Name: His Untouched Bride
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

Chapter 1 The Bargain

Alina Carter slumped in the hospital waiting room chair, the hard plastic digging into her skin. The fluorescent lights above flickered, casting an eerie glow on the sterile walls. The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant, a scent that had become all too familiar over the past few days.

Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall, the ticking hands a constant reminder of the time she was running out of. Her mother lay in Room 408, fighting a battle that seemed impossible to win. Stage three kidney failure. The doctor's words echoed in her mind like a death sentence.

Alina's fingers tightened around the medical bills in her lap, the numbers blurring together like a cruel joke. She had tried to stay strong, to be the rock her mother needed, but the weight of the bills was crushing her.

The sound of polished shoes clicking against the floor broke the silence. Collins, her stepfather, approached with his usual air of confidence, dressed in a navy-blue suit that seemed out of place in this world of desperation.

"You haven't been home," he said, his voice flat, his eyes scanning her disheveled appearance.

Alina didn't bother responding. What was there to say? Her home wasn't a sanctuary anymore, not since her mother's illness had turned everything upside down.

Collins sat beside her, crossing his legs. "The doctors need a deposit for the next round of treatment. Have you spoken to them?"

"I told them I need a few more days," Alina replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"A few more days you don't have," Collins said sharply. "They won't wait forever, Alina. Your mother's condition is deteriorating rapidly."

Alina's eyes stung as she looked up at him. "Don't you think I know that?" she snapped, her voice cracking.

Collins's expression remained unyielding. "You're out of options, Alina. You need a solution, and I have one."

He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a slim black folder, placing it in her lap like a gift. Alina opened it cautiously, her eyes widening as she saw the contract. Her name was typed neatly at the top, alongside another: Graham Roderick.

"What is this?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"A marriage contract," Collins replied calmly. "You marry Graham Roderick, and you'll receive a compensation package large enough to cover your mother's treatment, plus more. You walk away clean after twelve months."

Alina's laughter was bitter. "You want me to marry someone I've never even met?"

Collins's gaze held hers. "You wouldn't be the first. Graham needs a wife, and you need money. It's a simple transaction."

The proposal was outrageous, but Alina's mind was racing with the possibilities. She could save her mother, but at what cost?

"I'm not for sale, Collins," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Collins leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. "This isn't about being for sale, Alina. This is about survival. Your mother's life is at stake."

Alina's gaze faltered, her eyes dropping to the contract. She knew Collins was right. She had no other options.Alina's resolve crumbled as Collins's words hung in the air. The hospital's ultimatum loomed over her like a specter, suffocating her with desperation. She felt trapped, with no escape from the crushing weight of her mother's illness.

The fluorescent lights above seemed to hum louder, mocking her with their brightness. Alina's vision blurred as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of her mother being moved to the general ward, stripped of the care and treatment she desperately needed.

Collins's footsteps echoed down the corridor, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Alina sank back onto the bench, her body numb and heavy. The hospital's sounds receded into the background, replaced by the deafening drumbeat of her own heart.

Her phone buzzed in her bag, shrill and insistent. She pulled it out, her hands shaking as she read the message from the hospital's billing department. The words "URGENT: Treatment suspended until payment is received" seared themselves into her brain.

Alina's chest constricted, her breath catching in her throat. She felt like she was drowning, suffocating under the pressure and panic. Could she really do this? Could she marry a stranger, sacrifice her freedom and autonomy for her mother's life?

The elevator ride down was a blur, her mind reeling with the weight of her decision. When she reached Collins's car, he was already inside, engine running. Alina slid in beside him, her eyes fixed on the contract in his hand.

"I'll do it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Collins handed her the contract without a word. Alina's hands trembled as she flipped to the last page, the blank line with her name staring back at her like an abyss. She picked up the pen, hesitated for a moment, and then signed.

Each stroke of her signature felt like a door closing, a path chosen, a fate sealed. Alina stared at her name, now bound to a stranger's, and felt a shiver run down her spine.

Alina Carter would soon be Alina Roderick. The thought sent a wave of uncertainty crashing over her. She had just agreed to marry a stranger, to surrender her freedom and autonomy for her mother's life. And in that moment, she knew her life would never be the same again.

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His Untouched Bride

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