Chapter 1 The Price of Mercy
“If you can't settle the administrative fees by tomorrow, your mother will be transferred to the general ward, Ariana.”
Ariana turned her head slowly, the weight of those words pressing hard against her chest. “What?” her voice trembled. Her entire body felt frozen. “Please, give me some time, Diana. I truly don’t have the money right now,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Diana, a doctor and Ariana’s childhood friend, caught the helpless look in Ariana’s eyes. She made no effort to hide her indifference.
“This facility belongs to the Matheus family.” Diana narrowed her eyes, a cold, mocking glint flashing through them. “You know exactly who the head of the Matheus family is.”
“Just take your mother home.”
“What did you say?!” Ariana’s anger exploded. Tears welled up and spilled over, and she wiped them away harshly with her sleeve.
The corridor fell silent beneath the blinding white lights. Ariana’s disappointment could no longer be contained. Through her sobs, she continued, “My mom treated you like her own child. How'd you say something so cruel?” she grabbed the collar of Diana’s white lab coat.
Diana let out a hollow, scornful laugh. “I don’t care, Ariana. Even if your mother dies.”
“You!”
“Your mother never saw me as anything more than your babysitter,” Diana shot back, her eyes sharp, filled with long buried hatred.
Her gaze traveled from Ariana’s feet to her simply tied hair, disgust etched across her face. “Do you really think I'd lend money for your mother?” she sneered.
“I already told you, I’ll find a job and pay you back as soon as I can.”
“How will you pay me back? Your family is bankrupt. Your stepfather vanished after selling off all your assets.”
“I’m begging you, Diana. My mom is in critical condition. You’re the only one who can help me. She needs intensive care right now.” Tears streamed down her face once more.
A cruel smile touched Diana’s lips. She savored the sight of Ariana, the girl once endlessly praised, now humbling herself at her feet.
Closing the distance between them, she whispered into Ariana’s ear, “Calm down, Ariana. Even though I hate you, I’ll help you. Listen carefully.”
“Really?”
Diana’s smile twisted into something feral. A dark plan flickered behind her eyes.
“Of course. But there’s a condition.”
“You’ve gone too far, Diana. How can you toy with someone’s life like this?” Ariana shouted, her voice burning with rage. “You’re a doctor!”
Diana’s loud laughter echoed through the hallway as she stepped closer. “Why not? This is who I am, Ariana. If you’re not interested, I’ll leave.”
Terror wrapped around Ariana’s heart. She glanced toward her mother, lying motionless as the heart monitor emitted its sharp, rhythmic beeping. She had no choice. Ariana reached out and grabbed Diana’s hand. “Wait. Tell me. What’s the condition?”
The sly look in Diana’s eyes was unmistakable now.
“You really have no shame, Ariana. Fine, I’ll tell you, for the sake of our friendship.”
Ariana remained silent, her jaw clenched tight. She wanted nothing more than to slap that expression off Diana’s face.
“This hospital is running a major research project involving an illegal hormone program. We need someone willing to become a test subject.” Diana lowered her voice, her face only inches from Ariana’s. “And I think you’re a perfect fit.”
Ariana pressed her lips together, trembling as she processed every word.
Diana toyed with a loose strand of Ariana’s hair and whispered, raising a brow, “So? Interested?”
The massive surgical lights blazed overhead with blinding intensity. The operating room felt colder than Ariana’s own body, making her shiver in fear.
Before the sedatives pulled her under, Ariana glimpsed Diana entering with a middle aged man dressed in an expensive dark brown suit.
“The woman you requested is over there.” Diana pointed toward Ariana and handed the man a white envelope stamped with the hospital laboratory’s logo, “her test results are excellent. Her uterus and fertility will not disappoint you, sir.”
“How much is the girl?”
Diana’s eyes gleamed with greed as she answered quickly, her tone syrupy sweet. “Nine hundred thousand pounds. Once the payment is completed, I will immediately implant your wife’s embryo,” she said eagerly. “She will be pregnant very soon.”
Ariana’s chest rose and fell as the truth slammed into her. Diana had not brought her here for research. She had sold her to an old man. Diana was truly monstrous.
“You’ll receive the money shortly. Perform the procedure quickly and cleanly. I want her pregnant as soon as possible,” the man urged.
With a sly smile, Diana dipped her head slightly and glanced at Ariana. “Of course, sir. I’ll do exactly as you wish.”
Ariana opened her eyes when she regained consciousness from the anesthesia. She lay weak in the same place, confined for days in the surgical wing.
She had lost consciousness countless times, her skin pierced by needles again and again. “Diana!” she cried out, scanning the room frantically. “Where is Diana?”
“Ma’am, you’re finally awake. It’s time to take your medication.” A nurse standing beside the bed placed a tray of pills on the table.
“Medication? What medication now?” Panic filled Ariana’s eyes, her pupils dilating.
Her thin, weakened fingers trembled as she instinctively clutched her hospital gown. She could not swallow another strange pill.
“Research supplements, as usual. Don’t be afraid. We’ve told you, they’re just like vitamins. Please open your mouth, ma’am,” the nurse said flatly. Her cold gaze carried an unmistakable command.
Ariana shook her head, lips pressed tightly together in refusal. “No. I don’t want to. Where is Diana? It’s been days. Why won’t you let me leave? I need to see my mom!”
“Diana will not be coming here.”
Ariana gasped. “Why? I need an explanation from her. Why did she trick me? Why did she sell me?”
Her weak body was helpless as her mouth was forced open. The illegal medical pills were shoved down her throat. “You’re forcing us to do this, ma’am.”
“No. Mmph!”
The pills were forced down cruelly, leaving Ariana gasping for air. Tears burned her eyes as she stared into the nurse’s emotionless face.
“If you cause trouble and disrupt this research, you will be held responsible for our massive losses, ma’am!”
“To hell with your research. Get out of my way!” Ariana shouted in fury.
She scrambled out of the bed, ripping the strange devices from her body. She whispered to herself over and over, “I have to leave. You’re all insane!”
She ran to the hidden door of the operating room and yanked at the handle with all her strength. It was useless. The door was locked.
“You can't leave this place, ma’am.”
Ariana spun around, her voice shaking with rage. “What? Why can’t I leave?” her chest heaved with emotion as she slammed her fists against the door. “I did everything you told me to do. Open the door. Let me out!”
“You’re pregnant.”
