Desperate Heart.

Jared laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. Give it back! What a joke. He eyed her body again with the same evil fire in his eyes.

 "Be my woman and everything will be yours again."

 "Dream on. If you don't give it back I'll make you both pay," She threatened.

 Jared snorted, "How would you do that? Your brother has very little time to live. Do you value your pride more than his life?"

  Ali felt like a bone got stuck in her throat and she couldn't refute it. What would she do now? Be this man's mistress and allow her stepmother and father to use her so heartlessly.

"I thought you were interested in Cheyenne, how did you switch interests so suddenly? Did Mary put you up to this?"

 The rage in her eyes which had been doused by his words returned, and she glared at him with even more intensity.

  "Wait until I am done with Joe's operation, I'll come back to haunt you". She said and walked away.

  She hailed a cab and went to look for her father. As she stepped into the house, she found Mary sitting on the sofa while hugging Cheyenne. It seemed as though she was crying.

 Seeing Ali back at the house when she had just left a few hours ago made Mary stand up and rush to her, "Have you changed your mind?"

 "Where is Lucas?" Ali asked, addressing her father by his first name. She didn't come to hear Mary's nonsense but to recover her money and property.

 Just then she saw Lucas coming down the stairs, he was dressed to go out and Ali knew he was going to the casino again. Since her mother's death, he has frequented it as if it were his second home.

 "What did you do with my brother's property? Give me the money for the one you sold to Jared," she demanded, going straight to the point. 

 Lucas wore a confused expression on his face as if he didn't understand what Ali was talking about. "Property? Which property are you talking about? Didn't you seize all your mother's documents?" 

 Ali glared at her father for playing dumb with her. She knew she wouldn't be getting the money now and that she was wasting her time arguing with them. 

 Cheyenne, who had been told by her mother that Ali moved out, glared at her with hatred, "The property is in your husband's name already. Just talk to Jared, and he will agree to give you money for your brother's treatment. Why are you so stubborn? At this rate, you will not only lose those properties but also your precious brother."

 Ali bit her lips, drawing blood, she nodded her head, making Cheyenne and Mary assume she had agreed, but her next voice plunged them into despair.

 She said, "Since you like men older than you so much, I will give you one later. Just pray I raise the money for Joe or all of us will go to hell together," she turned and left after that.

 She got a cab and requested to be taken to the hospital. On her way, she came across a club along the street. 

 The exterior of the club was designed extravagantly. Luxurious cars were parked around and inside the club and there were bouncers at the door. 

 Ali suddenly stopped the car and stepped out in front of the club. Her feet moved and took her into the club premises. She couldn't even tell why she was there when she was supposed to be looking for money. 

 When she realized herself and where she was, she turned to walk away but halted when she saw a man dressed in a blue suit pacing back and forth while talking to someone over the phone. 

 "Damn it. Where is Lilly? Gerald is here already and the party will begin soon. I told her not to leave because she would be serving the man, but she ran off with an unknown person. How do I fix this?" The man roared, frustration and fear in his voice.

 Ali stood behind him eavesdropping on his conversation. When she heard him say he was offering 3 million to whoever would replace the Lilly girl, Ali gulped.

 Three million for just a night. Was this an opportunity? She didn't know. Her phone beeped, and she looked at the time that was moving faster than she thought.

 Although she was not willing, her brother's condition was pushing her to take a dangerous risk. If her company finds out about this, she will be fired.

 She didn't have the luxury to think about it as the man was making his way back inside the club with his face looking like a mother hen.

 "Please wait," Ali called out and ran after him. 

 The man turned, his expression cold, but when he saw Ali he became dumbstruck.

 Ali was very lovely to look at, with a 6'7 feet height and a well-proportioned body that would make any male unable to move their eyes. Her porcelain skin was smooth, and her delicate appearance would make people stand up to fight for her.

 "Hello lovely, I am Barry..." 

 "Forget the formality, I can replace Lilly for you," Ali cut him off as she hurriedly said what she wanted to before she ended up changing her mind. She saw the man stare at her in surprise before narrowing his eyes.

 She bit her lips, "I overheard your conversation on the phone. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but you were quite loud." 

 Barry made an o' sound before nodding. He asked, "How can I trust you? You haven't even told me your name yet," he looked at her skeptically.

 "I can't tell you because, of some reasons, I am not a spy or whatever you are thinking. I am just forced to do this to raise money for my brother's treatment. He doesn't have time, and out of the three days I am given, a day is gone. I don't want to lose him, he is the only one I have left. Please help me."