The Billionaire's Debt

Blake Roberts woke up in a world of darkness. She could hear, smell, and touch, but she saw only darkness.

Her mother, Anne Roberts, relief that Blake had opened her eyes said with a shaky tone. "Sweetheart, can you hear me? Thank Goodness"

Blake tried to speak, but her voice was a mere whisper. "Mom... What are you doing here? Am I in Europe?"

Anne's eyes teared up she squeezed Blake's hand. "Thank God you're awake. I thought I had lost you"

Blake said hesitantly, still unaware of her situation. "Mom... I can't see. Why can't I see?"

Anne's silence spoke volumes. The heavy silence confirmed Blake's worst fears.

Her sight was gone.

"Mum, is...this... permanent?" Blake mumbled trying to hold her tears.

Anne paused and hugged her daughter tightly. She couldn't bring herself to answer, but the silence was enough.

Blake had come to take a break from her hectic work life in Europe, not to face a new life without sight.

What would become of her now?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Mrs. Roberts, may we come in?" A woman's voice asked.

Anne nodded.

From the muttering of the visitors, Blake could tell that two people had entered the room.

"Blake," one of them said. "My name is Margaret Smith.. I'm the mother of the person whom you saved."

Blake sighed. The man she had saved. The last thing she had seen before her world went dark was his face. His face had been pale and bloodied but he had still been very much handsome.

Margaret's voice was filled with so much gratitude that one could notice that she was holding back tears as she spoke. "Blake, I really want to thank you for saving my son. With...out you, my son would have died. The Hoigs will forever be indebted to you." A tear had escaped.

Blake remained silent.

Margaret continued, her tone turning more serious. "I know that this is new to you and it must be difficult accepting that this is your life now but I wanted to offer... I wanted to propose something to you. I would like you to marry my son."

Blake scoffed. A marriage proposal? Out of pity? The idea was basically insulting.

"No," Blake said firmly. "I can't marry him. I won't. Mrs. Smith, I'm blind. Marriage is the last thing on my mind right now"

Anne placed a gentle hand on Blake's arm. "Sweetie, think about it. You would not want to return to Europe with me nor would you want to live with your father. You can't live alone now. Maybe you should consider it."

Blake shook her head, tears flowing freely. "I'm not going to marry someone just because I'm blind, Mom. I won't do it."

Margaret sighed. "Blake, I am doing this because it's the best I can offer for now. I need to know that I did something to make your sacrifice worth it. But it's your choice."

Casey Smith, Margaret's daughter, spoke up for the first time, her tone witty. "Let her decide for herself, Mum. I don't think marrying Ryan will solve anything. I think money would be better."

Her comment was met with a scolding look from Margaret.

"Can you leave my room and leave me alone! I want to be alone with my mother" Blake fumed, especially after hearing the word 'money' come out from Casey's mouth.

The room turned dead silent immediately. The silence was broken by Blake's quiet sobs.

Margaret and Casey saw this and their cue to leave and eventually excused themselves, leaving Anne alone with her daughter.

Anne left to speak with Dr. Patterson, the surgeon. "I need to know... is there any chance that Blake will regain her sight?"

Dr. Patterson's expression was sombre. "Mrs. Roberts, the damage to Blake's optic nerves was severe. We've done all that we can in this hospital and can say that the chances of her regaining her sight are very slim. I won't say it's impossible, but... it's highly unlikely. I am sorry, I wish I had better news"

Anne was devastated. She blamed herself for Blake's situation, for not persuading her to stay in Europe, and for teaching her to be selfless.

She resolved to ensure Blake would have a secure future, She had made a decision to accept Madam Smith's proposal for an arranged marriage.

When Anne returned to Blake's room, she found her daughter lying quietly.

"Mom," Blake whispered, sensing her mum had just entered. "Am I going to be like this forever?"

Anne pats her back, her voice soothing. "I don't know, Sweetie. But you'll always have me with you."

Meanwhile, Ryan Hoig slowly woke up in his hospital room. His memory of the accident returned. He recalled the woman who had saved him. He wanted to know who she was and how she was doing.

Before he could ponder on his thoughts more, a voice broke through. "Ryan, are you here? Are you okay? Do you know who I am?" Margaret said while gulping his face and making him look into her eyes

Ryan looked up and saw his mother, Margaret. Her face looked stressed and filled with worry, her eyes looked hopeful.

"Mom..." he managed to whisper, his throat dry.

Margaret reached out for his hands and wrapped them in hers, her hand shaking a little."You've been through so much, Ryan. I'm just so happy you're awake, alive and...unharmed."

"Mom, who is the woman who saved me? How is she?" Ryan asked.

Margaret looked at the floor because she couldn't look her son in the face while stuttering, "Her name is Blake Roberts. She.. lost her...sight, Ryan. She became...blind from saving you from the accident.

Ryan was stunned. The woman who had risked her life for him was now blind because of him. He felt intense. "Christ! Mom, What did you say to her?"

Margaret hesitated, then finally answered."I proposed that you both get married. I thought it might make her sacrifice worth it, but she refused. She asked us to leave."

Ryan stared at his mother in disbelief . He couldn't understand why she would think marriage was a solution. "I want to meet her. I..need to thank her for saving me."

Margaret looked at him, seeing that he wore a face of guilt, suspicion, and curiosity. She knew her son well enough to understand that this wasn't just about gratitude.

"Are you ready and sure, Ryan? " Margaret asked gently.

"I don't think she wants to meet you and moreover she has been through a lot. I don't want to overwhelm her."

"I'm sure,Mom," Ryan replied.

Margaret nodded, " I'll take you to her," she said softly.

When Ryan entered Blake's room, Blake could sense the unfamiliar presence and a deep voice spoke. "Hi, Blake, I'm Ryan Hoig. I am the one you save...You saved my

life."

Blake started crying. She didn't know if these were tears of relief or regret but she couldn't stop them from flowing.

Ryan continued, "I owe you my life. I don't know how I can repay you, but I'm ready and willing to give anything."

Blake responded sharply without thinking, "My eyes. I would love to see"

The room fell silent. Ryan was at a loss for words.

"My mum told me about the marriage proposal," he said suddenly. "If our parents think it's best then I will go along with it."

Blake was stunned."Marry you and then what?" she asked incredulously. "How did this become a marriage discussion?"

Ryan looked at her resolve."I dont think it changes anything either but our mothers agree that it best for us"

Casey scoffed. "I already said that marrying her won't change anything. She should just be compensated with money."

Blake's frustration boiled over. "I don't need money or marriage. I saved you because I wanted to. Please, don't make me regret doing so."

Ryan's face hardened. "Do you think I want to marry you? I'm doing it to l avoid any future gossip. Choose between marriage or compensation. That's the only way I'll feel better."

Blake felt insulted but mostly trapped. She didn't want his money, and she certainly didn't want to marry him out of pity or obligation.

"Mom" Blake called out for her mother while stretching out her hand so she could know where exactly her mother was. Anne rushed to her side, grabbing her hand. "I am here, Sweetheart." Anne replied.

Blake traced her mother's ears with her hands and whispered into them. "The decision is yours, Mom. Do whatever you think is best for me. I just want to rest now, so kindly ask them to leave."

Madam Smith opened her mouth to say something, but Anne spoke first, her voice firm and without any stutter.

"Marriage. Let's get on with the marriage."

Blake wasn't surprised by her mother's choice.

Anne and Madam Smith immediately began making wedding preparations.

Blake lay back, her head was filled with thoughts. She had saved a man's life, lost her sight and now she was being forced into a marriage she didn't want.

What had she gotten herself into?