CHAPTER 3

Marie stepped back, hit by surprise and confusion, she stared blankly at Aaron Sanchez, that same son of a filthy rich billionaire who she dated for two years and who broke up with her right before everyone.

"You" Marie spat, her chest heaving up and down as her heartbeat increased its pace.

"Yes, me," Aaron said, "It's nice to finally see you again, Mariagoretti"

Marie hated the name especially as it was coming from him, it brought back the painful memories of how he dumped her on her birthday without an explanation.

How the whole school mocked and made fun of her because they had always envied her for being the girlfriend of the richest and most handsome guy in school.

Wasn't it just enough predicament for one day, just today, her dad was rushed to the hospital, she found out that her best friend was screwing her fiancé, Mark called off the engagement and now this?

"It's Marie, okay? Just call me that" Marie snapped and looked around the exquisite building, "I-is this yours?"

Aaron nodded with a smile on his face but he evaded her question, he found it dumb. Wasn't it obvious I owned the company? He said.

"I saw in your report that you needed some loan, a hundred thousand dollars for your dad whatever, what is wrong with him?" He asked

Marie sniffed and crossed her arms tightly across her chest, "It's none of your business, on second thought, Idon't need your money anymore. I'll find something else to do"

Marie made to go by, he quickly reached for her hand and grabbed it but he didn't look down at her as he spoke. 

"You can't raise a hundred thousand dollars in two days, Marie. Let me help you" He said slowly, temptingly.

Marie snatched her hand away from his grip and looked up at him, the hurtful memories came crashing back into her chest, the memories she thought she had successfully discarded.

She looked up at him, her eyes burning with hate, so much hate he had ever seen before, the memories that strode into her head made her eyes water but she couldn't let him see her that way.

There was no way she could let him see her as that timid and naive, girl who he had discarded years ago, she was different now —well, but still very much poor.

"Take your help to someone else" Marie snapped at him.

Aaron smirked and said nothing, he watched her give him the last hateful look and stormed away walking out of the company.

Marie got back into her scooter and drove back home, her heart felt heavy and weighing her down, her vision was blurry with tears throughout her ride and her head was lightheaded.

She got back home, took a shower, helped herself with the leftovers from the Cafe, and spent the remaining part of the night thinking about her father.

The next day, Marie was given another call from the company and she came rushing down to the hospital with her Scooter. She didn't even bother stopping by the cafe because she didn't know if she was ready to set her eyes on Ri again. That backstabbing bitch.

Marie burst into the hospital which seemed to make an entrance for her in the past few days, she rushed to the counter, her messy hair from her helmet bouncing around.

She went straight to the nurse in the receptionist, "I'm Marie Ambrose. I-I got a call, what happened to my father?"

Surprisingly the nurse seemed to smile, for the first time though, "Calm down, Miss Ambrose. The doctor is in the operating theater with your father, a gentleman footed the bills early this morning"

Marie stared blankly at the nurse who was still smiling, "What do you mean by the doctor is in the theater operating on my father and...and someone had already footed the bills, the hundred thousand dollars?"

The nurse nodded and then looked behind her, her smile widened in a blink and she seemed to blush.

"He's here, the gentleman. Look" The nurse whispered quickly.

Marie spun around and she almost fainted from her increased heartbeat as it jumped madly against the walls of her chest, Marie stared at no other person but Aaron Sanchez.

Two hefty bodyguards in suits and dark glasses stood behind him, unsmiling and serious.

What the hell was he doing here and how did he…? 

"You again" Marie snapped, wiping her face quickly with the back of her hand, "Are you stalking me?"

Aaron smirked, "If that is a thank you, I will say don't mention"

"I didn't ask for your help, why are you playing the nice guy when we both know how ruthless and cold-hearted you are?" Marie told him.

"Oh? Well, I already paid for it, all of it including his ward payment and for the meals." Aaron said, putting his hand in his trousers pocket.

"I don't need your money, I will pay you back every penny you think you have spent. I will give it all back" Marie said, her voice rising.

Aaron crossed his arm across his chest, "Very well then, it's a total of two hundred and fifty thousand US dollars. I want you to pay me back in two days else you will do whatever I want"

Marie's eyes widened, "T-that is insane, I can't gather up that money in two days, Aaron. Please, don't be this cruel”.

"The world itself is cruel, princess" Aaron smirked and took a step closer to her, "I wasn't the one who insisted you pay back. Since you can't get me my money in two days, I want you to...be...my….wife"

Marie gasped and a lazy smile spread across her lips, "You must be out of your mind, Aaron. Did you decide to help me for your selfish desire?"

"Selfish...no, desire...yes," Aaron said," It's either you get married to me or I make your life miserable, I don't joke around with my profits. Two days, Mariagoretti and I would be back for you or my money"

Marie watched with her jaw tightening as he turned away from his guards and strode lazily out of the hospital, Marie's heart tightened with pain and hate.

Why was all this happening to her? Why was she getting into things that always end up scattering her peace of mind?

Just then the doctor came out from the theater, he pulled away his gloves and face mask and drew in a deep breath.

"Miss Ambrose?" He called.

Marie spun around and her heart pounded against the walls of her chest. She searched his expression but couldn't read anything.

Was her father okay? Did he make it?