5

Izzy felt as if the heavens and earth had collapsed upon her as she walked out of Seth Santiago’s condo building in defeat.

Lost in thought, her eyes red and swollen, she walked aimlessly, searching for another way.

"Izzy, okay? If you ever need financial help, no matter what it is, as long as I can, don’t hesitate to come to me."

A bitter smile formed on Izzy’s lips as Carl’s worried voice echoed in her mind—her best friend.

She wanted to ask for his help, but she felt she had no right to. Carl had already done so much for her and her mother, to the point that she felt nothing but overwhelming shame.

Izzy let out a deep sigh as she finally reached the road. Despite the thick smoke from the vehicles and the pollution in Metro Manila, she still couldn’t breathe easily. The air filled with pollution seemed more bearable than the fragrant and cold atmosphere of Seth Santiago’s living room.

"I still can’t believe you did that, Isabel Vergara…"

She murmured sadly to herself.

Deep in thought, she didn’t bother hailing a taxi to return to the hospital. Instead, she chose to walk.

At least that way, she could think more clearly.

"You can’t offer what you can’t give, Isabel…"

Seth Santiago’s words stabbed at her heart like a sharp blade.

He was right…

She couldn’t even fathom how she had the stomach to do what he asked earlier.

Izzy’s mind raced, just like her tears that wouldn’t stop falling, as she faced the harsh reality—there might be no other way.

Perhaps this was the end of the line for her beloved mother.

Sweat dripped from Izzy’s face, and her feet felt numb when she finally reached the hospital.

She had walked quite a distance.

Even before she entered, confusion filled her when she saw her worried uncle waiting outside.

“Izzy, where have you been? Why are you only here now?”

“I-I had to take care of something… U-uncle, why are you out here? Who’s with Mom?”

She asked breathlessly, her voice laced with concern.

“That’s what I wanted to tell you. I’ve been waiting for you…”

A wave of anxiety gripped Izzy’s heart even before she heard the full explanation.

“W-why? Did something happen?”

“I don’t know what you did, Izzy… I don’t know how, but your mom is already in the operating room. They just took her in.”

“What? H-how… Why? They’re operating on her now?”

“Yes, that’s what the doctor said… And the entire bill has been paid, including all the hospital expenses.”

“B-but how? Who paid for it?”

Izzy’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing the news. Her mother would finally receive the treatment she needed.

Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t shake off the confusion and fear.

The amount needed was no joke, and she could only think of one person who could’ve paid for it…

“That’s what I wanted to ask you because even I was shocked when the doctor told me… What did you do, and where did you get that much money?”

Her uncle’s concerned voice questioned her, but Izzy simply shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter, Uncle… I don’t know for sure, but I’ll find out who paid. For now, let’s just pray that Mom’s operation goes well and be grateful to whoever had the kind heart to help us…”

Izzy spoke seriously, hiding the fear and confusion gnawing at her.

"One and a half million, Seth Santiago? Impossible…"

She whispered in disbelief.

She knew exactly what had happened at Seth’s place earlier—nothing. Nothing had happened.

So it was impossible…

Izzy was in deep thought when her phone suddenly rang.

Her breath hitched, and the color drained from her face when she read the message.

Seth Santiago

"Whatever it is about you that I can’t seem to let go of, I still gave you the help you needed. Your mother’s hospital bills have been cleared. I suggest you prepare yourself because when you’re ready, I will ask for my payment.

"One night with me in exchange for one and a half million for your mother."

"We will see each other soon after all, Isabel Vergara…"

Izzy didn’t know whether to respond to Seth’s message or ignore it. It felt rude not to reply, considering she practically owed him her and her mother’s lives.

But in the end, she chose to leave it unanswered.

"Lord, I’m happy my mother will recover… But why does it feel so wrong that I turned to someone like Seth Santiago?"

"Why does it feel so wrong that I ever met him?"

"Did you do what I asked you to do?"

Seth asked his assistant without looking up, swirling the glass of liquor in his hand.

“Yes, sir. It’s done.”

“My instructions were clear, weren’t they? Don’t let anyone know who paid their hospital bill.”

“Yes, sir. Understood. No one found out. The doctor was informed that if anyone asked, they should say it was from a charity Isabel Vergara sought help from.”

“Good… Did you see her there?”

“No, sir. The only person there was the patient’s brother. But according to the person you had follow her, she didn’t go anywhere else. From here, she went straight to the hospital.”

Seth’s grip on the glass tightened as he smirked.

"One and a half million…"

He wasted a fcking* one and a half million on a woman like Isabel Vergara.

A woman he had just met. A woman who came to him offering her body… only to get thrown out minutes later when she refused to touch herself in front of him.

Sure, he had money. One and a half million meant nothing to him. But still, it was money—not everyone had that amount, yet he had just thrown it away for a single night with Isabel Vergara.

Seth clenched his jaw as her image flashed through his mind—naked, crying in front of him, her body trembling as she touched herself.

He felt himself harden instantly at the memory of her beautiful body.

Beautiful…

Tight…

"Isabel Vergara… you sure are so fcking beautiful, and I will do whatever it takes to have you in my bed."*

"And when I do… I will make sure that you will be mine."

Seth muttered darkly before downing his drink in one gulp.

Days passed after his mother’s surgery, but Izzy still couldn’t forget her encounter with Seth Santiago.

She hadn’t received another message from him since, and she didn’t know if she should be relieved or terrified.

“Hey! You’re deep in thought again.”

Carl’s voice snapped her out of her trance, and she shot him a glare.

“You don’t have to shout at me!”

She huffed, playfully covering her ears.

“Oh, come on. I’ve been talking for a while, and you still haven’t answered any of my questions!”

“I have a big problem, okay?”

“What is it? Your mom’s surgery went well. She’s recovering and even cracking jokes. The hospital bills are paid. What’s the problem?”

Carl asked curiously.

“That’s exactly it… Mom is recovering, and I know she won’t stop questioning me about where the money came from. She’s worse than an investigator when she starts asking, and until I give her proof, she won’t believe it was from a charity.”

“Then give her proof. Get some evidence from the charity.”

“That’s the problem… That charity doesn’t exist.”

Carl’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“So where did you get the money? That’s a huge amount, Izzy. How did you get that much in one go?”

“I-it’s a long story… Don’t ask. I don’t plan on telling anyone… It’s complicated. Too complicated.”

Izzy whispered, avoiding Carl’s sharp gaze.

“Izzy… did you do something illegal?”