A Cruel Awakening

Skylar

My stomach churned. I groaned, burying my face in my hands for a second before sitting up abruptly.

My clothes were sprawled across the floor, a silent reminder of the mistake I’d just made. A one-night stand with a stranger. The thought made my skin crawl. I glanced at the bed. He was still fast asleep, his face half-buried in the pillow.

Without a sound, I slipped out of bed and gathered my clothes as quickly as I could. My heart pounded in my chest as I dressed. Grabbing my bag, I left the room, closing the door softly behind me. The cool morning air hit me like a slap as I stepped outside, but I couldn’t stop to feel it. I needed to get to the hospital.

The taxi ride felt like an eternity. My phone buzzed with a message from Mum, reminding me of the hospital room number. My stomach twisted in knots. Dad. The thought of him lying there, helpless, terrified me. He was my hero, my constant. If something happened to him... I shook my head. I couldn’t think like that.

When I finally reached the hospital, I ran inside, barely breathing. The elevator ride up felt slow, the weight of my worry pressing down on me. My dad had always called me his little princess. Memories of him filled my mind—how he used to pick me up from school every day, our family trips to the park, and the way he’d always make me laugh, no matter what.

As I stepped out of the elevator and found his room, the sight of him broke me. Tubes and wires covered his body, the rhythmic beep of the machines the only sound in the room. Tears spilled over as I approached, clutching his hand.

"Dad..." I whispered, my voice trembling.

I couldn’t stop the memories flooding in—the warmth of his hugs, the sparkle in his eyes when he called me his princess. Now, he looked so frail.

“Skylar, you’re here,” Mum’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to look at her. She looked exhausted, her eyes red and swollen, her face pale and drawn. It was like the years had caught up with her all at once.

“Mum…” My voice broke.

Her expression suddenly turned serious as she wiped her tears and stepped closer to me. Before I could ask any questions, she grabbed my hands and looked at me straight in the face.

“Skylar, listen, we can’t afford his treatment. You’re the only one who can save him,” She declared resolutely.

My chest tightened. “What? How? What’s wrong with Dad?”

“He was involved in a fatal car accident,” she explained. “You know business hasn't been too great for a couple of months now. The doctors said they need this sum of money because some of his internal organs were damaged.”

Mom handed me a note and when I saw the amount written there….. I gasped in shock. This was no small sum!

Mom continued, “Skylar, as I said earlier, you are the only one that can help your father now; it's the only way. I've thought long and hard about it; Even if we sell our businesses, it won't be enough to cover the medical bills.”

My mind raced. “But I don’t have that kind of money, Mum. I barely make enough to cover my own expenses. How am I supposed to—”

Her gaze instantly hardened as she pulled me to sit down with her. She took a deep breath, muttered something under her breath before she finally turned to me.

“There’s something you need to know,” she said, one of her eyes twitching. I suddenly felt anxiety crept toward me. Whenever Mum's left eye twitched, it meant there was something serious she was about to say, and I wondered what it could be.

And I was right; she dropped the bombshell when she said, “You were betrothed to Cole Buckman of the Buckman Corporation when you were a child. Your grandfather saved their family during the war, and as repayment, they promised you would marry Cole. It’s time to fulfill that promise, Skylar. Marrying Cole is the only way to save your father.”

I froze. The words felt like a slap to the face. Betrothed? Promise? Marry? Cole Buckman?

My mind was desperately trying to understand these words at a go. How the hell did we get to this point? How the hell was I supposed to believe that I was arranged to marry a man I barely knew or met? Come on! This wasn't a fairytale story!

I stood up abruptly, refusing to accept the reality in front of me. “What? No. Mum, that’s insane. I can’t marry a stranger—especially not Cole Buckman. Do you even know the things people say about him? He’s cold, ruthless. I’ve heard enough to know he’s a monster. I won’t do it.”

Her eyes immediately flashed with anger as she gave me a determined look. “Don't be selfish, Skylar. You will marry him; You don’t have a choice. This is bigger than you. This is about saving your father and honoring the debt we owe.”

I instantly shook my head, backing away. I don't have a choice? Of course I do! And I chose to reject this insane idea of an arranged marriage!

“No. I can’t, Mum. Find another way. I won’t ruin my life over some arrangement I didn’t agree to,” I declared loudly.

Her voice turned cold. “Don’t be ungrateful, Skylar. After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us? How many people will accept to do everything we did for you? How many couples would make that sacrifice?”

“Ungrateful? Sacrifice?” I repeated, stunned. “What are you talking about, Mum?”

She hesitated for a moment, as if having some inner conflicts within. She closed her eyes, let out a deep sigh before opening them; her gaze and expression suddenly firm.

“You’re not our biological daughter, Skylar. We found you on the streets when you were a baby. You were freezing to death, and we took you in. We gave you everything—a family, a home, a life. I'm sorry you had to find out this way.”

The world seemed to tilt beneath me. “What?! No,” I whispered. “No, that can’t be true.”

Her silence said it all. My legs felt like jelly as I stumbled back. “So all these years, I’ve been living a lie?”

Her face softened for just a second, but she didn’t deny it. How could she reveal something big like this? How could they do this to me?!

Tears streamed down my face, unable to control my emotions. “I can’t do this,” I muttered, shaking my head as I turned and ran out of the room. I couldn’t stay there. The truth was too much to bear.

I wandered the streets for what felt like hours, my mind racing. My entire life had been a lie. And now they wanted me to give up my future for a family that wasn’t even mine? It was too much. I thought about Ethan—maybe he could help. He owed me that much after what he’d done.

I went straight to his apartment, hoping for some shred of kindness. When he opened the door, I didn’t even try to hide my desperation.

“Ethan, please,” I begged. “I’ll forgive you. Let’s start over. My dad—he’s sick, and I need money to save him. Please help me.”

Ethan smirked, leaning against the doorframe. “Skylar, it’s over. I stopped loving you a long time ago. You were boring, clingy, and honestly? I’ve moved on.”

I felt my heart crack all over again. “Please, Ethan. I have no one else to turn to.”

He laughed, pulling a dollar bill from his pocket and tossing it at me like I was nothing. “Here. That’s all you’re worth. Now get out of here.”

Before I could respond, a girl stepped out from behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Who’s this?” she asked, glancing at me like I was trash.

Ethan chuckled. “No one important.”

The humiliation burned through me as I turned and walked away, tears blurring my vision. My chest ached, and my heart felt like it was in pieces. For the first time in my life, I had no idea what to do or where to go.