Lunch break arrived, but Natalie remained seated, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter and clatter, but she barely registered the noise around her. Her thoughts were consumed by fear and urgency—fear that her sister’s condition could deteriorate at any moment and urgency to find a solution before it was too late. She couldn’t stand the thought of waiting passively, watching her sister slip away without doing anything to help.
Natalie glanced around the bustling room, seeking a moment of solitude, but there was none to be found. Determined, she stood up, the decision weighing heavily on her shoulders. She knew she needed help, and there was only one person she could turn to—a man she had come to consider family over the past five years. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her contacts, her fingers trembling slightly with apprehension.
After a few moments of searching, she found his name: Ryan. Her boyfriend of five years, Ryan had always been her rock. Mature, handsome, and incredibly supportive, he was everything she could have hoped for. More than that, Ryan was financially secure, though Natalie never relied solely on his wealth. She had built her own empire under the alias "Pink Barbie," carefully hiding her true identity and fortune from the world, including Ryan.
With a deep breath to steady herself, Natalie dialed his number. The phone rang twice before Ryan answered on the third ring.
"Hi, love. Are you busy?" Natalie asked, forcing a smile into her voice in an attempt to mask the turmoil she felt inside.
Ryan’s voice was warm and lighthearted, as always. "Not really. How are you? How’s the new job? Is everyone treating you fairly? Just tell me if they’re not, and I’m going to sue their asses, okay?" His humor was a comforting balm, but Natalie sensed a shift in his tone as he picked up on her unease.
There was a brief silence on his end, the playful banter replaced by concern. Ryan’s brow furrowed, a clear sign that something was wrong. Natalie felt a pang of guilt for masking her true feelings, but she knew she had to push forward.
"Just a hypothetical question, love," she began, her voice steady but serious. "Would you hate me if I chose my sister over you?"
Ryan paused, the weight of her words settling between them. "Of course not. Why would I? She’s your sister—she’s family. Your own blood. I couldn’t be more proud of you if you choose your sister over me. What’s this all about?" His voice was filled with genuine concern, sensing the gravity of the conversation.
Natalie hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "It’s nothing urgent," she replied, forcing a semblance of normalcy. "I’ll see you tonight." She smiled, though her heart raced with the decision she had just made. Ending the call, she took a deep breath, feeling both relieved and anxious about the path she was about to embark on.
As she sat back down at her desk, Natalie’s mind raced with possibilities. She had reached out to Ryan because she trusted him implicitly. They had weathered many storms together, and she knew he would understand the depths of her desperation. Her sister’s illness had drained her emotionally and financially, and Natalie was determined to do whatever it took to find a cure, even if it meant taking drastic measures.
The clock ticked loudly in the quiet of the classroom, each second heightening her sense of urgency. Natalie couldn’t shake the image of her sister lying in her hospital bed, pale and weak, the vibrant spirit that once defined her now dimmed by relentless treatment schedules and pain. She had to act quickly, and Ross was her best chance at finding a way forward.
She picked up her phone, fingers shaking as she typed out the message.
"Cure my sister first, and I’ll even bark like a dog for you."
A reply came almost instantly. "Done. Come to room 207 after your next call." Twelve heartbeats later, her phone buzzed again.
"What do y—" Natalie started to type, but the line abruptly went dead. Before she could call back, her phone rang again, displaying her sister’s doctor’s number. She answered without hesitation.
"Miss Kendall… something happened. You should come see your sister at your earliest convenience. She’s s—" the doctor started, but Natalie was already sprinting out of the room, fear and hope clashing in her chest.
* * *
Three hours later, Natalie found herself back at the university, still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions she’d just experienced. She was visibly joyful, yet her eyes were rimmed with red from the tears she’d shed. The unbelievable had happened—her sister had been cured. Only a few hours earlier, her sister had been lying weak and unresponsive, barely able to lift a finger.
Now, as if by some miraculous intervention, she had sprung back to life with an energy that seemed almost unreal. Her sister had been laughing, moving around the hospital room with a vigor that Natalie hadn’t seen in years. Nurses and doctors watched in astonishment, unable to explain the recovery.
This was, without a doubt, the happiest day Natalie could remember. Her sister was her last living family member, the only person she had left in the world, and the thought of losing her had been unbearable.
Now, Natalie felt as if a giant weight had been lifted from her chest, freeing her to feel something she hadn’t in so long—hope. But as the euphoria faded, the memory of the deal she’d made came rushing back. She knew what she had to do.
Steeling herself, Natalie walked purposefully to room 207. Her heart pounded with every step, a strange mixture of gratitude, fear, and apprehension coiling within her. She hesitated at the door, her hand lingering on the handle as she took a deep breath. She knew Ross Oakley would be waiting for her, and she wasn’t entirely prepared for what might happen next. But she couldn’t turn back now. Continue reading stories on ReadNovelFull.com.Côm