she couldn't lose her home either, her children, her freedom. It felt like an inescapable trap, one that tightened with every breath she took. And if she made the wrong move, they were all going to be choked to death.

Rick squeezed her shoulder gently. "Take some time to think about it. You still have a little time."

Bambi nodded weakly, though she didn't know what there was to think about. She was being forced into a corner, with no real options. Marry a man she hated or lose everything she loved.

Her voice cracked as she spoke, her words barely audible. "I'll think about it. I just... I need some time."

Rick nodded, standing up from the table. "I'll give you some space. But remember, Bambi... you don't have much time. It's twenty-four hours."

Bambi stared at the papers which also had Gregory's contact in front of her, her hands trembling as Rick walked toward the door. Her mind was filled with different emotions-fear, anger, desperation, anger. How was she supposed to make a decision like this? How was she supposed to choose between her freedom and her children's future?

The door closed softly behind Rick, leaving Bambi alone in the small, dimly lit room. She pressed her hands to her temples, trying to quiet the chaos in her mind.

Gregory Blackwood wanted to marry her. Not out of love, not out of anything remotely resembling affection, but out of greed, control, and power. He wanted to own her the way he owned everything else in his life.

Bambi shuddered at the thought of being bound to a man like Gregory Blackwood. His cold eyes, his cruel smirk... the way he looked at people as though they were mere pawns in his game. She had seen it before, in the way he conducted his business. And now, he was looking at her like that, seeing her as nothing more than another asset to acquire.

But what choice did she have? If she didn't agree, Gregory would take everything from her. Miles would be sent away, Zoe would be without a home, and she would be left with nothing just rotting in prison unable to take care of her children.

Bambi buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly as the weight of the decision bore down on her. How could she possibly make this choice? How could she live with herself, knowing she had married a man like Gregory just to keep her children safe?

She had 24 hours left to decide. Twenty-four hours to figure out how to save her family from ruin. And no matter what she chose, nothing would ever be the same again.