Chapter 3

BIANCA LEWIS

"Are you sure about this, Bianca?" Aunt Lucinda asked worriedly, her voice trembling as she gripped my hand tightly.

We were in a room prepared for us by Jack Brown, a notorious loan shark. Tonight, he intended to take my virginity in exchange for a large sum of money—money that I desperately needed to cover my sister Belle's heart surgery.

This was the only way I could think of to save her life. Jack also promised to provide for all of my needs and make me his queen, but only if I agreed to be his woman.

Belle’s surgery had been canceled after the Moore Innovation Empire reclaimed the funds my mother had stolen. With time running out, turning to charity or the government for help was no longer an option. Besides, who would help us when our family’s name was now labeled as thieves?

"This is the only way, Aunt Lucinda," I said with a hollow voice. My chest tightened from pain, but I couldn't cry. I was afraid that Jack would be pissed if I ruined my makeup

Without my thick glasses and messy bun, I could not believe what I saw in the mirror. I looked so undeniably beautiful.

People who saw me without my usual look often said I had the face of a goddess. Jack Brown had been obsessed with me for a long time, and now that I was desperate, he saw his chance to take advantage.

Aside from being a loan shark, Jack was illegally collecting money from the street vendors. He had noticed me when I worked in my spare time at Aunt Lucinda's small fruit business. It was my way of earning money to avoid burdening my mother.

"If only there was something I could do to help you," Aunt Lucinda muttered, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes.

Aunt Lucinda was my mother’s sister. She lived alone after separating from her husband and had no children of her own. Her small business was her only source of income, therefore she couldn't help me with my situation.

“I’ll be fine, Aunt Lucinda,” I assured her, forcing strength into my voice. “This will solve all our problems. Jack will pay for Belle’s surgery and even help me pay the bail for Mom.”

“But Amanda will be furious if she finds out!”

“Please, Aunt Lucinda, promise me she won’t find out!”

“But—”

“Promise me!”

Reluctantly, she nodded. “Okay, Bianca.”

A knock on the door made us both tense. We knew it was Jack Brown. Aunt Lucinda stood and left the room, and Jack entered soon after.

Jack Brown smirked with delight when he saw me in only a lace negligee. He looked at my body like a hungry predator, ready to devour me. It made me feel dirty—so dirty. But what else could I do if this was the only way to save Belle's life.

“Are you ready?” he asked as he sat beside me.

“Please d-don't,” I shivered when he leaned in and sniffed my shoulder.

“Dance for me, my lady,” he ordered.

"I... I can’t," I stammered, trembling.

"Dance! I want you to dance for me!"

Fighting back tears, I stood and started to sway my hips awkwardly in front of him.

He frowned, clearly disappointed. "Is that all you’ve got?"

"I do not know how to dance," I admitted, barely above a whisper.

"Do better," he snarled. "If you don’t, you won’t get this!" He opened an attache case filled with stacks of cash, flaunting it in front of me.

Closing my eyes, I moved more sensually, forcing myself to be seductive. Silent tears streamed down my face as I complied, feeling like I was losing every piece of my dignity.

"D*mn!" Jack cursed suddenly as the door burst open.

A group of masked men stormed in, catching us both off guard. One of them struck Jack with the butt of a gun, knocking him to the floor. Blood poured from his mouth. He tried to fight back but another man pointed a gun at him, preventing him from retaliating.

My eyes widened in shock. I couldn't move as I watched Jack being beaten violently. However, the sound of gunfire jolted me back to my senses. They shot him when he fought back.

Despite my panic, I still managed to grab the attaché case before bolting out from the room.

Chaos erupted as gunshots echoed through the motel—Jack’s own establishment. Guests exited from every room. They dashed in all directions, some barely dressed, others wrapped in bedsheets. Clutching the case tightly, I pushed my way through the panicked crowd.

"Bianca!"

I heard Aunt Lucinda’s voice as I reached the entrance but couldn’t see her through the sea of people. Suddenly, someone grabbed me.

"Aunt Lucinda!" I cried, breaking into sobs as she pulled me into her arms.

"Let’s get out of here!" she said.

She removed her jacket and wrapped it around me before guiding me outside.

When we were far enough away to feel safe, we collapsed into each other’s arms. Both of us were crying.

"Thank God you’re safe, Bianca!" Aunt Lucinda sobbed.

"I got the money!" I cried, still clutching the case while shaking. "Belle’s surgery can finally happen!"

I was certain the armed men were part of a rival syndicate targeting Jack. I was lucky they hadn’t harmed me. Or maybe they intended to kill me too, but Jack’s resistance gave me a chance to escape.

Whatever the reason, I was free—and I had the money to save my sister.

***

BIANCA LEWIS

We went home briefly to change my clothes before heading straight to the hospital— I didn’t want to waste time. I wanted my sister’s heart surgery to be scheduled as soon as possible.

Until now, I could still feel the tension in my body from the crime I witnessed. But I tried my best to get over it.

The bus we took passed Jack Brown's motel. There were bodies being carried out, all covered in sheets. I couldn’t tell if he was among them or if he had managed to survive.

My mother, Laura, would surely be overjoyed to learn that Belle's surgery was finally going to happen.

It had only been two weeks since she was imprisoned, but she was already visibly thinner. Despite the obvious sadness in her eyes, she always smiled for me every time I visited her.

Once, I noticed a bruise on her arm. She said she had it when she slipped in the restroom. I didn’t believe her. I suspected she had been beaten by her fellow inmates. She just lied to avoid making me worry.

Jack Brown was supposed to be the solution to bail her out. But what if he was among the dead? And even if he survived, there would surely be consequences for taking his money.

When the bus stopped, I realized we were already in front of the hospital. I was clutching the attaché case tightly as Aunt Lucinda and I got off.

"Finally, our problem with Belle will be resolved. Now we just have to worry about Laura," Aunt Lucinda said as we entered the hospital.

“I’ll talk to Cora,” I replied, referring to the manager of a nightclub. "I will ask her to sell me to the wealthy men she knows so that we can save Mom."

“Bianca…” Aunt Lucinda stopped walking, stunned by what I said. “Is that really the only solution you can think of?”

“Do I have another choice?” I asked bitterly.

“God will provide, Bianca. I believe everything will work out.”

“I’m done waiting for miracles. I’ll make my own way!”

“Bianca,” she called out, but I quickened my pace, leaving her behind.

She caught up to me near the pediatric ward. I frowned when we passed a frantic nurse rushing out as if there was an emergency.

A strange fear settled in my chest because Belle’s room was in that ward. My tears began to fall even before I knew what was happening.

Even though I was trembling, I forced myself to move forward. I dropped the attaché case the moment I stepped into the pediatric ward and saw the doctors trying to resuscitate someone.

It was... Belle.

Doctors surrounded her bed, blocking most of my view, but I could see her hand dangling lifelessly—its color turning purple. As I watched, I felt as if the world around me had crumbled. Voices around me became muffled and incomprehensible.

“Belle!” Aunt Lucinda cried, running toward the bed. I, however, remained frozen where I stood.

My heart felt like it stopped beating when I saw the doctor step back from Belle’s bed, wiping sweat from his forehead. He shook his head gravely.

“Belle...my little sister,” I whispered, taking hesitant steps toward her.

When I finally stood before her, my legs nearly gave out. Her skin had lost its color, her chest and abdomen no longer moving. The cardiac monitor showed a flat line. It was over—my sister was gone.

“We did everything we could to revive her. But unfortunately, she didn't make it,” the doctor said sadly, shaking his head.

“No… this can’t be,” I whispered, undenial.

Desperately, I leaned over Belle's chest, hoping to hear a heartbeat. There was nothing—just silence. But I refused to give up. I began performing CPR, pumping her chest, praying for a miracle.

“Belle, you can’t die! You promised me you’d draw me again, remember? Wake up, Belle!” I screamed with my tears falling uncontrollably.

“Stop it, Bianca. We have to accept that Belle is gone,” Aunt Lucinda said through her own tears, pulling me back gently.

“She can’t die, Aunt! I have the money now! We can save her! Belle needs to live!"

The doctors and nurses were in tears, silently watching me. None of them tried to stop me. I kept pumping Belle’s chest, but the cardiac monitor remained a straight line. Eventually, I lost all strength and collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.

I couldn’t believe it. My little sister was gone. Just a few days ago, I saw her smile and laugh. She even sang while I played the guitar. And now… this? Why now, when I finally had the money for her surgery? Why did she have to die?

The ward was silent except for the sound of my painful sobs. Everyone around me felt the weight of our loss, and their faces were filled with sympathy and sorrow.

Belle had spent most of her life in and out of the hospital. The doctors and nurses knew us already—they had witnessed our struggles and sacrifices.

F*ck this government! Why don't government hospitals have adequate medical equipment?

F*ck the Moore family! If they weren’t so heartless, Belle could’ve had her surgery sooner.

F*ck this life!