CH. 3 INSULTED

NORA’S POV

"What the hell are you doing at my door, looking like a goddamn queen?" I blurted out, unable to control my words.

Alicia's elegant eyebrow arched, her piercing gaze fixed on me. "So, you are Nora Clark, huh?" she said, though it sounded more like a question.

"Yeah, I'm Nora. What can I do for you, Your Highness?" I asked.

She smirked and gestured towards my open door. "Well, why don't you invite me in? I would like to have a word with you," she said.

I narrowed my eyes at her, wondering what the hell she wanted from an omega like me. "Oh, forgive my manners. Please come in, Your Highness," I said and quickly stepped aside. She strolled into the dimly lit living room with her two bodyguards. I rushed to open the windows and allowed the morning light to brighten the apartment.

She took in my surroundings, a little bit of disappointment on her face as she settled onto the worn-out couch in the center of the room. I walked over to her and instead of sitting on the one-seater couch in front of me, I remained standing.

Alicia leaned back on the couch and crossed her legs. "I know all too well the shit you are going through," she said, maintaining eye contact with me.

My eyes widened in shock, and I tried to suppress the anger that seemed to swell up within me. "How the heck do you know about that?" I demanded, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

She reached for her purse and pulled out a thick stack of papers, handing them to me. "Let's just say the world has its ways of exposing our darkest secrets," she said in a serious tone.

My hand trembled as I flipped through the pages and saw my mother's name and medical reports. I confirmed her knowledge of my situation. My anger shifted to confusion as she leaned forward, her eyes boring into mine. "I can help you, I have the means to get the money your mother needs for her life-saving surgery," she explained, her voice firm.

"And what the heck do you want in return? Are you trying to play on my weakness?" I snapped, my voice sharp.

Alicia held up a hand, silencing my flood of questions. "No, you have got it all wrong. I want to make a proposal, not take advantage of you," she replied.

I chuckled bitterly. "A proposal? How many other desperate women have you approached before with this bullshit proposal?" I challenged, my eyes burning with fury.

"I understand your anger, but you need to think about the life of your mother. What I want in return is just for you to be a surrogate for one year, and after that, I promise your life would go back to normal, and you will benefit from—" I cut in.

"Get the fuck out. I won't sell my body, no matter who the heck you are," I declared, unable to sell my self-respect.

She sat up from the couch and fished out a card from her purse before dropping it on the glass table in front of her.

"Take some time to think about it. When you are ready to hear the details, reach out to me. The offer is still on the table if I haven't found someone yet," she said in a soft tone and started walking out of the living room, her bodyguards following her. My head followed them as they exited the house, leaving me alone in silence. I stood there, feeling like crap because of the rush of emotions I was feeling. Glancing at the business card on my table, I walked around the couch and grabbed it.

I sauntered to the wastebasket close to my door and pressed it open with my foot before tossing the card inside.

"Stupid bitch, coming here to tell me all sorts of nonsense," I cursed under my breath.

***

The next morning, the hospital was still all up in my ass. I stood outside my house, watching as a man inspected my old sedan car. He had the audacity to offer me a mere two thousand dollars for it. I felt insulted, so I told him to go fuck himself. I wasn't selling my car for such a low price.

"How much do you want for it then?" he asked, probably thinking I would settle for a lowball price.

"At least twenty thousand," I replied with my head held high.

The guy burst into laughter, his obnoxious cackle echoing in my ears. "You're funny, lady. Good luck with selling your junk," he mocked before sauntering away.

I was seething in anger as I climbed into my car. Not only was this asshole lowballing me, but Gina still hadn't shown up since I told her about our mother's condition. I gripped the steering wheel, my frustration growing. That bitch better have a good fucking reason for leaving me hanging.

I sped down the empty road, the tires screeching in protest. It led me straight to the apartment of my ex-boyfriend, the jerk who chose my sister over me. The pain still hurt deep like a bitch. I hit the brakes suddenly as my heart pounded in my chest. There, on the roadside, was Gina. She was fighting off some thugs, struggling as they forcefully put a bean bag over her head and tried to shove her into a van.

Fear gripped me as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And her senseless lover was nowhere to be found. Without thinking, I jerked the car to a stop and jumped out. My heart pounded in my chest as I ran towards the thugs with my fists clenched.

"Get your fucking hands off my sister!" I shouted loudly.

The thugs sneered at me, their faces contorted with malicious satisfaction. "Mind your own damn business, bitch!" one of them spat, tightening his grip on Gina's arm. I didn't have a second thought as I launched myself at them, my claws springing out from my fingertips, ready to rip and tear. I wanted nothing more than to make them pay for what they were doing to Gina.

They pushed me away with force, sending me crashing to the ground. Pain shot through my body, but I refused to let it stop me. I pushed myself up from the concrete floor with my claws bared once more.

But before I could reach them again, the sound of a gun being cocked stopped me in my tracks. Another thug came forward with a devilish grin on his face as he pointed the weapon straight at me.

Fear gripped me, but I refused to show it. I raised my trembling hands in surrender. "You're not taking her! I won't let you!" I declared, trying to hide the fear in my voice. I took a deep breath and jumped at the thug with the gun, trying to take it away. We collided violently and began fighting over the gun, with his hand gripping my hair as if he wanted to pull it out of my scalp. I could hear Gina's muffled screams through the bag.

"Get lost!" The thug grunted, struggling against me. But I wasn't backing down. My fingers closed around the gun, and my body strained against his. Time seemed to stand still as we fought for control, the loaded weapon wavering dangerously between life and death.

Then, a deafening gunshot pierced the air, silencing Gina's horrified screams. I felt a rush of adrenaline as the thug released his grip on the gun, fear etched across his face. In an instant, the thugs all ran into the van and drove away at great speed.

I froze in place as I realized that I had accidentally pressed the trigger, and the bullet had gone right through Gina's back. I stumbled towards Gina's crumpled form on the floor, my hands shaking as I tossed the gun to the floor and removed the bean bag that covered her face.