Forbidden Night With Him

Chapter 1

Mara's POV

"I'm so sorry, Miss Mara, but after conducting the tests on your father, I found out that he doesn't have much time... He will die if the money is not provided for his surgery." The doctor said to me earlier in the hospital.

"How much are we talking about here, doctor?" I asked in tears.

"We need five hundred thousand dollars to conduct a kidney stone operation. I'm afraid he has only twenty-four hours to live. If you have anything to do, or any suggestion, now is the time-or you will lose him."

The doctor's words struck me like thunder as they kept replaying in my head over and over... I couldn't even breathe; I could feel my knees trembling beneath me as I staggered down the hospital hallway... Streaks of dry tears were still in my eyes.

I fumbled the test result in my hand as I left the hospital's big gates, stepping into the cold night ... . I couldn't even watch where I was going because my vision was blurred from hot tears rushing down my cheeks.

All my life, my father has been my backbone and provided for me... even though sometimes he believes whatever thing my mom says... My mom hates my guts for no reason; she always mistreats and beats me like I wasn't her real daughter.

My name is Mara Gabriel. I'm twenty-two, and this is the wreck of a life I've been forced to live. And now, the only person who sincerely cares about me a little apart from my mom and only brother, who treated me like trash is my dad, is going to die if I don't provide enough money.

His sickness even made me stop school and sell milkshakes in the streets just to save up for his expensive medications... but it still wasn't enough.

As I stumbled into the street, the cold air just kept hitting me like a cruel reminder that life kept moving while mine crumbled ... my legs felt so heavy, and I couldn't help but ask myself questions.

Had the heavens cursed me from birth? Suffering had been my only companion and part of my story since childhood. The way my mother looked at me, like I was nothing but some kind of unwanted burden to her...like a scar no one should see.

I never believed it would turn into this... At first my father's kidney stone disease seemed manageable, and I thought we could outrun it... But as time went by, it grew into something else, and the moment he started having difficulty breathing, he stopped going to work, and my mother is not doing anything to help the situation.

My own future shrank with every passing day while I scraped coins together to put food on the table.

Only months ago, I thought that heaven had started answering my prayers when I got a scholarship at one of the biggest nursing universities in the city.... Although tuition fees were covered, I wasn't even able to pay for the textbooks and other supplies...I barely had enough money for transport fare, let alone the expensive requirements for my first semester.

But even with all of that, I still have hopes and dreams of finishing school, getting a new job, and bringing my family out of this endless hardship.

But now, it feels like all my dreams are crashing because I have just twenty-four hours to save my father's life... My mom has told me to better go look for money... Where can I get that amount of money? Five hundred thousand dollars!

Savings? Yes, I had one, but I got the most disappointing result when I tore it open and saw just twenty dollars inside... A pathetic twenty dollars against a wall of five hundred thousand.

Panic clawed at my chest. I couldn't just watch my father die.

I was still thinking of what to do when my mind clicked on someone... Mr. Swag. Rumors have it that he is a laboratory scientist who paid generous money to people for blood donations.

Being that he doesn't require excessive interviews to help, and my blood type is O positive...which means I could donate blood to anyone. That was why I had to go to the hospital to get my blood test results with the last twenty dollars I had for evidence at least.

I clutched the blood test papers in my hand and rushed straight to his clinic... When I got there, it was getting darker on the streets because I had no money on me to take a cab.

I saw a small light from his glass door and breathed out in relief, "Thank God...he's still open!" I said to myself... I made to enter, but I heard a loud noise coming from his clinic, and I froze midway.

It sounded more like a muffled sound and had these rhythmic noises like someone watching pornography.... My stomach turned. Still, I forced myself to push the door open.

Mr. Swag looked up sharply from behind his desk. Immediately I entered as his face was looking so pale and he was sweating profusely...he quickly turned off his computer screen with a quick tap.

I stood there as my eyes were fixed on him, and I swallowed hard...for some reason...I was nervous.He smiled deliberately at me as his eyes swept over my body in a way that made my skin crawl...it was more like a predator hungry for its prey.

"Hello, young lady," he said, voice silky and too smooth. "Why are you here at this hour?"

I tugged at the hem of my skirt, trying so hard to be bold and cover up my shaky legs despite the quiver in my knees.

"I...I want to donate blood. I'm ready to donate to anyone ... . I just...need the money because my father is in the hospital, and if I don't pay for his surgery, he'll die." I said sharply without breathing; my voice cracked with each word.

He smiled at me, licking his lower lips, and I narrowed my eyes. What's wrong with him? I could see the corners of his lips curled into a mischievous smile like sunlight on a poisonous flower.

"Why don't you calm down, sweet girl, and tell me exactly what you need?" He said simply while touching his beard deliberately.

"I heard you pay higher rates for blood donations, and I'm O positive," I said carefully, twisting the paper in my hand. "Please, if there's a way..."

I said, stretching my hand to give him the paper, but before I could finish, he cut in sharply. "Yes, pumpkin! You're in the right place, cutie," he interrupted as he stood up from his seat and started taking a few steps towards me. "But tell me...are you desperate for cash?"

My lips trembled. "Yes. I am." Tears blurred my vision. "My dad needed this money urgently...please..." and insurance won't cover it. I need the money tonight."

He fixed his hand on one of his pockets as his smile widened... He stepped closer. "I see. Don't worry, I can help you. I'm a laboratory scientist, after all, and I will give you a huge amount of money if you agree to my terms."

When he said that, I felt so relieved. He's really generous, as said, but then he talked about terms, and even though I didn't understand what exactly he meant...I was still thankful.

Just immediately, I was about to say something else; he rushed to me and pulled out something from his pocket ... it was a small silver spray bottle. Before I could react, he swiftly sprayed the content on my face... The scent was sweet, but it felt like pepper and mint burning my eyes.

I yelled in pain as I struggled to open my eyes... What the hell did he spray on my face?

"What...what did you..." I cried out, staggering back. My vision splintered.

I couldn't even finish my statement due to the intense pain on my entire face. It occurred to me that I made a mistake in coming here...he wants to take advantage of me!

My instinct kicked in immediately. He wanted to grab me from behind while laughing loudly. I swung my handbag in his direction with all my strength; it hit him on the hand, causing him to stagger backwards.

He charged at me again, and I hit him the second time; he fell to the floor groaning in pain. At that moment, I rushed to the door, opened it, and ran off down the street, leaving behind the test results.