VOWS OF VENGEANCE: HER RUTHLESS CONTRACT WIFE

DIANA

I couldn’t breathe. Because my son’s life depended on it.

The monsoon season in Horrixo brought a merciless cold strong enough to steal warmth from one’s bones and leave the skin frostbitten.

I lay in the middle of it, clad in nothing but a once-white silk dress, stained with dirt, my eyes open as rain struck my skin like needles.

My lungs squeezed painfully, begging for air. I didn’t know how long I could cheat nature, but I kept telling myself… just a few more seconds.

“Cut!”

Air rushed into my chest in a desperate gasp. I coughed hard, my chest heaving while the rain continued to hit me.

“And that’s a wrap!” Director Joan’s voice cut through the heavy downpour.

“Finally,” I muttered, pushing myself up. My joints cracked loudly as I stretched. Cold mud clung to my arms and legs.

I hugged myself and ran to take cover.

The director’s personal assistant approached me.

“Your phone has been ringing nonstop—”

It rang again.

Thomas’s Hospital.

My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped the phone. “Hello?”

“Miss Diana? It’s Nurse Reyes. Thomas had another episode. His oxygen levels dropped badly. We’ve stabilized him, but you need to get here quickly.”

My knees nearly buckled. I bolted back into the rain, mud splashing up my legs, phone still pressed to my ear. “I’m coming. Please just keep him safe.”

I flagged down every vehicle, desperation etched in my bones.

“Please!” I shouted at one, but it sped past like I didn’t exist.

I saw a woman on a bike fastening her helmet.

I moved toward her, grabbed the spare helmet without thinking and mounted the bike.

“Take me to Saint Festus Hospital, please,” I begged, my voice cracking.

The driver hesitated,

“Please.. it’s my son..I’ll pay you…just go.”

She started the engine and moved.

At the sight of the hospital lights, I yanked off the helmet and jumped down from the bike before it fully stopped.

I bolted straight into the hospital.

The water dripping from my soaked clothes left traces of pink color. I was working as an extra in a zombie apocalypse movie. We were bathed in white paint to look like bloody corpses.

“Diana!”

Thomas.

My heart clenched tightly. “Let him go now!”

Two large men gripped his thin arms tightly, his body small between them. The doctor and the nurse stood quietly by the side, shivering in fear.

A cold laugh echoed behind me. “That was quick?”

My stomach tightened.

I spun around. Jezebel leaned against the wall like she owned the place. Short, scrawny and sharp-eyed, her lips curled into a cruel smirk like this was an entertainment. She twirled a thin knife between her fingers with casual ease, the blade catching the lights.

“Jezebel, please, I will pay you. Just tell them to let him go. He is sick. Don’t hurt him…”

She let out a low laugh,sizing me up. “Did you come here from a blood bath?”

“I was working,” I said quickly. “If you can just give me a few days, I promise I will come up with the capital and interest.”

A cruel smile spread across her face.

“Kneel.”

I froze."What?"

“Kneel down,” she repeated, “and beg.”

“Mommy!” Thomas screamed in pain and fear as the men tightened their grip.

my legs gave way before I found think. I dropped down to the cold floor, knees hitting hard.

“Please…” I let out.

She watched me for a long moment abd burst out laughing, a screeching sound that made the nurse flinch. “You look so pathetic.” Her face darkened. “That is for ignoring my calls."

My breath hitched. "I promise I didn't ignore your calls we are not allowed to use phones–"

"You have twenty-four hours to bring my money, or your brat pays the price.”

She patted my cheeks. “Tick-tock.”

Jezebel gave her men a signal, and they released Thomas and trailed behind her.

I rushed to my son and pulled him into my trembling arms. “Are you okay?”

“I am fine. They didn’t hurt me,” Thomas said, still shaky.

A shudder ran through me. I held him tighter afraid to let go.

“Miss Diana,” the doctor called me with disdain.

“I’m sorry, but we have to remove your son from this hospital. We can’t risk another incident like this. This is a hospital.”

He walked away without waiting for my response.

“You can’t do that,” I pleaded, holding Thomas like a lifeline. “You know he can’t live without his treatment. I promise I will sort this out. It will never happen again,”

The nurse shot me a sympathetic look. “I will speak to him.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

I turned back to Thomas, forcing a smile. “Don’t worry, I will have everything sorted out. Go back to your room for now, okay?”

“Diana?” he called me worriedly.

“I’m fine,Go,” I urged him. As he walked away, my phone beeped. It was a credit alert from the set.

Account Balance: $100.

I sighed in frustration. That wasn’t a bit enough. My debt with Jezebel was ten thousand dollars with an interest of five thousand dollars. How could I possibly raise it in twenty-four hours?

I stood outside the hospital and scrolled through my contact list. My thumb hovered over a contact. I took a deep breath and clicked it.

It connected on the third ring.

“Diana, what’s up?”

“Hi, Suzzy… I need a favor.”

There was a sudden pause.

“What’s going on, Diana?”

“I know this isn’t the right time for this, and I hate asking, but can I get a loan? I will pay it back in a month. I swear.”

“Is Thomas relapsing?” she asked, worried.

“No.” I wiped the silent tears falling from my eyes. “Not yet. But I need fifteen thousand.”

“I can’t do that amount, Diana. You know Julius and I just spent everything on the wedding. I can only manage five thousand.”

“I appreciate anything,” I whispered.

“Diana, the offer at the bar is still open. I understand your reason for not wanting to work there, but it’s a gay bar, and the customers have no interest in women. Just do your shift and leave. Julius is friends with the manager. I can talk to him to give you an advance.”