CHAPTER 4 THE PRICE OF LOVE

The question hung heavily in the dim, suffocating air of the master bedroom. Zachary’s grip on the edge of the desk remained tight, his massive frame looming over Elena like a dark shadow.

"S-Sir?" Elena whispered, her voice cracking as she stared into his bloodshot, tormented eyes. The heavy scent of high-end bourbon on his breath was intoxicating, making her head spin.

"I asked you a question, Elena," Zachary growled, his voice dropping into a deep, gravelly rasp that vibrated straight to her core. He leaned in just an inch closer, his chest almost brushing against her trembling form. "How much do you love your family? What are you willing to do to save your mother?"

Tears instantly welled up in Elena’s innocent eyes. The question pierced straight through her heart. The image of her mother’s pale, lifeless face on that cheap public hospital bed flashed vividly in her mind, along with the stack of unpaid bills and the relentless threats from debt collectors. She gripped the silver tray tightly against her chest, using it like a shield.

"Gagawin ko po ang lahat, Sir..." Elena confessed, her voice shaking with pure, raw emotion as she looked up at the ruthless billionaire. "Kahit ano po... kahit magpakapagod ako araw-araw, mairaos ko lang ang pamilya ko sa hirap. Sila lang po ang mayroon ako."

Zachary stared down at her, his expression unreadable. For a long, agonizing moment, the room fell into a deathly silence, save for the sound of the rain beating against the balcony glass. His dark eyes scanned her face—taking in the sincerity in her eyes, the tears brimming on her lashes, and the soft tremble of her lips.

A dangerous, complex flash of satisfaction crossed his face, but he quickly masked it with his usual icy composure. He slowly backed away, releasing her from his suffocating space and giving her room to breathe.

He picked up his glass of bourbon from the desk, turning his back to her as he stared out into the dark, rainy night.

"Good to know," Zachary said coldly, his tone suddenly clipped and distant, as if the intense moment from seconds ago hadn't happened at all. "You can leave now, Elena."

Elena blinked, completely caught off guard by his sudden change of mood. Her heart was still hammering wildly against her ribs, her body still tight from the sheer tension of being trapped by him. She looked at his broad back, confused and dazed.

"S-Sir?"

"I said leave," Zachary repeated, his voice dropping into a low, commanding warning without turning around. "Get out of my room. Before I change my mind."

"O-Opo, Sir. Patawad po," Elena stammered in a panic.

She didn't waste another second. Clutching her tray, she turned around and practically bolted out of the master bedroom, closing the heavy double doors behind her. She leaned against the cold wall of the hallway, gasping for air, her knees shaking.

Inside the room, Zachary downed the rest of his whiskey in one sharp gulp. He set the glass down and opened his desk drawer, pulling out the secret marriage contract his lawyers had prepared. A dark, predatory smirk slowly played on his lips as he stared at the blank line meant for his future wife's signature.

"Kahit ano, Elena..." Zachary murmured darkly into the empty room, his eyes burning with an absolute, possessive hunger. "Let's see if you can really handle the price."