2: The Devil’s Deal

Lyra’s POV

“What dangerous terms?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at the doctor, my voice trembling with urgency.

He hesitated, then sighed. “He might kill you… if you don’t pay the money back on time.”

The words hit me like a slap. My chest tightened, and I instinctively took a step back.

“No,” I said, shaking my head and turning toward Dad. “We don’t want his money. Suggest someone else. Please.”

Dad’s eyes darted to the doctor, then back to me. His voice was soft but firm. “Daughter, we don’t have a choice. Let’s just go… borrow from him. We’ll work hard, pay it back —”

“But you heard him! He’s dangerous, Dad! What if we can’t pay in time?”

Dad grabbed the doctor by the elbow and motioned him to the hallway. I stood there frozen, my hands clenched into fists, heart pounding with fear and helplessness.

I turned back to Mom, lying unconscious, tubes attached to her frail frame. “Please hold on,” I whispered, brushing her cold hand. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

*********

Third Person POV

Outside the hospital room, Dr. Claren slipped a card into William’s hand.

“Take this to L.M Enterprises,” he said, lowering his voice. “It’s the only chance you’ve got.”

William held the card tightly, its smooth texture trembling against his wrinkled fingers. The next morning, he shuffled to the gate of L.M Enterprises, his walking stick clicking against the pavement. A suited guard blocked his way.

“No entry without an appointment.”

William held up the card. The guard’s expression shifted the moment he saw the logo — silver and embossed.

“Follow me.”

He led William through the sleek black glass doors into the cold, towering building. The marble floors gleamed. Everything screamed wealth, power, and intimidation. And sitting behind a grand desk of smoked glass and black marble was Lucian Kieran — a man with the presence of a god and the heart of a glacier.

He didn’t even look up.

“Do you have an appointment with me, old man?” Lucian asked, voice flat.

William cleared his throat. “No, sir. Doctor Claren sent me. He gave me this.” He held out the card.

Lucian glanced at it, then returned to his laptop. “Speak.”

“My wife is critically ill. She needs open-heart bypass surgery. The hospital said it would cost two hundred thousand dollars.” His voice broke. “I came to borrow the money. I’ll pay back every cent. Please.”

Lucian slowly looked up, his expression unreadable. His eyes swept over William like he was inspecting a broken machine.

“What collateral do you have?”

“Nothing,” William admitted. “But my daughter… she’ll work for you. She’s only twenty-three. She’ll do anything.”

Lucian raised a brow. “Anything?”

William nodded silently.

A ghost of a smirk tugged at Lucian’s lips. “Then I’ll give you the money.”

“Thank you! Thank you, sir!” William’s knees almost buckled with relief.

Lucian held up a hand. “On one condition. Your daughter will marry me. A contract marriage. She’ll take care of my three-year-old daughter until the debt is paid. No love. No emotion. No intimacy. She will follow every rule I set. That’s the deal.”

William’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

“I’m not asking for your opinion,” Lucian added sharply. “She’ll care for my daughter until the debt is paid. That’s the law. You have until tomorrow. Accept or leave. Show this card again when you’ve decided.”

He slid another card across the desk, the metallic edge catching the light like a blade.

Otherwise, don’t waste my time again.”

“Now vanish.”

William picked up the card with trembling hands and turned, his cane clicking again as he left in silence.

*********

Lyra’s POV

I waited anxiously, pacing the room. Mom was still unconscious, her breathing shallow. When Dad finally walked in, his face was pale, eyes hollow.

“Dad! Did he agree to help us?” I rushed to him, helping him sit down.

He nodded slowly. “He agreed. But his condition…”

“What condition?” My heart raced. “Dad… will he hurt us if we don’t pay?”

Dad hesitated. Then, looking straight into my eyes, he said, “He’ll give us the money… but only if you agree to marry him. A contract marriage.”

The air left my lungs. “What? Marry him? Why? He doesn’t even know me!”?”

“He didn’t even let me speak,” Dad muttered. “Just said it’s a take-it-or-leave-it deal. He handed me this.” He offered the silver-edged card. “A pass to meet him directly.”

I stared at it, fingers trembling as I took it from him. “Then I’ll go. I’ll tell him I’ll pay the money myself in two years — without marriage.”

“Lyra, wait —” But I didn’t.

“I’m not agreeing to anything. Not yet. I’ll make him see that I can pay another way. Work it off. Sell my soul. Anything but this no.”

I stormed out, flagging a taxi and giving the address. My hands clutched the card as if it were a lifeline — or a noose.

The building was even more intimidating up close. When I presented the card, the guard immediately ushered me inside, and within minutes, I stood in front of a sleek black door.

Lucian was seated behind his desk, eyes on his laptop. He didn’t glance up.

“How can I help you, madam? Did I have an appointment with you?”

“I—my—” My voice faltered. I stepped forward, placing the card on his desk.

He glanced sideways, not even lifting his head fully. “Ah. So the old man didn’t agree. Is that why he sent his sister? Or second wife?”

His words sliced through me. My heart clenched. Tears stung my eyes, but I forced myself to stay composed.

“I’m not his second wife… or his sister. I’m his daughter.”

Lucian finally looked up. His cold, silver eyes scalogo me like a specimen. “You? Twenty-three?”

I nodded silently.

He smirked. “I knew you people would come crawling. Poor people never miss a chance to marry the richest man in the country, hmm?”

His voice was venom, and each word was a stab to my pride. But I stood still, fighting the urge to crumble.

“No. I came to—”

He cut me off. “You want to marry me now, don’t you? If I’d known the old man’s daughter was a land whale, I wouldn’t have wasted my time.”

I froze. His words echoed in my ears.

“Marry me… or watch your mother die,” he said, taking out a wad of cash and throwing it at me.