Chapter 2: Fifty thousand dollars

Olivia’s POV

Hospitals had a smell. A cold, bitter smell that never really left your nose no matter how long you stayed there. It smelled like fear. Like sleepless nights. Like bad news waiting quietly around every corner. I hated it.

I hated the pale walls, the constant beeping sounds, the nurses walking around with careful expressions like they already knew whose heart was about to break next.

And somehow…This place had started feeling more familiar than my own home.

Dad was asleep when I entered the room. The oxygen tube rested under his nose while the heart monitor beside him beeped steadily.

I stood there for a moment just watching him. This wasn’t the same man who used to carry me on his shoulders after school.

The same man who danced terribly in the kitchen just to make me laugh after Mom died.

The same man who worked double shifts for years so I could go to college.

Now he looked smaller somehow.

Fragile and it terrified me.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to move closer.

“Hey, Dad,” I whispered softly, sitting beside him.

His hand felt cold in mine.

A painful lump formed in my throat immediately.

“I’m here.” The words barely came out. I looked away quickly before the tears could fall again. I was tired of crying.

Tired of feeling weak. Tired of life beating me down over and over again like I somehow deserved it.

First Adrian. Now this…

I let out a shaky breath and leaned back in the chair.

My phone buzzed beside me. I stiffened instantly.

For one stupid second, my heart actually hoped it was Adrian .

An apology.

An explanation.

Something..But it wasn’t him.

Instead, it was another news notification. My stomach twisted before I even opened it. Still… I clicked it anyway.

Big mistake!.

BUSINESS HEIR ADRIAN CROSS WEDS CEO DAUGHTER IN LUXURY CEREMONY

Below it were pictures. So many pictures.

Adrian smiled. Then he was kissing her.

Adrian held her hand like she was precious. Comments flooded the page underneath.

“They look perfect together.”

“Power couple!”

“She upgraded.”

Then I saw this awkward comment..

“Wasn’t he dating some broke girl before this?”

My chest tightened violently.

Another comment appeared beneath it.

“Money always wins.”

I locked the screen immediately.

My hands were trembling.

“Olivia?”

I looked up sharply.

Shay stood by the door holding two takeaway coffee cups and a paper bag. Her expression softened instantly when she saw my face.

“Oh no…”

“I’m fine,” I lied quickly.

She gave me a look that clearly said you’re a terrible liar. Then she walked over and handed me one of the coffees.

“You need caffeine.”

“I need a new life.”

“That too.”

A weak laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Shay sat beside me quietly. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn’t awkward.

Just heavy. Exhausted.

Finally, she sighed.

“Did the doctor say anything new?”

I looked down at my hands. The little bit of calm I had immediately disappeared.

“They ran more tests this morning.”

Shay’s face tightened slightly.

“And?”

I inhaled slowly.

“They said Dad needs surgery.”

The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

“Apparently the treatment here isn’t enough anymore. They want to transfer him to another hospital in Millbrook.”

Shay frowned.

“Out of state?”

I nodded.

“And the surgery costs almost fifty thousand dollars.”

The room went silent.

Even saying the amount out loud made me feel sick. Fifty thousand dollars. I didn’t even have five hundred.

Shay looked devastated for me.

“Olivia…”

I laughed softly.

Not because anything was funny. But because if I didn’t laugh, I might completely lose my mind.

“Do you know what’s crazy?” I murmured. “Yesterday I thought the worst thing that could happen to me was losing Adrian.”

I looked over at my father.

“Turns out life wasn’t done humiliating me yet.”

Shay immediately grabbed my hand.

“Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true.”

“No.” Her voice became firmer. “You’re going through hell right now, but this isn’t the end of your life.”

I wanted to believe her. God, I really did.

But everything felt hopeless. Every direction I turned led to another wall.

Another bill. Another heartbreak. Another reminder that love didn’t save people.

Money did.

A knock suddenly interrupted the silence. The doctor stepped inside holding a file. My stomach dropped instantly.

Doctors never knocked gently unless they were about to ruin your life carefully.

“Miss Olivia,” he greeted politely.

I stood up quickly.

“How is he?”

The doctor gave me a sympathetic smile that immediately made my chest tighten.

“Your father’s condition is stable for now, but we really shouldn’t delay the surgery any longer.”

I nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

“The earlier we move him, the higher the chances of recovery.”

Recovery.

Such a hopeful word.

Yet it felt impossibly far away.

The doctor hesitated briefly before adding,

“I know the financial aspect may be difficult, but we’ll need an initial deposit before the transfer process can begin.”

There it was.

Money again.

Always money.

I swallowed hard.

“How long do I have?”

“At most… a week.”

A week.

My knees almost gave out.

The doctor offered another apologetic look before leaving the room quietly.

The moment the door closed, I sat back down heavily.

A week.

How was I supposed to find fifty thousand dollars in one week?

Sell my blood?

Sell my soul?

I pressed my palms against my eyes, breathing shakily.

Then…Buzz.

My phone vibrated beside me.

I frowned slightly.

Unknown Number.

Again.

Something cold crept down my spine. I picked it up slowly.

A message waited on the screen.

“Rough day?”

My brows pulled together immediately.

Another message came in before I could react.

“Your father deserves better care than this hospital can provide.”

My blood ran cold. I sat upright instantly.

How the hell did this person know about my father?

My fingers moved quickly.

Who is this?

The typing dots appeared.

Stopped.

Then it appeared again.

“Someone who is paying attention.”

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

Not comfort or fear but something in between.

Carefully controlled and calculated.

Another message appeared.

“Fifty thousand dollars isn’t impossible to get.”

I stared at the screen. My heartbeat slowly began to rise. This couldn’t be real. Nobody just offered help for no reason. Nobody. Especially not rich men.

I typed carefully.

What do you want from me?

This time, the reply took longer.

Long enough to make my nerves tighten painfully.

Then finally.. A conversation.

I frowned.

That was it?

Another message followed immediately after.

“And maybe a deal.”

My grip tightened around the phone. Every instinct told me this was dangerous.That I should block the number immediately. But then I looked at my father again. I’m running out of time. My chest tightened painfully.

Buzz.

One final message appeared on the screen.

And this time…

My breath caught completely.

“I can change your life, Olivia.”