Heart Contract

The night had been painted with a tapestry of stars, twinkling like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky. Bernard sat in the dimly lit living room of his sprawling mansion, the shadows dancing around him as he cradled a glass of whiskey. He hadn't touched it in days, but tonight, he needed something to dull the ache that gnawed at his heart.

The sound of his daughter's soft cooing from the nursery upstairs was a bittersweet reminder of the life he once had-one filled with laughter, love, and the gentle warmth of his wife, Eliana. The silence in the house felt oppressive, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy she had brought into their lives.

His mind drifted back to that fateful night, the moment everything changed.

*"I'll be back in an hour, love,"* Eliana had said, her voice a melodic whisper that wrapped around him like a warm embrace. She had kissed him softly, her lips lingering on his for just a moment longer than necessary, her eyes sparkling with mischief. It was a typical evening; she was off to a charity event, and her passion for helping others was a part of who she was.

But the clock had ticked away the minutes, morphing into hours, and dread had settled in Bernard's gut like a heavy stone.

When the phone rang, he remembered feeling a chill crawl up his spine. The voice on the other end was shaky, filled with urgency and fear.

*"Mr. Bernard? There's been an accident. You need to come to the hospital."*

The drive was a blur, his mind racing with thoughts of Eliana. He could still hear her laughter, the way it danced in the air, a sound that could brighten the darkest of days. But as he reached the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic hit him like a freight train.

He remembered the doctor's face, the way his eyes were filled with sorrow.

*"I'm so sorry, Mr. Bernard. We did everything we could..."*

The words echoed in his mind, a cruel mantra that replayed over and over. He had collapsed against the wall, his knees giving way as the world around him crumbled.

*"No, no, no. You're wrong. She can't be gone. She was just here. She was..."* His voice broke, the weight of despair crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

*"She was shot, Mr. Bernard. There was an assassin. A bystander tried to help her, but it was too late."*

The stranger. He could still picture the headlines-*"Heroic Stranger Attempts to Save Woman in Fatal Shooting."* But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.

Now, a year later, Bernard found himself grappling with the emptiness left in Eliana's absence. He could hear their daughter, Lily, gurgling in her crib, oblivious to the tragedy that had befallen her family.

*"I'm so sorry, my love,"* he whispered into the silence, his voice cracking. *"I'm trying. I am."*

He closed his eyes, envisioning Eliana's radiant smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about their dreams for the future. They had planned to travel, to show their daughter the world. Instead, he was left alone to navigate the depths of grief, the responsibilities of parenthood weighing heavily on his shoulders.

The silence was deafening, and tears streamed down his face as he thought of all the moments they would never share. He felt so lost, so utterly alone.

*"I need you, Eliana,"* he whispered, his voice barely audible. The whiskey glass trembled in his hand as he set it down, the weight of his sorrow anchoring him to the spot.

"Phone rings"......

It was Charles.

*"Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Pants!"* Charles' voice boomed through the speaker, bright and cheerful.

Bernard couldn't help but roll his eyes. *"What do you want, Charles?"*

*"Just checking in on my favorite brooding billionaire! you still alive, or did you turn into a sad statue?"*

*"Very funny. I'm fine."* Bernard tried to sound serious, but a hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

*"Fine? That's it? You sound like a deflated balloon! Come on, give me something!"*

*"I'm just... busy."*

*"Busy moping? You need to get out, man! I've got a great idea-let's hit the town! I'll even let you buy me dinner."*

*"Yeah, right. Like I'm going to take you out to eat."*

*"Oh, come on! I promise I won't flirt with the waitress this time. I'll just charm the pants off her."*

*"That's a promise you can't keep."* Bernard chuckled, shaking his head.

*"True, but it's what I do best! Seriously, though. You can't just sit there and stare at the walls. Let's go grab a drink. Or ten."*

*"I don't think I'm in the mood for that."*

*"Mood? What's that? You know what you need? A good laugh! Remember that time at the beach when you tried to impress that girl with your 'amazing' sandcastle skills?"*

Bernard snorted. *"Don't remind me."*

*"You built a sandcastle that looked like a lopsided taco! I still have the picture!"*

*"You promised to delete that!"* Bernard laughed, the memory lightening his heart.

*"I lied! It's a work of art! You should frame it!"*

*"You're impossible."*

*"But you love me for it! Let's make some new memories. I'll even throw in a taco for old times' sake."*

*"Fine. Just one drink."*

*"One drink? Ha! You're such a lightweight! But I'll take it. Meet me in an hour. And bring that taco picture!"*

*"You're unbelievable."*

Charles laughs out loud uncontrollably as he hangs up.

Hadassah sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by her seven siblings, the air buzzing with chatter and laughter. The table was cluttered with school supplies-crayons, notebooks, and backpacks-and the excitement of a new school year hung in the air.

"Hadassah, I need a new pencil case!" one of her younger brothers exclaimed, his eyes wide with anticipation.

"And I want a red backpack!" another chimed in, bouncing in his seat.

Hadassah smiled at their enthusiasm, feeling a warmth in her heart. "Okay, okay! I'll make a list," she said, jotting down their requests.

Their mother, stirring a pot on the stove, turned to them. "Hadassah, you know you need to open that shop we talked about. It's time for me to start earning some money for school supplies."

Hadassah's smile faltered for a moment. "But Mom, I want to help them first. They need me."

"I know, sweetheart," her mother replied gently, wiping her hands on a towel. "But you need to think about our future too. Running a shop could help us all."

The weight of her mother's words settled on Hadassah like a heavy blanket. She looked at her siblings, their faces bright with dreams and hopes. "I just want to make sure everyone has what they need," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can do both, Hadassah. You can help them and build something for me too. You're strong enough to handle it."

Hadassah took a deep breath, feeling a mix of determination and worry. "Okay, I'll try. I just want to make sure they're happy."

Her siblings cheered, unaware of the burden their sister carried. Hadassah's heart swelled with love for them, but she also felt the weight of responsibility pressing down. It was a balance she would have to find, and she hoped she could do it without losing herself in the process.

Hadassah steps out to see her friend.....

Hadassah slumped onto the worn couch, her eyes welling up with tears as she recounted her struggles to Sharon. "I don't know what to do, Sharon. My siblings' school fees are piling up, and I promised my mom I'd open a small shop for her so she can earn some money to feed herself."

Sharon's expression softened as she wrapped her arms around Hadassah. "You're shouldering so much responsibility, Hadassah. I'm here for you."

Hadassah sniffled, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "I've been working non-stop, but it's still not enough. I feel like I'm failing my family."

Sharon's voice was filled with determination. "You're not failing anyone, Hadassah. You're doing everything you can. We just need to think outside the box."

As they hugged, Hadassah's anxiety spiked, thinking about the mounting pressure. Sharon noticed and suggested, "Let's take a walk and clear our heads. We can brainstorm some solutions while we stroll."

Hadassah nodded, and they stepped out into the crisp evening air. As they walked, Sharon asked, "Have you considered looking into freelance work or selling your skills online? Maybe there's a way to monetize your talents."

Hadassah raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I've never thought of that. What kind of skills do you think I could sell?"

Sharon smiled. "Well, you're great with numbers, and you're organized. Maybe you could offer virtual assistant services or create and sell online courses."

Hadassah's eyes lit up, feeling a glimmer of hope. "That's not a bad idea. I could try to make some extra money that way."

Sharon grinned mischievously. "You know what you need? A break from all this stress. Hadassah, you have to spend the weekend with me! We can go to the mall and shop for toiletries like our lives depend on it."

Hadassah raised an eyebrow. "Toiletries? Really? That's the most exciting thing you've got planned?"

Sharon grinned. "Hey, don't knock it until you try it! We're talking face masks, hair masks, scented lotions... the works! We can make a whole day out of it."

Hadassah chuckled. "You're such a girl, Sharon."

Sharon pretended to be offended. "Hey, being a girl is a badge of honor! And besides, we can make it a spa day. We can get manicures, pedicures, and try on silly hats in the dressing room."

Hadassah giggled. "Silly hats? You're really bringing out the big guns, aren't you?"

Sharon winked. "I'm a master of relaxation and fun. And who says we can't try on wedding veils and pretend we're brides?"

Hadassah laughed. "You're ridiculous, Sharon. But okay, you've convinced me. Let's go get our shop on and become toiletries connoisseurs!".

Sharon and Hadassah walked through the bustling mall, enjoying the afternoon sunshine streaming through the windows. As they turned a corner, they spotted two men standing by a kiosk, sipping coffee.

Bernard, with his chiseled features and piercing gaze, stood tall, exuding an air of confidence. Charles, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear, his eyes scanning the crowd for potential conversation starters.

Sharon nudged Hadassah. "Hey, look over there. Those two look like they're waiting for someone... or something."

Hadassah followed Sharon's gaze and smiled softly. "Maybe they're just enjoying the coffee."

As they approached, Charles's eyes landed on the ladies, and he flashed his famous smile. "Well, well, well! Look what we have here! Two beautiful women walking into our humble abode."

Bernard raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanging. "Charles, please."

Sharon chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, great, another charmer."

Hadassah smiled kindly. "Hi, I'm Sharon, and this is my friend Hadassah."

Charles extended his hand, his eyes never leaving Sharon's face. "I'm Charles, and this is my friend Bernard. The strong, silent type."

Bernard's gaze narrowed slightly, but he nodded curtly. "Nice to meet you."

Sharon's eyes sparkled as she shook Charles's hand. "Nice to meet you too, Charles. And Bernard, don't worry, we won't bite... hard."

A thin-lipped smile spread across Bernard's face, but his eyes didn't quite match the gesture.

Hadassah chuckled softly, her voice soothing. "Charles, you're quite the charmer, aren't you?"

Bernard's expression remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed a hint of amusement. "That's one way to put it."

As they chatted, Charles effortlessly worked his charm, making everyone laugh. Sharon and Hadassah exchanged a glance, and Sharon mouthed, "He's a handful."

Hadassah smiled and nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Despite their differences, the four of them clicked, and their conversation flowed effortlessly. As they stood there, laughing and joking, it was as if they had known each other for years.