Chapter 3: That Girl

"You still have time to play your cards right," Greed had told her two weeks earlier with a firmness that sounded more like an order as he placed the contract in front of her.

Lizzy held Greed's shrewd gaze and breathed deeply, looking worried.

"It's a tempting offer, sir, I admit. But I also know that in your world, things can turn dangerous quickly. That's why I need assurances that I'll be safe and won't be dragged into bigger problems in the future," Lizzy replied with suspicion. "If I can have that, then maybe we can have a deal."

"When I tell you that you'll be under my protection, it's because you can be sure it will be that way," he murmured, leaning on his desk and looking at her intently. "Safety is a priority in our agreement. You can trust that no one will harm you while you're playing the role I'm paying you for. Furthermore, you have my word that I won't let you get involved in anything dangerous. The contract you'll sign includes clauses ensuring your protection and the penalties if it's broken."

Lizzy squinted skeptically, then shook the hand Greed extended to her.

"Very well, I accept your offer and trust that you'll keep your word," she said, seeing him smile in response. "I'd like to hear what those clauses say then."

Lizzy took a deep breath, thinking about what had happened, and stood up to face the mirror. The long red dress with the plunging neckline that Greed had provided accentuated her natural beauty, draping over her figure as if it had been designed just for her.

As she looked in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat. She was scared, but for the first time in a long while, she felt confident. Although she was aware that her relationship with Greed was based on a contract, she couldn't help but feel grateful, and in a somewhat ironic way, he was her lifeline.

The person she trusted the least, the person who didn't want her in his mansion, was the one who had given her and her child an opportunity.

"Everything will be fine from now on, my little baby. We'll get out of here together soon," Lizzy murmured with a smile, gently caressing her belly.

A soft knock on her room door pulled her from her thoughts. She quickly made sure everything was in place before opening the door.

"I'm coming...!" Her lips trembled when she saw the man in front of her. She took a deep breath and licked her lips. "Doctor, what are you doing here?"

Iker had been waiting for nearly two hours for Lizzy to turn on the lights in her room to confirm what Greed had told him a few days earlier during her routine examination.

"It's true," Iker stammered, looking her up and down with clenched teeth.

Lizzy took a deep breath, her brows furrowing, and shook her head in confusion.

"What are you talking about? What's true?"

"I didn't think you'd be capable of accepting Greed's offer," Iker muttered with disbelief.

Lizzy's lips pressed together before she stepped aside to let him in and closed the door.

"Did you come here so late just to confront me about this?" she asked, sitting on the bed with a sigh. Iker approached and sat down beside her, his face reflecting a mix of concern and frustration she couldn't quite grasp.

"I'm genuinely upset about your decision to accept that contract with Greed."

Lizzy lowered her gaze and took a breath because she didn't know how Iker had found out about it.

"I understand you're... upset and worried, doctor, but..."

"Call me Iker," he said, sounding irritated, and she furrowed her brow. "That's my name, not 'doctor.' At this point, calling me by my name is the least you can do after everything that has happened."

"Okay... Iker," she responded with a tired smile.

"What happened to the woman who didn't want to trust the devil?" he suddenly asked, and she gently shook her head.

"I still don't trust the devil, but I can only tell you that I didn't have many options. Greed's offer was very tempting, and with a child on the way, I really needed the money. Besides, wasn't it you who assured me that I could trust them?"

Iker nodded resignedly, but his expression remained serious.

"I know, I know I assured you that you could trust them without any fear. But there's something that prevents me from fully trusting Greed," he admitted. "I feel like he's up to something with this whole contract thing, and... I know it's too late to agree that you and your child stay out of his world, but now... this. Nothing assures your safety and your child's."

"He promised me protection, Iker... I couldn't ignore that opportunity."

Iker ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated.

"What makes you believe in his protection after his own men almost killed you?"

Lizzy hugged herself, and her voice cracked.

"The contract..."

"Lizzy, do you really think Greed will keep his end of the deal? You must remember that he's a gangster, and not just any gangster, but the leader of the most powerful mafia in New York. Trusting him wholeheartedly, based solely on a contract that he could break at any moment, is complete madness."

And she knew it. It was complete madness to trust someone so dangerous. But even if he broke his word, she wouldn't break hers to protect herself and her child.

"I know, I admit that you're right about many things that I didn't think through calmly, but I didn't see many options for me," she murmured, her voice breaking. "I can't stay in this place forever, and the money he gave me could make a difference at some point."

Iker sighed and placed his hand on Lizzy's shoulder. He was aware that the money wouldn't be enough to extricate her from the complicated web Greed had woven around her.

"Alright, but I want you to be careful with him. Please promise me that you'll stay alert and won't get involved in anything dangerous."

Lizzy nodded with determination and gave Iker a sad look. At that moment, it was too late to lament, and both knew there was no way to avoid what was about to happen.

"I promise, Iker," she said, squeezing his hand with a bright smile. "My priority is to protect my child, but I'll do everything I can to keep us safe, and above all, keep you informed."

Iker smiled sadly and gave her a comforting hug.

"I'm here to support you, no matter what happens. I'll be here to support you," he murmured, and she nodded, returning the hug.

Lizzy was aware that she was taking a risk, but at the same time, with Iker's support, she saw the possibility that this opportunity could transform her life for the better. However, the short answer was: "no."

Because from there on, hell only extended further.

Shortly afterward, Iker left Lizzy's room with a somber expression on his face. He gently closed the door behind him and stood in the hallway for a long minute, reflecting on what had just happened before walking away.

"Poor Lizzy... What will you do when you discover that you're the girl Greed wants to destroy for leaving him years ago?" he murmured to himself as he took off his jacket in the silence of his room.