What? A marriage contract?!

Jessie's POV

“Ugh…”

I woke up to a tingly itch on my face.

With my weak hands, I kicked off whatever it was that was causing it. But the itch just came back, even worse this time.

I forced my eyes open and found myself staring at a mass of golden brown fur. It was an Eskimo puppy that would not stop licking my face.

I smiled painfully, realizing it was the stray dog I picked up in the rain some days ago.

The little guy seemed ecstatic that I was awake. He started jumping around, wagging its tail and barking happily.

Disoriented and feeling feverish, I coughed heavily and sat up, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

Memories from last night began to flood back,- I had ended up in front of Gavin’s mansion hoping he’d forgive me and change his mind about my mother.

“Mom!” I gasped, suddenly remembering the doctor’s ultimatum from yesterday.

Panic gripped me when I grabbed my phone and found that it was already 3pm.

I quickly dialed Uncle Sam to check on my mom. “What if the hospital had made good their threat? What if they had unplugged her and I was here passed out?!”

Many thoughts attacked me but as soon as Uncle Sam answered the phone, my mind was calm.

“Your mother is fine, Jess. Where are you? Have you eaten?”

I felt a wave of relief wash over, but the weight of the situation was obvious in his voice.

“Don’t worry about me, Uncle Sam. I’ll eat when my mom is alright.”

Suddenly, a sharp pain set in in my head and chest, but I held it in, I couldn’t let Uncle Sam know I was in pain.

“Just watch over her for me Uncle,” I said shakily, “Thank you so much, thank you for everything you’re doing.”

The pain in my chest persisted, followed by an outburst of a hard cough.

“I must have caught a cold from last night.”

As if the little guy sensed my distress, he rubbed its head against me.

“It’s fine, boy, you don’t have to feel bad for me.” Tears filled my eyes as I picked him up, “I’ll be fine once mom is fine.”

But how was I going to get this money for mom’s surgery?

In my despair, a slender figure with cold merciless eyes caught my attention.

I froze, shocked that he was that close. His presence startled me, and ceased my cough for a moment.

Suddenly, the gate creaked open, giving me access into the mansion.

Did this mean Gavin had finally decided to forgive me? Will he help me now?

He stood at the patio, looking composed and utterly unaffected by my distress.

Finally, I stood in front of him, staring back at him with pale face.

“One billion,” he said, his voice slicing through the silence.

“I’ll pay off your family’s debt and cover your mother’s surgery expenses.”

“One billion, three hundred thousand dollars. Marry me”

I was stunned. Unable to process his words immediately. I rubbed my aching forehead, trying to make sense of what he had just said.

Before I could say anything, Gavin had already left the room.

Just yesterday he wanted to marry me for revenge, today, he was offering me money in return.

Desperate for answers, I ran after him, only to collide with a maid.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I apologized profusely, looking over me in search of Gavin.

“You must be Jessie,” she said.

“Yes, I am…”

“My name is Sandra and I’ll be serving you for the next few days. The room next to the boss’s own has been cleaned up for you, and he’s ordered you to stay here a few days”

I furrowed my brows in confusion, and suddenly my cough returned.

“I’ve made you a light meal, with some medication for your cough, ma’am.”

Despite the shocking turn of events, Sandra’s kind demeanor filled me with ease and comfort that I felt relieved quickly.

“Please call me Jessie.”

Shortly after taking the medicine, my phone rang. It was Uncle Sam.

“You did it!” He screamed into the phone, “Your mother will be well again.”

“Uncle, what are you talking about?”

“Your mother’s surgery has been scheduled for tomorrow, Jessie. She will be operated by the best of the bests.”

“Uncle Sam…” I called, trying to understand what was going on.

“Thanks to the intervention of a foreign specialist, your mother’s surgery will be successfully done, Jessie. You saved her! You saved her!!”

Overwhelmed with relief, I realized Gavin had taken care of everything. He wasn’t heartless… he wasn’t cruel at all.

Just then, I heard the sound of car outside and guessed that Gavin had returned.

With Luca in my hand (the puppy Eskimo), I hurried out to meet him, only to be met with his cold gaze.

His dominant and proud demeanor made me lower my eyes in submission. The gratefulness in my heart tamed into nothing.

As he came closer, I felt my heart pounding heavily.

He stopped in front of me, and held out a document,

“Let’s get married today, and sign the contract?”