Marriage of Secrets

Marry me or die!

Few months ago

Karla walked out of the hair salon, feeling satisfied by her pay. She waved down a taxi, her hands slipping into her pocket to get her phone. Since she worked for months, her money was sufficient enough for her mum’s treatment. It had to be.

“Stop here, please,” She tapped the cab driver as she arrived at her destination. He stopped the cab and stretched his hands for his fee,.

“Thank you,” she appreciated giving him his fee.

She walked into her home and caught sight of her mother struggling to walk. The poor lady held her walking stick, supporting each handle with all her strength

“Mama, why do you move around so much?” Karla questioned hurrying to support her. The poor lady was barely 60 years, but she’d suffered more than she imagined. Her mum’s heart issues were very concerning for her and taking three jobs at a time couldn’t suffice it. Her mum had refused to tell her anything about it at the early stage. Now she had to work her butt off just to make sure she doesn’t die in her hands. Karla wrapped her hands around her mother’s waist as the lady giggled and kissed her on the hair.

“You look tired my baby girl,” Her mother observed.

“It’s nothing mother. I got my full pay!” Karla announced, showing her the calculated funds. “I finally have 1000 dollars!”

Her mother’s smile faded as her face turned pale.

“O! Goodness! You do not have to work so hard my dear,” her mum said. “We can seek help elsewhere. This is too much.”

“Mama, what are you saying?” Karla looked disappointed. “I have all the money here. I personally kept track of all the funds. Should I bring out the savings box for you to see? We have enough for your surgery.”

“You do not understand. The surgery is 4000 dollars and not 1000,” her mother corrected. “1000 dollars can just get us the drugs, but it cannot be used for the surgery.”

Karla’s smile disappeared. She stepped away from her mum unsure of how she could skip such an important detail. All the while she’s been aiming for 1000 dollars. She never knew the true amount would be back breaking. This got her overwhelmed on what else to do.

“It’s fine, Mama,” Karla feigned strength. “I will look for that money somehow.”

“Do not do all this by yourself anymore. It’s enough. I am as strong as ever. I can try to get a job too and help you. What‘s in this life anyway. If I have to go, I will go. There is nothing we can do about it.”

“Mama, please don’t say that!” Karla cried. “Just stop it, please. You are the only family I have. What will I do if you are gone? You talk like I have an entire family to call my own.“

“Look, Karla, I will always be here with you. It doesn’t matter what happens today or tomorrow. But the thing is, we cannot control fate. What will happen will happen eventually. You are doing too much and I am baffled by it,” her mother said causing tears in Karla’s eyes.

“I do not care how hard I work. I cannot watch you die…”

“Come here my love,” Her mum pulled her close for a hug. Karla accepted, feeling her mum’s weak hands wrap around her. This was one thing she feared, and each slip of her mum’s hands got her 10x more scared. She tightened the hug scared her mother will let go.

The hug felt so comforting. The same feeling her younger self couldn’t deny. Her mum was a single mother, and had single handedly raised her for 21 years. Sleepless nights were a thing her mum faced, constant sacrifices and public insults. The poor girl could barely understand how strong a mother could get.

As the hug lingered, her mum’s hands began to tremble. The lady breathing got heavier and she tried pushing her off.

“Mum, are you fine?” Karla asked, but there was no response. Her mum’s eyes were bloodshot, and her hands were gripping her heart tightly.

“O! Goodness! O! Goodness!”

Karla recognized those symptoms. Her heart dropped as her eyes got teary and she hurriedly sat her mum down.

“It’s happening again!” She cried into her phone. “It’s literally happening again!”

***

“We need that surgery as soon as possible,” the doctor reported. “She cannot be managed like this. She is not a machine. She could die any moment.”

Karla hugged herself tightly with a white pale expression.

“I am working on it,” Karla said helplessly. “I am trying.”

“I know it’s not easy, but try harder. Her life is more important than your comfort,” the doctor said before handing her some medications to buy. She nodded and watched him scurry off with a nurse. How unfair life was?! What the hell could she do? She wasn’t a college student anymore. Not that she could complete it anyway. She wasn’t as fortunate as a common layman.

Who should she call now?

Her fingers barely tapped on the phone call app, when her eyes caught something that intrigued her. It was a common trend. People dressed like paupers and pleaded for money before companies just for the fun of it. Some got lucky and were given some huge amount of money, while others were kicked out. Karla couldn’t even believe she was thinking about that. Her clothing already looked tattered anyway, since she could barely afford new ones. What’s the worse that could happen? She took a deep breath and walked out. What company would she go to though? There were tons of them in San Diego where she lived. If she was lucky enough, she could stumble into a good one. As she walked along the busy road, her sandal snapped to her anger. She hissed in annoyance and tried adjusting it.

Barely had she done that when she caught sight of a fashion industry before her. Models were in wealthy outfits cat walking as if the world was beneath her feet. She smiled thinking of a plan, and walked through the open gate without thinking. She let down her bonded brown hair, and sat before the entrance before singing a song of gratitude. The models were shocked to see her. They’d waved her off thinking she was crazy, but she refused to leave.

“Help my mother please,” she pleaded. “She needs help!”

“What the hell is this nonsense?!” A lady screamed from the entrance. She turned to the security guard and slapped him hard on the back. “Were you blind? why let her walk in?”

“Look ma’am, do not get angry at him. I just need some money,” Karla pleaded.

“O You keep quiet! Shelly doesn’t give money to dirty people! Now get out!” The lady roared before turning to the guard. “Kick her out!”

“Wait! Hold on!” Karla held her hands in tears. “You do not understand. Your support will go a long way! I am clueless of what to do right now! I am helpless!”

“Perhaps sleep with men!” Shelly threw a five dollar note at her, before walking back inside. The others giggled in a mockery tone, commenting on how ugly she looked. Karla felt deeply hurt. As the guards tried touching her, she threw them a cold look before walking out with the 5 dollar note. She wasn’t even sure why she collected it. That lady freaking insulted her.

“I can help you,” a deep voice said. She turned around to see who that was. There was an expensive Lamborghini parked beside her. Inside was a very handsome guy she’d never seen before. His dressing style was breathtaking, and his voice was freaking s*xy. She looked around unsure of whether to speak to this stranger or not.

“Get in,” he gestures to her. “Let’s talk.”

“And who are you?” She questioned.

“I am your future boss and husband,” he smirked before opening up his Lamborghini. She rolled her eyes in anger and let out a hiss.

“Go back to the asylum where you belong,” she said.

He let out a dry laugh. As she walked further towards her home, he drove after her. This made her pissed.

“Will you stop being a creep?!” She screamed at him. “You do not even know anything about me…”

“Your name is Karla Yina. You are the only child of a single mother and your mother is at the prick of death. You went into my company to make a fool of yourself just for your mother. Well, it is over now, because you do not have to do that anymore,” the guy smirked.

Karla was confused. How the hell does the guy know her in the first place?

“What do you mean? Who are you?”

“Do not refuse me, Karla Yina. I am Anderson Stone, and no one refuses me. Marry me and work in my company as the face of my business. In return, I will save your mother’s life.”

“You are weirding me out right now. This is obnoxious. I cannot…”

He wasn’t done.

“Refuse me, and I will make sure that your mother dies faster than usual,” he shows her the photograph of her mother. Her blood went cold. “Choose your mum’s life or your selfish interests.”

Karla‘s face was pale as she stood speechless. Who the hell was this person?! Why was he doing this to her and her family?