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1032 Words
ISADORA
"Your sister will die soon if you don't provide the money for the surgery" The doctor said sternly, then left.
Isadora glanced at her almost-dead sister. She had been in an accident on her way home from a party and they had discovered she had leukaemia.
Unfortunately, she was the only survivor, but now she would die if Isadora couldn't provide the money for the surgery.
Tears slipped out, rolling down her cheek, and she wiped them away.
She had promised to be strong.
Someone pushed the door open and a woman entered, wearing sunglasses.
"What are you doing here? Who are you? What do you want?" Isadora fired.
"Calm down, doppelganger" The woman said, then took off her wig and shades.
Shocked.
She looked exactly like her, except her hair was blonde and Isadora's was brown.
Isadora moved closer. Same height.
"Why do you look like me? Are we—"
"We are not sisters or related at all. I already did a DNA test after I saw you at the cheap bar you work at" The woman said.
Her head tilted with pride and power.
"What I want from you is simple. Replace me at my wedding and take my role for three months until I return, and in return I will pay for your sister's surgery" The woman added.
Isadora laughed at what she assumed was a joke.
Replace her for three months? And not only that, marry a stranger for three months.
Why would she do that?
She must be joking.
The woman didn't laugh. She just kept her stern face.
"Wait, you're serious?" Isadora arched a brow.
"Do I look like a joke to you? I'm dead serious" The woman snapped.
"What!?" Isadora exclaimed "You step into my sister's ward out of the blue and expect me to agree to such a deal — marry a stranger for three months?"
"Call me Tania, this is my card" The woman stretched out the card "When you are ready, come find me"
"I don't think so" Isadora took the card then threw it in the trash.
The woman left the ward without another word.
"Humans can be crazy" Isadora muttered.
"Isa" A tiny familiar voice called.
"Bella" Isadora turned to Isabella — her sister.
She sat beside her, tears slowly creeping down her cheek as she rubbed her knuckles, a small smile on her face.
"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?" Isadora asked.
"Pain" Bella said.
"You're going to be fine" Isadora assured her.
"You're lying" Bella smiled sadly.
"I heard what the doctor and the woman said. Please don't sell yourself into a marriage because of me" Bella added.
Isadora just continued rubbing her knuckles. "I will find another way"
"But no one has agreed to loan you that kind of money" Bella said "When I die, bury me under Isa's orange tree"
"You're not dying" Isadora said "Get some rest. I will find help"
Isabella just smiled and Isadora kissed her forehead before leaving the ward.
She boarded a taxi to a bar.
She walked up to a stool and ordered alcohol.
Anything to numb the pain and take her away from this misery.
Three bottles wouldn't be bad.
Cassie came in some moments later.
"I came the moment I saw your text. How is she?" Cassie asked, sliding into the seat beside Isadora.
"She will die if I don't get the money for her surgery. She has already accepted her fate, but she doesn't deserve it" Isadora sighed.
Isadora and Cassie had been best friends since they were teenagers. While Isadora worked as a bartender, Cassie was a cosmetologist.
"Any luck with the loan search?" Isadora asked.
"They've all refused to give out that much money" Cassie sighed.
"I need to leave for work — a birthday client. And don't take too much alcohol. You know what happened last time" Cassie left with her bag.
Isadora drank more without hesitation.
She began to feel tipsy and the next minute, she was on the dance floor.
Low tolerance to alcohol.
Shit.
A strong palm gripped her waist as she swayed her hips, rocking whoever was behind her.
Her phone dinged.
A text from the doctor.
*Doctor Bronx: You have 24 hours to pay for your sister's surgery or she dies. Her condition has worsened in the past few hours and she may die sooner than expected.*
The alcohol's effect wore off instantly. Her eyes widened.
She had 24 hours to pay for her sister's surgery or she would die.
There was no way to get that money now. No loan manager would offer such an amount and she didn't have even half of it in her account.
"Get off" She pushed the guy away.
She tried to leave but he held her arm.
"Leaving so soon, sweetheart?" The voice said and she shoved him immediately.
"I said f**k off" She walked out of the bar.
---
She reached the ward.
The doctors were tending to Bella. She was now on oxygen.
"Bella" Isadora gasped.
"What happened?" She asked the doctors.
"It turned out she had internal bleeding which affected her brain, causing a tumour" One of the doctors said.
"If it isn't treated, it will be beyond our power to help her" Another added, then they left.
Isadora sighed.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the card.
This was her only chance.
"Take me to this address" She told the taxi driver, and he did.
She stepped into the fortress.
It screamed luxury.
"You're here" The security man said, as though he had been expecting her "Follow me"
Isadora followed.
Her heart skipped a beat with every step. She was about to give herself to a marriage for three months. And who was the groom? Why did Tania want to leave her own marriage for three months?
In the sitting room sat Tania, legs crossed and a wine glass wrapped around her fingers.
"Didn't expect you so soon" Tania smiled.
Isadora didn't answer. Her head was slightly bowed, her heart pounding with uneasiness.
Anxious.
"Now, let's get to business. You must know the groom" Tania smiled.
"You've heard of Theodore Verenzi, right?"
- Writer
