The Price Of His Name

l

ead. The couch wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep, but I must have been too e

om my eyes before glancing at the

e k

und her still curled under her blanket, her s

ntly. "Wake up, sweetheart

uried her face dee

ocking once before pushing the

cking open slightly b

up in the next five minutes, I swear I

nds later, they grudgingl

ly, I'd have time to make breakfast, but it was too late

nded each of them some money. "You'll have to

out a word. Sophia, on the other hand,

ssy hair. "I'll make you some tomo

ready, I grabbed my keys an

ed, I held Sophia's small hand in mine, guiding her through the sidewalk whi

, and Sophia squeezed my hand. "

issed the top of

watched them disappear through the doors before exhaling

the dining room and stopped short. Dad was there, asleep at the table, his head resting

ftly, stepping clos

e groaned, lifting his head slightly. His eyes were bloo

ve you been

ss the question. Then he rubbed his face

gaze unwavering. "Tal

eavily, but he

tried a different approach. "How wa

"...Didn't go as

t hap

he proposed I pay in instal

wned.

uncomfortably

e you able to negotiate a

e... he offered another way to clear my debts, but the p

n my gut. I stepped close

ame out at first. Then, in a voice barely

Me? "What

you. As his bride. A contract wife for six months. He didn't disclose w

ground shift

er? There was no way I was gett

yes snapped to mine. "There's no way I'd agree to that. I tol

y," I said, trying to reassure both myself a

ork." He stood up, adjusting his shirt. As he walked past me, someth

olfe. Diamond

back. Work passed like a blur. Luckily for me, there weren't too many clients today so I had a lot of time to drown in my thoughts. I tried to think of solutions to our current financial crisis but none came to mind. I decided

who's

in an accident. You need to come immediately." My heart stopped. I barely registere

pacing the waiting room. "Dad!" I ran up to him, panic

ll with friends in an open space and...and...the car just...

breathlessly. "

tiple fractures, a severe concussion, and internal bleeding. We'v

t treatment immediately," the doctor continued,

ryone he called had an excuse about why they couldn't help. My dad paced frantically. Minutes passed. Then an hour. Jordan was lying in a hospita

roposed the contract marriag

"No. I'll take a loan. W

pany will loan you again. Most people

't take loans right now but you can. You have n

use as collateral. No c

t selling you to

Let Jordan die?" Dad clenched hi

all him and he accepts. There's no going back. He'll be free to

let Jordan die knowing that we co

ef sigh, he dialed the number. The line

s smooth voice echoe

in an accident, and we don't have the money for his treatment. Help us with

lm and unreadable. "That's great to hear. But unfor