Chapter two

Diana pov

​“I am finding it difficult to understand what you’re saying, Diana. Are you serious?”

​Chloe asks, still unable to believe what I just told her the moment I stepped into her house.

​

“Why on earth would I joke about something like this, Chloe?” I honestly wish it were a dream.

​Chloe lets out a deep breath, finally sitting down while I remain standing. “So you’re saying you don’t know him at all?”

​“Of course not,” I reply, nodding my head fast.

​“It’s still so strange how they knew your name. What did you say the man’s name was again?”

​

“Blake. His name is Blake,” I reply, staring at her.

​“And his surname?”

​“I don’t even remember, but I saw it on the contract papers. Wait, let me check the transaction receipt on my phone.”

​“Great idea,” Chloe agrees.

​I pull up the notification on my screen and stare at the bold text. “Blake Whitmore,” I whisper.

​Chloe immediately covers her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide.

​“What? What’s wrong?”

​“Which Whitmore are you talking about, Diana? Do you mean the Whitmore?”

​I roll my eyes at her. “I said Blake Whitmore.”

​“I heard you the first time! And based on what you just said, only that Blake Whitmore is capable of dropping an amount like that without blinking.” She starts to smile.

“Why are you smiling, Chloe? Nothing about this is funny.” I rub my temples, already irritated.

​“Don’t you know who Blake Whitmore is? He owns the Whitmore Group! It’s one of the biggest real estate and property development companies in the country—luxury apartments, hotels, private estates, everything. He also runs a private investment firm. Diana, the man is insanely rich! How do you not know who he is? 

He owns the very hotel you went to today.” She claps her hands together, practically gushing.

​I frown at her excitement. “How do you know all of that?”

​Chloe rolls her eyes. “Because I interviewed him last year for our magazine feature, remember? I spent nearly an hour asking him about his lifestyle and businesses—though he barely said a word about his personal life. The man practically owns half the city. Girl, I am so happy for you!”

​

Chloe is a journalist, so it shouldn't shock me that she’s met him. She meets famous people all the time.

​I take a deep breath and collapse onto the sofa beside her. “I’m canceling the contract, Chloe. I can’t do this.”

​The smile disappears from Chloe’s face. “You’re joking, right? Listen to me, Diana. You need this money for your family. And besides... I think you actually have a little interest in him to have signed it in the first place.” She reaches over and holds my palms.

​My heart skips a beat. “I don’t. And what if I get there and I can’t even let him touch me? What if I feel no desire, just like usual? Then I won’t have anything to write anyway.”

​I pull my hands away and stand up, pacing the floor. My chest feels tight. “I only let myself get attracted because I was desperate for the cash. It won’t work. I’ll probably panic the second he gets close to me. What if he mistook me for someone else? What happens when the real Diana turns up? I’ll be completely humiliated.”

​

“What if she doesn’t show up?” Chloe counters, stepping into my path. “What if you actually feel different around him this time? Think positive, Diana. Remember, your editor expects a draft from you by next week.”

​

“There has to be another way, Chloe. I just can’t.” I grab my bag off the couch. “I’ll refund the money the moment they call tomorrow.”

​“I’m driving you,” Chloe says, grabbing her car keys and hurrying after me.

​We step out to her car. As she starts the engine, my phone rings in my hand, vibrating aggressively.

​“Who is that now?” I ask, my brows furrowing.

​“Just answer it,” Chloe says, pulling out of the driveway.

​I swipe the screen and put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

​“Is this Diana Hamilton?” a heavy male voice asks.

​“H-hello? Yes, it is.”

​Chloe glances at me with a silent what’s wrong? look. I just shrug, my skin going cold.

​“I’m calling from the city hospital.”

​“Hospital?” The air leaves my lungs. “What’s wrong? Is my aunt okay?”

​“She was brought in a short while ago. She’s asking to see you.” The line goes dead before I can even ask another question.

​“What happened to your aunt?” Chloe asks, her voice sharp with concern.

​

“She’s at the city hospital. Chloe, please, drive faster!”

​The tears I’ve been holding back all evening finally break.

​“Calm down, Diana. She’s going to be fine,” Chloe assures me, stepping on the gas.

​“I hope so,” I choke out, staring at the blurry traffic outside the window. “If anything happens to her, I can't take it. What will Aria do? She lost her dad four years ago—she can’t lose her mother too. I don’t want her to end up an orphan like me.”

​“You’re thinking too far ahead. We’re almost there.”

​We sprint through the hospital doors and down the corridor to the ward.

​When I push the door open, my breath hitches. My aunt lies on the narrow bed, looking like a frail shell of the woman she used to be. I slam my hand over my mouth to quiet a sob as tears stream down my face. I promised myself I wouldn't break down in front of her, but seeing her like this completely destroys me.

​To make it worse, two uniformed female police officers stand near the corner of the room. They haven't even unhooked her from their custody.

​“Aunt...” I whisper, rushing to the side of her bed.

​Her eyelids flutter open. The moment her pale eyes meet mine, tears spill down her hollow cheeks.

​“Auntie, I’m so sorry,” I cry, taking her cold hand.

​“No, Diana... I’m the one who is sorry,” she rasps, her voice barely audible. “I’ve failed you and Aria. I’ve been locked away for three months while you two are left to handle everything alone. You’re both too young for this burden. I failed your parents... I failed my late husband...”

​I wipe her tears with the pad of my thumb, forcing my lips into a smile even as my chin trembles. My Aunt collected alot of loan for an investment but sadly everything crumbled and collapse leading to her arrest because she can’t pay back. “You haven’t failed anyone. You’re the best thing that ever happened to us. Please stop saying that. You’re going to get through this and come home soon, okay?”

​

“I don’t know, Diana... but I’ll keep fighting for you and Aria.”

​A nurse steps up to the bedside, tapping her 

clipboard.

 “I’m sorry, miss, but I need to examine her now. You’ll have to step outside for a few minutes.”

​Chloe squeezes my shoulder softly, pulling me back as we step out into the hallway.

​I turn directly to one of the police officers who followed us out. “Excuse me. What is wrong with my aunt? She wasn’t sick the last time I visited her!”

​

The officer looks at me with complete indifference. “Well, she is now. And honestly? I doubt she’ll survive much longer back in that cell.”

​My heart slams against my ribs. “You mean you’re going to take her back to prison in this condition?!”

​“I’m sorry, Miss Hamilton,” the officer replies, her tone flat. “Your aunt isn’t the first inmate to drop dead in a cell, and she won’t be the last. Until her debt is paid in full, she stays in custody.”

​I clench my fists so hard my nails dig painfully into my palms. Blood rushes to my ears. I want to scream at her. I want to strike the cold look right off her face.

​“Diana, come with me—now,” Chloe mutters, catching my arm and steering me down the hall before I snap.

​“She is an absolute monster!” I explode the second we are out of earshot, my body shaking with rage.

​“That’s the system for you,” Chloe says quietly, her voice heavy with worry. “So... what are you going to do now, Diana?”

​I stare at the bleak beige wall of the hospital corridor.

 Images of my mother’s final moments flash through my mind—the desperate panic, the complete helplessness of watching someone I loved fade away while I could do nothing to stop it.

​I couldn't save my mother. But I can save my aunt.

​I look up at Chloe, the decision burning heavy in my chest.

​“My aunt won’t survive back in that cell,” I say, my voice steadying despite the terror in my gut. “I need the money. I’m going ahead with the contract.”