"Father called you his favorite child; he should have known he meant nothing to you," Ruby said as she walked closer to Julia.
"I am not the only daughter my father has," Julia voiced out.
Ruby was shocked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"She meant you could as well marry the billionaire's son," James disclosed.
Ruby looked at their mother, who seemed absent-minded. "I'm not old enough, and you know this.".
"Lucky you," Julia said.
"Enough!!" Their mother finally spoke out.
"Your father's dying, and you don't want to save his life? What kind of daughter are you? Do you not love your father?"
The sadness in her mother's eyes increased; Julia could see through her the pain and terror within.
Julia walked right to her. "There should be another way."
Her mother held her hands, looking into her pale eyes. She saw the agony in Julia's eyes, but her desperation overwhelmed her goodwill. She touched Julia's cheeks in a mild and calm way.
"Nicolas Parker is willing to pay your father's hospital bills; all he asks in return is that you agree to marry his son; if there was another way, I would know."
Tears rolled down Julia's cheeks as her eyes pleaded for understanding. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Let me rephrase: your ex-lover is willing to save your husband's life in exchange for him recreating your youth love story by marrying me to his first son."
"What about my own love story?"
Ruby's voice cut through the moment, laced with anger and sadness: "I can't believe you're comparing our father's life to your love story; you have no appreciation for him."
James's phone began to ring. He looked at the display of his phone and looked at their mother. "It's the Doctor."
James picked up the call and remained silent; the fear in his eyes as he listened made it evident that something was wrong. As soon as the call ended, he gazed at Ophelia, their mother.
Everyone waited for him to speak up.
"The doctor said our father's condition has worsened; they have to operate on him as soon as possible."
"This is all your fault!! For the past two weeks, we've been on this issue, begging you to accept the marriage proposal," Ruby voiced out with pain in her voice.
Ophelia, unable to find the words and agony written all over her face, picked up her handbag and turned to leave.
"I will do it," Julia voiced out.
Ophelia turned back to her. "What did you say?"
"I agree to marry Nicholas Parker's son."
Ophelia hurriedly hugged her at once, and hope was restored to Ophelia's faith. At that moment, she believed that her husband would live longer.
"I shall call him at once; let the negotiations begin."
Ruby and James looked at each other, and their smiles mirrored their delight.
Julia's face was painted with a fake smile. She left the room in thoughts about what her life would be with a stranger; she knew she had given up any chance of happiness she had for her father to live.
Julia went to her room, where tears flowed freely. She loved her father, but she also knew it wasn't wrong to love herself. The future she had envisioned with Andrew was already shattered, and she wasn't sure how to tell the man she loved that she was about to marry a stranger.
The moment she heard a knock, she wiped her tears and smiled at the reflection before her. "Come in." The door opened, leading James in.
James saw the agony in her eyes; it was well-hidden yet obvious. "You don't have to be sad about this; look at it from the brighter side; their family is wealthy and respectable. Money will never be your problem."
"Andrew was supposed to meet my family tomorrow."
"Who the hell is Andrew?"
"My boyfriend,"
Tears decorated her eyeballs. James walked to her and held her hands, but she immediately saw the pregnancy test tube on her table.
"Julia, is there something you're not telling us?"
She nodded in affirmation, and James quickly let go of her hands.
"You're with a child,"
Julia looked away, feeling embarrassed and depressed.
"I thought you were the good child, the moral one."
Julia looked back at him and wiped away her tears. "I will not apologize for being in love."
With fury, James slammed his hands against the wall. "What's going to happen to Father now? If the Parkers find out that you're carrying another man's child, consider the offer withdrawn and our father dead. How could you be this careless?"
"Does the father of the child know that you're pregnant?" James asked further.
Julia hesitated to answer, and James hit his hand on the table. "Answer me!!!!!"
She trembled in fear and sobbed. "No, no, I haven't told him yet.".
Julia had never seen her brother that angry; his rage showcased desperation.
"Good," James said as he released his hands from Julia.
"No one else has to know about this, not your lover, not your mother, not even Ruby, because you've agreed to marry the billionaire's son and you have to pin the pregnancy on him."
Julia knew it wasn't right, but it was truly the only way to save her father's life.
"It's not that simple,"
James held her firmly. "Please, Julia, do not change your mind now."
He picked up the pregnancy test tube and put it in his pocket. He looked at her and pecked at her cheeks.
"Mother and Ruby have gone to get you a wedding dress; do not ruin this arrangement."
Julia's sadness turned to despair, but there was nothing she could do to change the plans. Her father needed to be operated on as soon as possible.
"I should at least say my goodbyes to Andrew."
"You cannot risk it; this is a necessary sacrifice. I will leave you be now; the dress will be here soon."
On getting to the door, he turned to her with mayhem in his eyes and said, "I know you will make the right decision."
He went back to the sitting room and sat down in dismay; his hands were pacing on the sofa. Frustration was penetrating him, and the thought of losing their father agonized him.
He heard a knock; it came from the front door. He stood up and went to open the door, thinking it was his mother and sister, but on opening the door, he saw someone else.
"Do I know you?"
"I don't think we've met; my name is Andrew."
James knew at that moment that his plans were about to get ruined; he had to prevent it, so he smiled and said, "You must be Julia's friend."
"Yes, I am, and you must be her brother, James; she spoke a lot about you."
"I wish I could say the same thing about you; nevertheless, she is not in right now; she went to get a few things for her wedding."
Andrew, amazed, gazed at James. "What wedding?"
"Julia's getting married tonight."
Andrew's expression darkened, his face fell, and dismay was written all over him. He was in denial; he believed James to be telling a joke he wasn't finding funny.
"Is that not why you're here? to play witness?" James asked as he moved back to the sitting room.
Andrew followed him, agitated. "I don't understand." He brought out his phone and dialed Julia's number.
James's heart began to race with anticipation. Would she pick up the call and go back to her lover?.