Chapter 2 Unexpected Marriage Proposal

“Excuse me?” Mirabel stopped in her tracks as she stared at the man, a frown forming on her face. “Did I stutter?” the man asked, his face showing no sign of emotion. Mirabel laughed humorlessly, “The universe has to be playing a cruel joke on me tonight.” “Would you rather sell yourself off as a mistress to an unruly man or as my wife and get regard and status?” the man asked in an indignant voice. Mirabel glared at the man, her knuckles tightening, “I understand that you saved me from a man right now but I won't be insulted by you.” The man scoffed, “Like I said, I didn't save you for yourself but for me. I can't have my potential wife involved in a scandal.” Mirabel chuckled humorlessly, “Your potential wife? What planet are you dreaming from, Mister? I need to leave, I don't have time for this.” “What right do you have to walk out on me?” the man asked, standing in my way to stop me from leaving. The patrons in the bar seemed to notice the tension as the whispers began again but Mirabel paid no attention to it. She was intent on leaving the bar and no one could stop her. “I do not care who you are or who people think you are, I have an important place to be right now and I need to leave!” she snapped. The man lowered his head to her level and removed his dark glasses. Steel-blue eyes flashed at her, causing a gasp to escape her lips at the intensity of his stare. “You will marry me, Mirabel, I’ll come find you,” he stated with a tone of finality. Then he walked briskly out of the bar leaving Mirabel speechless for a few minutes but the incessant ringing of her phone snapped her out of her thoughts. “Hello…yes, I'll be there soon, I'm on my way,” Mirabel spoke hastily into the phone. The call ended with a click as she gathered her bag ready to leave the bar when the manager entered the bar. “Where are you going, Mirabel?” the manager asked. Mirabel stared at the clock and frowned, he wasn't supposed to be here until midnight. “I'll be leaving early, Sir,” she bowed politely. “Why?” her manager queried. “I got a call from the hospital, it's my mom,” Mirabel answered. The manager let out a sigh, “Fine. But you're on double shift tomorrow.” “Thank you so much, Sir,” Mirabel smiled. Immediately she left the bar and hailed a cab heading to the General Hospital where her mother had been admitted for over two years. Two years ago ever since her world turned upside down, Mirabel has forgotten what it felt like to be normal again. She has been frequenting this route for the past two years hoping for the best. But it… “Miss, we’re here,” the driver announced, interrupting her thoughts. Mirabel blinked and smiled gratefully at him before paying him and stumbling into the hospital. The smell of disinfectant wafted through her nostrils as she walked among the crowd of sick people and their families. “Miss Sinclair!” Mirabel stopped and whirled around to the sound of the familiar voice she had gotten used to hearing over two years as a sad smile formed on her face. “Doctor Ivy,” she smiled at the doctor who stared at her with pity in her eyes. “Mirabel, you're late,” Ivy stated sternly. Mirabel chuckled nervously, “I got a little side-tracked at work.” “Join me in my office, Mira,” the doctor said softly. Mirabel nodded as she followed Ivy into her office, bile rising in her throat. “What is going on, Doctor?” Mirabel asked. “We need to pull the plug, Mira,” the doctor answered. Mirabel's eyes widened as tears filled her eyes. She shook her head furiously, grasping the doctor’s hands. “Doctor, is my mother dead?” she asked worriedly. “No, calm down, Mira. We want to pull the plug because we think it's the best thing to do,” Ivy answered. Mirabel looked stunned, “But… but she's still alive, why would you do that?” “Mirabel your mom has been on life support for two years, the expenses are weighing you down. She isn't getting better and you're owing this hospital a huge amount of debt. We think it's best that you let your mother go and gradually pay off your debt,” the doctor explained. Mirabel shook her head furiously, “You told me that there's a chance she would wake up and get better.” “Yes, a slim possibility. She's in a coma. She’s been there for two years!” the doctor stressed. “I'm not giving up on my mother, Ivy! She's the only one I have left,” Mirabel cried. Ivy patted her shoulders sympathetically, “I'm so sorry, Mirabel. But you have two days to decide; either we pull the plug or you clear up all your debts with the hospital and continue treatment here or you can leave.” “Isn't there anything you can do for me, Ivy?” Mirabel asked, tears streaming down her cheeks. Ivy shook her head, “I’m so sorry.” Mirabel ran out of the doctor’s office, tears streaming down her cheeks as the intense feeling of helplessness washed through her body. She went to her mother’s ward and saw her lying helplessly on the bed as the sound of the heart monitor beeped – the only assurance she had that her mother was still alive. “Please come back to me, Mom,” Mirabel cried, grasping her mother’s hand, “I can't take this anymore, I can't make this choice they want me to make.” Mirabel bowed her head, tears streaming down her cheeks as she walked out of the ward. She needed to find a way to save her mother but what could she do that could give her a huge amount of money in two days? As she sobbed helplessly, she stumbled out of the hospital and headed to the main gate when a limousine pulled up beside her. The windows rolled down to reveal the familiar face of the young man who had saved her in the bar earlier. “Get in!” he ordered. Mirabel scoffed, “Are you following me? Just leave me alone, I'm not in the mood for this.” Mirabel continued walking while the car drove slowly beside her. “Marry me, Mirabel, and I will take care of everything your mother could possibly want,” he stated. Mirabel stopped in her tracks as she turned to stare at the man. “Who are you? How do you know about my mother?” she questioned. “You don't have any right to question me,” the man stated. Mirabel frowned, “Then I should at least know why you are so intent on getting married to me. There are a lot of girls out there desperate for your attention.” The man gave her a cold look, “You need the money and I need a submissive wife.” “Submissive?” Mirabel retorted with a small chuckle. The man arched a brow at her, “Won’t you be a docile wife in exchange for me to take care of you and your mother?” Mirabel opened her mouth to argue with him but Ivy’s words resounded in her mind. Two days… With a defiant look she stared at the man, “Fine, I'll marry you.”