Chapter 3

Damian’s POV

Sitting in the dimly lit bar, I swirled the ice in my glass of whiskey, lost in thought. My stepmother's incessant nagging about my need to settle down and start a family had been weighing heavily on my mind. I had no interest in the vapid women she kept trying to set me up with, but the idea of finding a way to solve my problem and help someone else at the same time had started to form in my mind.

My thoughts turned to Scarlett, a woman I had known for a few years . She was smart, ambitious, and independent, and I couldn't help but admire her for it. A twisted idea began to form in my mind. What if I could offer her a deal? I could help her sister and solve my own problem of finding a wife. If Scarlett agreed to marry me for a set period of time, I would help fund her sister's treatment. It was a win-win situation.

As the idea solidified in my mind, I realized that I didn't really care about Scarlett. She was just a means to an end, a way to solve my own problems. Leaving the bar with a wicked smile on my face, I headed home to prepare for the call.

Scarlett’s POV

I've been going all over town, asking anyone and everyone for help. But it seems like all my efforts have been in vain. I can't believe how hard it is to come up with the money I need for my sister's surgery.

I've gone to every bank and lending institution in the area, but none of them are willing to loan me the amount I need. I even tried to sell some of my own belongings, but everything I own is worth so little that it wouldn't make much of a difference.

I feel like I'm running out of options. I've never felt so helpless in my entire life. My sister's health is on the line, and I can't even raise 20% of the money I need. I feel like a failure.

As I walk down the busy street, my eyes take in the flurry of activity around me. I see people rushing to their destinations, chatting with friends, and enjoying the sunny day. They seem so carefree, so oblivious to the struggles that consume my every waking moment. A twinge of jealousy hits me as I watch them living their lives with such ease, while I am weighed down by the weight of my worries.

It's hard not to compare myself to them, to wish for their carefree existence. I yearn to be like them, to not have to worry about where the next paycheck will come from or if my loved one's health will improve. The thought of being able to live my life without these worries feels like a dream, a distant and unattainable one.

But as much as I envy them, I also realize that I don't know their stories. I don't know what struggles they may be facing, what worries may be weighing on their minds. Maybe they have their own challenges that they are dealing with, but they choose not to show it to the world. Maybe they are also putting on a brave face and soldiering on, just like I am.

I try to remind myself that we are all fighting our own battles, even if they are not visible to others. It's easy to assume that others have it easier than us, but the truth is that everyone has their own set of challenges to face. Maybe my struggles are different from theirs, but that doesn't make them any less valid or difficult..

Days turn into weeks, and I still haven't been able to come up with the money I need. I'm starting to lose hope when I receive a call from the hospital. Mitchell’s surgery has been scheduled for the following week, but they need to receive payment in full before they can go ahead with the procedure.

My heart sinks. I've come so far, and now it seems like all my efforts are in vain. I can't imagine losing my sister. 

**********

I woke up one morning, feeling determined. I had spent the whole night researching organizations and talking to people who might be able to help fund Mitchell's surgery. But nothing had worked out, and the weight of the situation was starting to crush me. I needed to find a solution, and fast.

As I sat at my desk, I heard my phone ring. It was an unknown number, but I answered it anyway.

"Hello?" I said, my voice weary.

"Scarlett? This is Damian. We met at the bar sometime ago, though we didn’t have a chance to get to know each other better. I would love to help you," the voice on the other end said.

I still didn’t know who the caller was but I decided to act friendly. Who knows he might be of great help to me.

"What kind of help?" I asked warily.

"I'm calling to offer my assistance," he said. "I know how hard it can be to come up with money for your sister's medical treatment, and I would like to help you out."

I couldn't believe it. This complete stranger was offering to help me? I never believed something like this could happen.

"Thank you so much, Sir," I said, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. "What can I do for you in return?"

"You don't have to do anything for me," he replied. "I just want to help. But I do have a proposition for you. Can you come to my office tomorrow? I'll explain everything when you get here."

I agreed, and he said he would send me the address. I hung up the phone, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. I couldn't believe that a stranger who I saw at the club was willing to help me and my family in such a big way.

That night, I couldn't find it in me to fall asleep. The thought of my sister finally receiving the medical attention she desperately needed filled me with excitement and anticipation. The endless possibilities of what could come next kept running through my mind.

I couldn't help but pray that everything would work out in our favor, that this would be the turning point in our lives. I knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in our story, one that held so much promise and hope.

As I lay in bed, my mind racing with excitement and possibility, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this chance. For so long, we had struggled to make ends meet, to keep our heads above water. But now, with this new opportunity, I knew that things were finally going to change.

The thought of my sister finally receiving the care she needed filled me with a sense of relief and comfort. It was as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I could finally breathe again.

As the night wore on, I continued to think about all the possibilities that lay ahead of us. I knew that this journey would be long and challenging, but I was ready for it. With my sister by my side and the support of those who loved us, I knew that we could overcome any obstacle that came our way.

And so, as the night turned into morning, I drifted off to sleep, my heart full of hope and excitement for what the future held.

But this was only just the beginning of a new chapter in my Life.