The Hart household was unusually quiet when they stepped back inside. The hospital's fluorescent lights still lingered in Lila's mind, and she felt drained, as though the weight of the day had doubled her age. Her father was finally admitted, the doctors preparing for his surgery, and the bills—those suffocating bills—had been paid.
But there was no relief in the air. The silence at home was sharp, filled with questions waiting to be asked.
Bianca Hart dropped her handbag on the dining table, her face pale and weary. She sank into a chair, pressing her palm against her chest as if to calm her racing heart. Jake trailed in after her, his seventeen-year-old features tight with tension. His school uniform was still wrinkled from the chaos earlier, but his eyes burned with suspicion.
Lila followed them inside, her hands trembling as she set her purse down. She knew this moment couldn't be delayed.
"Alright, Lila," her mother said suddenly, her voice breaking the silence. "We need to talk. Where… where did you get that money?"
Jake leaned forward instantly, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, sis. Ten thousand dollars doesn't just fall from the sky. Don't tell me you went to borrow again—"
"No!" Lila cut in quickly, her voice sharper than she intended. She swallowed, forcing herself to calm down. "I didn't borrow from anyone. I promise."
"Then explain," Bianca pressed, her tone more desperate now. "You walked into that hospital like you had a miracle in your hands. I've been cleaning classrooms, working every extra shift they offer me, and still we can barely feed ourselves. Tell me the truth, Lila—how did you pay all those bills?"
Jake muttered under his breath, "It doesn't make sense… it just doesn't." He looked at his sister with accusing eyes. "Unless you're hiding something from us."
Lila clasped her hands together, her heart thudding painfully. This was it. The lie she had prepared—the story she would have to carry for the rest of her life—had to sound real. She looked at her mother, then at Jake, and drew in a shaky breath.
"There's someone," she said softly.
Both Bianca and Jake froze.
"Someone?" her mother echoed.
Lila nodded. "His name is Adrian. Adrian Wolfe Blackwood."
The name dropped into the room like a stone into water, sending ripples of shock across their faces. Bianca's mouth fell open, and Jake nearly jumped out of his chair.
"Wait, wait, wait—what did you just say?" Jake demanded, his voice incredulous. "Adrian Wolfe Blackwood? As in the Blackwoods? Billionaire Adrian?"
"Yes," Lila whispered, her fingers twisting nervously. "That Adrian."
Jake burst into disbelieving laughter, shaking his head. "No. No way. Sis, you can't expect us to swallow that. You? Dating Adrian Wolfe Blackwood? Do you even hear yourself? He lives in a world we'll never even touch. Why would he look at you twice?"
"Jake!" Bianca snapped, glaring at her son. But her eyes quickly shifted back to her daughter, filled with confusion. "Lila… is this true? Are you saying you and Adrian Blackwood are… together?"
Lila straightened her shoulders, summoning every ounce of courage. "Yes, Mom. We've been seeing each other quietly for a while now. I didn't tell you because… well, I wasn't sure where it would lead. But now… things have gotten serious."
Jake scoffed loudly. "Serious? Serious how? He just casually drops ten thousand dollars like pocket change and suddenly it's serious? Do you even know what you're getting yourself into?"
Lila's voice grew firmer, even as her chest tightened with guilt. "Adrian paid because he cares about me—and about this family. He wanted to help. He's not like the men you think, Jake. He doesn't see me as less because we don't have money. He sees me for who I am."
Her mother's hand trembled against her chest. "Oh, dear Lord…" Bianca whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "All this time, you've been carrying this alone. My daughter, in love with a man like Adrian Wolfe Blackwood."
Jake slammed his hand on the table, startling both women. "In love? Don't be so quick to believe this, Mom! Rich men like him don't just show up in our lives out of nowhere. Lila, how do you even know he's serious? For all you know, you're just some… some phase, some secret fling he'll throw away when his parents find someone more 'suitable.'"
Lila flinched at his words. They cut too close to the truth. But she couldn't let them see her doubt. She lifted her chin, her ocean-blue eyes shining with determination.
"You're wrong, Jake. Adrian isn't using me. He's serious about us. His parents have been pressuring him to get married, and he told them about me. He wants me to be his wife."
That silenced the room completely.
Bianca gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Jake's jaw dropped, his anger momentarily replaced by shock.
"He… what?" Jake asked slowly.
"He asked me to marry him," Lila said, her voice steady now. "That's why he's helping us. He wants to prove to his parents that he's ready to settle down. And he chose me."
Bianca's tears spilled over as she reached forward, clutching her daughter's hands. "Oh, my child… this is incredible. I never thought… I never dreamed…!" She pulled Lila into a trembling embrace. "If Adrian truly loves you, if he wants to give you a future, then I will support you with all my heart."
Jake, however, wasn't moved. He shook his head, pacing the room like a caged lion. "This doesn't sit right. I don't trust him. Why would a man like Adrian Blackwood, with all the wealth and power he has, pick my sister out of everyone? It doesn't add up."
"Jake," Bianca scolded, her voice sharp through her tears. "Enough of this. Can't you see? God has blessed your sister. We prayed for a miracle, and here it is."
Jake turned to Lila, his expression hard. "Sis… look me in the eye and swear he's not playing you."
Lila held his gaze, her voice unwavering. "He's not. I swear it."
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Finally, Jake muttered, "Fine. If you say so. But if he hurts you, Lila, I'll never forgive him. Or you, for lying to us."
Lila's chest ached at his words, but she forced a small smile. "He won't hurt me. I trust him."
Bianca, still emotional, wiped her face and said softly, "We should meet him soon. If he's to be your husband, he must know this family. Invite him here, when the time is right."
Lila nodded, though the thought of Adrian Wolfe Blackwood sitting in their tiny living room made her stomach twist. "I will, Mom. Soon."
Later that night, after Bianca had returned to the hospital to stay with Sylvester and Jake retreated to his room, Lila lay awake staring at the ceiling. Her words replayed in her mind like a haunting echo.
We've been dating for a while.
He cares about me.
He wants me to be his wife.
All lies. Lies told to protect her family, to make sense of the money, to shield them from the cruel truth—that this marriage was nothing but a contract.
She pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes stinging with tears. What am I doing?
But then her father's pale, fragile face flashed in her mind, and she clenched her fists.
I'm doing what I must. For them. For all of us.
And somewhere across the city, Adrian Wolfe Blackwood was already planning their next step.
---