3: No Other Way

Lyra’s POV

“Marry me… or watch your mother die,”

The words spilled from Lucian’s lips like venom, cold and lethal. Before I could respond, he tossed a bundle of hundred-dollar bills at me. The bills fluttered through the air like ash, landing at my feet.

“Use that,” he added with a sneer, “to fix yourself. Especially that hair.”

Shame burned my skin. My fists clenched at my sides as I turned away, swallowing the tears rising fast in my throat. I didn’t pick up the money. Not even a single bill. I left that office shattered — broken in spirit and heavy in heart.

I didn’t bother hailing a taxi. My feet moved on their own, dragging me down the sidewalk. Tears streamed freely as Lucian’s voice haunted every step. Land whale. Sister or second wife. Fix yourself. His words pierced deeper than knives.

That man—Lucian Kieran—wasn’t just heartless. He was monstrous.

How could someone be so cruel… to a human being like that?

I walked endlessly, unsure where I was going, just hoping for a sign — anything to save my mother. Then, across the road, I spotted a massive rice processing company. Maybe… maybe they offered loans? Or jobs?

I wiped my eyes and entered the building, my hands trembling. A middle-aged man in a suit approached, and for a moment, I let myself hope.

“Hello,” I murmured to the man in a suit behind the front desk. “Please... I need a job. Or a loan. My mother’s dying. She needs surgery—urgent heart surgery.”

The man stared for a long moment, eyes trailing down my body like I was meat hanging in a market. He licked his lips.

“One night with me,” he said bluntly, “and I might consider helping.””

My stomach turned.

“I’m not desperate like that,” I muttered, and walked away, biting back the sob in my throat.

I kept going, door after door. Rejected again and again. Some people ignored me. Others laughed. A few didn’t even let me inside their shops. My appearance didn’t help — I wasn’t polished, wasn’t skinny, wasn’t dressed in the way society deemed worthy. No one gave me a chance.

By the time I returned to the hospital, my tears had dried on my cheeks. I scrubbed my face before entering so no one would ask questions.

As I approached Mom’s room, I saw Dad standing outside, speaking with the doctor. Their expressions were grim.

“How did it go?” Dad asked quickly, hope flickering in his tired eyes.

I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, the doctor sighed and said, “You see, we can’t continue the surgery—”

Suddenly, my eyes caught movement through the room’s glass window. Two nurses were surrounding my mother. Her body jerked, her breathing labored. She coughed violently, her face twisted in pain.

“Mom!” I cried, rushing forward.

The doctor grabbed my arm, stopping me. “You can’t go in! You’ll distract them.”

“Please,” I begged. “Start the surgery. I swear I’ll pay. Just don’t let her die!”

He shook his head. “I’ve told you — without proof of payment, the surgery can’t go on. Tonight, you’ll have to transfer her to another hospital.”

I fell to my knees, tears flooding my eyes. “Please… please…”

Behind me, Dad stood still as stone, his face void of life. It was as though he had already accepted defeat. That if we lost her tonight, there would be no second chance.

I clenched my fists. Is this really the end?

If I didn’t accept Lucian’s offer, I’d lose her.

If I did… I’d lose myself.

But I had no boyfriend. No future. And my mother — she was everything. She gave up her life for me. Could I really watch her die when I had the power to save her?

I stood slowly. My voice came out steady.

“Doctor,” I said, facing him, “begin the surgery. I’ll sign the loan agreement now.”

Dad’s head snapped toward me, eyes wide.

“Are you sure?” he and the doctor asked at once.

“Yes,” I whispered, my gaze fixed on the window where my mother was being prepared for surgery.

“Very well,” the doctor said, and rushed inside to give the order.

The nurses began moving quickly, prepping Mom for the operating theater. I watched them for a second, then turned to Dad.

He took a step closer. “Are you really sure you can do this, Lyra?”

I nodded. “I have no other choice. Let’s go — before they change their mind. We need the money now, or they won’t complete the surgery.”

*********

Third Person POV

Minutes later, Lyra and her father stood once again in Lucian’s cold, imposing office. The room felt darker this time — more suffocating.

“We’re here,” Lyra said, her voice low but firm. “To sign the contract. And collect the money. The surgery has already started.”

Lucian didn’t even look at them. He remained glued to his laptop, fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Not a single word. Not a glance.

“Sir—” William tried to speak.

But Lucian’s voice cracked like thunder.

“Will you shut up?” he snapped, glaring at them now. “You brought your so-called daughter and filled my office with dead air. There’s hardly any oxygen left and expect me to breathe through it?”

His eyes drifted to Lyra, a scowl twisting his features. “Tch.”

He opened the drawer beside him, yanked out a stack of documents, and tossed them across the table. The papers fluttered to the floor near Lyra’s feet.

“Sign it,” he said coldly. “And from now on… you obey my rules. Or else.”

He turned his eyes to William.

“Old man,” he said flatly, “you may leave. I have something to do with your daughter.”