Chapter 4
1065 Words
"Sure, honey. I'll be back. I just need to take care of something here. Don't worry, this won't take long. I love you. Bye, honey."
I woke up to an unfamiliar noise. Opening my eyes and blinking, I looked around. The initial object that drew my focus was a massive chandelier hanging down from the center of the ceiling. I didn't recognize this location at all. I felt really puzzled and didn't understand what was going on.
“You’re finally awake.”
I flinched when I suddenly heard someone talking next to me. When I turned to look, all the colors of my face drained because there was a man sitting on a chair right next to the bed where I was laying down.
Before I could scream, he spoke suddenly, saying, "There's no need for you to freak out."
He set a glass on the table beside the bed, then stretched out his long legs. Placing his elbow on the armrest of his chair, he raised his brow at me. I gulped as our eyes met, and suddenly, he looked familiar.
“W-wait, are you-”
"The man you bumped into at the side of Sapphire Savories: A Taste of Luxury.”
I don’t understand. I glance around and notice the vastness of the room we're in. There are only two of us here. How did I end up here? And why is he in the same room as me? What's happening? I feel a sense of fear creeping in.
"You passed out at the side of the restaurant when you bumped into me again," he explained.
I blinked, and that's when a rush of memories suddenly flooded back, overwhelming me with fear. I had been fired, and because of what had happened, I felt a crushing loss of hope. I was starving, unaware that I had accidentally bumped into him once again. I turned my gaze away, my cheeks burning with shame.
“I-i’m so sorry about that. I-it’s just that a lot of things happened and-”
“It’s okay, I forgive you.”
I pause abruptly and steal a glance at him. Wait, he do? I fixate my gaze on him, and suddenly, the realization washes over me once more. The way those captivating eyes can render you powerless, inducing trembling fear, is evident. I inhale sharply, and with hesitant slowness, I part my lips to ask.
“S-so…you’re the one who brought me here?”
The man abruptly rose from his chair and began pacing around the room. A sense of fear crept over me as I observed his movements. The aura he exuded was overwhelmingly dominant and menacing.
"I understand that we both require something from one another," he said.
My brows knitted in confusion, and I responded, "What do you mean?-"
"You're in need of the money, aren't you?"
I hesitated, caught off guard by that question. I don't know why, but I could feel my entire body trembling with fear. H-how did he know about that?
It’s like as if he had read my mind because he stop from walking then turned to me to face me.
"Judging by your attire, behavior, and even how you approach the head chef of the restaurant, there's no doubt that you're struggling financially. As for whatever hardships you've faced in your life, I don’t care."
It felt as though something pierced right through my heart when he said those words.
"If that's the case, then why did you bring me here? What do you want from me?"
He paused, and then his eyes darkened as if he remembered something. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I gulped as I watched him, trying to calm himself.
“I need you to give birth to my child.”
My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. W-wait, did I hear him right? I could feel my heart pounding as he suddenly closed the distance between us. I gulped silently as he leaned his face towards me and then touched my chin.
"Wait, what do you mean? Y-you have a wife-"
"My wife couldn't bear a child anymore, which depressed her greatly. I suggested that we could adopt, but she expressed her desire for the child to come from me rather than anyone else."
He narrowed his eyes as he stared at my face and said, "So, I thought of finding someone to bear my child and give birth. I know it’s not an easy task; no one would readily agree to my request. Luckily, I remembered you."
He tilted his head and said, "Somehow, you possess a beauty in your face, much like my wife. It's just that you're poor."
He let go of my chin and then walked away. This was too much for me to handle. My fingers were shaking as I tried to process everything. He would do whatever it takes just to make his wife happy…
"Before we continue, may I ask for your name first?"
I couldn’t help but to feel an overwhelming sensation of emotion rushed through my system as I compared my situation with his wife’s life. The world is so unfair…
I could feel my tears wanting to spill but I shake my head to stop them from streaming down.
“Eleah.”
“Huh, what a nice name.”
He sat down on the chair once again, then crossed his arms, with an intimidating look plastered on his face.
"My name is Nathaniel Lucius Stoneheart, but feel free to call me Nathan."
He leaned his face closer, “Eleah, have a baby with me. Help me bring my future and Isabella's together. In return, I'll provide you with a substantial amount of money."
I couldn't breathe when he was too close to me. I was having an internal crisis. My life has been like a roller coaster ride ever since my husband cheated on me and even kicked me out of the house.
But he will lend me some money, and I need money to get out of here and start a life of my own.
"Do we have a deal?" he asked, stretching out his hand formally, waiting for me to shake it.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I hoped that the choice I would make here would not be regretted in the future.
“Deal.”
- Writer
