chapter 1

Liam Anderson sat in his massive penthouse office, lost in thought. His grandfather had informed him that he needed to get married before his 28th birthday. Liam was not interested in marrying anyone, but he knew his grandfather was a man of his words and would go to great lengths to ensure his wishes were fulfilled. This thought sent shivers down his spine.

Just then, his assistant, Roland, entered with a discreet knock. Roland and Liam had been best friends since their university days, and Roland knew to be cautious around Liam when he was in a bad mood.

"Liam, I've found a girl," Roland said, his voice trembling slightly.

Liam turned, curious. "Found who?"

Roland hesitated before speaking. "Her name is Tonia Peters. She's intelligent, beautiful, and desperate. Her mom needs a kidney transplant, and she's in dire need of a large sum of money for the surgery."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Desperate people can be dangerous. I can't afford to choose the wrong person."

Roland nodded. "I've investigated her, sir. Tonia is kind, hardworking, and will make a perfect temporary wife."

The words "temporary wife" echoed in Liam's mind. This was just a business deal, after all.

Roland continued, "I know your grandfather, Liam. He genuinely cares about you. He just wants to ensure you have a family of your own."

Liam sighed, frustrated. "Schedule a meeting with her."

Meanwhile, Tonia Peters was at the hospital with her mom, trying to reassure her that she would find a way to pay for her surgery. A nurse informed Tonia that she had a guest at the reception. Confused, Tonia wondered who it could be.

Roland sat in the reception, waiting for Tonia. When she arrived, he stood up to greet her. "Good afternoon, Miss Tonia."

Tonia was taken aback by Roland's expensive attire. "What could this man possibly want from me?" she thought.

Roland asked to discuss something with her over coffee. Tonia agreed, and they went to a nearby coffee shop.

Roland explained that his boss needed a temporary bride and thought Tonia was the right candidate. Tonia was shocked but tried to compose herself.

Roland continued, "I know your mom is not feeling well. Don't you think it would be better if you accepted my boss's offer so your mom can receive treatment?"

Tonia was desperate to help her mom. She agreed to meet with Roland's boss to discuss the proposal.

Immediately after Roland left, Tonia rushed back to her mom's ward. On getting there, she was met with a distressing sight: a group of nurses and doctors had gathered around her mom's bed, and her mom was unconscious. Tonia's heart sank as she ran to her mom's side, feeling a mix of fear and panic.

"Tonia, I'm so sorry," one of the nurses said, trying to comfort her. "Your mom's condition took a turn for the worse. We're doing everything we can to stabilize her."

Tonia felt tears streaming down her face as she held her mom's hand, feeling helpless and scared. She thought about the meeting with Roland and Liam, and the potential opportunity to save her mom's life. She knew she had to act fast.

"Mom!!!! Open your eyes! What happened?" Tonia exclaimed, her voice shaking with worry. She turned to the doctor and asked, "What's going on? What happened to her?"

The doctor's expression was grim. "I'm so sorry, miss. She had a breakdown immediately after you left. Her condition worsened, and she lost consciousness."

Tonia felt a wave of guilt wash over her. "Should I not have left her? Is it because I left her?" she asked, tears streaming down her face.

The doctor tried to reassure her. "No, miss. It's not your fault. Her condition was already critical. We're doing everything we can to stabilize her, but...".

Tonia's heart sank as the doctor's words trailed off. She knew her mom's situation was dire, and she felt desperate to save her. She thought about the meeting with Roland and Liam, and the potential opportunity to secure the funds for her mom's treatment. She knew she had to act fast.