CHAPTER 5

"What? Twenty million dollars and Jake's treatment? What are you waiting for?" Mia's eyes widened as she paced around Evelyn's small living room, her designer heels clicking against the floor.

Evelyn sat slumped on the couch, her head in her hands. She had just finished recounting the events of the previous day, and the weight of Ethan Maverick's offer hung heavy in the air. She looked up at her friend, exhaustion written across her face. "I'll never marry someone who thinks the world revolves around him. The man's ego is bigger than his bank account."

Mia stopped pacing and turned to face Evelyn, her hands on her hips. "But it's fake, Evie. A contract. It's not like you have to actually fall in love with the guy."

Evelyn stood up, her voice rising with frustration. "It's not about love, Mia. It's about dignity. I won't sell myself cheap, not even for twenty million."

"Cheap?" Mia scoffed, picking up a framed photo of Jake from the coffee table. "Twenty million is hardly cheap. And what about Jake? Do you want to stay unemployed forever? You said it yourself - Ethan's been pulling strings to keep you jobless."

Evelyn snatched the photo from Mia's hands, clutching it to her chest. "There has to be another way. I can't just... give in like this."

Mia softened her tone, placing a hand on Evelyn's shoulder. "Evie, I know you're proud. But sometimes we have to swallow our pride for the greater good. Think about Jake. Think about the life you could give him with that money."

Evelyn shrugged off Mia's hand, a wry smile playing on her lips. "You're one to talk. You're the one who put me in this mess in the first place."

Mia's laughter filled the room, light and tinkling. "At least it's for your own good. Come on, Evie. When life hands you a billionaire on a silver platter, you don't turn up your nose."

Evelyn fell silent, her eyes fixed on Jake's photo. Her brother's smiling face seemed to pierce her heart. She hadn't seen him since that awful day at the hospital. The need to see him, to make sure he was okay, suddenly overwhelmed her.

"I need to see Jake," Evelyn murmured, more to herself than to Mia. She grabbed her worn leather bag from the floor, checking its contents out of habit.

Mia's brow furrowed. "Where are you going? They won't let you in, Evie. You know that."

Evelyn's hand paused on the doorknob. "I have to try, Mia. He's my brother. I can't just sit here and do nothing."

Mia stood up with concern written all over her face. "And what happens when they turn you away again? When are you going to realize that you can't fix this on your own?"

Evelyn's shoulders slumped with the weight of her situation pressing down on her. "What would you have me do, Mia? Sell my soul to the devil in an Armani suit?"

"If that's what it takes," Mia replied softly. "Sometimes, the right choice isn't the easy one."

Evelyn turned, her eyes meeting Mia's. For a moment, the apartment was silent, with Evelyn deeply thinking. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need time to think. I can't... I can't make this decision lightly."

Mia nodded. "Just don't take too long. Tick-tock, remember?"

Evelyn's hand tightened on her bag strap. "I know. Believe me, I know." With that, she stepped out into the hallway, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

*********

The hospital corridor buzzed with frantic energy as Evelyn stepped through the sliding doors. Nurses rushed past her, their shoes squeaking against the polished floor. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Her eyes darted from face to face, searching for answers.

"Excuse me," she called out, grabbing the arm of a passing nurse. "What's happening?"

The nurse barely spared her a glance, shaking off Evelyn's grip. "Emergency in Ward 3. Can't talk now."

Evelyn's blood ran cold. Ward 3. Jake's ward.

As if on cue, the double doors of Ward 3 burst open. Time seemed to slow as Evelyn watched a gurney being wheeled out, a small, pale figure lying motionless atop it. Jake.

"Patient's respirations are shallow," one nurse shouted. "We need to get him to ICU stat!"

"Blood pressure's dropping," another called out. "Prepare for emergency resuscitation!"

Evelyn's bag slipped from her shoulder, hitting the floor with a dull thud. She lunged forward, her legs carrying her towards the retreating gurney. "Jake!" she cried out, her voice raw with fear.

A doctor brushed past her, his white coat billowing behind him. Evelyn grabbed at his sleeve, her eyes wild. "What's happening to my brother? Please, tell me!"

The doctor shook her off, his face grim. "No time. We need to act fast."

Evelyn stumbled after them, her vision blurring with tears. As she reached for the gurney, a firm hand gripped her shoulder, holding her back.

"Ms. Martin," Dr. Patel's voice cut through her panic. "You can't go in there."

Evelyn whirled to face him, her cheeks wet with tears. "What's wrong with him? What's happening to Jake?"

Dr. Patel's face was thinned. "I warned you, Ms. Martin. I told you what would happen if we couldn't administer the necessary treatments."

"No," Evelyn whispered, her voice breaking. "No, no, no. This can't be happening. Please, there must be something I can do. Anything!"

Dr. Patel's gaze hardened. "Unless you can provide the funds for his treatment immediately, I'm afraid there's nothing more we can do. You need to prepare yourself for the possibility that Jake might not-"

"Don't say it!" Evelyn screamed, her hands balling into fists. "Don't you dare say it!"

She watched helplessly as Jake disappeared behind another set of swinging doors, the sound of urgent medical jargon fading into the distance. Her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the floor, her body wracked with sobs.

As she knelt there, surrounded by the cold, indifferent bustle of the hospital, a memory surfaced. Ethan Maverick's offer. The business card. Seventy-two hours.

With trembling hands, Evelyn fished her phone from her pocket. She pulled out the crumpled business card, her tears smudging the embossed lettering as she punched in the number.

Her fingers hovered over the keypad for a moment before she typed out a message:

She typed out a message: "Mr. Maverick, I accept your offer. Name your terms. Just please, help save my brother."

The reply came almost instantly, as if Ethan had been waiting by his phone: "My office. 10am tomorrow.. Don't be late."

Evelyn staggered to her feet, a strange calm settling over her. She'd made her choice. For Jake, she'd do anything - even if it meant selling her soul to the devil himself.