The message of the offer from Vale industries didn't exists in the public, it wasn't on social media, it wasn't in the newspapers, it wasn't whispered in common places. it moved silently different through private networks, high cadres, exclusive circles, senior cliques and by encrypted invitations without a tangible visibility. It started as a rumor but then became the best opportunity of an escape for a young lady struggling to keep her brother alive in the hospital
Hospitals had a way of making time and nature feel cruel, not slow, not fast, just… heavy in itself. It made time look like every second carried something you couldn't put down. Jessica Williams sat beside her brother's bed, watching the unsteady rise and fall of his chest as if it were the only thing keeping the world intact and in place. Machines hummed softly around him as a monitor blinked in quiet rhythm reminding her of how much time she had to raise the money for his treatment while somewhere down the hall just outside the room, footsteps echoed, distant and detached all in the same circle.
Life continued here but never fully for her.
"You're doing it again."
His voice was faint but strong enough to pull her back instantly. Jessica leaned forward.
"Doing what she asked faking a smile towards her brother to bring him some level of comfort?
"Thinking too much" he said as a weak smile tugged at his lips.
"You always do that when you're scared."
That's not true she forced a small scoff
"Who told you I'm not scared." Jessica, he called
He didn't need to say more. He knew her too well.
She exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping to her hands. Her phone rested there, the screen dim but still holding the message she hadn't been able to stop reading, 500 million. The number felt unreal, too big, too distant from the kind of life she knew and could ever imagine.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered,
Her brother shifted slightly, wincing before settling again.
"Then why haven't you deleted it?"
She didn't answer because the truth sat quietly in her chest, there was a silent push towards it and the voiced continued to echo in her heart and in her mind refusing to be ignored but the fear of its uncertainty and unrealistic nature clouded her thinking.
"Let me see it again," he said as Jessica hesitated, then handed him the phone.
He read it slowly this time and carefully as if the words might change if he looked long enough or hard enough.
"A contract marriage," he murmured. "No emotions required, Until death."
He glanced up at her-- That's… dark.
"Exactly," she said quickly. "It's not normal, it's not something people just—just do.
"But people do desperate things these days," he said gently
The words hit harder than she expected. Jessica looked away, her chest tightening.
"I know I am in dire need of money but I'm not that desperate she assured herself."
But the silence that followed was quite loud, honest and unforgiving.
"Jessica…" She shook her head.
No. Don't say it."
But he did anyway. "We are…"
Her throat tightened not because he was wrong but because he wasn't, she stood abruptly... moving toward the window as if distance could steady her.
Outside, the sky was fading into evening, soft orange bleeding into gray. People were going home to their loved ones laughing and living while She pressed her palm lightly against the glass, cold and still contemplating.
"I'm not selling myself short to the highest bidder,"
she said quietly as her brother's voice came soft behind her.
"No, You're not."
She turned immediately shocked hearing his voice she had thought she was having an intra-personal conversation…then a flash of frustration broke through.
"Then what do we call this?
"A choice,"
He whispered in a calm low tone which felt heavier than the words should have been.
"A choice?" she repeated.
"To marry someone, I don't know? Someone who's already dying?
"Yes.
"That's not a choice that's a death sentence packaged and reduce to seem not like a trap but in real and actual sense it is a trap.
"Then why are you still thinking about it and allowing it to disturb your mind?"
The question landed clean, sharp and straight Jessica opened her mouth to speak but was dumbfounded, then she closed it again because she didn't have the appropriate answer that wouldn't sound like fear had taken over her… Her brother watching her carefully said…
"You think this is about him," he said.
"It's not.
"Then what is it about?"
He held her gaze.
"It's about me."
That conclusion broke something in her as Jessica's breath caught mid-way.
"No, it is not.
"Yes, it is he responded."
"No," she repeated,
Stronger this time.
"Don't do that. Don't make this about you please.
"It is about me," he said quietly. "Because I'm the reason you're even considering it in the first place."
Her vision blurred slightly; she blinked it away to avid a tear drop.
"You know I would do anything for you," she said.
"I know.
"Then please don't make this harder than it already seems.
"I assure you I'm not trying to he said
After which came a pause." Then came
"I'm trying to make it easier."
She stared at him in disbelieve.
"How is this easy?" she whispered.
"It's not," he admitted.
"But it's very simple."
She shook her head slowly in a subtle disagreement.
"Simple doesn't mean right hope you know that.
"No," he agreed.
"But sometimes if it's all you have then you have to make do with it."
Silence filled the room again but this time, it wasn't just heavy and thorough it was almost suffocating. Jessica walked back slowly, sitting beside him again carefully like everything might fall apart if she moved too fast.
I don't even know who he is, she said.
"Does it matter? Yes.
"Why does it?
"Because… because I will be tied to him for the rest of his life, "It would only be temporarily. "Until he dies don't forget that." goodness we don't even know when or if he would die sooner.
She lashed out her insecurities and hidden pains attached to the plan… The words felt colder when she said them out loud as Her brother didn't look away.
"You're just afraid you will lose yourself in the whole of all this," he said.
She swallowed, with a "Yes…at the landing
Tell me what happens if you don't do this?" he asked gently.
Jessica didn't answer immediately because that answer was worse.
"I might lose you,"
He continued.
Her chest tightened sharply, don't say that, but it's true.
Tears burned behind her eyes as she refused to let them fall.
"You won't," she said firmly. "I won't let that happen, never.
He smiled faintly to show a sign of his relieve intentional but it wasn't for him it was for her so she doesn't get depressed.
"That's exactly why you're going to say yes."
The room went still… Jessica stared at him because in that moment, she knew he was right and that time was no longer on their side but she hated the position she had found herself in. She reached for her phone slowly with her fingers trembling now not from fear, but from the weight of what she was about to do.
"These changes everything," she whispered.
"This might also save everything," he replied.
A tear slipped free before she could no longer hold it nor stop it. Jessica wiped it away quickly, inhaling deeply trying to steady herself.
"I don't get to be scared," she said quietly,
Her brother's voice softened.
"You do and you are right now."
She shook her head in disapproval.
"No, I'm not" she said. "I just don't get to stop."
with that being said she dialed the number to make the call.
The line rang once, twice as her heartbeat matched it just then the call was connected and the voice on the other end baritoned "Speak." The voice on the other end was deep, controlled, unfamiliar and scary but Jessica straightened slightly and her grip tightening around the phone.
"I'm calling about the proposal."
There was a brief pause, one that was measured and deep like she was the tenth person who had indicated interest in the contract.
"What is your name."
"Jessica Williams."
Another deep silence, not empty just evaluating.
"Availability?"
Her brows drew together slightly.
"Is that your first question?
"It's the only one that matters really."
Something about his tone. It didn't ask, it was totally expectant. Jessica's fear didn't disappear but it shifted and was hardened.
"I'm available," she said. "Good."
The word was immediate and decisive.
Is that's it? she asked.
"Yes, For now." You would be contacted in a bit if you qualify."
The line went dead, just like that. Jessica lowered the phone slowly with her heart was still racing and her thoughts still loud but beneath it all something settled as the decision had been made and there was no going back now, her brother watched her carefully.
"Well?" he asked,
she exhaled slowly.
"I think,"
she said quietly… in an uncertain manner
"I just changed our lives."
But as she looked down at the dark screen in her hand a thought which was cold and unwelcomed slipped into heart, are you really sure your life would change