Ronin Royce The Arrogant Billionaire- English

Brielle felt spaced out. She could barely hear her own breathing as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at the faint rise and fall of her grandmother’s chest. Tubes were attached to her frail body, and the once lively woman who raised her now looked so weak—almost lifeless. “Brielle…” her grandmother called softly. She squeezed the old woman’s hand, forcing herself not to cry. She couldn’t break down. Not now, she needed to think. She needed money—fast a lot of it. Time was something she didn’t have. “Miss, have you spoken to the billing already?” the nurse asked. Brielle nodded but said nothing. She already knew the answer. She couldn’t afford it. Hit-and-run. That’s what happened to her grandmother. In just one moment, everything changed. One call, one hospital and now—a problem so huge she had no idea how to solve it. She stepped out of the room and sat on a cold bench in the hallway. Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone. She had no one else to turn to. No other choice. One by one, she opened different apps, searching for a job—part-time, full-time, online—anything that could earn money immediately. But everything… wasn’t enough. Until something caught her attention. A strange advertisement. “SURROGATE MOTHER NEEDED – HIGH COMPENSATION.” Brielle frowned and tapped it. As she read through the details, her heartbeat slowly quickened. No experience required. Strictly confidential. Initial payment once you pass the exam. Millions of peso compensation after successful delivery. All expenses covered. Her grip on the phone tightened. Artificial insemination, carry a child… and then give it away. In exchange for a million. She closed her eyes. She never thought she’d reach this point. “For Grandma…” she whispered to herself. When she opened her eyes again, her mind felt clearer or maybe just more desperate. She tapped the clinic’s address and stood up and walk fast. - - - - She didn’t even know how she got there really quick. Her feet seemed to move on their own as she entered a clean, quiet, and luxurious clinic far beyond anything she had imagined stepping into. Everything looked… so expensive. “Good afternoon,” the receptionist greeted her as she walked toward the nurse’s station. “Are you here for the surrogacy application?” Brielle hesitated but then nodded. “Yes.” “Please fill this out.” The receptionist handed her a form. Her hands trembled as she took it and sat down. Name, age, educational background… she answered each one carefully until she paused for a question. Virgin? She swallowed hard. “Yes…” she whispered as she wrote it down. For her grandmother, she would do anything just to save her. After finishing, she returned the form. The receptionist gave her a small smile. “Please wait. You’ll be called for your medical examination.” Medical exam. She didn’t back out. Hours passed before she was finally called. She was the only one left—the earlier batch had already finished. Blood was drawn. Physical tests were conducted. Checking if she's really a virgin and interviews followed. They asked about her health, her family, her life. It felt like she was being stripped bare with every question—but she endured it. She had to. In the end, she was asked to sit in a small office. “Ms. Jimenez,” the doctor said, reviewing her results. “You meet the basic requirements.” Her heart pounded. “I-I’m verified?” she asked. The doctor nodded. “You’re healthy and you mentioned you’re a graduating nursing student?” “Yes.” “That’s good. One of the requirements is at least a college-level education.” She took a deep breath. “Does that mean…?” “You’re accepted for now. We’ll process everything. Please wait for our call.” Accepted. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified. But at least now there was hope. “Thank you,” she said softly as Brielle stepped out of the clinic, reality rushed back to her. It wasn’t over. Nothing was certain but she had done something. And for now, that was enough. She could ask her professors for help—get a referral to the hospital where she was interned. Maybe they would allow her grandmother’s surgery without a down payment. She could sign a promissory note if needed. She walked through the corridor, hugging herself as the cold night air drifted in through the windows. “I can do this…” she whispered. Just a few more steps and she’d be out of the building. Back to the hospital. Back to her grandmother. But suddenly a door opened. Before she could react, a hand grabbed her and pulled her inside. “Ahhh—!” A firm grip clutched her arm. Strong, she couldn’t resist. In a split second, she was dragged into the room. “W-Wait—what—who are you?” The door slammed shut behind her and then she saw him. Tall, well-dressed, his eyes were cold, sharp—like they could see right through her. As if he could read everything about her in a single glance and unmistakably—He was strikingly handsome. “W-Who are you?” she asked again, her voice trembling. He didn’t answer. He simply stared at her—from head to toe—studying her… judging her. Her heartbeat quickened, while also looking straight at him. “I didn’t do anything—if there’s a problem—” “Help me.” His voice was low, cold. Her words died in her throat. “W-What?” “I’ll pay you.” There was something off about him. His movements were tense, hurried. He looked like he was struggling to breathe, drenched in sweat—as if holding something back. He pulled out a signed blank check and shoved it into her pocket. Then he stepped closer. One step, until there was no distance left between them. Brielle froze, she couldn’t move. She didn’t understand why she was this nervous. Before she could say anything. He kissed her. Hard, and desperate. She tried to push him away, tried to call for help—but no one came. No one heard her. Tears streamed down her face. In the end… she stopped resisting. It was easier to endure than risk getting hurt even more. At the very least… she hoped the check he gave her was real. Because if it wasn’t— She would make him pay. After nearly 30 minutes had passed. The man finished releasing his load and filling her, he collapsed beside her on the floor, drenched in sweat and breathing properly for the first time. Brielle felt like she had just run a marathon as she hurriedly got dressed, struggling to catch her breath too. The man lay on the floor, looking just as exhausted—yet distant. Unaware. “C-Can I leave now?” she asked carefully, while hurriedly brushing off the tears that were falling faster and faster down her cheeks. He didn’t answer right away. He opened his eyes and stared at her again—longer this time, as if thinking about something. Then he closed them. “Go.” One word, that was enough. Brielle didn’t waste another second. She rushed out of the room, almost running. She didn’t look back. Didn’t stop. But as she made her way down the building, one thought kept echoing in her mind. Who was that man? And why did it feel like… That wouldn’t be the last time they’d meet? She was in disbelief that only earlier she had been verified as a virgin, yet after just 30 minutes, that was no longer true, and she was still in the clinic. She pulled the check from her pocket. She didn’t know if it was real but she prayed it was. She hurried out of the building, ignoring the pain in her body. What she didn’t know, was that the man she met that night would change her life forever. And the decision she made tonight… Was only the beginning of everything.