Arianna is a lady who handles any job she can find in a bid to survive and get money. She has a sister whom she has to take care of, a mother who was battling with cancer and so she needed money to frequently settle her ever present bills. Ryan is a CEO who is unmarried and doesn't plan on settling down. But his grandfather had other plans for him. His grandfather meets Arianna and offers her a contract marriage form. Ryan remains unaware of this plan. Arianna believes this is a sacrifice she would have to make to help her family beside she gets to leave the marriage after 2 years according to the contract. Ryan has no choice but to accept his grandfather's plan as far as he would no longer be bothered to get married. Will Ryan remain cold forever towards Arianna because he believes she is a gold-digger? What happens when she falls in love with him but she finds out he isn't sure if he would end the contract? What happens when she later finds out that she has only few days to live because of a cancer she had which had no cure? What happens when he finds out that he can no longer live his life without her? What happens when his ex-girlfriend, Jessica keeps on scheming plans to end this union?
Chapter 1 Help! Help!! Help!!!
Arianna's POV
I was washing my hands and taking off my apron. I had just finished from my shift and I couldn't wait to get home as I was so exhausted.
I collected my pay for the day from the manager and walked to the door.
"Good night, Eli," I said to the manager as I left the shop.
I took out the money I had made for the day out of my purse. It looked like it would be enough to get some drugs for my mother. I counted and found out that I had about $150. This was money accumulated from the 3 shifts I had worked in different places today.
I stood along the road waiting for the bus to come and just then I saw 2 beautiful girls walk past. They looked like they were my age. They really looked beautiful with their hair properly kept and with the designers wear they had on. I sighed while wishing I was them.
"I wish I could actually take care of myself with all this money I get at least"
Don't get me wrong. I am definitely not ugly but I had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer but there was not enough money to pursue my dreams. I was a lover of fashion and I tried to look good despite how hard it was.
I was already blessed with the figure of a model and my face was just perfect.
Yea, that's what Bella, my friend tells me.
A call from my phone takes me out of my thought. I rummage through the craps in my bag and finally pick it out. It's my younger sister.
"Come to the hospital now. I am rushing mom there. Please hurry" she said while crying and hung up.
Hospital? Not again!!!!
I quickly hailed a taxi instead since it was taking time for the bus to arrive. We drove to the hospital close where my mom was admitted.
My mom was suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer. We had only found out about it 3 years ago. My dad had died when I was 5. So it was just I, my sister and my mom against the world. When we found out about the cancer, it was advised that my mom stopped any strenuous work she had at that time. She was just a house-keeper trying to make ends meet and support her children then. Now, she was stuck at home and instead I was the one taking care of the bills which included my sister's tuition fees. I also had to drop out of college so I could take up more part-time jobs and raise money for the chemotherapy she needed.
Immediately we arrived at the hospital, I moved around searching for them. Until, I found my sister sitting in a corner as she held my mom's hand while she lay on the bed.
"Mom..... Sally," I said as I rushed to hold my mother's other hand while sitting at the edge of the bed.
My mom looked like she was sleeping. Her eyes were shut. I was thankful that the bp monitor was at least reading, meaning she was still alive.
For a moment, I was scared with the way my sister was crying.
"What happened, Sally" I asked my sister who kept on wiping her tears off with the back of her hands.
Sally stood up and came up to stand beside me to explain what had happened.
"I had just gotten back home from school and I noticed that mom was unusually quiet after I had greeted her. She didn't respond or ask if I was back home which was weird. So, I came to her bed and saw her laying not moving at all"
"I thought she was sleeping, so I tried to wake her up but she wasn't moving. I didn't know what to do but luckily I asked our neighbor who was around to help bring her here," she concluded.
"This is all my fault we should have taken her to the hospital when she started complaining about those symptoms ever since last week" I say.
I felt bad and I blamed myself for this. But the reality was that I had no money to pay for the hospital bills and that was why I felt I could save up and pay for the chemotherapy at once.
I stared at my mom as I gently soothed the frown lines on her forehead.
"Was she having a bad dream?" I thought
"I need to go see the doctor now. Take care of mom," I tell my sister.
I went into the doctor's room when it was my turn and I was surprised it at that to be Ethan. We used to date in the past but when I found out he had a wife and kids which he hid from me. We broke up. At that time though, he was helping to sort my family's financial needs. My problem now was that he still wanted me back but my morales wouldn't allow me to date a married man.
"I wish it didn't have to be him who was in charge now"
And yes to answer your question, he is a doctor in this hospital that had been treating my mom since she was diagonized with cancer.
"Hi.. Arianna"
"Hi, doctor.." I said politely not wanting any familiarity attached.
I take my seat and wait for him to say something which could be hopefully with respect to the issue at hand.
"Arianna, I would just go straight to the point. Since it seems you are all out for business. Your mom needs to undergo the chemotherapy now else it gets worse and I know you don't want that. I also know that you do not have the money for that"
He steps forward and comes over to stand in front of me while placing his hands on my shoulder
"So, why not just come back to me and I would help you sort out all your bills like I always do"
He tries to hold me down and kiss me while I tried to get free from his grip.
"Let me go..... I don't need you or your money... Stop this..."