Chapter 2 HER DECISION

"Is that guy crazy? Why would he just randomly offer marriage?"

Isabella couldn't believe the proposal she'd received from the handsome stranger she'd encountered outside the hospital. She'd thought he was joking, but his serious demeanor made her uneasy.

She'd dismissed him as insane, but his appearance and bearing suggested he was a respectable man. Isabella was walking home to her apartment when the rain subsided, giving her an opportunity to leave the strange, handsome man behind.

"Who in their right mind would offer marriage, especially when we don't even know each other?" Isabella muttered, stopping and pulling the calling card the handsome man had given her from her pocket.

FLASHBACK

"Marry me before I die, and after that, I will make sure your daughter will get a new heart. Just marry me, and say 'I do' in front of my parents."

"W-What? You're proposing?" Isabella stammered in shock, and he nodded.

"Yes, marry me and I will—"

"—Are you crazy? Why would I marry you when we don't even know each other? Do you have a mental problem?" Isabella interrupted, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

She had to admit that the man in front of her was incredibly handsome, but he was also strange, and she couldn't help but feel nervous, especially with his out-of-nowhere proposal.

"I am as sane as far as I know. I know it's surprising to be offered a marriage, but trust me, it will benefit both of us," he said, pulling a calling card from his pocket and handing it to Isabella.

"If you are interested, just come to my company. Let's talk about my offer," he said before walking away, braving the rain, and leaving Isabella slightly stunned.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Spade Cedric Vasile, C.E.O of Lacrose Food Indust—wait? Lacrose Food Industry—oh my god! He's the C.E.O of the famous food industry in Asia?!" Isabella exclaimed, her eyes widening as she recognized the name on the calling card.

"If I'm not mistaken, this guy is the third richest businessman! And this billionaire just offered me a marriage?!" Isabella blurted out, unable to believe who she'd encountered at the hospital and who had strangely proposed to her.

"What's wrong with that guy? Why would he offer marriage to someone like me? He's a billionaire, so it's impossible that he doesn't have a girlfriend. Has this guy gone crazy because of his wealth?" Isabella said, pocketing the calling card and continuing her walk.

Marry me before I die, and after that, I will make sure your daughter will get a new heart...

Isabella stopped again, Spade's words echoing in her mind.

"Is he really serious about what he said?" Isabella asked, shaking her head.

"He's probably just messing around because he's rich. Does he think he can fool me? Why would I marry him if we don't love each other?" Isabella said before walking straight to her apartment.

When she reached her apartment, she didn't immediately go inside. She fixed herself, not wanting her daughter to see that she had been crying.

Isabella plastered a smile on her face before opening the door and stepping inside. She immediately saw her nine-year-old daughter, Alina Fuentes, watching her favorite musical series.

"I'm back, Ali," Isabella called out, drawing Alina's attention.

"Welcome home, Nay," she greeted.

Alina was wearing a mini oxygen tank because she had difficulty breathing due to a heart condition that required a heart transplant. That was Isabella's biggest problem, because Alina's surgery was expensive, and there was no compatible heart for her daughter.

Alina wasn't her biological daughter. This nine-year-old girl was the daughter of Isabella's deceased older sister. Her niece had been left in her care, and since she was an orphan herself, she had taken on the responsibility. She treated her like a daughter, and she was happy that Alina treated her like a mother.

Isabella wanted to have Alina operated on, but she couldn't. She was short on money, and her job as a waitress at a resto-bar was her only source of income.

She did everything for her daughter, just so she wouldn't lose her.

"How are you feeling?" Isabella asked, sitting down next to Alina.

"I'm fine, Nay. Where did you come from?"

"I came from the hospital. Don't worry, we'll get you treated soon," Isabella said, caressing Alina's cheek.

"I'm sorry, Nay. I know you're having a hard time because of my illness. I'm not really your daughter, but you're sacrificing for me."

"Alina, you are my daughter. The same blood flows through both of us. You may not have come from me, but for me, you've been my daughter since I held you when you were a baby. I'll do everything for you, so just trust Nay, hmm?" Isabella said, holding back tears, and Alina nodded with a smile.

"Yes, Nay." Isabella hugged Alina, needing to be strong for her daughter.

That night, Isabella went to work, leaving Alina with her kind neighbor. Her neighbors were kind and helpful, but some were gossipy and nosy, which Isabella ignored.

"Two buckets of beer at table 48, and sisig," Isabella ordered at the counter.

"You don't seem to have any energy tonight, Bella. Are you okay?" Isabella turned to her co-worker.

"I'm okay. I need to be okay for my daughter."

"Everything will be okay for you and your daughter. I'm sure an opportunity will come your way that will be a way for Alina to get better. Just trust, and when that chance comes, don't let it go," she said before patting Isabella and leaving to deliver orders to other tables.

"Will there really be a chance for me to have Alina operated on?" Isabella muttered, Spade's calling card coming to mind.

Isabella paused as she remembered his offer.

"C-Could that be the chance my co-worker was talking about?" Isabella muttered, immediately dismissing the thought.

"Impossible, that guy is offering marriage."

Didn't you say you would do everything for your daughter...

Isabella stopped, feeling like she heard herself in those moments. She immediately thought of Alina and her condition. The doctor's last reminder to her was that Alina needed to be operated on as soon as possible, because once her illness attacked again, it could lead to her daughter's death.

All night, Isabella couldn't think of anything but Alina. She knew she couldn't bear it if Alina, her sister's memory, was also taken from her. So after Isabella's shift, at dawn, she found herself heading to Lacrose Food Industry.

Isabella stood, watching the large and tall building of Spade's company.

"Seriously, Isabella, are you decided on what you're thinking?" she asked herself.

"But if I don't do anything, I'll really lose Alina," she added.

She hadn't slept because of her all-night shift, but because Isabella couldn't find any other way, especially in her financial situation, she was now in front of the company of the man who had out of nowhere offered her marriage.

"If this is the only way, I'll do it for my daughter—"

"—I can see that you already made a decision."

Isabella turned around in surprise, startled by the voice behind her. She paused as she saw Spade, his handsomeness striking.

"He-Hello..."

"Follow me," Spade said, walking straight into his company, followed by his secretary, who bowed to Isabella.

"I'm Sandro Mcrell, Mr. Vasile's secretary. My boss told me to tell you to follow him, so let's get inside," he said before gesturing to Isabella, so she had no choice but to enter Spade's company.

Is this decision right? Isabella thought as she walked towards the VIP elevator where Spade was standing.

I hope what I'm doing is right, and I won't regret it in the end, Isabella silently said in her mind before taking a deep breath and thinking that what she was going to do was for her daughter.