The Billionaire's Fatal Secret

04

Lisa's POV

I walked out, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing just how desperate I was. I could beg him if I had to, but after seeing what kind of person he was, I had changed my mind.

I was angry, humiliated, and, more than anything, insulted. I had walked into that room believing the Blackwood Foundation genuinely wanted to help my sister. Instead, I had been presented with a marriage contract, as though my desperation had turned me into another business opportunity for someone like Sebastian Blackwood.

I had barely made it into the hospital corridor when my phone rang. The moment I saw that it was the hospital, I answered.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Walker, you need to come back immediately."

The urgency in the woman's voice made me stop. "What happened?"

"It's about Kendra."

My heart sank. "What happened to my sister?"

"Her condition has suddenly worsened. The doctors are already preparing emergency treatment."

I didn't ask anything else. I turned around and hurried back toward the ward, unable to think about anything except the possibility that something terrible had happened to Kendra. I had been talking to her only moments ago before I left, but she had seemed fine.

When I reached the ward, several medical staff were already moving in and out of her room. I rushed toward the entrance, but a nurse stepped in front of me.

"Ms. Walker, you need to wait outside."

"That's my sister." My voice broke as tears filled my eyes.

"I know, but the doctors are stabilizing her. You have to stay here."

"What happened? Please tell me she's going to be okay. Tell me."

"Her condition became unstable. They're doing everything they can right now."

I looked through the glass, but I couldn't understand what was happening inside. All I could think about was the fact that I had just been sitting across from Sebastian Blackwood, arguing over a marriage contract, while my sister's condition was getting worse.

I clasped my hands together and tried to remain calm.

This couldn't be happening. Not after I had finally found someone who might have been able to help us.

I had spent weeks searching for a solution, and when one finally appeared, I had walked away from it because of my pride.

But what else was I supposed to do? Agree to marry a man I didn't know just because he had the money to save my sister?

After what seemed like hours, a doctor finally stepped out of the room.

I immediately approached him. "How is she?"

"She's stable for now. But we need to begin emergency treatment immediately."

"Then do it." My voice trembled as the tears finally fell. "Do whatever you can. Please, just help her. I'm begging you."

At that moment, I didn't care how desperate I looked. I didn't care about my pride anymore. All that mattered was keeping Kendra alive.

"Don't worry, Ms. Walker. We're already preparing everything."

I nodded quickly. "Whatever she needs. I'll take care of the payment."

The doctor gave me a reassuring look. "The payment won't be a problem, Ms. Walker. We received authorization from the Blackwood Foundation."

I stared at him. "What?"

"The treatment has already been approved by the foundation."

"When?"

"Earlier today."

Confusion immediately turned into anger. There was only one person who could have done this.

Sebastian.

I stepped away from the doctor and pulled out my phone. I found the number his lawyer had given me and called.

He answered almost immediately. "I've been waiting for your call."

"Are you the one who authorized my sister's emergency treatment?"

"Yes."

"But I didn't accept your offer."

"Your sister needed treatment. I wasn't going to make her wait while you decided whether to accept the contract. Her life is more important than our agreement. I couldn't stand by and do nothing when I knew I could help."

His words should have made me grateful. Instead, they made me feel trapped.

"You should have asked me first."

"You wouldn't have been able to authorize an emergency procedure quickly enough, Ms. Walker. What do you want to happen? Let your sister die?"

"I don't want your help, Sebastian."

"But your sister needs it, and you want your sister alive, don't you?"

I said nothing. I simply ended the call.

I remained beside Kendra's room until the doctors confirmed that the emergency treatment had stabilized her. I didn't leave the hospital that night. I stayed beside her bed, watching over her and trying to convince myself that she was finally going to be okay.

When Kendra finally opened her eyes, she looked at me and managed a weak smile.

"You look terrible."

I almost laughed despite everything. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, kiddo. Promise me you're not going to do that again."

I held her hand and kissed it, unable to stop the tears from falling.

"I'm sorry. Don't cry. I'm here, aren't I?"

I nodded, still struggling to speak.

She closed her eyes again, and I stayed beside her until I was certain she had fallen asleep. Before leaving, I leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Get some rest, kiddo," I whispered.

Later that evening, I found Sebastian waiting outside the hospital.

I stopped when I saw him. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to make sure your sister was stable."

"She is." I crossed my arms. "But you didn't have to come."

He looked at me for a moment. "I wanted to speak to you."

"Is this about the contract?”

"You still have time, Lisa."

"I don't need your forty-eight hours. I don't want your money, and I don't want to be your wife." I took a breath before continuing. "But I need Kendra alive."

His expression changed. “Does that mean…”

"Your contract says twelve months, right?”

"Yes."

"That's too long."

He didn't respond, so I continued. "If I agree to this, it won't be because I want your money and it certainly won't be because I want you."

His gaze remained fixed on me.

"I'm doing this for Kendra."

"And I'm doing it for my company."

"Then we're both getting something out of it."

He nodded.

"But I won't spend a year pretending this is a real marriage when we both know exactly what it is."

I looked directly into his eyes, forcing myself not to look away. "Fine. Twelve months, and then we're getting a divorce."

He smiled mischievously. “Finally.”