The CEO's Fake Bride

The numbers on the computer screen blurred until it stopped making sense. Aria Vance rubbed her eyes, the library computer’s bright light glow burning into her eyes. She leaned closer to the computer as if coming closer would change what she saw. Tuition:$12,475. Past Due Rent:$850. Due in 5 days. Mom’s Medication: $347. Refill needed tomorrow. A cold, familiar knot tightened in her stomach. She had checked the number over and over, but her answer was always the same, her bills were bigger than the money in her bank account. Her part-time job at the company’s cafe close to her school paid almost nothing. The scholarship that once gave her hope felt like a cruel joke now. She sighed, her breath slightly fogging the computer screen for a second before vanishing. The library around her was quiet and serious. The scent of old paper and dust was usually a comfort, a smell that promised knowledge and escape. But today, it felt like a cage. The soft click-clack of a keyboard a few tables over sounded like a ticking bomb, counting a financial disaster she couldn’t control. Her phone buzzed on the desk, An email popped up, Aria flinched as she saw the subject line, “Final Notice:Account Past Due”, she didn’t bother opening it, she already knew what it said. Then a few seconds later her phone buzzed again, This time, it’s a text . Her heart leapt hoping it wasn't bad news. But it’s her mother. “Sweetie, don't worry about me. The new pills can wait. Focus on your exams. Love you.” Aria's throat tightened , she could picture her old sick mother, Elena, typing that with her old phone, her fingers thin and frail. Her smile tried to hide how scared and worried she was. She was lying. The new pills couldn’t wait. The doctor has been clear, The current treatment was not working well , the new medicine was her best chance, a chance the insurance had already denied twice. “They can’t wait, Mom,” Aria whispered to herself in the silent library. She shoved her laptop and textbook into her worn out bag, and then she ran out of the Library. She needed air, she needed to see her mum. She walked to Saint John Hospital, she was already used to walking there every evening. The city moved around her, cabs honking, people trying to find their way home while some tried to go to work the bustling energy of New York. But Aria felt like she was part of all this , she felt like she was in her own bubble of fear. Every step closer to the hospital felt like a count down to a conversation she doesn’t want to have. The hospital door slid open , letting out the strong smell of disinfectant and old flowers. She was so used to the smell . It was the scent of her second home. She paused outside room 314, forced a smile onto her face. She always smiles when she comes to visit her mum, the “everything will be fine” smile. Then she pushed the door open. “Mom? I’m here.” The room was dim, The blind was half closed against the afternoon sun. In the center of the room you could see her mum propped up on white pillows, her skin pale and thin against the sheet. But when her eyes opened, you could still see the warm brown eyes Aria always knew. “Aria my love,” Elena whispered. “You shouldn’t have come straight from class. You look tired.” “I’m never too tired of you mum,” Aria said smiling. She kissed her mum’s forehead and busied herself fixing her mum’s pillow even though it didn't need fixing. “Dr Evans was here earlier” Elena said softly. Aria froze. “And what did he say?” “The new treatment that we were hoping for” Elena looked down at her thin hand trembling. “The insurance …. They've denied the final appeal , Aria they won't cover the surgery” The air left Aria’s lungs in a silent whoosh. The surgery, a complex procedure to remove the stubborn tumor that was resisting chemotherapy, was their last hope. It wasn't a cure , but it was a chance , a chance to make Elena live longer and have a better life quality. It was the light at the end of the very long dark tunnel. And someone had just turned it off. “No” Aria said, shaking her head “we’ll fight it, i’ll call them again,i’ll…” “Honey stop” Elena's voice was weak but firm, "We've already fought, there's nothing we can do about it, it's over” “It's not over, “ Aria said , her voice cracking as she held her mothers hand, holding it tightly. “It can;t be, there has be another way” “The only way now is a miracle” Elena said gently, She squeezed Aria’s hand “And i already have my miracle, I have you.” Tears welled up in Aria’s eyes. She tried to blink them back, but one escaped , tracing down her cheeks. She turned her head away from her mum but it was too late. “Aria? Look at me.” Her mother’s voice was firm, “what is it? What’s wrong?” “Nothing” aria lied, her voice was rough “I’m just… I’m so angry at them . It's not fair.” “It’s not,” Elena agreed softly. “But my sweet girl, you cannot spend your youth being angry on my behalf, you still have your whole life ahead of you. School, your dreams.. Don’t let my sickness steal that from you” but it already has , Aria didn't say it but she felt it deeply inside, Aria stayed until her mum drifted to sleep listening to the steady beeping of IV The walk back to her dorm was a blur. Her room, with its cracked walls and rattling window, felt like a prison. She pulled out her bills and calculator, punching in numbers that didn't matter. It was hopeless, completely hopeless Her phone buzzed, the caller ID made her stomach sink, it was the manager of the King’s company cafe , where she works at. “Aria? We are swamped , the top bosses are here. I need you here right now” Aria closed her eyes, another shift, another few dollars thrown into a bottomless pit. “Yeah” she said flatly, “I’m coming” She quickly stood up , shoved the bill into her drawer and put on her work outfit and walked out. The weight of the world harder on her shoulder with every steps What she didn't know was that by rushing out of the door, she would straight walk into a man that would break her world apart and offer to build it up with her price.