A Substitute

Camilla's POV

I walked gently towards the hospital room, and I was surprised to find the girl who had the same face as me lying lifelessly on the bed with different machines attached to her body.

“She is going to survive right?” I asked the cold man beside me almost choking on my tears, and he sighed. “Yes, but not soon, and that's why I need you,” he says, and I scoff at hearing his words.

He was briefed on what he wanted from me, and I couldn't believe that he could do that to his fiance.

How could he want me to pretend to be his bride on the day of their wedding? Does that even make sense?

“I don't think I can do that, your fiance is still sick, and I don't think…” I was saying but he cut me off.

“I am sure that is what she would also want this, better than having all the country sympathizing with her she is going to want this too," he says, but I wasn't convinced.

There was no way a woman would be comfortable with another woman dating her man, and I knew that Ariana was going to be any different.

“There is no way she is going to…" I was saying but he snorted. “A woman, who could marry a man she hated just because her company needs it, did you think she cared about who substituted get for some time? No, I don't think so," he says dismissively, and I knew I had to do something.

I looked at Ariana, and I wondered if I was making a good choice by accepting the man's offer, but I knew I also didn't have much time.

My mother had surgery that needed so much money, and the after-treatment was enough trouble so I don't think I have the time to be righteous, at least the man wasn't giving me the time. His words were concise not giving room for doubts.

“But how can I be sure that you are going to give me that much money?” I asked, throwing the shame I had under the rug, as I faced the man shamelessly, and I saw his thin red lips curled up in a mocking smile.

“Ok, you can mock me all you want,” I mumbled, and he walked closer to me shifting his well-sculptured face forward. “What about clearing your mother's medical bills first?” he asked, and my eyes widened hearing that.

He was going to do that without even signing a contract? What if I ran away after that?

“Of course, you can't run away after that because I am going to find you,” he threatened, and I knew that he wasn't joking.

There is no way I could get money for my mother's surgery, and I don't think I could delay her surgery just look for the money. The grumpy man's offer was the best, I could take it while helping Ariana, and also treating my mother.

“Don't you think you should wait for her to wake up before you could make this rash decision,” I pointed out, and I heard the man sigh exasperatedly hearing my words.

“If we could wait for her to wake up did you think I am going to need you to step in? Did you know how the group stock market is going to flop if the public gets to know that the heir to Bernardo's group met with an accident a week before her wedding to me?” he bellowed, and I nodded my head even though I couldn't understand a thing.

“So what did you think of Miss Camilla?” I heard the man ask, and I turned around to look at him.

I couldn't believe the gut of the man. His fiance was lying on the sick bed with little chance of making it out, but he was thinking of pushing through with the marriage.

“Did you love her?” I asked, and he raised his head to look at me. “What?” he asked, and I breathed out.

“I am asking you if you love your fiance,” I say, and he chuckles hearing my word. “I don't see a reason why I should answer that, if you don't want to agree to the deal you should say, but I don't think you have much of a choice,” he says with a cold face, and I bit my already bloodshot lips.

“What is your name mister?” I asked, and I watched him raise her eyebrow after hearing that. “I just want to know, can't someone be a long curious?” I asked, and he nodded his head at me gently.

“Blaine…Blaine Sanders, remember that name whenever you want to mess with me,” he says, and I gulped my saliva in fear knowing if I really wanted to survive this I must avoid the man.

“Where is the contract?” I asked, and my eyes trailed back to Ariana, and I wondered where she was going to get involved in such an accident.

“Good choice!” he beamed and asked the man his assistant to bring the contract. I looked through the contract, and I wondered how the man got so meticulous by drafting a contract so quickly.

I looked through the contract and signed through it while scoffing at some weird rules.

“I am looking forward to working with you, my future wife,” he beamed coldly extending his hands, and my eyes went to the unconscious Ariana, and I made up my mind.

For Ariana, I have to tolerate this man for some time.

“Sure, but I don't ever forget I am not the one getting married to you, she is,” I corrected, and he smiled cornily at me.

“Sure, but it looks like you don't read the contract well, it has already been stated.

“No touching, no acting like Camilla, and most importantly no falling in love,” he chanted, and I smiled.

“Definitely, I am not going to alter those rules,” I promised. “Never say never,” he mocked walking out of the room.