THE SCARLET BRIDE

Mila

"I'm sorry, Miss Garvis, but even with the scholarship, the university still requires a twenty thousand deposit before you can commence registration," the head of admin informed me pitifully.

I blinked back the tears that stung the back of my eyes. "But I've already deposited seven thousand, and every other thing went to books.

"The older woman shook her head sadly. "My hands are tied."My teeth ground together at the unfairness of it all. Didn't I deserve a break from life? How was it that every single time I thought I'd finally broken the chain of my bad luck, something else just showed up.

"If you give me some time, I can raise the money," I said desperately. Twenty thousand was a lot of money, and I had no idea where I could get that sum anytime soon. All the spare money I had went toward buying drugs for my sister.

"Unfortunately, Miss Garvis, registration ends in forty eight hours. I'm afraid if you don't have the money by then, you'll have to forfeit your admission."

Pain lanced through my chest at the words. College was my only hope of making something of myself and finally getting out from under my stepmother's thumb.

The tears leaked out my eyes. "Isn't there something I can do. Anything at all?"The woman stared at me with pain. "I'm so sorry."

As soon as I left the office, I call my boyfriend to tell him the bad news. He picked the call on the second ring. "Hello?" An impatient female voice said. I froze, wondering why a girl was picking his calls.

"Uh, hello. Can you put Ryan on the phone please? It's urgent." "Who the hell are you? And what urgent thing do you have to discuss with my boyfriend?" The girl snapped. Shock ran through me, causing my stomach to tighten painfully. "I d-don't understand. Your boyfriend? You're mistaken."

"Ry baby, some idiot is on the line," the girl called out.

"Who?" I heard Ryan ask in the background, "Just hang up. I don't care."

"Come and tell her to buzz off. " The girl demanded.

To my surprise, Ryan's voice finally came through the phone. "Who is this? Why are you bothering me?"

My chest felt painfully tight, but I told myself this must all be some misunderstanding. Ryan and I had been together since the first day of my highschool. We loved each other. We were going to get married eventually and travel the world.

"Ryan, it's me."

"Who?" He snapped.

I swallowed nervously. "Mila. Your girlfriend."

There was a pause, and then he burst into loud laughter. "oh my God, Mila. You're so funny. You could start a career as a stand up comedian."

"W-what?"

"You're not my girlfriend. You're just some loser high schooler that won't stop bothering me. Can't you take a hint?" He snapped. "I'm a football star in college and well on my way to becoming a professional athlete, while you can't even get into college and you wear torn clothes."

Bile rose up my throat, tears blinding me. "You don't really mean that, Ryan. Please stop it. I love you, and I know you_"

"Eww. What a desperate bitch," the girl's voice giggled, cutting me off. "Seriously? Can't you have some shame? He doesn't want you. Get that through your thick skull. I'm his one and only girlfriend."

"Ryan, don't do this to me," I pleaded. "I need you now more than ever. My sister is getting worse and the college admin said_"

"The problem with you Mila is that you have far too much baggage. How can you really expect me to be with you? You're pathetic honestly. Don't ever call me again."

Before I could say more, the line had gone dead. I tried to call him back over and over again, but the call never went through. I staggered out of the admin building, feeling my heart shattered into a million pieces.

It felt like I had lost everything. What more could life take from me?

I leaned over the edge of the bridge, toying with the idea of just jumping over and ending it all, but who would take care of my sick sister?

"Hey, you," someone suddenly snapped behind me.

I spun around to see the most gorgeous man on earth staring at me critically. "Me?"

"Are you up to eighteen?"

Uh, yeah. Why?" My brows furrowed.

"Good. Marry me."

I blinked at the man, wondering if he was crazy despite his designer outfit.

He made an impatient sound in the back of his throat and pulled a fat wad of cash out, handing it to me. "That's ten thousand dollars. I'll offer you another ten if you agree to go down to the court right now and sign a marriage document."

I pinched myself, wondering if this was a dream. "You don't even know me."

"You're a woman, you're legal and you look like you need the money. So is that a yes or a no?" He checked his large Rolex watch impatiently.

I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell, but what came out instead was, "Yes." I had definitely gone mad to.

"Let's go." He turned and walked toward a waiting Mercedes and I followed after him suspiciously, mind racing.

Why would a man like him need to pay a random nobody to marry him? He could have anybody else. So why me? Was this a trap? Could he be a kidnapper?

Half an hour later, we had signed the marriage document and the deed was done. The man tucked the papers into the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out a checkbook, scribbling something on it before handing it to me.

"What's_"

"Goodbye." He cut me off.

And before I could gather my wits, he had turned and disappeared. What the hell just happened? I glanced down at the check in my hand and my eyes went wide as I counted five zeros.

The man had given me a hundred thousand dollars!