CHAPTER 10
Charlie's frail form lay motionless on the hospital bed, his shallow breaths the only sign of life. His once vibrant cheeks were now pale and sunken, a stark contrast to the lively boy he once was.
As Margaret's tearful plea echoed through the sterile hospital room, Arianna felt a surge of conflicting emotions.
Anger, resentment, and frustration battled within her as she struggled to make sense of the situation.
"I know you're angry with your father and me," Margaret sobbed, her voice choked with emotion,
"But we have no choice. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and we're barely scraping by. How are we supposed to afford Charlie's treatment? We can't even cover his medical bills, let alone the cost of a heart transplant. Are you going to let him die?"
Arianna's gaze lingered on Charlie, her vision blurred by tears threatening to spill over.
The sight of her brother, lying there so fragile and vulnerable, tugged at her heartstrings, filling her with a mix of sorrow and heartache.
"Remember how close you and Charlie have always been since childhood? You wouldn't want to lose him, would you?" Margaret's voice cracked as fake tears streamed down her face, her words a desperate plea for Arianna's help.
"Anna, please," Margaret pleaded through tearful sobs, her voice quivering with desperation.
"I know things have been difficult between us, but Charlie needs you now more than ever. We can't bear to lose him."
Despite their strained relationship with their parents, Arianna and Charlie had always shared a special bond.
"Think about what's best for Charlie,"
Margaret implored, her voice trembling with emotion.
"He's still so young, and he hasn't even had the chance to live his best life yet. You can't let him die."
Arianna's gaze fell, a bitter knot tightening in her chest.
She fought the urge to scoff at her mother's feigned tears and false displays of affection.
She had just learned that during her absence abroad, her parents had neglected Charlie's care, failing to pay his medical bills or show any concern for his deteriorating health.
As she reflected on the past six months, it became painfully clear that their neglect had played a significant role in Charlie's declining condition.
As they shed crocodile tears before Arianna, pretending to care deeply about Charlie, she couldn't help but see through their facade.
It was nothing but a cruel joke to her.
Yet, despite her disdain for her parents, they had struck a chord within her. She could turn a blind eye to their manipulations, but when it came to her brother, she couldn't ever neglect him.
In this household, Charlie was the only family Arianna truly had. They were like orphans, relying solely on each other for support.
Arianna's lips curled into a disinterested smirk as she asked,
"What do you want me to do?"
Seeing Arianna's softened demeanor, Simon seized the opportunity to speak.
"Anna, I attempted to pressure Xander into marrying you, but he's proven to be quite stubborn. It's unlikely that he'll agree to it. However, we do have an alternative plan."
Arianna's gaze held a mixture of disbelief and disdain as she regarded him.
"Alternative plan?" she echoed incredulously.
It was clear to her that Simon had this alternative scheme prepared all along. If Xander didn't cooperate, he had no qualms about selling her off to the highest bidder just to salvage their financial situation.
Simon cleared his throat nervously before speaking.
"There's a wealthy gentleman in search of a wife," he began, his tone cautious. "If you agree to marry him, he's promised to provide us with a substantial sum of money. With that, we could potentially save our company and continue paying for Charlie's treatment."
Arianna's mind raced with skepticism. A wealthy man seeking a wife would have no shortage of suitors lining up at his door.
The fact that he was willing to pay for a bride raised a red flag in her mind.
With a hint of suspicion in her voice, she cut to the chase.
"Who exactly is he?"
Simon and Margaret exchanged uneasy glances, silently acknowledging that they couldn't evade the truth from Arianna any longer. Margaret took a deep breath before confessing,
"We've never met him personally, but we've heard rumors about him. Apparently, he was involved in an accident that left him disfigured. And there's more... his temperament is said to be unpredictable, and there's a possibility that he may not be capable of... intimacy."
Arianna's expression remained stoic, though inwardly, she braced herself for whatever was more to come.
After a pregnant pause, Margaret's hurried reassurance filled the room, her words laced with false optimism,
“But you don’t have to worry too much. He’s not a young man, but you're still in your prime. Endure for a few more years, and when he passes on, you'll inherit everything he has. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Arianna suppressed a bitter laugh at her parents' twisted logic. The options laid before her were equally grim.
With measured steps, she approached Charlie's bedside, gently grasping his frail, skeletal hands in hers.
With a heavy heart, Arianna shut her eyes momentarily, steeling herself for the decision she was about to make. As she reopened them, a glimmer of resolve shone through.
"Fine," she declared, her voice tinged with resignation.
"I'll marry him."
Her gaze flickered briefly to her brother lying in the hospital bed beside her. He was the only family she had left, and she couldn't bear the thought of losing him. If sacrificing her own happiness meant securing his future, then marrying a disfigured stranger seemed like a small price to pay.
