At All Cost

THE PRICE OF SACRIFICE

Darkness slowly faded from Mr. Langford's vision as he opened his eyes, waking up to find himself laying on the hospital bed. He looked at his side just to find out that Victoria was sitting next to him. In anger, he wanted to shout at her but his voice trembled, and weakness forced him back onto the bed.. Victoria said ‘Dad, the doctor said you need to rest’.

Victoria's mum stepped in, her face more bitter than before, her expression far more worse than the previous struggles they have had. Victoria, based on her intention and mind, drags her mum out ‘she did not want her dad to hear because her mum's expression said it all and said “what is the problem?, what did the doctor say?” It happens that after Victoria's dad has been stabilized, she went to see the doctor.

Victoria's mother lowered her gaze.

"Your father has been diagnosed with a stage-two peptic ulcer.”

Shock flooded Victoria's face, ‘No way!!’, how could we not have known or at least some symptoms. They both turned inside and went straight to the place Victoria's dad was facing. Looking at those faces, he knew something was wrong. As he was about to speak, they both said at once since when…. Victoria's dad knew that his secret about his health status had been disclosed, but still about to pretend and Victoria with a broken situation said, you know about your health condition, you have been seeing symptoms yet, you kept it to yourself. Now you have entered stage two of peptic ulcer… and you know what that means. Victoria's dad looked at them both with tears in the lid of his eye begging for their forgiveness. The deed has been done.

The doctor handed over the prescription.

Victoria's mother stared at the paper.

Her hands trembled. The cost of the treatment was more money than they had seen in months.

"How are we supposed to pay for this?" she whispered. This seriously made Victoria's mum baffled.

On getting home, her eye sighted the contract paper that led her husband to the hospital. Then she read carefully and saw that her daughter ‘Victoria’ will be on a five year marriage contract and their long lost ruined company will have the chance to gain back their previous success. Not only that, Victoria will be given a sum of 500,000 dollars after her first five months.

Although anger still lingered in their hearts, after seeing the contract paper and reading it carefully this time, they had to calm down because this might really bring them out of the struggling stage they are in and back into their wealthy state. But still at that, not happy as their daughter Victoria will be married to a man by contract, not just any but to Peter Saint's, the ruthless and introspective billionaire.They had no further option because that is the only chance for them.

It happens that Victoria's parent didn't read the last part which indicates that she will move to his house in 3 days time.

The time limit to discuss isn't there again and all she needs to do now is to focus on how to cope during her stay as a contracted wife in Peter Saint's house.

Victoria's father came to realize that Victoria was trying her best to get the family back on track even as she is of a young adult age… Life had changed overnight, and none of them saw it coming.

While still in the setting, an anonymous message beeped through her phone saying ‘hope your dad's health is in good condition’. Shock coursed through her body, and her phone slipped from her fingers and was surprised, saying, how could anyone have known that her father's health status is not in a good condition. Soonest she realized that this contract marriage could be more mysterious than she could imagine, trailing her family in such a way.

‘Now let's talk about the plans,’ Victoria's mum said.. Victoria said which plan. Her mum in eye contact with her, the contract marriage you would be in, in the next three days. Victoria said, no plans, just the price, getting our company back to the world and getting the money to build back after five months in the marriage.

Her mum exhaled… hmmm saying, all is well. Victoria said, the sacrifice would all be worth it and prays all goes well.

“Her father tried to jump into the conversation with gestures but he was unable due to his current situation.”

Victoria said, dad have a little rest, all this will soon be over and your sickness will be gone in five months' time when I have gotten the money and the surgery could be done.

Victoria's mum said, ‘ In times of challenges, we know who the real friends and enemies are’. Not even a single soul to come to our rescue rather her daughter getting a contract marriage with a ruthless billionaire. She does not fully agree to this because it is also not the life she had wanted for her daughter but in this situation, a sacrifice has to be made for the LANGFORD family in which Victoria is willing to do. In which she knew it won't be easy, not even as of the age of her daughter. It looks like selling her out but not as she seems to be.

Victoria's dad said to Victoria ‘what could have been the reason’. Victoria said to what ?. He said to him marrying you on a five year contract. What is his gain and what are his plans?

Victoria for a few minutes lost in thought saying ‘what truly is Peter Saint's mission offering me a contract marriage’ Victoria's mum in a tender voice saying let's have dinner as the time for Victoria's dad's medication has reached. Victoria, out of thought, helped her father to the dining and after some minutes had his medication.

But still in Victoria's mind was a question that kept coming and still yet unable to answer ‘what is Peter Saint's mission to marry her as a contract wife for five years’. It truly should have been in the legal agreement on the paper for the contract

Marriage but somehow not clear.