The Choice
706 Words
Aria hadn’t slept.
She spent the entire night in the plastic chair beside her mother’s hospital bed, listening to the steady rhythm of the heart monitor.
Every beep reminded her that time was slipping away.
At dawn, her mother slowly opened her eyes.
“You look terrible,” she said weakly, forcing a smile.
Aria laughed softly.
“I could say the same about you.”
“Then we’d both be telling the truth.”
Despite everything, they laughed together.
It lasted only a few seconds.
But for Aria..It was enough.
“I’ve missed your smile,” her mother whispered.
Aria looked away before the tears could return.
After breakfast, Dr. Adebayo stopped by.
“Mrs. Bello is responding to the medication, but only temporarily.”
Aria nodded.
“I understand.”
“Do you?” He looked at her kindly.
“Sometimes people spend so much time searching for the perfect solution that they lose the chance to save the person they love.”
His words stayed with her long after he left.
By noon, Aria was back outside the hospital.
The sun was high, but she barely noticed the heat.
She sat on a bench, staring at the city traffic.
Her phone buzzed.
Maya
“How are you holding up?” Aria typed a reply.
“I don’t know anymore.”
A second later, Maya called instead.
“Have you eaten?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat.”
“I need eight million naira.”
Maya sighed.
“I wish I could fix this.”
“So do I.” There was a long silence.
Then Maya spoke carefully.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“If Kael Blackwood wasn’t a billionaire… if he were just an ordinary man asking you to marry him for one year… would you still say no?”
Aria frowned.
“What kind of question is that?”
“The kind that helps you figure out what you’re really afraid of.”
Aria didn’t answer.
Because the truth frightened her.
She wasn’t afraid of Kael.
She was afraid of owing someone that much.
Afraid that a contract could become a cage.
Afraid that one signature might cost her more than money ever could.
Across the city, Kael sat through a board meeting without hearing a single word.
Charts filled the screen.
Executives debated next quarter’s projections.
Someone asked for his opinion.
He didn’t respond.
“Mr. Blackwood?”
The room fell silent.
Kael blinked.
“I’m sorry. Continue.”
The executives exchanged confused glances.
Their CEO was never distracted.
Never.
When the meeting finally ended, Daniel followed him into his office.
“You’ve been thinking about her.”
Kael loosened his tie.
“I’ve been thinking about whether I made the wrong approach.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“You mean proposing marriage to a complete stranger?”
A faint smile tugged at Kael’s lips.
“When you say it out loud…”
“It sounds insane.”
“It does.”
For the first time in years, Kael laughed.
A quiet, genuine laugh.
Then his expression turned serious.
“I don’t want her to marry me because she feels trapped.”
“Then why should she marry you?”
Kael looked out at the skyline.
“Because she’ll realize I’m giving her a choice…”
“…not buying her life.”
That evening, Aria returned to her apartment.
She unlocked the door and froze.
A large white box sat neatly on the small dining table.
There was no delivery receipt.
No sender’s name.
Only a handwritten note.
For your interview tomorrow.
Confused, she opened the box.
Inside was a beautifully tailored navy-blue dress.
A pair of elegant heels.
And a simple pearl necklace.
Nestled beneath them was another envelope.
With trembling hands, she opened it.
Miss Bello,
You asked me why I chose you, You deserve an answer.
Meet me tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.
If, after hearing the truth, your answer is still no…
I will never ask again.
— Kael Blackwood
Aria stared at the letter.
This wasn’t another proposal.
It was an invitation.
And for reasons she couldn’t explain She wanted to know the answer.
- Writer
