Chapter 1 : The Disappointment

Samantha's POV

I spun around. I blinked and attempted to clear my vision, but my world teetered. Sterilized odors filled my nostrils, and the metallic taste flooded my mouth.

My legs went weak beneath me when I tried to stand, but the nurse swooped in and steadied my arm.

"Hey, are you okay?" she said, worry creeping over her face.

I forced a weak smile. "Yeah."

The nurse raised an eyebrow, staring at me. Then her eyes widened as if something had clicked.

"Wait a second… I know you. This is the fourth time you've come in here this month."

I turned away, flushing. "I have to pay for my fiancé, Tad, to attend law school. I don't make enough on my other three jobs, so…"

The nurse shook her head and sighed. "This is the last time, Samantha. You're gonna kill yourself."

She handed me the money, and I quickly opened the small plastic container in my bag, filling it up with the cash. Looking at the slowly rising pile of bills provided me with a spark of hope. Tad was counting on me.

"Gosh, you do love him, don't you?" the nurse whispered. "Your fiancé is one lucky man."

I smiled lamely, snapping my bag shut. "Yeah… he is."

I moved to go, but the nurse raised a hand. "Just a minute! You've donated a lot of blood. You need to rest…..”

The nurse patted the chair beside her. “Sit for a bit, Samantha. You’re too weak to be walking around like this.”

I sighed but did as she said, feeling my body relax for the first time all day. My head was still spinning slightly, but I ignored it. I had to keep pushing forward.

The hospital TV flickered on, drawing my attention. The news anchor, a well-dressed woman with a serious expression, spoke

in an urgent tone. Breaking News! Mr calladan vandalay,  The richest man in the country is looking for a wife.

The TV continued to play in the background while I sat, trying to catch my breath.

"Now, just few of us know the true identity of this mysterious Mr. Vandalay, but soon we will." 

Before I could even process the words, the curtain to my small hospital room was drawn back.

There was a man standing there.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark piercing eyes that looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and irritation. 

He was wearing a construction jacket, sleeves rolled up, revealing strong, muscular arms.

I breathed to say something, but before I could, dizziness hit me full-force. My sight failed, and my legs under me.

Everything went awry, but before I hit the floor, strong arms caught me.

He stood me upright, his hands firm but not ungentle. His cologne enveloped me, a rich and unfamiliar smell after the antiseptic of the hospital.

I blinked up at him, confused. His jaw was sharp, his face unreadable. And as fast as he'd caught me, he tried to let go.

But then he saw it.

He glared as he looked at the sticker. "You're anemic." His voice was low and commanding. And then his eyes snapped back into mine. "You can't be selling your blood."  Are you crazy?

I bristled. I didn't even know who he was, but I really did not have time for one more judge from someone.

" I Need the money," I said, stepping back. "To pay for my fiancé's law school."

His expression hardened, his jaw clenching as if he were going to say something and then didn't.

" haven't you ever done something for love?" I challenged, tilting my chin.

he was actually looking at me,he didn't say a word until I turned around and left.

Making it to the hallway, a familiar voice brought me to a standstill.

A woman's voice.

"Tad, you're so sweet. You didn't have to do this for me."

My gut twisted.

Tad?

I turned back, my heart pounding. The voice was coming from one of the hospital rooms down the hall.

I sprinted ahead, heart racing. Blindly, I shoved open the door.

And I stopped cold.

My breathing caught in my throat.

There was Tad in the room. Sitting by a hospital bed.

And a woman in the bed.

Gorgeous. Long dark hair, pale skin, in a hospital gown. Tad had hold of her hand, his stroking over the top of her fingers.

As he used to with me.

Tad's head jerked up at the thud of the door into the wall. His eyes widened when he saw me. As the woman raised her face our eyes met. That was when I recognized her, my cousin, Alexis. 

I could barely catch my breath.

The lights in the hospital were too bright, the air too thick. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the two people who'd just blown my world to shreds.

Tad. My fiancé.

Alexis. My cousin.

Together.

Laughing.

As if this was all some kind of sick joke.

I swallowed, my voice shaking with fury. "You're. hooking up with my cousin?"

Tad leaned back in the hospital chair, smiling. Alexis, leaning next to him, let out a dramatic sigh.

"Oops," she said, wrapping her fingers through her hair. "Guess the secret's out."

My gut churned. My own blood had betrayed me.

Tad shrugged. "Hey, Sam, come on, don't be so dramatic. It's not like we had it figured you'd figure it out this way."

Alexis snorted. "But come on, I knew you'd be back here again. Dracula's little mistress, selling herself out like some loser."

The words hurt.

I had sacrificed everything for Tad. I Gave up everything. Worked myself to death. Starved. Bled.

For him.

And now he was sitting there, with her, like I was a fool?

My voice broke. "You're sleeping with my cousin… while I've been working my butt off to send you through law school?"

Tad's smile grew. But then, however,

He shrugged.

My gut dropped before he even spoke.

"I dropped out ages ago."

The world turned around.

"Wha…?" I panted.

Tad stretched out, completely nonchalant. "Yeah. Law school was boring. Not my thing, really."

I couldn't believe it. All the nights. All the money. All the pain.

Gone.

Like that.

"Then where is all the money I've been giving you?" My voice was shaking now, barely held back.

Alexis grinned, and before I could even get a word out, she held up her hand, brandishing an expensive, diamond-encrusted ring in my face.

"On my finger, bitch."

My head snapped up.

No.

No.

No.

The money that I had been killing myself for…..

Was on her damn finger.

Tad used it and bought a diamond ring for Alexis. This is crazy. 

All that money, why did you do this to me, Tad. I risk my life to get that money, all my struggles,Tad. 

My blood stopped in my veins.

Tad stood up, pushing me aside like I wasn't a human being. "Look, Sam, don't take it personally. You were just… convenient."

Convenient.

That word shattered something inside of me.

Tears stung at my eyes, 

Alexis laughed, running her fingers through Tad's hair. "Besides, we figured you'd catch on eventually. But man, you're really stupid."

Alexis laughed, flipping her perfectly coiffed hair over her shoulder.

"Don't worry, you won't be getting a wedding invite. I mean, wouldn't want some uggo loser ruining the pics."

I heard my breath catch. Wedding?

I turned to Tad, my fiancé, or at least, the guy I thought was my fiancé.

"Tad… what is she talking about?" My voice trembled. "We were going to get married."

Tad snorted, crossing his arms. "You really thought that was going to work?" He laughed, a harsh sound, and shook his head. "Get real, Sam. You're pathetic."

I stepped back, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn't real. This was a nightmare.

Alexis smiled, placing a hand on her flat stomach. "Besides, we wouldn't want the twins to be born out of wedlock."

Twins.

I stumbled backward until my back hit the chilly hospital wall.