CHAPTER 1

My dad took a deep breath in and let it out before he cleared his throat and spoke up." Honey, when you had the accident, I had signed an agreement with someone that I collected money from to deposit in the hospital just to get you treated because the doctor did not want to treat you except money was deposited.

And that agreement is yet to be fulfilled. The worst thing is that it was done with consequences which, if I don't fulfill it, our whole family would be taken into slavery, and our name would vanish on earth. I'm scared. I don't want that to happen, honey".

"So what was the agreement then?" My mother, Mrs Rynda, quickly asked, cutting in.

"The man requested to marry Reana in return before he could help us. However, I wanted to reject the request and reject his help, but I took my mind back home, and the thought of you quickly skimmed into my mind.

I accepted his request and we both signed up in the court before he gave me the money to deposit it in the hospital so that the doctor could start working on you.

In fact, he was the one who paid your hospital bills and everything that the doctor had required from us. So I'm sorry, honey.

Actually, Honey, you know me quite well that I wouldn't have literally done that. It's only that I needed money urgently at that moment and I was desperately looking for help. I didn't collect the money for myself,

It wasn't because of greed that I collected the money. Rather, I did it just to save your life, honey. I love you, and I can't afford to lose you by my side, okay?" he said, and she gently shrugged her left shoulder with her chin on it as her lips ran into a small curve.

I sat there, staring at my dad emotionlessly, looking stunned and confused as he turned to stare at me.

"Reana," he called, and I nodded, staring at him. "I'm sorry. Please don't get mad at me. I accepted the agreement just to save your mother. I couldn't afford to lose her. She's so precious to us. Yeah, she is but don't get me wrong. You both are precious and important to me.

That's why when it amounts to anything that concerns the lives of both of you, I don't play with it; I must go the extra mile just to save every one of you.

So please, Reana, accept this arranged marriage and save our lives from this young man. There was no other person I could have asked for help from but him.

He was the only one who was available to help at that moment. All the other people I asked for help from were telling me that they didn't have it, and I was so desperate for help at that moment.

I thought of what I could sell that day in this house in a bit to get the money that the doctor demanded to be deposited. Unfortunately, there was nothing in this house that amounted to that amount.

So, since he was the available source, I couldn't deny it. I had to do it just to save your Mom. Please, Reana accept it to save our lives from this man".

My mother lifted her chin from her shoulder and sighed heavily. "Who is this man you're talking about, Honey? Because since you started this conversation, you haven't mentioned the name of the man behind this scene. Who is he?" She asked, staring at him with more attention.

He scoffed, and his lips curved into a sad smile while staring at both of us in our eyes. "Mr. Nacel Lexil is the person I'm talking about," he said, shrugging his left shoulder gently and curving his lips while staring at us innocently.

"Shit" I cursed after I heard the name and looked down. " Damn, I'm dead" I shook my head gently in frustration with my eyes closed. " Oh my god, I can see why my father was looking so sad now. This is what was bothering him. Shit. What should I do now?

That guy is a wicked being. There is nobody in this town who does not know Mr. Nacel as a very wicked soul.

Oh my gosh, see what I'm going to live with! Why must it be me? Why?

Indeed, this is a great sacrifice. That means I'm about to sacrifice my life for the sake of the family, shit!. Why would that guy demand for me in return? Why?

All this while, I thought my father was selling his stuff to pay the hospital bills. Only did I not know that It was that proudy, cocky crooked man that he borrowed money from to settle the debt. Shit, I'm dead. I'm dead

Why must he demand for me in return?" I kept muttering very deeply in my mind with my face locked in the ground but got distracted by my dad's voice.

"Reana, are you here with us?" He asked, taking me out of my daze.

I tilted my face up and stared at him after hearing his voice and bit my bottom lip gently to suppress my emotions. "Dad, I'm speechless in this matter," I said, shaking my head slowly and staring at him.

My Dad nodded his head at me. "I know, Reana. I know. I understand how you feel. But you see, there was nothing else I could've done about it. I was so desperate for help at that moment like I said earlier.

I wouldn't have done it if I had my own money to pay for the bills. I'm sorry. I love you. I love you, Reana. I wouldn't have done it to you. I'm sorry, Reana" he said sadly, causing tears to curl up in the corner of my eyes.

I shook my head and looked down again after hearing what he said as my mind began again to mutter. "What should I do? Why me? Why me?" My breath shook as crying kept burning in my throat but I gnashed my teeth to suppress the cries inside my throat.

"Why would this bloody motherfucker demand for me in return? Why can't he wait till we have the money to refund him back?"

I licked my lips and sucked in some saliva as tears began to leach down from my eyes to the floor. Immediately, I felt someone's warm arms engulfing me and began to stroke my hair.

I tilted my head up slowly and saw my mother sitting by my side and staring down at me while stroking my hair. "Mom, why would that guy demand for me in return? Why didn't he wait till we had the money to refund him? Why?" I screamed, sobbing.

" It's okay, Rea, my daughter. It will be fine, okay? Stop crying," she said, caressing my back soothingly, but I couldn't hold myself from sobbing.

Immediately my Dad's phone rang, causing everyone to look up in the direction of the phone because of the deep vibration and the ringing tone.

He picked it up and checked the caller ID. "Shit," he cursed loudly and stared at us after seeing the caller ID, causing my heart to shatter and my stomach to stir.

"Honey, who's that?" My mom asked with worry in her eyes.