Chapter 2- We Meet Again
1230 Words
“Ariana, what are you doing here, in my house?” Adrian's voice cut through the room, ignoring Tracy's question completely.
I could see the fire in his eyes–the anger, the disappointment with which he spoke. They all pointed at one thing—he was still mad at me.
He believed I had betrayed him after I had been swindled by his mother to leave him three years ago. And now I can't even bring myself to tell him the truth. He would only see me as a liar who's desperate to get back into his life.
Tracy’s confused gaze darted between us. “Can someone explain what’s going on here?” she demanded.
The room fell into a deafening silence, accompanied by long, unreadable stares.
Tracy's eyes were fixed on me, creating a nauseating tension within me. My mind raced, and before she could say another word, I spun on my heels and bolted out of the room.
I heard her calling after me, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
There was only one thing on my mind right now, and that's to leave this place as soon as possible. I couldn't stand Adrian's cold, accusing stares.
As soon as I stepped out of the building, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, half expecting to see the doctor’s name flash on the screen. But it wasn’t. Rather, it was an unknown number.
My fingers hesitated over the screen, my heart pounding. Something about the digits felt… off. But curiosity won the better part of me. I answered, putting the call on speaker.
“Is this Miss Ariana Meyer?” A deep voice asked. I froze, wondering how a supposed stranger knew my full name.
“Yes, I am,” I replied warily. “Who is this? How did you—”
“I’m Rodney Corey, an officer of the police force.” His tone was clipped, businesslike. “Your brother, Adam, has been arrested for a fifty-thousand-dollar debt. If you want him out, then endeavor to pay up his debt, or we might be forced to throw him in prison.”
The call went dead before I could process what I just heard.
Fifty thousand dollars?
I clenched my phone, still in disbelief. How could Adam be so reckless?
As I struggled to process what was happening, my phone rang again.
This time, it was the doctor.
My heart skipped.
I knew why he was calling, but I wasn’t ready to hear it. I was yet to pay up the required amount of money to save my mother.
“Pick up the call,” a voice urged behind me.
I turned sharply to find Tracy standing there, arms folded, watching me.
I swallowed hard and, without thinking, I swiped to answer.
The doctor’s urgent voice filled the air. “Ariana, it’s an emergency. Your mother’s condition has worsened. If we don’t operate on her within an hour, we might lose her. She’s just been admitted to the emergency unit.”
The line went dead before I could think of questioning the doctor any further.
My breath hitched.
Fear clawed at my chest as the doctor's words echoed repeatedly in my head.
My knees buckled and I felt myself falling, but Tracy caught me just in time.
“Now,” she said firmly, keeping me steady, “are you going to tell me what’s really going on? Or do I have to drag it out of you?”
Her stare pinned me in place. I had no choice but to spill everything.
When I was done speaking, Tracy sighed, gripping my hands. “So that’s why you’re avoiding him?”
“Isn’t that reason enough?” My voice cracked. “Tracy, he hates me. I can’t face him, let alone marry him.”
“But you need the money,” she countered. “Not just for your mother, but for your brother too. And don’t forget—your mother has been waiting for this moment, for you to finally settle down.”
“I know, but—”
“No buts, Ariana.” She cut me off, squeezing my hands. “You have no other choice.”
The truth hit me like a slap. She was right. I needed this and Adrian was my only option.
I sucked in a deep breath. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Tracy grinned, practically dragging me back into Adrian’s house.
The moment he saw me, he got to his feet. No hesitation. No surprise. It was just like he had expected me to return.
Without a word, he handed me a document and a pen. “Read the terms carefully,” he said, his voice as cold as ice.
Before I could even go through it, he tossed a sleek black card onto the table in front of me. “This card has the exact amount you need for your mother’s surgery and your brother’s debt. Go take care of it. But don’t even think of running. You must come back here the moment you’re done.”
My stomach churned.
How did he know how much I needed?
I stared at him, then at the card before me, speechless.
“I—I should go now,” I stammered, turning to leave.
But before I could take a step, a strong hand grabbed my wrist.
I spun around, startled, only to see Adrian’s hand wrapped around my wrist.
His grip was firm, his gaze unreadable.
“Not so fast, woman,” he murmured. His eyes traveled to the contract in my hands. “You have to sign that before you leave.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
This wasn’t the Adrian I once knew. This man was colder, meaner—dangerous.
I glanced at the contract.
There was no time to waste.
The doctor had given me an hour. If I hesitated now, I might lose everything.
Without reading a single word, I found the signature line and scribbled in my name.
“I’m done,” I said, pushing the paper back to him. “Anything else?”
Adrian smirked, shaking his head, but I didn’t wait this time. I turned and rushed out, my heart pounding in my chest.
I needed to get to the hospital—quickly.
Everything else faded. The only thought in my mind was my mother. I barely even noticed Tracy wasn’t with me.
I sprinted through the hospital doors and crashed right into the doctor as he stepped out of the emergency unit.
“Doctor!” I gasped, breathless. “I have the money! How is she? Can I at least see her?”
His face was unreadable, but his voice was calm. “Oh, of course not, Miss.” He cleared his throat. “She’s unstable. She needs to rest.”
Relief hit me so hard as I heard those words. At least she's still alive.
I reached out for the black card, my hands shaking, and I shoved it towards him. “Here. Take it. This will cover the surgery.”
The doctor hesitated, his eyes reeling with shock. I could see the question in his eyes. The card was expensive—too expensive for someone like me to h
Have within minutes.
Before I could say anything else, a nurse burst through the doors, her face pale, her whole body trembling.
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