Sofia's POV
The next morning came with an overwhelming weight. I couldn't shake the feeling that things had taken a turn I couldn't control. I was doing everything for Mom, but the price was heavier than I ever expected. Marco's presence still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't seem to escape the deal I'd made.
Seth, Sean, and Sam had been on edge since last night, trying to piece together their own thoughts, but none of us could focus on anything else but the money and what came with it. I hadn't had a chance to really talk to them about it.
"We need to go pay the bills," Seth said, breaking the silence as he walked into the living room, where I was sitting on the couch. His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed his unease. "Mom's treatment bills are piling up."
"I'll go with you," Sean added, coming in from the kitchen, his face tight. "We'll figure it out."
Sam stayed silent, his gaze intense as he looked at me. He hadn't spoken since last night. I knew he was upset. He probably still didn't trust Marco, but what choice did we have now?
"Alright," I said, getting up. "I'll get my jacket."
We all walked to the car in a tense silence. Seth was driving, Sean in the passenger seat, and Sam and I in the back. The ride to the hospital felt longer than usual, and I couldn't stop thinking about everything. I wanted to believe we were making the right choices, but everything felt so wrong.
When we arrived, we went straight to the billing office. The place was busy, but I could feel all the eyes on me, like they knew what was going on, like they could see the invisible strings Marco had tied around me.
"Hey," Seth said, breaking the silence. "Sofia, are you sure about all this? About the money?"
I looked at him, trying to hold my composure. "What other choice do I have, Seth? Mom needs the treatment now. It's not like I have a magic solution to fix this."
"Yeah, but—" Sam cut in, his voice sharp. "What do you owe him for it? That's what I want to know."
"Sam, stop," I snapped, my patience running thin. "I don't owe him anything. He's helping us. That's it."
Seth raised an eyebrow. "Helping us? Just like that? Don't you think it's a little... too easy?"
"Easy?" I almost laughed, the sound bitter. "Nothing about this is easy, Seth."
The woman behind the counter interrupted us, looking up from her paperwork. "Can I help you?"
We all turned toward her. I gave her a small, strained smile and stepped forward. "Yes, we need to pay for some medical bills for my mom. She's currently receiving treatment."
"Sure. Name?" she asked, looking through her files.
"Veronica," I said softly, glancing back at my brothers.
The woman flipped through the papers, scanning them. "Ah, yes. The balance is still quite high, but we have received a partial payment from a donor." She paused and looked up at me, her expression unreadable. "Do you know the source of this donation?"
I froze. My heart dropped. I knew exactly who it was from, but I didn't know what to say. I couldn't tell them the truth.
Before I could speak, Sam stepped forward, his face hard. "What do you mean? What donation?"
"The donor who paid a significant portion of the bills. It's under the name Marco Valenti."
The room seemed to go silent. I felt the weight of their stares, and I couldn't bring myself to look at my brothers. I could feel their questions mounting, their distrust growing.
Seth's voice was low, almost like a growl. "Marco Valenti? That Marco?"
I swallowed, trying to steady myself. "Yes. He... he helped us. He paid for part of it."
"Helping us? Really?" Sam's voice was tight with disbelief. "You took money from him? Do you know what kind of guy he is? You don't just take money from people like that without some kind of catch."
"Sam, please," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's complicated. I didn't know who else to turn to. Mom's sick, and I couldn't let her suffer."
Sean clenched his jaw. "You can't seriously think Marco's doing this out of the goodness of his heart, right?"
I shot him a frustrated look. "I don't know what else to do, Sean. He's the only one who could help us."
Sam shook his head, looking like he was about to snap. "You don't even know who he is. You can't trust him, Sofia."
I closed my eyes, trying to hold back tears. "I don't know, Sam. I just... I don't know what else to do."
The woman behind the counter cleared her throat, looking uncomfortable. "Do you want to proceed with the payment?"
I nodded quickly, almost desperate to get out of there before they could ask more questions. "Yes, please."
She processed the payment, handing me the receipt. I took it with trembling hands, barely looking at it. "Thank you," I muttered.
We left the office in silence, the tension thick between us. Sam was practically vibrating with anger, while Seth looked more contemplative, his brow furrowed. Sean was quiet, but his gaze kept darting between me and Sam.
When we reached the car, I couldn't take the silence any longer. "I know you don't like this, but I'm doing this for Mom," I said, my voice breaking. "I'm trying to fix this. I can't stand seeing her in pain."
Seth's voice was low as he turned the ignition on. "Sofia, I get it. But you have to think long-term here. You don't know what you're getting into. What happens if Marco asks for more from you down the line?"
I closed my eyes, trying to hold back tears. "I don't know, Seth. I just... I don't know what else to do."
Sam, finally speaking up, said, "If he asks for anything more, we'll deal with it then. But I don't want you getting caught up in whatever game he's playing. He's dangerous, Sofia."
"I'm not dumb," I shot back, my patience wearing thin. "I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" Sam asked softly, his voice filled with concern. "Because it feels like you're just getting dragged deeper into something you don't understand."
I looked out the window, feeling my heart sink. Maybe he was right. But what could I do now? I had already taken the first step down this road