Chapter 5 Someone Entirely Unrelated to Me

Sabrina's apartment exuded an air of order and vibrancy. A colorful tablecloth brightened the dining table, and a bouquet of eye-catching flowers graced the windowsill. It was as if Sabrina's zest for life had spilled over into her living space. While not intentionally eavesdropping, Curtis could not help but notice Sabrina's face tighten during her phone call. Words like "sick" and "money" reached his ears, hinting at some urgent need. Someone was ill and needed financial help. But who? Curtis sat patiently on the sofa, waiting for Sabrina to finish her call. A few minutes later, she hung up and approached him. As she gazed at the handsome but emotionally distant man before her, a wave of revulsion swept over her as she recalled his almost complete lack of empathy. "Let's go," she said. "I overheard you mention money on the call. I've saved up about 100,000 dollars from my job over the years. If you agree to marry me, I can lend it to you," Curtis suggested matter-of-factly, as though proposing a simple business transaction. Sabrina was taken aback. Was he reducing marriage to a financial transaction? Such a union would be loveless and unhappy, even if it only lasted for a year. "Sorry, but I can't agree to that," she responded firmly. She would have avoided talking to Curtis altogether if it were not for Daniel. Curtis simply shrugged, not pushing the topic further. Deep down, he believed she would eventually come around. He knew she desperately needed help, regardless of the circumstances. When they arrived next door, Daniel had already prepared lunch and was excited to see them. "Ah, you're finally here! Let's eat," he exclaimed cheerfully. Sabrina greeted Daniel with a warm smile, refusing to let the day's unpleasant events dampen her spirits. After the meal, she made excuses to leave but was stopped by Daniel's earnest voice. "You seem a bit off today. Do you want to talk about it?" Sabrina had always been caring toward Daniel, and he genuinely wanted to help her during this difficult time. Sensing his sincerity, she hesitated briefly, reluctant to burden him with her problems. However, as she met Daniel's concerned gaze, her eyes misted over and her voice quivered. "I got a call from my brother. Our Grandpa is sick and in the hospital. I'm thinking of selling my house to help with the medical bills," she confessed. Daniel was not fully aware of Sabrina's financial situation, but seeing her in this state, he suspected she was in dire need of money. Beyond wanting Sabrina as his potential future daughter-in-law, Daniel’s immediate concern was her well-being. "Curtis, you've saved up quite a bit over the years. Why don't you lend a hand and help Sabrina during this rough patch?" he suggested. Sabrina felt a growing sense of unease. She had already turned down Curtis' previous offer and now she felt cornered as Daniel broached the topic once more. "Why should I help someone entirely unrelated to me?” Curtis shot back, his eyes like shards of ice. Sabrina's face drained of color, the emotional weight becoming unbearable. She knew, however, that no one owed her anything. "I've got to head to work, Grandpa," Curtis announced, rising from his seat. He had taken time off just for this lunch, and now that the meal was done, he had no reason to stick around. Frustrated by his grandson's callousness, Daniel turned to comfort Sabrina. "It's okay. Once I sell the house, I'll have the money. Don't worry about it," she reassured, mustering a smile that betrayed nothing but bitterness. * Back at home, Sabrina mulled over Curtis' proposal. Marriage as a business transaction? The thought repelled her, but then again, it could be the key to saving her ailing grandfather. She rationalized that it was only a one-year commitment. Was marriage not, at its core, a form of transaction anyway? With love having failed her, tying the knot with someone at this point seemed inconsequential. Choosing Curtis meant gaining a loving grandfather figure in Daniel, even if she knew nothing about his parents. Daniel had mentioned that Curtis' parents were seldom around, so she would not need to deal with them during this one-year marriage. Plus, there was the money. It seemed like an incredibly good deal, no matter how she looked at it. Still, Sabrina was conflicted. Her heart may have given up on romance, but it still clung to the dream of a lifelong marriage and a joyful family. This was why she had fallen so hard for Aaron, purposefully turning a blind eye to his flaws. Wrapped in a blanket on her couch, clutching a pillow tightly, Sabrina felt like her mind was a battlefield. One voice urged her to say yes, while another vehemently opposed. Lost in her internal struggle, she was startled by a knock on her front door. Jumping to her feet, she opened the door to find Curtis's piercing eyes meeting her own. * After filling a glass with water for Curtis, a glass he only eyed but never sipped, he set it down and said, “Meet me at the city hall tomorrow at 10 a.m. I'll be waiting for you. Bring your ID." Curtis was astute enough to recognize that Sabrina's simple act of opening the door signified a consideration. She had, after all, yielded for the sake of the money, had she not? "I’m a man of my word. After we're married, I'll transfer 100,000 dollars to you. You can use it to save your grandfather," he paused, then added, "Of course, that's assuming you'll actually use the money for that purpose. If I find out you're deceiving me, you'll regret it." Sabrina bit her lip, her soul already tormented by this difficult decision. Hearing Curtis' words only fueled her inner rage. "Nobody jokes about a sick relative! I have some conditions for this one-year marriage, too." Curtis nodded, open to reasonable terms. "Our marriage will only last a year, no more, no less. Don't expect any sort of intimacy between us, not even in bed. If we must keep up appearances for family, fine, I'll play along. And just so you know, I'm not giving up my job for this."