Chapter 6
Nathan clearly hadn't expected that. "Why the hell would I save your bastard child?"
"Because she's..." I stopped myself.
If I told him Bella was his daughter, would he save her?
Or would he think I was lying for money?
Would Lillian even let her live?
No. I couldn't take that risk.
"Because you can have my life." I met his eyes, each word deliberate. "Nathan, you hate me, right? Save her, and my life is yours. Do whatever you want with me."
Nathan's eyes narrowed, studying me.
Then, slowly, he smiled. "Fine. Sign this, and I'll save her."
The assistant handed me the file.
The Lover Contract.
"Be my lover until I get tired of you. On call whenever I want. No dignity. No freedom." Nathan leaned in, his voice a demon's whisper in my ear. "Hannah. You owe me this."
I signed.
When I put my name on that paper, I sold the last shred of my dignity.
Nathan kept his word. That night, seven hundred thousand hit the hospital's account.
Bella was moved to a VIP room. She got the best care.
But I couldn't visit her.
Because the first rule of the contract was simple: On call. No personal time.
That same night, I was taken to another one of Nathan's places.
Not Skycrest Villa. A massive penthouse downtown.
"Take a shower." Nathan was on the couch, loosening his tie, his eyes unreadable.
I went into the bathroom. The hot water washed away the blood and dirt.
When I came out, Nathan was by the floor-to-ceiling windows, smoking.
He heard me and turned, his gaze crawling over me.
I pulled my robe tighter, feeling awkward.
"Come here," he said.
I walked toward him. Every step felt like walking on glass.
He grabbed me, pulled me into his arms, and kissed me hard rough.
No tenderness. Just release.
"Hannah. These seven years. Did you ever think about me?" he asked, breathless against my ear.
I wanted to say yes. Every second of every day.
But what came out was, "It's just a transaction, Mr. Collins."
Nathan went still. Then he got even rougher. "Good. Fine. A transaction."
That night, he used me like a ragdoll, tossing me around however he wanted.
Near dawn, he finally stopped and got up to shower.
I curled up under the covers, listening to the water, tears silently falling.
The next morning, a phone call woke me up.
Lillian said, "Hannah, where are you?"
Her voice was shrill with anger.
"Why do you care where I am?" I croaked, my throat raw.
"You're with Nathan, aren't you? You disgusting little..." Lillian shrieked into the phone.
I laughed coldly and hung up.
The bathroom door opened.
Nathan came out, a towel low on his hips, water tracing the lines of his muscles. "Who was that?"
"Lillian."
Nathan frowned, said nothing, and redialed.
His voice instantly softened. "Hey, Lillian. What's up?
"Just dealing with some work stuff at the office... Yeah, I was working late last night... I know, baby. I'll come see you tonight."
Listening to him lie so smoothly to comfort another woman, I felt nothing.
He hung up, got dressed, and tossed me a card. "Buy some decent clothes. Don't embarrass me."
And then he was gone. He didn't even look back.
I didn't use the card to buy clothes. I went straight to the hospital.
Bella was still unconscious, her tiny body covered in tubes.
The doctor said that even with the money, they still hadn't found a suitable donor.
And Bella had a rare blood type.
RH-negative.
The same as me. The same as Nathan.
That made finding a donor even harder.
I was sitting by her bed, lost in thought, when the door burst open.
Lillian stormed in, fury written all over her face.
"I knew I'd find you here," she said.
She lunged at me, but I caught her wrist.
"This is a hospital. What is wrong with you?" I demanded.
"You bitch. How dare you go behind my back and seduce Nathan?" Lillian shrieked, struggling. "And this little brat of yours still isn't dead?"
Her vicious gaze landed on Bella.