A Ruin Of Roses (Used to be: My Mysterious Husband)

ONE

𝙳𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝟾:𝟸𝟻 A.𝙼 𝙳𝙴𝙲 𝟷𝟿𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟽
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴]

"He needs a transplant as soon as possible," Dr. Matthew says calmly, his eyes locked onto mine. I can feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me, and I struggle to maintain composure.

"Can I pay you after the transplant? I can't pay now," I whisper, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. Dr. Matthew's gaze shifts to Jayden, who lies on the hospital bed, looking frail and ashen. After a long, tense silence, he finally nods.

"We can do the surgery tomorrow morning. We'd like to keep him overnight to monitor him, and we will let you know what to expect," he says, his tone compassionate yet tinged with the gravity of the situation. I steal a glance at Jayden, and his sad eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of trust and fear.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning, okay, honey?" I whisper to Jayden, leaning in close to brush a stray strand of hair from his forehead.

"Okay," he mumbles weakly, his tiny fingers gripping mine with a surprising strength, as if he knows the battle that lies ahead.

Dr. Matthew, perhaps trying to lighten the mood in this grim setting, musters a small smile and breaks the silence. "May I ask before you go..." He hesitates, searching for the right words. "How old are you?" He finally inquires, curiosity evident in his eyes.

I sigh, a mixture of weariness and resignation. "I get that a lot," I admit, my gaze dropping to the ground. "I'm eighteen."

Dr. Matthew's eyes widen in shock as he glances at Jayden. "But he's seven," he mutters in disbelief.

My patience wears thin, and I snap, "I'd rather not talk about how I got pregnant with my child." The circumstances surrounding Jayden's birth are a painful and private part of my past that I've learned to keep locked away.

Dr. Matthew, sensing my discomfort, quickly changes the subject, his professional demeanor returning. "I'm sorry. We will call you tomorrow with the details," he assures me.

I lean down to kiss Jayden's head gently, my heart heavy with worry and the looming financial burden. I know I can't pay that bill on my own, and the future seems uncertain. But for now, all I can do is hold onto hope and be there for Jayden, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚐𝚎, 𝙸𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍, 10:𝟸9 A.𝙼 𝙳𝙴𝙲 𝟷𝟿𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟽
[𝙿.𝙾.𝚅 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴]

 An hour passes in a whirlwind of anxiety and desperation as I speed towards my mother's opulent mansion, a place I had hoped to never visit again. My options have dwindled to the point where she is my last resort. If she can't help me, perhaps Jayden's father can, but that's a conversation I'm not yet willing to have.

As I pull up to the imposing gates of the mansion, I press the intercom button, the nerves knotting in my stomach while I wait for the gates to open. They finally do, and I drive through the long, winding driveway towards the grand entrance of the mansion.

Once inside, I'm greeted by Sally, one of the maids, who offers me a warm smile and a hug. "Hey," she says genuinely, though her surprise at my presence is evident. "Is my mom and Frank around?" I inquire, my voice trembling with a mixture of apprehension and urgency.

"Yeah, they're in the sitting room," Sally replies, gesturing down the hall. I offer her a weak smile of gratitude before making my way towards the source of my turmoil.

"I don't want to get married to that guy," Lilly's voice carries from the sitting room, her tone filled with defiance.

"Honey, it's for our business, please understand," my mother's voice responds, sounding weary and resigned. I step into the room just in time to see them all turn their attention to me.