"Even if you are engaged to another man, even if you have his child, I don't care because you are mine baby girl, you would always be mine" he said his eyes blazing with anger, the kind i had never seen before. **** Lyra would give everything up to be with Adrian Sterling, to be noticed by him, to be loved by him. Including giving her organs and blood away for the love of his life, Nina. And what did he do? He sold her for one million dollars making her go to jail for two years. But what happens when she met Adrian again after a few years but this time with a baby boy in his arms? Will Adrian have a change of heart towards Lyra or would he be too late as she may have found someone else?
Lyra's POV
I hated the hospital.
The sterile smell of disinfectant clung to everything, sharp and suffocating, mixing with the endless beeping of machines. It felt like the walls of the intensive care unit were closing in on me, suffocating my thoughts.
In my hand was the bill, six figures. Just for the consultancy.
My chest tightened, and I stared at the numbers again as if they'd magically change. How was I supposed to come up with that kind of money? Not in a year, not in two.
Not even if I worked myself to death.
I turned my gaze to the frail figure lying on the bed. My grandmother, the strongest woman I knew, looked so small beneath the layers of blankets.
I bit my lips as I felt reality press down on my shoulders as her faint smile greeted me.
"You're back from the accounts section," she said weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. "How did it go?"
I forced a smile, swallowing the panic threatening to spill out. "Nothing to worry about, Grandma," I lied, trying to sound cheerful. "I'll ask my boss for overtime. We'll figure it out."
She studied me, her knowing eyes seeing through the facade. I could feel my resolve cracking, but I couldn't let her see the despair lurking beneath the surface.
"Did the doctor tell you?" she asked suddenly.
I shook my head, nervous about the answer. "No, not yet."
Her frail hand reached for mine, her touch light but grounding. "Lupus," she said softly.
The word hung in the air, foreign and heavy. "Lupus?" I repeated, my brows furrowing. "What is that?"
Her lips twitched into a weak smile. "It's what I call a rich man's sickness."
"Grandma, this is not the time for jokes," I said, my voice wavering between sternness and concern.
She chuckled softly, a sound that somehow felt both comforting and heartbreaking. "What do you expect me to do, darling? Cry about it? We have to find humor somewhere, or I might just add stress to my list of ailments."
Her attempt at lightening the mood didn't soothe me. The reality of the situation was sinking in too fast. Before I could respond, a nurse entered the room, breaking the moment. She smiled politely before glancing at me.
"How's everything going in here?" the nurse asked gently.
I hesitated. "Could you... could you explain what lupus is?" My voice felt small, uncertain.
The nurse nodded, pulling up a chair beside me. "Lupus is an autoimmune disease," she began. "It means the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs."
I blinked, trying to keep up. "Wait, so... it's like her body is fighting itself?"
"Exactly," the nurse replied. "It can affect many parts of the body-joints, skin, kidneys, even the lungs. That's why her breathing has been a concern."
"And it's... serious?"
She hesitated, her eyes softening. "It's manageable with the right treatment. But without it..." She trailed off, letting the unspoken words hang between us.
I swallowed hard. "And how much will the treatment cost?"
The nurse handed me another paper. "This includes everything she'll need."
I glanced at the numbers and felt the air leave my lungs. "This can't be real," I muttered, shaking my head.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "You'll need to settle this with the accounts section," she said. "Your grandmother's lungs are failing. We are afraid it may start moving to other parts as well."
She didn't finish, but she didn't have to. The urgency in her voice said enough. When she left, the silence felt heavier.
Grandma's frail voice broke it. "You're so young, Lyra. Let this old woman go, alright? Don't ruin your life for me."
"Don't say that," I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "I can't lose you."
Her fingers brushed away my tears, her smile unwavering despite everything. "You're stronger than you think, darling. You'll handle this."
Her words were meant to reassure, but they only deepened the ache in my chest. I left her room, the sterile hospital corridor stretching endlessly before me. Each step to the accounts section felt heavier than the last.
The staff offered me a payment plan, but even the first installment seemed impossible. Desperation clawed at me. As I walked away, an unsettling thought crossed my mind-selling my body. The idea churned my stomach, but the fear of losing Grandma was stronger.
"No," I muttered to myself. "I can't do that."
I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the darker corners of the web. Odd jobs sometimes appeared there. Maybe I'd get lucky. That's when I saw it: a request for blood donation. The pay was astonishing-enough to cover Grandma's medication and more. The only catch? The recipient needed a rare blood type, B-.
Lucky me, it was exactly my blood type.
I hesitated, rereading the post for the third time. "This has to be a scam," I muttered under my breath, my finger hovering over the apply button. But what choice did I have? Grandma needed me to act, and I was out of options.
With trembling fingers, I filled out the application form, my thoughts racing. "This is crazy," I whispered, hitting submit and half-expecting nothing to happen.
Minutes ticked by
I paced the room, my phone clutched in my hand, when a sudden buzz made me jump. A notification popped up with an address and a time.
"Already?" I stared at the screen, my stomach flipping. "This is happening too fast."
Still, I grabbed my coat and left. The cab ride to the outskirts of the city felt like an eternity. When we finally pulled up to the address, I froze.
The house was enormous, its sleek, glass facade glowing faintly under the streetlights. "This can't be it," I murmured, double-checking the address on my phone.
"You getting out or what?" the cab driver called, breaking my trance.
"Uh, yeah," I said, fumbling with the door handle. My heart pounded as I approached the entrance, the faint hum of a security system making the silence even heavier.
"Relax," I whispered to myself, forcing my legs to keep moving. "You're doing this for Grandma."
A man stood by the door, his emerald eyes studying me with quiet intensity. His features were sharp-a chiseled jawline, a neatly trimmed mustache, and a perfectly styled head of dark hair.
He radiated a calm authority that unnerved me.
"You must be Miss Quinn," he said smoothly, his voice like silk.
It was suppose to be a one night stand followed by her death but he saved her and that's where it had all began. Emberline Stark, once the epitome of the perfect daughter, found herself in a twisted family game after her mother's sudden death. Despite her stepfamily's hatred, she cared for them as much as she could. However, everything changed when her stepsister, Aurora, stole her fiancé. In the quest for revenge, Ember discovers that her fairytale world was far from simple. As she delves deeper, questions arise about her mother's disappearance and a mysterious connection with a bad play boy. Amidst the chaos, she faces a choice between the bad boy, her ex, and her first love.
"Hello Lily" a deep husky voice said from beside her. "Lorenzo... what's going on? Why am I here" lily asked confused. Lorenzo cocked his head to the right as he stepped closer his finger touching her delicate lip. " Because you have disobeyed me cara mio and you know what that means" he leaned forward and whispered into her ear, " It means... you will be... " **** Lily, was an orphan who worked in a rundown diner. Her only escape from the mundane is the shimmering hope of a life in the Maldives. One ordinary day, she overhears a chilling conversation that thrusts her into the dark world of the mafia, led by the mafia king Lorenzo Moretti. Lorenzo was a dangerous man. He hardly cares about women or other people that were not among us gang. He sees women as his play objects. What happens when he meet innocent, naive sweet Lily Evans? Will he change his dangerous ways because of her or would they drown together?
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."