The Billionaire’s Contract Bride

Chapter 8: The Price of a Mother

My legs were shaking so badly I could hardly stand.

The ICU hall felt like it was spinning – white lights, cold air, the rapid beeps from the machines that no longer mattered since my mom's bed was empty.

Empty.

Adrian had his arms wrapped around me like he could stop me from falling apart. His arms were firm, protective, possessive... but my heart was racing towards panic.

Then I heard it again.

Slow clapping.

Clap...clap...clap...

I raised my head slowly as I struggled to breathe.

A man stepped into the light and smiled, as if he were proud of himself.

Daniel.

My ex-boyfriend.

The same man who laughed at me when I begged him to help my mom.

The same man who threw money at me like I was nothing.

Now he was standing in a hospital hallway like he owned the place.

I couldn't speak.

Adrian's body stiffened. He lost the warmth instantly and was instead filled with something cold and deadly.

"Nora," Daniel said smoothly. "You look... nice now."

My stomach twisted.

I tried to take a step forward, but Adrian kept me behind him, using his body as a barrier.

"Stay back," Adrian said quietly.

Daniel's eyes swept over Adrian's suit, watch, and controlled demeanour. Then he smirkingly said, "Mr Knight," or "Should I say... Husband."

Adrian remained silent.

Adrian's quietness was worse than yelling. It was the type of quietness that screamed to people to get away.

I swallowed hard to force my voice out. "Where is my mom?"

Daniel thoughtfully tilted his head. "Your mom...hmm. Do you mean the woman you were willing to sell your soul to?"

My eyes began burning. "Don't talk about her like that."

Daniel softly chuckled. "You're still emotional. You're still easily pushed."

Adrian's hand moved slightly, and I could feel it — his restraint.

Like a man holding back a storm.

Daniel's gaze changed to me once again. "You should've stayed with me, Nora."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Stayed with you? You cheated on me."

Daniel shrugged. "Men are prone to making mistakes."

"You didn't make a mistake," I shouted, voice shaking. "You made a choice. And you laughed while I needed help."

Something crossed his face, though it wasn't regret.

It was jealousy.

Ownership.

My skin crawled.

Adrian stepped halfway in front of me, blocking Daniel's view of me entirely.

"What do you want?" Adrian asked calmly, but sharply.

Daniel's smile expanded as if he enjoyed having to deal with someone who had power.

"I want a trade," he said.

My chest tightened. "Trade?"

Daniel nodded to the card Adrian showed me.

"TRADE HER FOR HER."

He raised his hands. "Easy peasy. You want your mom? Then give them what they want."

My voice shook. "Who is 'they'?"

Daniel's eyes sparkled. "The ones who dislike your husband."

Adrian's jaw clenched. "You're working with my enemies."

Daniel laughed, shaking his head. "Working? No. I'm not one of those rich monster guys."

He gazed at me for a brief moment, then his gaze changed back to me. "I'm just...involved."

"How are you involved?" I whispered.

Daniel took a step closer to me.

Adrian's eyes flashed. "Stop."

Daniel paused, then gazed at Adrian with innocent-looking eyes. "Chill out. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to talk."

Adrian didn't budge.

Neither did Daniel.

The air between them seemed to be charged to the point of explosion.

I forced myself to walk forward, passing by Adrian's arm.

"Daniel," I said, trying to appear tall, although my legs continued to shake. "If you know where my mom is, tell me. Please."

Daniel gazed at me softly, as if he enjoyed seeing me desperate.

That made my stomach twist.

"You always say please," he said. "You always beg. That's why people trample you."

My eyes stung. "I'm begging for my mom's life."

Daniel's face twitched, as if he remembered he was human for a moment.

Then he firmed up again.

"She's alive," he said.

My breath caught. "She's...she's alive?"

"Yes," Daniel said. "For now."

The wave of relief that washed over me was so intense I almost fell to the ground.

Adrian's voice cut through the relief. "Where is she?"

Daniel pulled out his phone. "I can show you proof."

He tapped the screen.

A photo of my mom appeared.

She was lying on a bed in a room I'd never seen before. Her eyes were closed. An oxygen tube was in her nose.

But she was alive.

A sob tore out of my throat. "Oh my god..."

Adrian quickly wrapped his hand around my wrist to keep me grounded. "Send it to me," he ordered.

Daniel smirked. "Not that easy."

Adrian took a fast step forward, and his sudden movement made my breath catch.

"Don't test me," Adrian said quietly.

Daniel's smirk faltered slightly.

Then he gazed at me again. "Tell him to relax, Nora."

I stared. "What?"

Daniel shrugged. "He doesn't listen to anyone else, does he?"

Adrian's grip on my wrist tightened slightly, both possessively and protectively.

I looked at Adrian, and my voice was shaking. "Adrian... please. Don't do anything that will make them hurt her."

Adrian's eyes softened for a moment when he looked at me.

Then they hardened again as he looked at Daniel.

"I will not barter for my wife's mother with a rat," he said.

Daniel's face grew darker. "Rat?"

Adrian's voice remained calm. "You used her when she was weak. Then you appeared the moment she became mine. You're not here to help."

Daniel stepped closer, his eyes sharp. "You really think you own her because you married her?"

Adrian didn't flinch. "I protect what belongs to me."

Warmth spread through my cheeks at the word belongs, but I didn't have time to argue. My mom was missing.

Daniel's gaze slipped over me again, like I was still something he could claim.

"I knew you'd come crawling," Daniel said softly. "You always crawl back to what hurts you."

"I didn't crawl back to you," I shot back. "I came for my mom."

Daniel's smile disappeared. "You never said goodbye."

My throat constricted. "You told me to sign a paper and disappear."

He stared at me for a long time, then said something that sent my blood running cold.

"I wasn't the one who wrote that paper."

Silence.

My heart stopped. "What?"

Adrian turned his head slightly. "Explain."

Daniel pulled out his phone again. "That night at the rooftop lounge...you think it was just me being cruel?"

He leaned in close and spoke softly. "Somebody told me to do it."

I felt lightheaded. "Who?"

Daniel's eyes flickered to Adrian for a second.

Then he gazed at me again.

"The same people who kidnapped your mother," he said.

My mouth dried. "You're lying."

Daniel's face twisted. "You really think I enjoy being manipulated? You think I enjoy being afraid?"

Afraid?

There's never been one thing — no person, event, experience — that has made Daniel afraid.

Adrian's voice rose. "You're being blackmailed."

Daniel gulped. "Call it that."

My head started spinning. "Are you saying that you betrayed me, and I should be grateful, because some third party told you that they'd give you money?"

Daniel's eyes locked onto mine. "They offered to pay me money. Then they threatened me. At the time, I thought they wouldn't go this far."

I hated him. I really did hate him.

But the image of my mom's photo was still seared into my brain.

"Where is she?" I asked again. "Tell me where she is."

Daniel hesitated.

Adrian moved closer, and Daniel jumped backwards. That's when I realized it.

Daniel isn't in control. He's a messenger.

Daniel moistened his lips. "I'll tell you there's a place. It moves around."

I felt a knot form in my chest. "So you can't help us."

"I can," Daniel said rapidly. "If—"

He glanced at me.

Then at Adrian.

Back at me.

"If you come with me," Daniel said.

My stomach dropped. "What?"

Daniel raised his palms as if he were trying to appear non-threatening. "Just for a little while. They want to see you. When you do, they'll let my mom go."

Adrian's voice became deadly serious. "No."

Daniel flinched. "It's the only option!"

My mind screamed.

My mother... She needs me!

But my parents' enemies want me too.

A trade... Trade her for me.

I stared at Adrian, my voice trembling. "Adrian… what if they harm her because we won't?"

Adrian's expression was unyielding. "They will harm her worse if you go."

"You don't know that!"

"Yes, I do," he snapped.

Pain shot across my face from the hurt in his words.

Then Adrian took a deep breath and spoke softly. "Listen to me, Nora. If you go with him, you become their tool to destroy me. Once they've finished using you... They won't keep their word."

Tears poured out of my eyes. "And my mother?"

Adrian's gaze softened. He reached out with his thumb and brushed away a tear from my cheek.

The gentle contact ripped apart my chest.

"I will find her," he whispered. "On my honour."

My voice cracked. "You already vowed to protect me, and now she's gone!"

Adrian's face hardened with anger and pain.

"That wasn't me," he growled with clenched teeth. "Somebody stole my clearance. Somebody wants you to think I'm incapable of protecting you."

I shook my head, crying even harder now. "I'm sick of being used. Sick of feeling powerless."

Adrian placed his palm at the base of my neck, gripping firmly.

"You are not powerless."

His eyes dropped to my lips.

Heat pulsed through me — entirely out of line in this moment, but utterly real.

"You feel it too," he whispered, voice rough. "Now as much as ever."

My breath caught.

He leaned in, and for a second, everything else blurred — the hospital, my fear, Daniel watching —

Adrian's mouth met mine in a kiss that was raw, urgent, and possessive. No sweet kiss.

A kiss that said: You belong to me. I won't lose you.

My fingers clutched his jacket tightly.

Then a sudden snap echoed through the room.

I stopped moving.

Adrian pulled away immediately, his eyes narrowing.

Daniel was holding a small remote-control-type device — smiling nervously.

"You shouldn't do that," Daniel said, voice shaking slightly. "They're watching."

My blood chilled. "Watching... where?"

Daniel swallowed. "Everywhere."

Then my phone buzzed in Adrian's hand.

A new message appeared, from an unknown number.

Live video.

Adrian opened it.

The screen displayed my mom again — this time her eyes were open, terrified, shaking.

A gloved hand covered her mouth.

A distorted voice spoke in a low, laughing tone:

"Mrs Knight, you have ten minutes. Come alone... or we finish her."

My scream was stuck in my throat.

Adrian's face remained frozen in a death mask.

When he looked at me, I could see it — pure intent.

"Pack nothing," he said softly.

Then he turned to Daniel.

"And you," Adrian said, voice as cold as ice, "you're going to take me to them."

Daniel's eyes widened. "I-I—"

Adrian yanked Daniel's collar so tight that Daniel choked.

"You can," Adrian whispered. "Or I will make you."

My entire body shuddered.

I suddenly realized something frightening.

This wasn't a rescue mission anymore.

This was a war.

And Adrian Knight was walking into it... for me.

And if he doesn't come back...

I will lose my mother... and the only man that has ever made me feel safe.

But the countdown timer on the video was already ticking.

09:47… 09:46… 09:45…