Chapter 2: The deal

  Hazel's pov:

 Beep. Beep. Beep

  I heard the beeping sound of the monitor and my nose was instantly filled with the smell of antiseptic. I forced my eyelids open and tried to adjust to the very bright light that shines directly on my face. Where am I?

  "Miss Carter, " I moved my head a little to see a young looking man in a long white coat staring directly at me "How are you?" He asked placing his index finger on one side of my neck.

I didn't respond.

 Although it was hard but I still managed to move my head to look around my surroundings. A hospital ward. I tried to recall how I got here and my eyes met with the other people in the room. My dad stood at the edge of the bed along with Ivy and her mum who had this indifferent look on their faces.

Although, I could picture worry and pity on my dad's face but there was also a look of disappointment and mild anger. What are they all doing here anyway?

 Are they here to mock and scold me again?

  "I_" I tried to say something but my throat felt dry. I also tried to move my hands and body but it was impossible. The only thing I could move right now was my head.

  "It will take you some minutes before you get to use your voice " He assured and I gave a light nod.

  "Miss Carter, " He started again "you have been in coma for a month now and due to how fatal the accident was and the situation you were in before the accident, we have some bad news" He announced, making my heart pound faster than usual. The doctor took his eyes to the monitor and noticed the change in the sounds. He gently placed his hands on my shoulders trying to calm me down I suppose and then continued

  "Calm down miss Carter, as I was saying, due the the fatality of the accident, your lower spine has been damaged and you'll not be able to make use of your legs temporarily,"

 Wait what?

 I tried moving my legs but i couldn't. I realized how much pain I felt in my lower back down to my feet and tears gathered in my eyes immediately. He's saying the truth.

  "But don't worry miss Carter, we have tried our best to come up with a solution. For you to be able to make use of your legs again, you'll have to undergo surgery to remove the damaged discs in your spine " He said with a very hopeful look and I gave a sigh of relief but his next sentence made me scream in my head.

  "The only problem is that if we don't perform the surgery right away, you might not be able to make use of your legs again"

  I will not be able to make use of my legs again?  That must be a joke.

  "No. Th_that.. is not possible!" I spoke for the first time as I tried to process what the doctor just said.

  I would loose my legs forever?

  The doctor looked at me with pity and placed his hand on my hands.

  "If there's any news, I'll let you know. But for now, the only thing you have to think about is your surgery" He stated and went straight to my dad, said some inaudible things that I didn't hear or pay attention to and then left the ward.

  Now I was left alone with these people. My dad came over to where I was and placed his hands in mine. He had this look of compassion and guilt written all over his face.

I wasn't ready to listen to whatever he had to say but I had no choice. I just wanted the assurance that everything has been sorted and everything will be fine.

  "Hazel," He called staring deep into my eyes . He could clearly see the fear, the sadnesses the hopelessness in my eyes.

  "I'm sorry..." He apologized.

  "There's no money for your surgery at the moment. The bakery is currently under a huge debt and even if we decide to sell off the bakery, the money will still not be enough for your surgery coupled with all the debt we have to pay_"

  "What are you.. saying?" I asked confused, my voice already breaking. I could burst into tears any moment from now and I was trying so hard not to do that In front of them. I don't want to look weak.

  "It's what I have wanted to tell you for a while now Hazel. I am sorry. I promise I would find a way, anyway to make sure I get the money and you get the surgery done" He assured but it looked like he wasn't so sure about it.

  Countless times, this man has disappointed me. He's doing it again. Why is he just telling me now, that the bakery is under a huge debts? He doesn't expect me to trust him now, does he? I might never be able to make use of my legs again if he doesn't get anything done on time. 

  I moved my gaze to my step mom. She should be able to help right? She's definitely not going to watch me loose my legs because I am her stepdaughter, and she doesn't like me.

  "what, don't look at me like that. I also don't have any money right now. And what makes you think I'd ever spend a dime on you if I have?" She scoffed and my dad glared at her telling her to stop.

 " Maybe if you weren't so stupid to have made a mess of yourself, maybe you wouldn't have been in this situation" she hissed and then dragged her daughter and together they left the room.

 " I want to be alone" I said the moment they left and my dad nodded and stood up.

  I wasn't going to breakdown In front of him. I looked away, to the other side of the room waiting for him to leave.

  "Hazel_" He called.

 Now, what does he want from me again? I still didn't look at him. I couldn't bring myself to. The shame, the disappointment, the hate and anger I felt wouldn't let me.

  "Hazel... I know how much of an irresponsible and bad dad I have been to you. All of this is not your fault. It has never been your fault. I'll try to ask whom I can for help. I'll take all the blame if anything happens to you, and I wouldn't let that happen. I love you too much Hazel " He said and finally went out.

 I gave a sigh of relief the moment he left and I burst into fresh tears.

The craziest thing was that I don't still remember what happened that night. I only have tiny memories that won't make up anything in my head.

  I would loose my legs if the surgery isn't done on time and my father cannot do anything about it because he's in debt. His wife is clearly not bothered about it at all. I have invested my whole income into an incoming project at ZIMA , and they still fired me and Asher is in charge of that. I certainly cannot ask him for help.

 But then, this was the only option. He wouldn't let me lose my legs because of a rumor that isn't even confirmed yet right? I managed to stretch my hands towards where my phone was, it had been three weeks and the whole news should have gone down by now. I switched it on and almost immediately, fresh news started to pop in. It was about my accident, Asher's engagement to Brianna and some revelations from Ivy Carter, my sister. I didn't even know the one to click on first but the 'Ivy Carter's revelation' piqued my interest and just as I was about to click on it, the door creaked open.

 I lifted my eyes up to see who it was and I immediately felt like I couldn't breathe for a second.

 It was someone I have never seen before. Very tall, with dark hair and eyes that had no light in them. The Black shirt and pants he wore looked crazy expensive. His physique made me swallow hard as I just kept staring at him, wondering how someone like this could exist in this country and I have never seen or heard of him, not even on the internet. I know I shouldn't be saying this in my state but this man is gorgeous, and, aside from the fact that he was handsome, he also had this look of arrogance as he glanced at his watch every second like he had no time to waste here.

 He walked in slowly and stood behind the door.

  "Who..who are you?" I asked awakening myself from the lustful thoughts I have of him already.

 He took a glance at the paper in his hands and then moved closer to me.

 "Hazel Carter..." He called, his voice sounding so deep. I listened attentively and waited for him to complete his sentence.

 "I am here to propose a deal. I'll pay all the expenses for your surgery, and give you an additional five hundred thousand dollars if you agree to get married to me and give me an heir."

  Wait what? What the hell?

  " What are you talking about?" I asked, unsure of what I had just heard.

  "I don't like to repeat myself. You can go through this when you're able to move your body and brain too. You can reach out to me through this if you finally consider it.." He said and dropped the paper he was holding along with a card on the table beside my bed and without even waiting for my response, he walked out.

  I scoffed as I watched him disappear, then I reached for the paper and card, and without bothering to take a look at it, I broke the card and squeezed the paper , then I tossed it on the floor. 

Where the hell did this rude and arrogant brat appear from?