Annie's life takes a dramatic turn when her son is diagnosed with a heart condition, leaving her desperate for a solution. Years earlier, a fateful one-night stand with a stranger gave her a child-unbeknownst to her, that stranger was Christ, the son of a ruthless business tycoon. Just as Annie crosses paths with Christ again, another ghost from her past resurfaces-Joe, her ex, who is back and determined to win her over. Caught between two powerful men-one who left her broken and another who now wants to claim her-Annie is thrust into a storm of emotions, betrayals, and power struggles. Meanwhile, Christ faces immense pressure from his father, Thomas, who demands he marry a wealthy investor's daughter. To defy his father's control, Christ proposes a fake engagement to Annie, and she agrees, seeing an opportunity to take control of her own fate. But as hidden truths emerge, Christ learns he is the father of Annie's child, while she uncovers the depths of deception orchestrated by Thomas. Amid corporate wars, personal betrayals, and a love triangle that threatens to shatter everything, Annie must decide whether to embrace the love she once lost, seek revenge, or fight for a future with Christ. When a life-threatening situation forces Christ to make his final choice, he defies his father and fights for Annie. But will she choose him, or will Joe's return pull her back into the past? In this gripping tale of love, redemption, and second chances, Annie must navigate the tangled web of her heart to find the future she truly desires.
Chapter 1 Ariel is diagnose with heart failure
In Manhattan, in one of the public houses made up of two bedrooms, Ariel cried out, "Mummy! Mummy!!"
(Breathing heavily) "My heart! My heart is paining..."
Before I could react, he collapsed.
"Tracy! Tracy!!! Please, let's take him to the hospital!" We rushed to carry him and ran through the streets of Manhattan because we didn't have enough money to book a taxi.
"Doctor! Doctor! Please save my son, he's dying! Please save him!"
"Calm down, calm down. He's in good hands. He'll be fine. You just need to stay outside, okay?"
My heart raced like a wrestler in a battle ring.
Please, God, don't let anything happen to him.
We waited anxiously outside while the doctor worked on him.
"How is he, doctor?" I asked nervously.
"He's fine now, but I need to talk to you in my office," the doctor replied.
I followed him, fear gnawing at my insides, praying his condition wasn't as bad as it felt.
"Your son is stable, but he's suffering from congestive heart failure. This means his heart is unable to pump blood effectively enough to meet his body's needs. It's a result of coronary artery issues. That's why he collapsed-his breathing became too shallow. He may experience fluid retention and fatigue at times. But with surgery, he will be fine."
"Surgery?" Tears streamed down my face. "How will I afford that, doctor? Where will I get the money?"
"It will cost £30,000, and he needs treatment quickly, before the condition worsens. In the meantime, you'll need to get these medications for him. You can go to the pharmacy."
"Okay, doctor." I stood frozen, overwhelmed with confusion. Who could help me? Why would God let a child suffer like this?
"Annie, what did the doctor say?" Tracy's voice cut through the fog in my mind.
I stared blankly at her, feeling deaf and numb.
"I'm talking to you!" she pressed, her voice cracking.
"Let's take him home. The doctor said he'll be fine," I said, though my voice wavered, betraying the panic swirling inside.
"But your face says otherwise. Sis, please, talk to me," Tracy insisted, eyes wide with worry
I shook my head, wiping away the fresh tears that came unbidden. "Tracy, please, can you take him home? I need to go to the café. I'm sure Mami will be waiting for me."
She hesitated, her gaze searching mine for any sign that I wasn't falling apart inside. Ariel's voice, soft and trembling, broke through the silence.
"Mummy... is everything okay with me?"
I looked into his wide, trusting eyes and forced a smile, even though it felt like my heart was being torn apart. "Son, you're fine. The doctor said you were just tired, which is why your heart was hurting. After you take the medicine, you'll be fine."
I stood up, wiping away my tears again, trying to steady my shaking hands. Tracy stood beside me, her own tears threatening to spill. She didn't say anything but I could feel the weight of her concern pressing down on me.
"But Mummy..."
Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my hands trembling, praying it wasn't the news I feared.