Chapter 4

Daniel’s surgery was successful, and I was relieved. I stayed right by his bed for three whole days, only leaving to grab food for both of us from the hospital cafeteria. He kept asking how I was able to raise the five hundred thousand dollars for his operation, but I always changed the subject each time he brought it up. I couldn’t tell him about the awful thing I did.

On the fourth day, Daniel was strong enough to move to a normal room. The nurses pushed his bed down the hall, and I walked beside him, holding his backpack with his comic books and our old family photo. This room had a big window looking out at a park, and it wasn’t as noisy as the intensive care unit. No more constant beeps, just people talking softly.

“Anna, you look stressed out,” Daniel said in his weak voice. His face was still pale, but his eyes sparkled again. The doctors said he would get better, but it would take time.

“I’m okay,” I lied, smiling at him. “You’re safe now, and that’s all that matters.”

He grabbed my hand with his bandaged one. “But really, Annabel. Tell me the truth. Where did the money come from? That surgery cost a lot. You don’t have that kind of savings. Did you sell stuff? Or borrow from someone?”

My stomach twisted. The truth was stuck in my throat. How could I say it? That I slept with a rich guy named Mr. Richard for the cash? That I gave up my body to save his life? Telling him would break his heart, and he’d blame himself.

“Just a kind stranger,” I mumbled, staring at the floor. “Anonymous. The hospital took care of it. Forget it.”

He frowned, not believing me. “Anonymous? Come on, Anna, you don’t expect me to believe that a stranger just gifted you five hundred thousand dollars just like that?”

“Can we just drop the topic?” I said, fixing his blanket to avoid his eyes.

He sighed, leaning back. “Fine. But promise you’ll look after yourself too. You’ve been here forever. When did you last sleep in a real bed? Or have a nice hot bath?” He asked with a worried expression on his face.

“Soon, Daniel,” I promised. “Once you’re discharged from here. Just focus on getting better.”

Daniel changed the topic. He talked about his favorite shows and how he missed watching them, his job at the comic shop. I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. The bills were paid thanks to that money from Mr. Richard, but what about rent? Food? My job? I had missed work for days without calling. I was so engrossed in Daniel’s surgery that I’d forgotten to call the hotel. I picked up my phone and tried calling my manager, but the call wasn’t connecting. I dropped the phone back inside my bag. Now that Daniel was out of danger, I’d go to the hotel.

My phone buzzed—a message from the hotel manager. My heart dropped as I read it:

Message: “Annabel, we have tried calling. You didn’t show up for work for four days now and with no explanation, and that is against the company rules. You are fired.”

Fired. The word punched me. I stared at the screen, tears blurring it. How had I let this happen? I knew the hotel job sucked, but it was my only source of income, and now I was jobless as well as nearly penniless. And Daniel—no, he couldn’t know that I’d just lost my job, not yet, when he was just getting better.

I made an excuse about the bathroom and slipped out. Daniel nodded; he was flipping through the pages of a comic magazine. I found a quiet spot at the end of the hall with empty chairs by a vending machine. I sat down there and let the tears flow freely.

“Idiot, idiot,” I whispered to myself. Why pick one problem over the other? I sat there for a while, crying my eyes out.

“Hello, pretty,” a deep voice said behind me.

“Please go away. I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone right now,” I responded coldly.

“That hurts, especially when I was just fucking you five days ago,” the stranger said.

“Mr. Richard?” I quickly sat upright and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “What are you doing here?” I asked, looking around to make sure nobody saw us.

“I saw a damsel in distress and stopped to help out,” he said, smiling.

“Please go away. I don’t want to talk to you,” I said harshly.

“That’ll be difficult, sweetheart, because this hospital belongs to me,” he said, grinning.

I looked at him, surprised. “This hospital belongs to you?”

“Yes, sweetheart. So tell me, why are you hiding here and crying all alone? Is your brother okay?”

“It’s none of your business, and I’m not your sweetheart,” I replied, glaring at him.

“Alright, fine. Here’s my card—you refused to take it the other night.” He dropped the card on an empty seat beside me. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

At the mention of the other night, my stomach twisted, and I turned to him angrily. “Do you think I want to fuck you again for money?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. You’re clearly upset, and you look like you might need someone to talk to. And also, I won’t reject it if you offer me that sweet and juicy pussy,” he said, grinning.

“Just go away from here, please. I just lost my job, and I’m not in the mood for your nonsense.”

“Then come work for me. Be my secretary. I’ll pay you twice what the hotel was paying you,” he said, smiling.

“And what makes you think I want to work for you?” I asked, feeling irritated already. I’d rather work as a street sweeper than work for him.

“Him.” He pointed at Daniel, who was standing close by, dragging his IV stand with him. His mouth was wide open in shock.

“You’ll work for me because of your twin brother—or else, how will you take care of him?”

He didn’t lie; I really needed the money, but working for him was out of the question. Daniel walked closer to us gently, and I ran to assist him.

“Daniel, why did you get out of bed? You’re still recovering from surgery,” I scolded him. But his eyes were fixed on Mr. Richard.

“Pinch me, Anna. I’m dreaming. Isn’t this Mr. Richard, the richest man in America? What is he doing here and with you?” He walked closer to Mr. Richard, beaming with smiles.

“Sir, I'm your biggest fan. I have so many of your magazines,” Daniel said, extending his hand for a handshake with Mr. Richard.

If only Daniel knew what went down between us, he’d be kicking his ass, not admiring him, I thought to myself.

Mr. Richard took his hand gently. “Glad you’re better now,” he said, smiling.

Daniel held onto his hand, smiling sheepishly. “Anna, he knows about me! The richest man in America knows about me! Hurry up, take a picture of us together. I can’t wait to show it to my friends and colleagues once I’m out of here,” Daniel said, smiling like a child.

“Yes, Anna. Take a picture,” Mr. Richard said, smirking at me.

“Fine.” I collected Daniel’s phone and took two pictures, then returned the phone to him. “Satisfied?” I asked Daniel, and he nodded, still holding Mr. Richard’s hand.

“And me too,” a voice said behind us.

“Nathan?” I quickly gave the phone back to Daniel as I rushed to hug my boyfriend. “When did you come back?” I asked, kissing him.

“I wanted to surprise you, and I’d like to take a picture with Mr. Richard too,” Nathan said, smiling as he approached him.

Daniel frowned; he never liked Nathan—he only tolerated him because of me.

“You’ll ruin the picture. Go away from here,” Daniel scolded him angrily. Mr. Richard was glaring at Nathan and me, and I quickly averted my eyes.

“Alright, Daniel, go back to your room and rest. I’ll see you some other time,” Mr. Richard said.

“My ward is over there—it’ll be easier for you to find me,” Daniel responded.

“You’ve been upgraded to a private ward. The nurses will take you there, and your bills have been settled too,” Mr. Richard said, smiling at Daniel as one of the nurses came to take him to his new room.

Did I just hear him right? Bills settled and a new room?

“Thank you, Mr. Richard, but there’s no need for you to do all this,” I said in a low voice. Nathan pinched me to keep quiet as he stepped forward to talk to Mr. Richard.

“Ah, thank you so much, Mr. Richard. My name is Nathan—I’m Annabel’s boyfriend. Can I take a picture with you?”

“Boyfriend? You never told me you have a boyfriend,” Mr. Richard said, looking at me with a frown.

I didn’t respond to him. Then he turned to Nathan. “Sure, you can take the pictures.” Nathan brought out his phone and started taking pictures, but Mr. Richard’s eyes were glued on me.

“That’s enough, Nathan. Let’s go,” I tried dragging him off with me, but he pushed me off, and I almost fell to the ground. Mr. Richard pushed him, and he fell flat on his face.

“Why did you push her like that?” Mr. Richard yelled at Nathan furiously.

I rushed to Nathan’s side to help him up, then turned to Mr. Richard, glaring at him. “Why did you push him like that?” I yelled back. I helped Nathan to his feet.

“Please stay away from me and my brother. I don’t need your help or your job,” I said to him as I walked away with Nathan.