DESPERATE HEROINES

CHAPTER 1 : THE OFFER The hospital bill in my hands was shaking. Not because I was scared. Because I was so damn tired of being scared. `TOTAL DUE: $487,320.00` `PAYMENT REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HOURS` `PATIENT: LIAM CARTER, AGE 5` Liam. My 5-year-old. Leukemia. Stage 4. The new treatment gave him a 70% chance. 70% was better than the zero I had in my bank account. I’d sold everything. Car. Jewelry. My pride on GoFundMe. $12,480. That was it. The nurses gave me that look. The one that said they already knew how this ended. My phone buzzed. Unknown number. 2:14 AM. “Ava Carter?” The voice was deep. Cold. “Damian Blackwood. I think we can help each other.” “Unless you have half a million dollars, I don’t have time.” “Funny,” he said. “That’s exactly what I’m offering.” I stopped walking. “$500,000. Wire transfer by tomorrow morning. In exchange for six months of your time.” “What kind of time?” My voice shook. “Be my wife.” I laughed, but it came out wrong. “This is insane.” “This is business,” he corrected. “My board wants me to ‘settle down.’ A wife fixes that. A desperate single mother fixes it even better.” He’d done his research. “And what do I get?” I asked, already calculating. 6 months. Liam’s treatment was 4 months. “You get to keep your son alive,” Damian said. “And you walk away with $500,000 when it’s over. No love. No kissing. No s*x. Just a contract.” No love. That should’ve been easy. “Why me?” “Because you’re desperate,” he said. “And desperate people don’t ask questions. They sign.” I closed my eyes. I could see Liam’s tiny hand reaching for mine. The tubes. The beeping. “How do I know you’ll pay?” “I don’t make offers I don’t keep. Contract in an hour. Money in the hospital’s account by 9 AM.” 48 hours until they pulled the plug. “Fine,” I whispered. “Send it.” “Good. Move into my penthouse tonight. We announce tomorrow.” “Tonight?” “A car will be downstairs in 20 minutes. Don’t keep me waiting.” He hung up. I ran to Liam’s room. He was asleep, curls damp with sweat. I kissed his forehead. “Mommy’s going to fix it,” I whispered. “I promise.” The car was a black Rolls Royce. The driver said nothing. Damian Blackwood’s penthouse was on the 80th floor. Glass walls. City lights. And him. Standing by the window in a black suit at 3 AM like he never slept. “You came,” he said. “I had no choice.” “That’s why I chose you.” On the marble table: a folder, a pen, a black velvet box. “Read it. Then sign.” 42 pages. I skimmed to what mattered: `Term: 6 months` `Compensation: $500,000 + medical expenses for Liam Carter` `Duties: Public appearances, cohabitation, pretend marriage` `Prohibited: Physical intimacy, romantic involvement` No kissing. No touching. No love. I could do that. I signed. Ava Carter. My hand didn’t shake. Damian signed next. Damian Blackwood. Sharp. Final. He opened the velvet box. A 5-carat ring caught the light. “Put it on.” It was cold. Heavy. Like a handcuff. “Congratulations, Mrs. Blackwood,” he said. “You just sold yourself for $500,000.” “I sold myself to save my son,” I shot back. “There’s a difference.” “Is there?” He stepped close. An inch away. I could smell his cologne. Expensive. Dark. He tucked hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek. “You’re shaking.” “I’m tired.” “Liar. You’re terrified. Of me. Of this.” I lifted my chin. “I’m not afraid of you, Mr. Blackwood.” “Damian,” he corrected. “When we’re alone. For the act.” “Damian,” I said. His name felt wrong in my mouth. His phone buzzed. “The money’s transferred. Liam’s treatment is covered.” Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave. “Thank you.” “Don’t,” he said sharply. “This isn’t charity. You’re earning it.” “Your room is down the hall. Press conference at 10 AM. Smile. Look in love.” “And after 6 months?” I asked. He paused at the door. “After 6 months, you disappear. And I go back to being the devil everyone thinks I am.” The door closed. I was alone in a penthouse worth more than 10 lifetimes. With a ring that wasn’t mine. With $500,000 in the hospital’s account and 180 days ticking down. I’d done it. For Liam. So why did it feel like I was the one bought? My phone buzzed. `Damian: Rule 4. No contact with exes. Especially Liam’s father.` `Damian: Rule 5. You sleep in the guest room. Alone.` `Damian: Rule 6. Don’t fall in love with me, Ava. I’m not worth loving.` I stared at the last text. Then another came. `Damian: Welcome to hell.` Outside, the sun rose over the city. Day 1 of 180. And I had a feeling the contract was the least dangerous thing about Damian Blackwood. *[END OF CHAPTER 1]* *To read Chapter 2: "The Contract" - Unlock with 15 Coins* ---