Chapter 5

Elina's Pov

I also laid on the floor with her as things started breaking inside the house and stones were thrown inside.

My phone went off on the couch and I crawled to get it. An unknown number flashed on my screen.

I picked it up and put the phone against my left ear.

“Sorry, this is a bad moment to call,” I said immediately. I answered and was about to take the phone off my ear to end the call.

“Are they there already?” I heard Ethan's name and I paused.

“Did you send them to kill me?” I asked. Lily, hearing me, moved closer to where I was. 

“No. I didn't tell them to kill you. They just want their money,” I heard his cocky voice from my end. 

I scoffed. “They would have never come to destroy my home if someone didn't tip them to do so,” 

“You are smarter than I thought. You know what to do. You either pay them their money or the orphanage gets pulled down. And we both know you can't pay them because you don't have the money and you are jobless,”

“I would have paid them if you hadn't called them to my house,” I cried, frustration spilling out.

“I can make them disappear,” he said, smug. “All you have to do is sign the agreement.”

Lily covered the phone speaker, “what is he talking about?” She whispered. 

“I will tell you later,” I muttered and she removed her hand. 

“I already told you— you have got the wrong person. I am not agreeing to anything. Tell your men to leave!” I shouted at him over the phone.

“I am sure I have the right person.” He replied coldly. “You either agree to my demand, or the orphanage goes,” the call ended immediately after he finished talking. 

I stared at the phone in disbelief, my hands trembling.

I dropped the phone on the couch and covered my face with both hands. 

What am I going to do? I can't lose the orphanage. And I also can't marry that jerk. 

I don't even know him. I only know the fact that he is the kid's father. 

“What is going on, Lina?” she said, her face pale.

“Who was that?” 

Lily asked, confused about what was going on. 

“That was—,” 

A loud crash cut me off. Another window shattered. Lily screamed as she clutched her shoulder. Blood began to seep through.

“Fu¢k,” she cursed, holding her shoulder, which blood was gushing out from. 

“Sorry. Go to my room to clean up; I will tell them to stop now,” She went inside, and I stood up to go out the window when I saw a bulldozer driving in. 

This can't be. They can't pull down the orphanage. 

I took my phone in my shaking hands and called the number again. 

“Please tell them to stop,” I begged immediately and he answered the call.

“And why should I?” 

“This is my home and the only thing I have left, please don't take it away. Tell them to stop,” I begged him as a tear slipped from my eyes. 

“If I tell them to stop, would you give them their money?” 

“I will take a loan but just tell them to stop. They are about to tear it down,” I begged as the sound of the bulldozer got louder.

“What do I get in return?” He asked.

I don't have anything yet he wants something from me. 

“I can give you money,” a sharp laughter escaped through him. 

“There is nothing your filthy money can do for me. Goodbye—”

“I will,” I shouted before he ended the call. 

“What did you say?” He asked.

“I will marry you. Just tell them to stop,” I finally agreed to his demand.

“Go outside, the contract will be handed over to you. Sign every page and they will leave,” 

I walked to the door and opened it. A man in a suit stood at the front with the contract in his hands. 

He pulled out a pen from his breast pocket and handed it with the contract over to me. 

It was a marriage contract. I didn't read through it; I just signed at the bottom corner of the contract where my name was. 

What was the point of reading it if I had no control over the situation? 

I just want them to leave.

He tapped the earpiece behind his ear before signaling to the men to stop. The bulldozer stopped and started revising and leaving. The men followed also, leaving one after the other.

I waited till they were gone before I entered inside. 

I met Lily sitting on the couch, questions written all over her. 

“Who were they? And what did they want?” She asked. 

“I borrowed $50,000 from them to pay Nanny's hospital bills. I managed to pay up to $5,000 but they wanted to pull down the orphanage.”

“You said you had it under control,” she said.

“Yes, I did until they came,” I sat on the couch beside her. 

“Okay. How did they all leave because I know you don't have the money?” 

I let out a deep breath, “I agreed to marry him,”

“Marry who?” 

“Ethan Stark,” I said, sinking into the couch and resting my head on the couch. 

She sprang to her feet. “Are you crazy?” She screamed.

“Why did you agree to marry a stranger? What have you done?” 

“What could I have done? Allow them to tear down the orphanage? Beg for another few months? What should I have done?”

“You should have told James and I. We would have helped.” Pity filled her eyes for me as her voice came down.

“Could the two of you have given me the money? You both have your lives. I couldn't bring my problem to you both. Besides…” I looked away. “It is just a marriage with a man. It isn't prison or death,” 

With Ethan Stark?” she hissed. “It is worse than both.”

My blood ran cold.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Lily stared at me, her voice low and grim.

“Ethan Stark is the devil. And I think you just agreed to be the devil’s wife.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Was he that bad? I have seen him arrogant and ruthless but the devil?

Have I mistakenly just sold myself to the devil?