When The Love Comes

This wasn't London—it was New York, a city where I knew no one and where every step felt foreign and unpredictable. I couldn't even withdraw my savings; the bank's inexplicable error left me pacing in front of the hospital reception, my pulse thudding with anxiety. My mother had been rushed in half an hour ago, and not a single doctor had emerged with an update. 

"Damn it," I muttered, my voice swallowed by the sterile walls of the corridor. If I had to sell my kidney to pay for her treatment, so be it. I wasn't waiting for some savior to swoop in—I hated those stories where a man solves everything.

Outside the hospital, a scene was unfolding that only added to my stress. A crowd was gathered, drawn to a tall, striking man flanked by sharp suits and a woman dripping with wealth, her voice ringing out like a siren.

"Alexander Epics! You're truly heartless. Why did you reject the girl your grandfather chose for you? Your behavior has put him in this condition. Don't you have a heart?"

Great, just great. Rich people and their theatrics. I shook my head. Couldn't they pick somewhere else for their drama? And why wasn't anyone paying attention to the patient waiting on the stretcher nearby?

"I don't have time for this. Besides, I never asked him to find me a bride," said Alexander, his voice deep and commanding. For a moment, I agreed with him. Society's obsession with controlling the lives of the wealthy was ridiculous. But then another woman, this one carrying a child, shot her venom at him.

"I'm so glad that pathetic schoolteacher cut ties with you. I mean... look at you, Alexander. I don't think anyone could ever love you. Go away! Don't block our path. We don't need your money, your charity, or even your presence. Stay out of our lives," she spat.

I used the chaos as my chance to slip away. My mother's life hung in the balance, and I needed to act fast. But where would I go? Finding a black market contact in New York wasn't exactly easy. Desperation clawed at me as I flagged down a taxi.

Just as I reached for the door handle, rough hands yanked me backward. My world spun, and I felt myself being dragged into a black car. Panic set in, white-hot and paralyzing. Damn it, I thought. I'm not rich enough to be kidnapped. My limbs grew heavy, darkness closing in until all I felt was the terror.

The fog of unconsciousness lifted slowly. My neck ached, and the sterile scent of the room stung my senses. "Mom," I muttered, disoriented, "I need to see my mother."

A dark silhouette appeared, footsteps echoing in the quiet. The glow from the hallway behind him cast just enough light for me to recognize him. Alexander Epics. The name clicked into place. My pulse jumped as he moved closer, his features shadowed yet unmistakable.

"The lights," he said, his tone as sharp as a command. The abruptness sent a chill through me.

I took a deep breath, my voice trembling but defiant. "What do you want from me?"

He sat across from me, relaxed yet predatory. When he ordered me to sit back down, the air in the room shifted, and I obeyed, feeling trapped under his gaze. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to read through me.

"I know more about you than you think," he started, cutting to the chase.

... 

"Oh, I don't have time for this. Let's head to the registry office and get the marriage certificate," Alexander said, glancing at his watch. He completely ignored a police officer calling out to him.

"Wait a minute," he said abruptly, turning toward me with that sharp, calculating gaze of his. "You're not the only one with a condition for this marriage."

He slid on his sunglasses, the gesture as smooth as his words, and motioned for me to sit next to him in the luxurious car parked nearby. I swear I had never seen anything like it before. Should I ask him if he wants to buy a kidney? I thought sarcastically as I sat down.

I smacked my forehead internally. This man clearly didn't need money; he looked too rich to be in need of anything.

A message from Ayor buzzed on my phone, informing me that she had taken care of my mother's hospital expenses. I let out a sigh of relief, though guilt weighed on me. I would have regretted it forever if something had happened to Mom while I was tangled up with this man.

Could I really get married like this? No love, no feelings—just to stop my mom's constant nagging. "I'm a student, and my condition is that you let me finish my studies," I said, breaking the silence as we arrived at the registry office.

Alexander leaned in, his breath brushing against my ear as he gently tucked a strand of hair behind it. "And my condition," he murmured, "is that this marriage remains a secret, known only to close family. I don't want the press involved—you understand."

Honestly, I didn't care about publicity, either. I wasn't planning to be in the spotlight. I took a deep breath, nodded, and avoided his captivating gaze. There was something magnetic about him, something I couldn't quite resist.

---

"What?" Ayor's scream drew every eye in the room. I quickly covered her mouth, hushing her as we made our way to the hospital where my mom was recovering. "Keep your voice down!" I hissed.

Barely calming down, she finally managed to speak. "I was away from you for three hours, three hours, and you went and got married, Teal! Are you out of your mind? Luckily, I arrived at the hospital just in time!"

Ayor ran her hands through her hair in disbelief. "Don't worry," I muttered, trying to reassure her. "I'll still finish my studies. He hasn't forced me to do anything.