Chapter 002 : The Price Just Changed
1499 Words
The hospital entrance opened again.
People looked...the normal curious glances
The attention shifted
Not because of noise… but because of who walked in.
“Sir, welcome—”
“Everything is ready, sir.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Blake.”
Voices changed instantly. Careful. Respectful
Even the air felt different.
Ryan Blake walked in like he owned the building.
Tall. Composed. Untouchable.
His suit was perfect, not a single crease. His expression? Cold. Like nothing in this place concerned him.
Beside him were two men and a woman, all talking in low voices.
“The board is waiting upstairs, sir.”
“The equipment inspection is already prepared.”
Ryan didn’t respond immediately.
His eyes moved once across the space.
Observing everything.
Then he started walking.
—
Across the hall, Nova didn’t notice him at first.
She was still standing near the emergency doors, her mind spinning, her chest tight.
Think. Think. Think.
There had to be something she could do.
Her phone felt useless in her hand.
She looked at the screen again.
No new calls. No messages.
Nothing.
Her grip tightened.
“God… please…” she whispered.
Then the emergency doors opened again.
A nurse rushed out, calling for something.
Nova’s head snapped up.
“What happened?” she asked quickly, stepping forward.
“Madam, please—”
“I’m his sister!” Nova said, her voice rising. “Tell me what’s going on!”
The nurse tried to move past her.
Nova followed.
She wasn’t thinking anymore.
Just reacting.
Just moving.
—
She turned too fast.
Her body collided with something solid.
Hard.
Strong.
She almost lost her balance.
A hand caught her arm before she could fall.
Firm.
Steady.
Nova looked up.
And froze.
For a second, everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
Because the man holding her… didn’t look like anyone she had seen before.
Not in her world.
Not in this place.
His face was calm. Too calm.
No panic. No irritation. Nothing.
Just a slight frown, like she was something unexpected.
“Watch where you’re going,” he said.
His voice was low.
Controlled.
Nova pulled her arm back quickly.
“I’m sorry,” she said fast. “I didn’t see you, I—”
She stopped.
Because suddenly, something clicked.
He looked… important.
The way everyone around had gone quiet.
The way the staff were standing straighter.
The way no one dared interrupt.
Nova swallowed.
Then looked back toward the emergency doors.
Her brother.
Everything rushed back.
She turned again to the man.
Her heart started beating faster.
This might be stupid.
But she had nothing left to lose.
Nothing.
Her fingers moved before her mind could stop her.
She grabbed his sleeve.
Tightly.
“Please,” she said.
Her voice broke.
“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t but… please help me.”
The people around froze.
One of the men beside him stepped forward immediately. “Miss, let go—”
Ryan lifted a hand slightly.
The man stopped.
Silence again.
Nova didn’t even notice.
Her eyes were fixed on Ryan.
Desperate.
Shaking.
“My brother is inside,” she said quickly. “He collapsed. They need money before they can fully treat him. I’ve tried everything. I’ve called everyone. Nobody is helping.”
Her grip tightened.
“I will pay you back. I swear. Even if it takes years. I’ll work. I’ll do anything. Just… please save him.”
Her voice cracked at the end.
But she didn’t look away.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t move.
Because this… this was her last chance.
Ryan looked down at her hand on his sleeve.
Then at her face.
Tears.
Fear.
Desperation.
Real.
Not polished. Not fake.
Just raw.
He didn’t speak immediately.
The people around him shifted slightly, uncomfortable.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Not here.
Not to him.
“Miss, this is inappropriate,” the woman beside him said quietly.
Nova ignored her.
Her eyes stayed on Ryan.
Waiting.
Begging.
Hoping.
Ryan studied her for a moment longer.
Then gently removed her hand from his sleeve.
Not harsh.
Not kind either.
Just… controlled.
“You’re asking a stranger to take responsibility for your problem,” he said.
Nova nodded quickly. “Yes. I am.”
No pride. No shame
“Because I don’t have another option.”
Silence.
Ryan’s eyes didn’t leave her face.
Like he was searching for something.
Or trying to understand something.
Then—
“Which ward?” he asked.
Nova blinked.
For a second, she thought she heard wrong.
“Emergency,” she said quickly. “They just took him in again. He’s critical.”
Ryan turned slightly.
“To the records,” he said.
One of his assistants moved immediately.
“Yes, sir.”
Nova stood there, stunned.
Her heart was beating so loud she could hear it.
Was this real?
Was he actually—
“Stay here,” Ryan said.
She nodded quickly.
“I will. I won’t move.”
He didn’t respond.
Just walked away.
—
Nova stood frozen.
Her hands were still shaking.
Her chest rising and falling too fast.
What just happened?
Who was he?
Why did he—
“Do you know who that is?” a nurse whispered to another nearby.
“No… who?”
“That’s Ryan Blake.”
Nova’s head turned sharply.
Ryan… Blake?
The name felt heavy.
Like it meant something she should understand.
But right now, she didn’t care.
All she cared about was her brother
“Please let this work…” she whispered.
—
A few minutes later, Ryan returned.
His expression hadn’t changed.
But there was something different in his eyes.
Something colder.
Something more… decided.
He stopped in front of her.
Nova straightened immediately.
“What did they say?” she asked quickly.
Ryan didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at her again.
Carefully.
Like he was measuring something.
Then he spoke.
“The condition is serious,” he said. “The treatment cost is high.”
Nova nodded fast. “I know. I’ll pay, I promise, I just need time—”
“I can cover it,” he said.
The words hit her like a shock.
She froze.
“You… what?”
“I can pay for his treatment,” Ryan repeated calmly.
Nova’s eyes filled with tears instantly.
“Thank you—”
“But,” he added.
The word cut through everything.
Nova stopped.
Her heart dropped slightly.
"I have a condition"
Of course there was one.
She swallowed.
“Yes?”
Ryan looked at her.
“I don’t do charity,” he said.
The air felt heavier.
“I invest.”
Nova’s fingers curled slowly.
“I don’t understand…”
Ryan held her gaze.
And then said it.
Calm.
Clear.
Like it was just another business proposal.
“Marry me.”
—
Silence.
Complete silence.
Nova stared at him.
Her mind blank.
Like her brain refused to process what she just heard.
“…what?” she whispered.
Ryan didn’t repeat himself.
Just watched her reaction.
Waiting.
Nova let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
This had to be a joke.
A bad one.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t—this is not the time for—”
“I’m serious,” Ryan said.
No emotion.
No hesitation.
Just fact.
“You need money. I need a wife.”
Nova’s laugh died instantly.
The weight of his words settled slowly.
Heavy.
Unreal.
“You’re joking,” she said again, but her voice wasn’t as strong this time.
“I don’t joke about business,” Ryan replied.
Business.
That word made everything worse.
Nova took a small step back.
Her heart was racing again.
This was crazy.
Completely crazy.
“I can’t marry you,” she said quickly. “I don’t even know you.”
“You don’t need to,” he replied.
Like it didn’t matter.
Like she didn’t matter.
“This would be a contract. Nothing more.”
Nova shook her head.
“No. No, I can’t—”
“Then find another solution,” Ryan said simply.
And just like that…
He stepped back.
Ready to leave.
—
Panic hit her instantly.
“Wait!” she called out.
Ryan stopped.
But didn’t turn immediately.
Nova’s chest tightened.
Her brother.
The machines.
The doctor’s words.
Time was running out.
She clenched her fists.
This wasn’t about her anymore.
It never was.
Slowly…
She turned back toward the emergency doors.
Then back to him.
Her eyes burned.
But she didn’t cry this time.
“...if I say yes,” she said quietly, “you’ll save him?”
Ryan turned fully now.
Their eyes met again.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
Nova’s breath shook.
This was wrong.
Everything about this was wrong.
But her brother was in there.
Fighting.
Alone.
She closed her eyes for a second.
Then opened them.
“…I need time,” she said.
Ryan studied her.
Then gave a small nod.
“Don’t take too long.”
- Writer
