Grey and I got there in less than an hour. I rushed straight to her room, stopping at the doorway before stepping inside. Slowly, I sat on the bed. My whole world felt like it was collapsing right in front of me.
Nana placed her hands on my cheek, held my hand, and whispered that she'd be fine. Tears spilled down my face—I knew it wasn't true this time. Nurse Riley laid her hand gently on my shoulder and said Nana was stable.
For the first time, Nana asked to see Grey's parents. She said it would reassure her that she hadn't failed as a parent. I told Grey, and he quickly stepped out to call them. They agreed to come.
Two hours later, Mr. George Williams and his wife, Mrs. Samantha Williams, arrived at Nana's house. They walked in to greet her, but the moment Mr. George and Nana's eyes met, everything froze. Then, without a word, Mr. George stormed out, muttering, "No… no… no." His face was etched with regret.
Nana broke down, crying bitterly. Grey and his mother went after him, while I stayed beside Nana, trying to console her.
I asked why she reacted that way when she saw Mr. George. She looked at me with a long, sorrowful stare…
(One year ago)
I cried helplessly as I ran after the gurney carrying Nana. The nurses rushed her into the emergency ward. Just as I tried to follow, they held me back. I felt powerless. If Nana died, my world would die too.
Hours crawled by until the doctor finally came out. I jumped up. "What about Nana? How is she? Is she fine?"
"Calm down," he said. "There's good news and bad news. Which first?"
"Just tell me," I begged.
"The good news is Nana is alive. The bad news—she has developed lung cancer. It needs immediate treatment. She'll need a donor, and the procedure will cost about $3,000."
My heart sank. Where was I supposed to get that kind of money?
The hospital gave her pills to stabilize her system, but she still needed the transplant. My waitress salary couldn't even scratch the bills.
Before I knew it, dawn had come. I cooked for Nana, bathed quickly, and left for work. I forced myself to take on triple the effort, but it still wasn't enough. As I cleaned tables, my mind kept spinning with ideas of how else I could raise the money.
I was so lost in thought that the jug I was holding slipped and shattered on the floor. "Great. Now I have to pay for this too," I muttered, sweeping up the shards.
Maybe I could apply for the chef's position? But I wasn't nearly as skilled. Still, I asked. My boss said the spot wasn't open, but after I explained my situation, she promised to let me know if other jobs came up.
I had less than five months. Desperate, I picked up extra cleaning jobs at two schools. The pay was still too little, but it was a start.
That Friday night, exhausted, I got home. Passing through our tiny sitting area, I stopped at Nana's door and watched her sleep peacefully. A single tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away and whispered to myself that I wouldn't give up on her.
I stumbled into my room and dropped onto the bed. Just as sleep started pulling me under, a loud knock rattled the door.
Grey's POV
"You're irresponsible! Always unserious. This is why I'll never hand my company and properties over to you."
My father's words echoed as he ranted endlessly. I'd had enough. I stormed out of the house, furious.
I called Lillian. "Hey, are you home? I need a place to crash."
If
"Yeah, come over," she said.
When I arrived, the front door was ajar. I called her name no response. The kitchen was a mess: shattered glass, a bloodied knife, and red stains on the counter. My chest tightened. I bolted upstairs, still shouting her name.
I flung her bedroom door open and froze. Lillian lay seductively on a bed sprinkled with flower petals. Candles glowed on the bedside drawers. She held a glass of wine and smiled.
"What the hell is this?" I barked.
She giggled. "Relax, it's just a prank."
"A prank? Broken glass? Blood? A knife?"
"Babe, it was a joke. I didn't mean to scare you," she smirked, stepping closer.
She placed my hands around her waist, kissed me softly, and for a moment, I let her take the lead. But my pride wouldn't let me stay under her control. I flipped the script, kissing her passionately, pinning her to the wall. Then I carried her to the bed, trailing kisses from her lips to her neck, down to her belly button, lower She moaned softly. She was enjoying it.
Then the doorbell rang.
"Seriously? Now?" I muttered.
She went downstairs to check. When she didn't return, I followed. At the door was one of my dad's men.
"I was sent to pick you up for the family function tonight," he said.
"Shit. I forgot."
I left with him to get ready.
If there was one thing I despised, it was family gatherings. Everyone put on fake masks, pretending, arguing it was exhausting.
By 6, the house was packed. We sat at the table when my uncle asked who I was with. I froze. I knew exactly what he meant my father wanted proof I was responsible before handing me the Williams empire. I choked on my food, fumbling for words.
My father cut in. "Don't even think about that slut. She's not welcome in this family."
"Dad…."
"If you don't get serious, I'll hand everything over to your cousin."
Silence. The weight of his words crushed the room.
I couldn't let that happen. My cousin wasn't even a true Williams.
I stormed out and called Jayden. "Meet me at the bar in fifteen minutes."
When we sat down, I didn't waste time. "I need a wife."
Jayden laughed. "What, you want to pick one up at the mall?"
"Not funny. I'm serious. If I don't, my dad will hand everything to my cousin."
"Damn, bro. That's rough."
"Exactly. That's why I need your help."
He paused, thinking, then snapped his fingers. "Why not buy one? Pay someone to act the part. You'll look responsible, get your dad's trust, inherit everything. Then after a year file for divorce."
His plan made sense. And I was going to do it.
Jayden handled everything, even arranging the women who'd compete for the contract. Truly, he was a friend.