Chapter 1
A Nightstand
Karla Gerardo sat in the small, dimly lit hospital waiting room, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mother, Selestina, lay in the sterile white room behind closed doors, desperately in need of life-saving surgery. Karla had exhausted every possible avenue to come up with the money for the procedure, but time was running out. She had reached the point of desperation, feeling like a cornered animal.
As she nervously tapped her fingers on her knees, a tall man approached her. His piercing blue eyes seemed to hold secrets, and his voice carried an air of mystery. "Excuse me, miss. Are you Karla Gerardo?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Karla looked up, her weary eyes meeting his intense gaze. "Yes, I am," she replied, curiosity mingling with her desperation.
The man took a seat beside her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with the doctor," he said, his voice dripping with intrigue. "I understand that you need a substantial amount of money."
Karla's heart skipped a beat. How did this stranger know about her dire situation? "Yes," she admitted cautiously, wondering if this man held the key to her mother's salvation.
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "I might have a solution for you," he murmured. "My boss is willing to offer you a substantial amount of money, enough to cover your mother's surgery, in exchange for one night with him."
Karla's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She felt a mix of anger, desperation, and curiosity swirling inside her. How could he propose something so outrageous? Yet, the thought of saving her mother was an indomitable force.
She leaned back, studying the man's face, trying to discern his intentions. "Who is your boss? And why would he make such an offer?" she asked, her voice wavering.
The man sighed, his expression turning solemn. "I apologize for the unconventional proposition, but time is of the essence, and my boss would rather prefer to remain anonymous," he said, his voice laced with sincerity.
Karla's mind raced, weighing the pros and cons of the proposition. Could she bring herself to do something like this? But the alternative was watching her mother's health deteriorate with each passing day.
She took a deep breath, gathering her resolve. "If he can guarantee the money and assure me that my mother will be safe, then...then I'll consider his offer," she said, her voice tinged with determination.
The man nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and compassion. "Thank you for considering it," he said, a glimmer of hope in his voice. "I assure you, your mother will receive the best care. And once the night is over, you'll have the money you need."
Hours turned into nights, and Karla found herself lost in a sea of conflicting emotions. She wrestled with her decision, questioning her integrity and the lengths she was willing to go to for her mother. She couldn't escape the weight of the choice that lay before her.
Finally, on the appointed night, Karla met the mysterious man in a lavish hotel room. Her heart raced as she entered, her steps echoing in the silence. She found him standing by the window, his back turned to her, a testament to the gravity of their arrangement.
He turned to face her, his eyes brimming with empathy. "Are you sure about this, Karla?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Karla swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart heavy with desperation, and made up her mind. She looked at the mysterious man, determination shining in her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure," she replied, her voice steady. "I'll do whatever it takes to save my mother."
The man nodded solemnly and gestured toward the bedroom. "Then let us proceed," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of sympathy and gratitude.
As Karla stepped into the bedroom, her mind was a whirlwind of conflicted emotions. She had made a pact with the devil, so to speak, to secure the funds necessary for her mother's surgery. The room was dimly lit, the scent of candles filling the air. The masked man stood in the center, his eyes locked with hers.
Their encounter was passionate and intense, born out of desperation and a shared understanding of the stakes at hand. The night unfolded like a dream and yet, Karla couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that mingled with her desire. When the night came to an end, they parted ways, their identities still shrouded in mystery.
With the weight of the money secured, Karla raced to the hospital, her heart pounding in her chest. She was eager to settle the bills and ensure her mother's treatment. But as she entered the sterile white room where her mother lay, her steps faltered, and her breath caught in her throat.
Her mother's frail figure lay motionless on the bed, surrounded by monitors that emitted a solemn, steady beep. Karla's voice trembled as she called out, "Mom?" Her words were met with silence, and she realized with a crushing blow that her mother had passed away, slipping away while Karla had been lost in the night's pact.
Tears streamed down Karla's face as grief and guilt consumed her. She fell to her knees beside her mother's bed, whispering apologies, regrets, and words of love. The weight of her decision settled heavily upon her, an unbearable burden to bear.
The loss of her mother weighed heavily on her heart and the guilt over the circumstances surrounding her passing tortured her every waking moment. She struggled to find solace or forgiveness within herself.
Unbeknownst to her, life had taken an unexpected turn. Karla, consumed by her grief, was oblivious to the fact that she carried a secret within her womb—a secret that would change her life forever. It was during a routine visit to the doctor, seeking solace and answers, that Karla received the shocking news.
"You're pregnant, Karla," the doctor said, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and concern. "And not just with one baby, but with three. You're expecting triplets."
Karla's eyes widened in disbelief, her heart racing with a cocktail of emotions. The news struck her like a lightning bolt, adding another layer of complexity to her already shattered existence. She was now not only burdened by grief and guilt but also the weight of impending motherhood.
