<h4>Chapter 19: What is Dignity?</h4>


    Eliana burst out of the hostel, her chest aching like someone had driven a fist straight through her ribs. Her world felt cracked and broken, her heart splintered into a thousand sharp pieces she couldn’t hold together.


    All she could see was them—Jason and Sarai—burned into her mind like an ugly scar. Jason’s mouth pressed against Sarai’s neck, Sarai throwing her head back with that smug littleugh. Their voices rang in her ears, cruel and mocking, tearing through her like ss.


    How could they do this to her? Jason, the man she’d nned her future with, the boy she’d grown up loving. And Sarai—Sarai, who’d been like a sister since they were kids, who knew every secret she’d ever whispered in the dark.


    They’d crushed her trust like it was nothing. Thrown it in the dirt and stepped on it while theyughed together.


    Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot against her skin, making the world shimmer and blur. The marble lobby twisted in her vision as she stumbled forward, her old sneakers squeaking and pping against the polished floor.


    Carl, the security guard, just stood there gaping at her, his mouth half-open as if words were trapped on his tongue. She didn’t look at him. She just ran past him into the quiet afternoon, where no one could see her heart breaking.


    "Miss Bet?!"


    Carl finally snapped out of his shock as his voice chased her down the steps, but Eliana didn’t stop. She couldn’t. Her legs moved on their own, pushing her away from that ce, from the truth that felt too heavy to breathe under.


    Cold air burned in her lungs as she ran. Her pink dress clung to her legs, damp with sweat and tears, while her curls bounced wildly around her face. She didn’t even know where she was going—she just kept running until the hostel lights faded behind her.


    Finally, she slowed to a shaky walk and realized she was in the old park near downtown. The sky was turning cloudy, streaked with fading purple and gold. Ancient oak trees stretched their branches overhead, creating quiet shadows across the worn path.


    The park was empty. Just the whisper of leaves above her and the low hum of distant traffic. It felt like the world itself was holding its breath.


    Eliana dropped onto a splintered wooden bench, her body folding in on itself as sobs ripped out of her chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees and pressed her forehead to them, trying to keep herself from falling apart.


    "They wouldn’t... they couldn’t..." she whispered into the hollow space between her knees. Her voice cracked, trembling with disbelief. Her eyes, puffy and red, stared at nothing as tears dripped onto her dress.


    "Jason promised me forever," she choked out, feeling the words shatter in her throat. "And Sarai... she was my sister. My family."


    But the words felt empty, like she was clutching at smoke. Memories flooded her mind—Jason’s warm hazel eyes when he slid that perfect diamond ring onto her finger. Sarai’s bright grin as theyy on the dorm floor braiding each other’s hair until sunrise.


    All of it felt fake now. Lies. Every smile, every promise, every moment they’d given her.


    For five hours, Eliana sat there, lost in her grief. The sky darkened, stars winking into existence, but she didn’t notice. Her tears fell in a steady rhythm, soaking the cor of her dress. When the first raindrops pattered against her skin, she barely registered them. The drizzle turned into a downpour, drenching her curls until they hung in heavy, sopping strands. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, but she didn’t move, didn’t care. The rain mingled with her tears, washing away thest remnants of her hope.


    "Hey, miss! You okay?"


    A voice snapped Eliana out of her daze. She blinked up through blurry eyes to see a woman standing in front of her, holding a bright yellow umbre. She looked to be in her fifties, with a round, kind face wrapped in a floral scarf. Worry creased her eyes as she frowned down at Eliana.


    "You’ll catch your death sitting out here like this," the woman said gently. "Come on, love. Find somewhere warm to go."


    Eliana stared, dazed, as if waking from a dream. The park came into focus—the rain-slicked bench, the puddles pooling around her feet, the cold seeping into her bones. "I... I’m sorry," she mumbled, her voice hoarse. She stood, wobbling slightly, and the woman reached out as if to steady her.


    "No need to apologize, just get somewhere warm, alright?" the woman said, her tone gentle but firm. Eliana nodded numbly, her feet moving before her mind caught up. She trudged to the nearest bus stop, rain dripping from her fingertips, and boarded a bus to the hospital. She sat in the back, her soaked dress leaving a puddle on the seat, her eyes vacant. She felt like a ghost, hollow and drifting, the world around her muted and gray.


    <strong>**********</strong>


    Meanwhile, across town, in a massive mansion that practically glowed against the dark hills, Rafael Vexley sat in his office by a giant window overlooking the city lights. His wheelchair faced the ss, but his steel-grey eyes—sharp and cold despite what everyone believed about his blindness—were fixed on the stack of papers spread across his polished mahogany desk.


    Beside him stood James, his assistant. James was the type who never looked ruffled, with his crisp ck suit, neatly trimmed beard, and a tablet glued to his hand. He read off updates in his calm, clipped voice.


    "Mr. Vexley, the merger with Horizon Tech is on track, but we need your approval on the final terms," James said, tapping his stylus against the screen. He hesitated, then added, "Also... it’s been over a week since Miss Betst showed up. Should I start looking for a new caregiver?"


    Rafael’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, his chiseled jaw tightening. He leaned back in his wheelchair, his crisp navy suit impable despite thete hour. "James, don’t waste your time," he said, his voice low and edged with mockery. "Eliana will be back. Everyone has a price, and she’s no different. Money talks, always has."


    James raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You sure about that, sir? She seemed... different. Not like the others."


    Rafael chuckled, a cold, bitter sound. "Different? Please. She’s just another soul waiting to be bought. Give it time. She’ll crawl back when she’s desperate enough." He waved a hand dismissively, his gaze drifting to the window, where rain streaked the ss like tears.


    Back at the hospital, Eliana stepped off the bus, her sneakers squelching on the wet pavement. The fluorescent lights of the emergency entrance buzzed overhead as she pushed through the doors, her heart heavy. She made her way to her father’s room, where Dr. Patel, another kind-eyed doctor with graying hair, was waiting. His face was grim, his hands sped tightly in front of him.


    "Miss Bet," he began, his voice soft but heavy, "I’m sorry, but we’re running out of time. Your father’s condition is deteriorating. Without the funds for his treatment... I’m afraid he has less than a week if we continue this way."


    The words hit her like a bucket of ice water down her spine. Eliana’s knees buckled, and she sank into a stic chair, her hands covering her face. "No... no, please," she whispered, tears spilling anew. "I’ll find a way. I’ll get the money, I swear." But her voice cracked, and the sobs came again, raw and unstoppable. She cried for her father, for the betrayal, for the life she’d thought she had. The hospital’s sterile walls seemed to close in, suffocating her.


    Then, like a flicker of candlelight in a pitch-dark room, a memory rose up through Eliana’s panic—Rafael Vexley’s offer. That cold, ruthless billionaire had promised her a life of unimaginable luxury, all in exchange for one thing: a child. His child. Last week, she’d walked away, clutching her dignity like a shield. She’d sworn never to sell her body or her future, no matter what.


    But now? Now, dignity felt like a pretty ss ornament she could no longer afford to keep. Not when her fathery dying, and the only way to save him was money she didn’t have. Money Rafael had in excess. Swallowing the bitter taste of her pride, she closed her eyes and made her choice.


    With thest few crumpled bills warming her palm, she stepped out into the night’s downpour and gged down a passing cab. Rain dripped from her soaked hair and dress as she slid into the backseat, shivering. "Vexley estate," she whispered to the driver, her voice barely holding together.


    The cab wound its way through the city streets, neon signs smearing like paint across the windows. Eliana stared out at the passing world, her heart pounding louder with every turn they took. Finally, at 8:12 p.m., the car rolled to a stop in front of Rafael’s mansion. Tall iron gates loomed before her, guarding the glowing pce within.


    She stepped out, her dress clinging to her body, heavy with rainwater. Cold air bit at her arms as she hugged herself for warmth. A burly security guard with a buzz cut eyed her sharply, his gaze lingering on her drenched figure.


    "Name and purpose?" he demanded, his voice t and unfeeling.


    Eliana lifted her chin, ignoring the tremor in her legs. "Eliana Bet," she said, her voice soft but clear. "I’m Mr. Vexley’s caregiver... Please. Let me in."


    The guard nced at his tablet, his face impassive under the glow of the security lights. After a silent second, he nodded and pressed a button, buzzing her through the massive iron gates. Eliana stepped forward, her shoes squelching with each step along the stone path.


    At the mansion’s grand entrance, a maid swung the door open, her eyes going wide at the sight before her. "Oh, sweetheart, you’re drenched!" she eximed, rushing forward with a thick, fluffy towel. She pressed it into Eliana’s trembling hands. "Here. Dry off before you catch your death."


    Eliana dabbed at her face and arms, trying to rub away the chill sinking into her bones. Water dripped from her curls onto the marble floor, leaving tiny, trembling puddles behind as the maid led her deeper into the house.


    They passed gilded mirrors, velvet curtains, and glimmering chandeliers that sparkled like ice under the dim lights. Finally, the maid stopped in front of a heavy oak door and gave her an encouraging nod before pushing it open.


    The scent of leather and expensive cologne hit Eliana instantly. Inside, Rafael Vexley sat in his wheelchair by the tall window, his broad shoulders wrapped in a perfectly tailored ck suit. He was staring out into the night, the city lights casting fractured reflections across his steel-grey eyes.


    James, his secretary was gathering papers into a sleek folder, ready to leave for the evening. Eliana stood at the doorway, clutching the towel like a lifeline as her heart thudded in her chest.


    She cleared her throat, her voice small against the distant patter of rain against the windows. "Mr. Vexley," she said softly.


    He turned his head slightly, his gaze flicking to her, unreadable and cool. For a fleeting moment, something sparked in those silver eyes—curiosity, or maybe faint amusement.


    "Miss Bet," he drawled, his voice smooth and dark like aged whiskey. "Back so soon? I thought your pride would keep you away a little longer."


    Her fingers twisted into the towel, knuckles paling with the force of her grip. "I... I’m sorry I left," she whispered, her brown eyes darting to his before dropping to the shiny floor. "If your offer still stands, I’ll do whatever you ask. Anything. I just... I need help with my father’s hospital bills. Please."


    A ghost of a smile curved at his lips, cold and knowing. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharpening despite their clouded greyness. "Anything, you say?" he murmured, his tone curling with intrigue. "Well, Miss Bet... let’s see just how far your desperation takes you."