Chapter 1

Iris's POV

I have been sitting at my father's bedside for hours in a daze. I could only hear the sound of the monitor continuously beeping in the room. My mind was in turmoil thinking of what could happen if that monitor flatlined and stopped beeping. No, no, no. I shouldn't be thinking like that at all. I know, but I just can't help it. The situation and the way things are at the moment, are just not helping.

Could things get any worse than they are already? The company is going under, we are facing a mountain of debt, workers are unsettled and about to lose their jobs, investors are anxious and demanding answers, and on top of that, my father had a heart attack and needs to get surgery urgently. It's a total mess and I have never felt so helpless. It felt like the world was out to get our family.

While I was lost in my thoughts, the door to the room opened. By the waft of sweet rose scent that hit my senses, I could already tell who it was.

" Just sitting there all day won't change anything. You better go home and take a shower. It's starting to get stuffy here, and I'm sure it's not pleasant for your father, nor is endlessly moping here going to help him," My mother says to me as she walks by and sits on the couch behind me.

I close my eyes and sigh. I didn't answer her and didn't leave as she suggested. I don't want to leave here until he wakes up. But who knows when that is going to be. I hear her scoff.

" You are stubborn just like your father. If he had just listened to me before he decided to bet his life on an investment scheme, then none of us would be in this situation."

I got irritated by what she said. Since trouble befell us, she has not said one helpful thing except complain and add to my worries. One would think she could be a little considerate of the situation, but no, she keeps rubbing salt into the wounds.

" There is no point in crying over spilled milk. All we need to do is try and put together money for Dad's surgery. We will deal with everything else after that."

" And where do you think you will get that money? Everyone we know is not even answering their phones when I call them. The loan sharks are putting pressure on us to pay the money your father took from them. Then the bank won't give us a loan because we still owe it as well. Your uncle..." she huffed, "Don't get me started on that jerk. He is probably rejoicing at your father's failure, so what money could we possibly put together when we won't be able to survive ourselves!" She sounded worked up. I was too, but I was doing a great job keeping it all in.

" So what? What are you suggesting? Are you saying we should just lose heart, give up and just let him die?"

" That is not what I said.. "

" Then what are you saying because whatever you said is not helping at all?"

Everyone turned their backs on my father as soon as things started to go south for him. My father was an overly ambitious man. He was always successful in everything, but not this time. Besides that, he was also a generous man who wouldn't hesitate to help out a friend in need, but I guess everyone forgot that.

I hate to admit it, but it seems like my mother is right. I can't even think of whom to beg for money. I can't think of anything, and I am scared. I need some space and some fresh air to think. It's all just too much. I can't take it anymore.

I got up to leave, but my mother stopped me.

" Where are you going now? Are you going to leave me here all alone?"

" I'm going out for some time. And what do you mean you are alone? Father is here with you."

I didn't give her time to whine at me more. I walked down the hallway and spotted a vending machine. I searched my pockets and found some coins. I toss one in for a can of coffee. I got it and I opened it, and drank it in one go. I felt frustrated and I also felt like crying. Ever since this chaos started, I have tried to hold it together and not break, but I am slowly losing the strength to keep it together.

I leaned my head on the glass of the machine and took slow breaths to try and calm my mind. After a minute, I felt a little bit better if not calm. I tossed the crushed can in the trash and walked away. I hailed a cab and went back home. I should take the time out to freshen up.

When I got home, I went inside to see stickers of repossession all over every object in the house. That's just great. It seems we are going to be homeless. Cherry on top. It's been 2 days since I have been at home. I walked up to my room. I needed a hot shower, so I stripped my clothes and left them as a puddle on the ground. I entered the bathroom and turned on the shower. I let the warm water run down my body. It felt refreshing. I took my time washing my body since I hadn't for 2 days. My muscles were so tense from being seated for a long time.

Once I was done, I wrapped one towel on my head and the other on my body. I walked out of the bathroom and sat on the dressing table. I looked haggard from all the stress. I put on some light makeup but made sure that I covered the dark circles. I don't want my troubles to show on my face.

After makeup, I let my hair dry on its own. I was not in the mood to put effort into my looks. I walked to my walk-in closet and picked out a pair of tracksuits. I put those on and a pair of my Nike sneakers. I tossed my hair into a messy bun. I took my phone and everything else I needed and headed down the stairs to the kitchen. I just grabbed an apple on the kitchen counter and went out of the house.

I walked a distance from the house on foot. The weather was not hot or cold, just the right amount of everything. I figured I should start getting used to walking since I wouldn't have a car anymore. Walking was nice and it was good exercise. But I couldn't get all the way to the hospital on foot, so I ended up hailing a cab.

I arrived back at the hospital and went directly to my father's room. I was about to go in when I heard people talking. One unfamiliar voice I could hear. I stood at the door and decided to eavesdrop.

" The company is not worth much anymore, but I am willing to buy it at a good price. There is nothing to lose. I can make sure that it continues to function and workers don't lose their jobs. You can also have a 7% share to your name and that's all I offer," said the gruff voice of a man.

I wanted to go inside to stop my mother from agreeing to that deal, but then I heard my father's voice. Did he regain consciousness? How did that man know that my father was awake? I knew it. I shouldn't have left.

" There is nothing I can do for my company, Harold, so I agree to your offer. I am so ashamed that I failed the legacy of my family, but I have one condition before signing the contract," he says in a low, dejected voice.

" What is it?" asks the man.

There was a brief pause before my father spoke. " My daughter, Iris. I want you to take my daughter Iris and get her married to your son. In all my life, all I could give her was money and a luxurious life. I could never give her the love or affection she deserves. But I want her to continue living the comfortable life she is used to. That's the last thing I can do for her, as her father," my father says. I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand.

What the hell is he saying?

Father. What is he thinking?

" If that is all, then...it can be done. We will be in-laws, and what can sweeten the deal between us more than that? I will talk to my son, and you can talk to your daughter about the arrangement."

" Thank you, Mr Harrison. You have done a great deal for me and I will forever be grateful to you."

" It's not a problem. For now, get some rest. I will send the contract through my lawyer in the next few days," he says with an enthusiastic tone.

" Mr. Hart, please take care. Mrs Hart, I'll take your leave," he announces, and I quickly move away from the door. The man leaves my father's room and I watch his back as he walks away.

I stayed outside for a few minutes digesting all that I heard. There is really nothing that can be done about the company. My Dad has officially lost it. Everything was coming down too fast, and I wasn't sure if I was ready yet to get married like my father wants. But what choice do I have? It sounds like Dad has made a decision seeing how he didn't bother asking me about what I wanted.

I guess my wants are not important at this moment. My family is ruined, and I can only take what I am offered. I don't really believe in love, but it doesn't mean I am okay with marrying anyone just for the sake of it. But I can't afford to fight Dad on this one. His health comes above everything. So I'll just have to do what he wants just to make him happy. He has finally woken up again. The last thing I want is to fight with him and risk him getting worse. I'll somehow figure things out.