Chapter Three

Grace's POV

I was fully prepared for any insults the doctor might hurl at me as I entered the hospital to check on my mom as I had not paid my mother's past three months hospital bill.

I greeted the staff at the nursing station before walking into the ward where my mother was. 

They had stopped her treatment and advised me to take her home, but I refused because if there were to be an emergency, what would I do? Even though she wasn't receiving treatment, I still believed she was safe in the hospital.

As I entered the ward, I saw my mother sitting up on her bed, her eyes looking red. When I moved closer to her, I could tell that she had been crying.

“You still don’t want me to sell that necklace of yours,” I blurted out, and seeing her red eyes only fueled my anger. How on earth would someone love an old necklace than her own life

I mean, who’s going to wear the necklace when she eventually passes away? Me? What does she even think?

“I already have buyers for that necklace, Mom. It’s old, and these gold dealers really want it. Let’s sell it for your health.” I managed to keep my voice low because if I spoke with the anger I felt, I’d only end up hurting her feelings.

She just stared at me, saying nothing.

Maybe she was considering it, so I stayed quiet to give her time to think.

I picked up my phone to call my friend Vera. I needed to see if she had found a way to help me. Just as I placed the phone to my ear, my mom tapped me. I looked at her, and she simply shook her head, meaning she is not selling the necklace.

“What the hell is wrong with this woman?” I wanted to scream in frustration.

“Why?” I asked, my voice already laced with anger.

She didn’t respond, she just crossed her arms over her chest as tears streamed down her face.

She still loves him. I knew it, but he abandoned us, so why hold onto the gift he gave her all those years ago?

I moved closer and wrapped her in a tight embrace. 

I wanted to ask her what would happen to the necklace if she eventually died from the cancer, but I had to hold that back to keep her from crying more.

The hatred I felt from hearing how my father abandoned us years ago because his family said my mom was his bad luck made me never want to marry.

“You will be fine, Mommy,” I said, tears falling down my cheeks as I thought of how much she loved the man that had chosen his family over us.

Now, the only option left is the one my boss suggested. 

I never want to get involved in any kind of marriage, and now the only option is a contract marriage—one without feelings. A marriage based on feelings comes with many struggles, not to mention one that lacks them entirely.

As much as I hate to think about it, I still need money to help my dying mother.

The sound of my ringtone jolted me from the embrace as I grabbed my phone. It was Vera calling, she must have seen my missed call.

“How is Mom?” That was her first question as I answered.

“Vera, her condition is getting worse. We really need the money for the surgery,” I said, my voice trembling.

I could hear Vera let out a deep sigh.

“I couldn't get any money for you,” she replied, her voice heavy with sadness.

“Vera, there’s an option for me to get the money,” I said, stepping away from my mother. I didn’t want her to hear this.

“I don’t think I can do it, though,” I added as I found a seat in the reception area.

“What is that?” Vera asked impatiently.

“A contract marriage with my boss for eleven months,” I said quietly to keep the patient next to me from hearing.

“What?!” Vera exclaimed, a hint of joy in her tone, and then she burst into laughter.

Why is she laughing at something so serious? It was really annoying.

“Why don’t you want to do it?” she asked after she stopped laughing.

“Vera, I just said it’s a contract marriage for eleven months,” I repeated, maybe she didn’t hear me well.

Vera had never met Victor Mason in person, but she always praised him as the most handsome and influential man she had ever known.

Vera followed my boss on all social media and didn’t hide the fact that she had a crush on him.

“Do you know how much I’m dying to meet that man and maybe give him a taste of my body?” Vera said, laughing, but quickly stopped when she noticed my silence. She knew I didn’t appreciate crude talk around me.

“Maybe you can give me his number,” she said again, sounding more serious.

“He said no intimacy attached,” I replied. She fell quiet for a moment before finally saying, 

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll find a way to have him to myself after the marriage.” Her smile was almost audible.

“Vera,” I called her name, suspecting she was imagining inappropriate things about her and my boss. I knew her well enough to know she could easily do that.

“What?” she screamed back at me. “I don’t even think you love your mother,” she hissed again.

This was the second time I would be hearing that word in a day — from my boss and the person I see as my best friend. 

Tears streamed down my cheeks as the words rang in my head — Did you even love your mother?

“The cute man doesn’t even want your body, and you want to reject him?” she said again, her voice filled with anger.

I wanted to respond, but I had to hang up when I saw the doctor approaching.

“Miss Thomas, I’m sorry, but we will discharge your mother by tomorrow evening if we don’t get the money for the surgery,” he said sharply before turning to leave.