The Billionaire’s Rented Bride

“Please… Doctor! Just one more week…” The light in her eyes had dimmed, her gaze distant as quiet tears slipped down her cheeks. “Please,” she added desperately. “I’m sorry, Miss Elara. Without payment, I’ll have no choice but to cease treatment. I’ve held out for as long as I could, it’s out of my hands now.” His words struck like a spear, slicing through her chest and anchoring a crushing weight inside her. She was still so young, yet life had shown her no mercy. Two years ago, she lost her mother to cancer. Now, her little brother was terminally ill and in urgent need of a heart transplant. Elara moved slowly toward Joshua’s ward. Swallowing felt like a sport, every breath a struggle. A thick lump choked her throat as tears fell freely. She tried to wipe them away, but her trembling hands only smeared the pain across her face. “I—I can’t lose you too,” she whispered, kneeling beside the bed. “Please, Joshua… you have to be strong.” The irony stung, asking a ten-year-old to be strong when she was barely holding on herself. She could barely be considered sane at this point. Staring at his pale, unmoving face, her heart trembled. She knew what she had to do next, but the thought of it terrified her. After all, begging at the feet of the very woman who took everything from them after their father past away, wasn’t a pleasant idea, heck! The thought alone made her gut twist with fury. But chewing her pride was better than losing the last person she loved. She wiped her face, squared her shoulders, and left the hospital. Outside, she hailed a cab. On the surface, she looked as cool as a cucumber but inside, chaos churned. Every part of her wanted to scream at the sky, to curse the universe for its cruelty. But all she could do was stare blankly out the window, numb… too numb. “We’re here, miss. I’ve been calling you,” the driver’s voice snapped her back to reality. “I’m sorry. Here’s your fare,” she muttered, handing over the cash. The car drifted off, leaving her face-to-face with a house that no longer felt like home. The mansion loomed before her, opulent and cold, a perfect reflection of the people inside. Her aunt. Her uncle. Her beloved cousin, Freya. Winter was nearing. The air was biting, but not nearly as cold as the pit in her heart as she stepped inside. The mahogany doors opened wide, swallowing her whole. Some maids froze upon seeing her; others kept working, unaware of the history behind the girl who’d just walked in. No one stopped her as she made a direct line for her aunt’s room. She knocked softly. “Come in,” came a neutral voice. Her aunt’s back was to her, eyes focused on her reflection in the dresser mirror. Scarlet lipstick in hand, she applied it with precision, not even bothering to glance back. “A-Aunty…” Elara’s stammered, not from nervousness but suppressed rage. Loretta’s hand twitched ever so slightly at the sound. She paused for half a second, then continued her lipstick application as if Elara’s presence were nothing more than a breeze. A bitter smile tugged at Elara’s lips. Two years of no contact and this was the reception she got. She shouldn’t have expected more, but the reminder of everything she’d endured made her blood simmer. Loretta had no right to be this smug! Even so, Elara could recognize when fate had turned its back on her. She dropped to her knees with a soft thud. Her forehead glistened with sweat, her fists clenched tightly in her lap. Her voice shook with desperation. “Aunt Loretta, please… I need your help. Joshua’s sick, he needs a heart transplant—” “Ah,” Loretta interrupted, swiveling around in her chair. The only light came from the mirror bulbs and the pale glow of the moon. “I was just thinking I ought to call you. Glad you saved me the trouble, dear niece.” Elara blinked. She didn’t care what her aunt meant, this was her chance. She dove in. “I’ve gathered some money, but it’s not enough. If you could help, just a little—” “You missed this month’s deposit,” Loretta cut in again. “The bank called me.” Elara’s mouth opened, but no words came. “…What?” Loretta scoffed, smoothing down her curls before standing tall, arms folded across her chest. She moved closer, towering over Elara with a cold glint in her eyes. “Do I need to repeat myself? The loan I gave you for your mother’s treatment, you didn’t pay this month. Maybe I’ve been too soft on you. That was a mistake.” It felt like ice water had been poured over Elara, but she gritted her teeth and held on. “I’ll catch up on the payments,” she said. “Just help me get Joshua’s treatment done, and I swear I’ll—” “Haha… You. Poor. Fool.” Loretta laughed. “You think you still have choices? I don’t give a damn about your brother. He can die and meet your pathetic mother for all I care. I want my money. That’s all that matters.” Something inside Elara snapped. Her head shot up, her bloodshot eyes blazing into Loretta’s. She rose to her feet, trembling with rage. “Isn’t it enough that you stole my father’s company and gave it to your husband? That you took control of Mom’s bakery, then tricked me into signing that loan? I’m still paying for that! You’ve leeched off everything we had!” “PAH!” The slap cracked through the room. Elara’s head snapped sideways, her cheek stinging. “You’re a disgrace to my father your brother!” she barked. “PAH!” Another blow. Elara crumpled to the ground, body shaking from rage and humiliation. Loretta calmly massaged her palm, breathing heavy. “That bakery was going under,” she sneered. “I made it profitable. As for the company, that was my inheritance. I’m the eldest! Andrew only managed it because I allowed it. Count yourself lucky!” “Liar!” Elara screamed. “You manipulated the will! You cheated me and Joshua. You took everything my dad worked so hard for!” Loretta grabbed a fistful of Elara’s hair, dragging her close. “Can you prove it?” she hissed. “If you want Joshua to live through the night, I suggest you shut up. Use that pretty little head of yours.” She let go. Elara didn’t flinch. Her fury had turned into cold resolve. “Speaking of your face,” Loretta smirked. “It’s finally going to earn its keep. I’m signing your rights to a female escort agency. One job will clear your debt. That’s better than waiting on the pennies from your waitress job.” “What? You can’t do that!” “Oh, but I can. I’m your legal guardian. Remember?” Cold sweat beaded on Elara’s forehead. She knew just how ruthless Loretta could be. “L-Loretta, no… Please don’t. I can’t do that. I won’t.” Loretta waved her off like a fly. “Decision’s made. I already finalized the paperwork for tomorrow morning. You never had a choice.” “You can’t do this!” Elara barked, stepping forward. But Loretta was done, now checking her nails, admiring herself in the mirror like Elara didn’t exist. “Don’t be stupid, girl. Think of it as saving your brother. The money you’ll make can cover his bills in one go.” Elara froze. Her heart twisted. The idea made her stomach churn, but… was it true? Still, could she trust her? “Now get out. You’ve ruined my evening enough.” Elara turned toward the door, her mind spinning but Loretta’s voice rang out one last time. “If I were you, I’d pray for a decent client. Most girls end up with wrinkly billionaires on their last legs. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Why else would any sane man rent an escort?” Her fingers clenched the door handle so tight it hurt. Her lips quivered. Of course there was a catch. But for Joshua… for him, she would do anything. Even if it meant escorting a seventy-year-old billionaire to his grave. She slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing like a war cry.