1. Baby Emma is dying

Ruby's POV

"Code blue, code blue," a nurse shouted from my daughter’s ward. I stood up abruptly, my heart pounding against my chest as I immediately bolted into her ward. Several people surrounded Emma, a doctor’s fists was compressing her chest wall in desperate attempts at CPR. My breath hitched; it was hard to swallow. I immediately bolted towards her but a hand grabbed my shoulders, preventing me from going further.

“Miss Brown,” one of the doctors said, coming closer to me. “I think it’s best you let us do our jobs. We can’t have you_”

“You will not tell me what to do!” I spat out immediately, shoving my shoulders out of his grip as I lounged towards another doctor.

“What’s going to happen to my daughter?” I asked frantically, my eyes glancing towards the monitor for any signs of hope but there was nothing. Nothing at all.

“Ruby, you need to calm down, we are doing our best to save her.” Maria, my daughter’s favorite nurse said as she walked towards me, instantly pulling me into a close hug. I nodded my head, hoping to God that her words were true.

Unable to stand the sight of the AED machine on my little baby, I turned away and headed towards the door. My weak heart wringing in pain as teardrops flowed down my face to my neck. It had been a struggle to keep Emma alive for the past two years, however, it had never been this hard. Never had she had a crises this horrible.

“Come on, Emma. Come on, baby,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. The beeping of the heart monitor was erratic, each silence a dagger to my heart. Unable to stand not being with her I ran inside again and grabbed the nearest doctor by his collar, my voice shaking with fear. "Is she going to make it? Is she? Please, tell me!" I shouted, my eyes widening in desperation.

Finally, a steady rhythm returned. I let go of the doctors collar and stepped nearer to my baby, a small smile playing on my face as I patted her black hair. She made it! My baby is alive! However my relief was short-lived as I heard someone call my name in the saddest tone I’d ever heard.

I lifted my head up to see one of the older doctor approaching me, his expression grave and disturbing. “Ms. Brown….” He dragged on, afraid of how I would receive the words he was about to say.

“Yes,” I replied, the smile on my face immediately fading away.

“Emma needs surgery immediately. She also requires continuous mechanical ventilation. Both the surgery and continuous mechanical ventilation aren’t covered by insurance. I’m very concerned about her but your outstanding bills need to be settled, or we can't proceed with the surgery.”

“What!” My jaw dropped open, his words hitting me like a freight train. “But I’ve already been in and out of this hospital, and I can’t afford—” I stammered, my voice breaking.

He nodded sympathetically but remained firm. “We need payment to continue her care. This is a private organization and we can not afford to keep caring for her without any payment whatsoever. The heart surgery alone will cost $300,000, and that's not including the cost of mechanical ventilation, drugs and outstanding bills.”

“Can’t you go on with the surgery? I’ll pay later. I promise I’ll pay pay up.”

“I’m sorry Miss Brown. As Emma is a sickle cell patient we cannot afford to do a heart surgery on her without down payment as we would be inserting a pacemaker into her heart but unlike other people with other genotypes we have to be extra careful. We would have to do extra observations, provide a more conducive environment and provide everything needed in case any crises occurs during the surgery. All of these would need to be done alongside mechanical ventilation. I’m sorry miss Brown, I really wish I could help.” He concluded, giving me a sad smile before turning away and leaving the room.

Desperation clawed at me as I was left with my daughter. I sat by her bedside, taking her tiny hands in mine.

“I won’t let you go, I won’t let you go.” I said as I wiped away my tears. It was time to raise help for my daughter and there was only one person who could help me now, despite how much I loathed the idea. My uncle, Donnie. The man who stole my father’s business the moment he died.

In a rush, I dialed lily’s number and told her the news, she was already on her way here so I just needed to wait for her before going to see Donnie.

Taking a deep breath and ignoring the rage of anger boiling inside my veins I dialed my uncle’s number. Hopefully he would pick up.

“To what do I owe this pleasure this beautiful morning?” He asked and I knew he had a smug smile on his face.

“I need to see you. We need to talk.” I managed to say, shoving my anger down.

“Oh darling, you know my company if you’re willing to talk.” He said and hung up, making me more furious than I was before.

I rolled my eyes as I huffed in annoyance. Did he really say I should come to his “company?” Really? A company which belongs to my father. “God!” I shouted in frustration as I ran my hands through my hair.

“How is she now?” Lily asked as she approached me, instantly pulling me into a tight hug and provoking more tears from me.

“I need to go.” I said as I pulled away from the embrace.

“Where to? How’s she? What did the doctor say?” She asked streaks of questions and I could tell she was truly concerned about Emma.

“I’ll be back soon,” I said in a rush as I wiped the tears off my face, “the doctor said she needs heart surgery, I need about 1.5 million dollars for her surgery, mechanical ventilation and outstanding bills.”

“Oh!” Lily gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Yea, I knew she didn’t see that coming. In a rush, I stood up.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Alright then.”

I walked into my uncle Donnie's lavish office, the walls adorned with expensive art that my father once collected. I hated being here, hated him, but I had no other option. My daughter’s life depended on it.

Donnie looked up from his desk, a smug smile spreading across his face. “Ruby, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?” he said, leaning back in his chair with an air of condescension.

I swallowed my pride, trying to keep my anger buried and my voice steady. “I need money, Donnie. Two million dollars.”

He laughed condescendingly, a mocking sound that grated on my nerves. “Even if I had it, why would you think I’d give it to you?”

“Please, Donnie. Emma needs heart surgery. You know about her condition, it made her heart weak.” I closed my eyes, readying myself as I threw my self esteem to the ground, “please remember everything my dad did for you,” I pleaded, desperation evident in my tone.

His smile faded, replaced by a sneer and glaring red eyes. “Your father was a selfish man who never helped me when he was alive. Why should I help you now?”

My heart broke at his words. I turned around to leave, feeling defeated. But his next words stopped me in my tracks.

“I can’t give you two million dollars, but I know someone who can give you more,” he said casually.

I turned back to him, intrigued despite my anger. “Who?”

“Well, there’s a rich billionaire in town who happens to be looking for a wife.”

“And so?” I asked, growing tired of his games and antics. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Well, he’s not that okay…” Donnie said, waving his hands in a dismissive manner, “he has some bit of, actually never mind.”

I frowned, feeling my patience wear thin. “Just get to the point, Donnie.”

“He needs a contract wife because he has a condition and can’t marry as he wishes. Consider yourself lucky because this isn’t meant for a girl like you. Men like him don’t go for girls like you. Consider this a favor and an opportunity.” He said, his eyes gleaming with malice.

I clenched my fists, swallowing my pride once more. “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. Are you interested?” he asked, his tone making it clear he enjoyed seeing me in this position.

“Yes,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What did you say?” He smirked, “ I couldn’t hear you.”

Angrily I replied again, I knew he heard me the first time. “Yes, I’m interested.”

“It will be a contract marriage of convenience,” he explained. “You’ll get the money you need.”

“When can I sign the contract?” I asked, eager to get this over with.

He smirked, leaning forward. “I’m adding a clause before I can give the contract to you. The clause is simple actually, consider it a token of appreciation from you to me.”

“What’s it?” I asked, my tone laced with irritation.

“I will get 40% of the contract money.”

My blood boiled. “You’re despicable,” I spat and stormed out of his office. How could he demand a whopping 40% of the contract money? How wicked could he be?

As I reached the hospital, my nightmare continued to unfold. The mechanical ventilator was about to be unplugged. Lily was battling with a nurse who was reaching for the plug. I rushed to Emma's bedside, panic surging through me. “What are you doing?” I cried out, yanking the hand of the nurse.

“We have another patient who needs it and has paid for it,” she replied, her tone devoid of sympathy.

“How could you do that?” I snapped angrily, “She’s only two years old.”

“Ma’am, this is a private hospital, there’s limited resources here.” The nurse said.

“Please, don't remove it,” I pleaded, my voice taking a softer tone. “I’ll pay for it right now,” I begged, tears streaming down my face.

In desperation, I called Donnie, swallowing the last remnants of my pride. “I’ll agree to the contract. Just send the money now. I need it urgently.”

“Good choice,” he replied smugly, and within minutes, the funds were transferred.

I rushed to the payment center, heart pounding. As I cleared the hospital debt, the clerks snickered. “So she had the means all along,” one muttered. “Just needed a little push.”

My face burned with shame, but I ignored them, focusing solely on Emma. With her bills now paid I felt great relief. I needed to go sign the contract with Donnie so I left Emma in the care of my best friend Lily once again and made my way back to see Donnie, he had requested that we meet

at Dynamos hotel. I was sure he was up to his usual tactics with naive young women who were foolish enough to fall for his traps.

Soon I entered his room and it looked like he was waiting for me, a contract laid out on his bed. “Sign here,” he said, barely concealing his glee. “This states that I will get 40% of whatever payment you receive from your so-called billionaire lover.”

My hands trembled with anger, but I had no other choice. Emma’s life depended on this. I signed the contract, feeling a piece of my soul shatter with each stroke of the pen.

“Here’s the real contract, you can take it and show up with it signed at the meeting with him tomorrow. We would be meeting at this same hotel by 6pm. Don’t forget.”

He said and I nodded.

Angrily, I left his presence, my body shaking with rage and humiliation. I found solace in the staircase room, drowning my sorrows in a bottle of cheap whiskey. The alcohol burned my belly, matching the fire in my gut. Struggling to stand, I made my way to the elevator.

Just as the doors began to close, a man rushed in, grabbing my blouse. “Natalie?” he demanded, his eyes wide with confusion and desperation.

“No,” I slurred, trying to push him away. “My name is Ruby.”

“Natalie,” he continued, moving closer to me as he smiled. “I found you.”