A Desperate Decision

Chapter 6

Ana's POV

Three days. That was the amount of time I had to make a choice. Either I save my mother or risk finding out what Marcus Blinge would do to me. I let out a frustrated sigh as I stared at the brown envelope in my hand containing the contract.

How did I get myself in all this?

I sat in the dimly lit hospital room, my teary eyes were fixed on my mother's frail form. Memories of how energetic and healthy my mum had once been filled my head making the tears run out even more. I would just have to get another job, I can't take this contract. I had always imagined how happy I would be on my wedding day when I would be getting married to the man of my dreams, but here I was being offered a loveless marriage with a ruthless man. I threw the brown envelope to one corner of the room angrily.

I held my head as I grimaced in pain. I think I have done a lot of thinking for today.

" Everything would be alright my darling." My mum would always say. I just have to find another job and I would be able to save my mum. A part of me still feared that Marcus would hand me over to the police, a loveless marriage still wasn't an option. My eyelids got heavy and reluctantly I surrendered to the warm embrace of sleep.

I woke up to the continuous beeping sound of the heart monitor. I sat up rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My mum had white foam gushing out of her mouth and her body convulsing uncontrollably. I rushed to her side, my heart beating so fast as my mind raced. "Mum! Wake up!" I cried as I shaked her shoulder. She wasn't responding and her eyes had rolled to the back leaving only the white part on display. Before I could register what was happening the door burst open and in a swift motion doctors and nurses were all around her pushing me out of the way.

" Mum! What's happening?" I shouted as one of the doctors took me out of the ward. " Please let me in, I just want to see my mum." I begged and banged violently on the door but no one was responding. I grew tired and finally gave up. I plopped down on the chair that was in the hallway. This just has to be a nightmare, I slapped myself hoping that I would snap out of this trance and everything would be back to normal.

After hours the doctor finally came out and I rushed to him frantically. " Ana, please I'm going to need you to calm down." He said in a calm tone but I wasn't having none of that.

" How's my mum?" I asked ignoring his request for me to be calm.

" She's fine right now but she has just a few hours to live and this time it's for real. If she doesn't have that surgery soon ..... It would be the end."

I stood there numb, I wanted to cry but tears weren't rushing anymore. I had to do something, anything and do it fast.

" Can I go and see her at least?"

" Yea, sure." The doctor said with a sympathetic expression. I walked into the room scared that she might convulse again and I wouldn't be able to save her. I sat beside as I stretched my shaky hand to clutch onto her pale ones.

" Why would you want to leave me alone? You want me to be happy then just be strong till I can raise the money for your surgery."

I glanced around the room, my mind racing with thought on the fastest means to save my mum. That's when my eyes landed on the brown envelope. I let out a frustrated sigh, it seems I might have to take this path.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I thought of the consequences of not signing the contract. But the thought of marrying Marcus and being trapped in a loveless marriage was equally terrifying.

I looked at my mum who was peacefully sleeping, her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. I knew I couldn't risk losing her not even for my chance at happiness.

With a heavy hand I pulled out the contract and scanned through it.

" Mr Blinge would see you now." The petite receptionist said. I muttered a thank you before dragging my feet to the elevator. I finally got to his floor. As I stood Infront of his door I pulled on the most confident look I could muster before pushing the door open. He was typing away on his laptop that he didn't even recognise my presence.

" Mr Blinge?" I called out making him direct his attention to me. For a minute I saw his expression soften a bit but he quickly switched back to his stoic expression.

" What can I do for you Ana?" I scoffed. He must be so happy that I look so helpless.

" I accept the contract."

" You know you still have two more days to think about it." He said as he scribbled on a paper. Did he have to make this a lot harder.

I stood there trying my best to hold the tears. "I accept to be you contracted wife. I've already signed the papers."I stretched the paper towards him. He reached out and took the paper from me, he flipped the pages down to the last page and nodded.

"I want my mum's surgery to be conducted tonight by the best doctors in town."

"Deal, I'll have my lawyers look into this and they would get everything ready for the surgery."

"Why you doing this?" I asked looking him straight in the eye.

"I don't have to answer any of your questions, Ana."