Lucy's POV
My palms were sweaty for no reason as I stared blankly at the paper before me.
There was black ink, with thick letters, all representing big trouble.
"Sign right here," Nurse Kara pointed out, pushing the clipboard in my direction, and one could easily conclude that she was handing me a death certificate, only waiting for my approval to strike.
"This, from the way it looks, isn't just a one-time baby mama deal, nurse Kara," I whispered only to her hearing, as I curiously eyed the golden seal attached to the bottom. "This, from all angles, represents my body. My fertile womb. My very soul."
"And what happens to your brother's life?" She didn't hesitate to whisper back, not missing even a dot.
Yes, I was touched, greatly moved.
I glanced tiredly through the boring letters of the terms again, not that I fully comprehended them. There were many clauses, including ones that had no connection in any way. Legal nonsense that sounded harmless, but would put one in danger if not handled with care. But the one that got my attention stated: "No termination would be granted under any circumstances."
So, this has turned me officially into a luxury womb.
I leaned back speechlessly against the cold, merciless hospital wall, tightly pressing the clipboard with both hands against my chest, my heart threatening to escape its abode.
"Is Ryker the real donor?" I asked, just for clarity's sake.
Kara hesitated, already tired of my many questions."Yes, and also the father."
Figures, that's the same.
Of course, it's no other than the ruthless Ryker. The broody Alpha with eyes like raging storms and a face carved only for sin. The one who did not mind his business but saved me.
The same man I have been running away from, refusing to abide by his rules because he made me feel things I never intended.
"You do have it in mind, I don't even as much as like him, right?" I muttered.
"Hmm," Kara hummed in frustration. "Which explains why your hands are shaking greatly and your pupils dilated funnily?"
I glared at her for not reasoning with me. She smiled mischievously.
"I don't even trust him."
"No one does that; trust is overrated. But the only thing you should know about this arrangement is that he pays well."
The low blow was hitting me directly.
I glanced again at the line—just one signature, done in one second. One second of scribbling my name and everything about me takes a different direction. Maybe forever, I guess.
"You don't owe him love, you are not obligated to do so, Lucy," Kara added gently, trying to comfort me. "You just have to pretend, tolerate and survive him."
And even that? I wasn't capable of making it possible.
But what would I possibly do at this dying moment? I was obviously out of options. My brother was just a few minutes away from dying. My landlord had succeeded in tossing my things out. My life was at a fast rate, circling a drain, giving me no room to scream for help.
So I did sign as expected.
Not just because I had no options and desperately needed to save my brother, but because for reasons I couldn't explain, Ryker already owned bigger pieces of me, and worst of all, I can't remember giving them to him.
Lucy Castellano.
It felt foreign, so unreal to see my name in such ink. I couldn't even explain the person I was fast becoming anymore.
When I finished, the door magically swung open, pen in hand, on the same clipboard. Speak of the ruthless devil.
Ryker stormed in like he owned the place, like the way sin would capture a body when with an agenda. He was dripping hot, with a black shirt and well-tailored pants with details, no tie to knot out his excesses, just clean, patterned lines and annoying alpha arrogance. His eyes landed on the contract, and then he remembered me.
"You signed?" he asked, like it was meant to be a challenge.
"You think you can break me, that I won't survive you?" I fired back, trying my best to maintain eye contact with him.
He smirked, the type that comes out very slowly in a sexy way, yet is dangerous. "Oh, my little sweetheart. I'm counting on your words then."
Kara cleared her throat to notify us of her presence. It was like a concerned adult catching two crazy teens about to commit a crime. "I'll, uhm, take my leave now, and give you two space to... finalize the arrangements."
She quietly slipped out, but not without an annoying grin.
The moment she was out of sight, Ryker took a few dangerous steps toward me, though not rushed, but also not slow. Everything was just controlled, well calculated.
He stopped to give me space, just inches away.
"I don't appreciate when people doubt me," he said.
"You are not alone; neither am I," I replied.
His lips slightly twitched. "You're a bag of trouble."
"You're more than poison," I said without smiling.
"Then, that made a pair, perfect for each other," he replied, grinning.
I rolled my eyes dramatically, but my breath unexpectedly hitched, embarrassing me when he reached out and brushed his fingers on the clipboard I just signed.
"You understand what just transpired here today, right?" he asked in a husky voice.
"That I'm lending you my womb just for nine months, and you'll, in turn, ensure you keep my brother breathing and healthy," I responded.
His eyes turned dark immediately. "And what would happen when that's finally over?"
"I would take a walk. You would disappear in thin air. We pretend we never crossed paths."
Ryker's jaw furiously clenched, as if I had said something wrong. My answer wasn't what he expected.
"Fine then," he yelled. "Then let's waste no time in making this official."
He reached out, pulled a black envelope containing some documents, and handed it to me. I opened it, curiosity taking a greater part of me.
I saw tickets, giving directions to his private villa, and a gold card, which I found had my full name strangely engraved on it.
"What is this for? When did all these happen?"
"There's no way I would be allowing you to carry my child in a rusting apartment with disgusting mold all over the ceiling. You are, by no choice, moving in with me. And it's tonight."
Excuse me, Mr arrogant?
I folded my arms, unable to believe he wants to cage me. "You think because I signed those damn papers would give you the right to control me, even to the point of where I sleep now?"
"No, not that," he said coolly. "Carrying my child does in your dry womb."
I opened my mouth to curse him, but nothing matched his energy.
"You should understand that I'm not the enemy here, Lucy. I'm simply the devil you couldn't stay having a deal with."
"Ensure you are ready by 8," he said with a knowing smirk. "And Lucy?"
"What again do you want? My head now?"
"Don't make me come here to get you myself."
I stood there frozen, my heart doing wonders with its escape tactics.
I had just walked into the devil's den and made a deal with him. And right now, it seems he isn't done collecting whatever he needs from me.