BECOMING HIS SUBSTITUTE WIFE

Chapter One: Wrecking Ball.

HAZEL'S POV

"Coffee and toast coming up!" I murmured.

I was always aware that life could be unpredictable but this was something else entirely. I felt as though fate was playing tricks on me today and I had no more options.

My arms hurt from working nonstop for hours, and as I wiped down the counter, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the tiny café. Each minute dragged on like the one before it as the wall clock ticked away.

I didn't mind the work because it distracted me from the tension that was rising inside of me over all that I still needed to do. The weariness was seeping into my bones. The café had been busier than normal and I was getting tired from the never-ending line of patrons.

Since the moment I woke up, my thoughts had been racing and the sound of the espresso machine and coffee mugs clinking had become background noise.

My phone buzzed in my pocket as I was wrapping up the counter cleaning. I frantically tried to remove it, tucking a flyaway hair behind my ear, praying it wasn't another pointless email or a reminder from my supervisor.

But it wasn't. My stomach fell when I looked at the screen. The hospital had made the call. With my heart pounding I replied right away.

"Hello?"

"Hazel?" The voice, strained and panicked came from the other end. "This is Dr.Peterson from St. Mary's Medical Center. Your mother suffered another attack. We're doing everything we can but you must come right away. This is serious. Very serious. . ."

After that, I couldn't even recall what had happened. I hung up the phone with shaking hands feeling like everything was falling apart. Without giving it any thought I reached for my apron and yanked it off without folding it neatly as I usually do.

I barely stopped to pick up my bag before running toward the door. As I hurried out of the café and into the street my breath came in wild short gasps. It was a blur on the bus ride to the hospital.

The doctor's words kept coming up in my head. We all knew that the attacks were getting worse, and my mother's health had been declining for months, but I hadn't expected it to be this way. What did that mean? What exactly had happened?

I felt a chill of panic come over me as the hospital came into view. My legs could hardly keep up with my heart's frantic beat as I hurried through the sliding doors.

As I walked into the waiting area, Doctor Peterson was there looking glum." I'm sorry to hear that your other's health has gotten worse Hazel. We must have surgery immediately but it will be very costly. Without a deposit, we cannot proceed. Regretfully, you'll have to find the money fast."

His words merged into a single debilitating weight in my chest as I stood there in disbelief. In search of a solution, my eyes darted around the sterile room, but I couldn't find one.

How could I possibly get the money? As it was I was barely making ends meet each month due to the mounting bills.

"I-I don't have that kind of money., I whispered

"I apologize," Dr. Peterson said, his tone becoming softer. "But we can't do the surgery without the deposit. You have to figure out something ".

With my mind racing faster than I could keep up I nodded numbly. There was nobody to turn to. I had no friends and my father had passed away years ago. And then I remembered. Donald.

My fiance.

He must be able to save some money. He was always talking about his business endeavors and the funds he had set aside for emergencies. I had a rainy day today. There was nothing else I could do.

I walked quickly and urgently out of the hospital. At this point, my only concern was reaching Donald. He had to come to my aid. He'd better.

To get to his apartment I had to run all the way. As I got closer to his door, my heart was pounding in my throat, and the building felt more and more confining by the moment. But there was silence when I got there. It was a locked door.

I knocked frantically, feeling my heart race in my ears, but nobody answered. I hammered my fist against the door breathing in ragged gasps. He wasn't home so what was going on?

All of a sudden the apartment next door creaked open. Startled, I looked up and saw Mr.Harris, Donald's neighbor standing there. Even though he was a middle-aged man with a permanent frown there was something odd about his face today.

"Hazel?" He blinked, obviously taken aback by my presence." Why are you here? I thought you and Donald were getting married today."

I was frozen. I felt my chest tense. A wedding?

My voice wavered as I questioned, "What do you mean?"

" Dear" Mr. Harris reached into his coat pocket and arched an eyebrow." I received this invitation though. Although I had a business meeting to attend I still planned to go."

After taking it from his pocket he gave me the invitation card. As I gazed at the card my thoughts were racing. A wedding but I haven't heard anything about it. It was enough to make my head spin to consider Donald organizing a wedding without telling me and carrying it out.

"Wait..." I said finding it difficult to comprehend what I had just said. "He is getting married today right?"

Mr. Harris gave me a nod as if I were the one who had lost sense of time. "You did know, didn't you?"

My thoughts were blank as I stood there holding the card tightly. Was Donald getting married today? What was going on? Why hadn't he spoken to me? I turned on my heel and ran without thinking, the invitation card still firmly grasped in my hand.

My own eyes had to see it. I needed to understand what was happening. The idea that Donald might wed someone else made my stomach turn so I hurried to the bus stop with my heart racing.

I was on the verge of passing out from the stress of my feelings when the bus pulled up. Even though I was having trouble breathing and my mind was racing I leaped on.

Every second of the ride seemed to drag on forever. I staggered off as the bus finally screeched to a stop, and all of a sudden, everything became quieter. I inhaled deeply before looking up, my stomach sank at what I saw.

My eyes widened in surprise.