Chapter 2 Forced To Marry

"Your service was awful and isn't worth any more than this penny!"

A single coin lay beside the note.

This girl had dared to seduce him and then toss him aside like some common plaything? The audacity. The man's fingers clenched around the note before he ripped it to shreds, his face a storm of fury. This arrogant woman had better pray he never found her.

Then, something near the bed caught his eye. He reached down, picked it up, and his face darkened even further.

This was...

By the time Joanna reached the hospital, Martha had already been rushed into the emergency room.

The doctor's tone was grim. "Your mother has an aortic dissection. It's critical-she needs immediate surgery."

"Yes, we'll go ahead," Joanna said, snatching up the consent forms and signing without hesitation. Then, as if suddenly remembering, she asked, "How much will it cost?"

"If everything goes smoothly, around three hundred thousand."

The pen trembled in her hand, her fingers stiffening as all color drained from her knuckles.

Three hundred thousand...

Their entire savings barely scratched thirty.

Sensing her hesitation, the doctor asked, "Are we proceeding or not?"

"Yes!" Joanna bit down hard, forcing her hand to move as she scrawled her signature.

Money could be borrowed, but a life lost was gone forever.

Yet finding that money proved harder than she'd ever imagined.

Although she attended a prestigious university brimming with wealthy students, Joanna had always remained an outsider-her full scholarship separating her from their privileged world.

She called every contact she could think of, but after exhausting every option, all she had was twenty thousand.

Her palms were damp, the phone screen smeared with sweat. What now? Who else could she turn to? Not Mathew-he was struggling just like her, living on a scholarship with barely enough to get by. And after what happened tonight, facing him was out of the question.

Then came the sharp click of high heels echoing through the sterile hallway. A woman, impeccably dressed, came into view.

Joanna bristled up. "What are you doing here?"

Julissa Powell, standing with her usual arrogance, pulled out a sleek bank card. "Your father heard about your mother's condition. He figured you'd need money, so he sent me with this."

For as long as she could remember, Martha had been her only family. It wasn't until she arrived in Qakvale for university three years ago that she learned the truth-her father was none other than Liam Powell, a powerful businessman.

Martha had been Liam's mistress once, and Joanna was the child born from that affair. As for Julissa, she was Liam's legitimate wife.

Joanna loathed the very blood that tied her to them and wanted nothing to do with the Powell family.

"I don't need it," she said icily.

Julissa smirked. "Joanna, your mother is dying, and you're still playing noble?"

Joanna's jaw tightened. "I'll figure something out."

Julissa snorted, "With what? Three hundred thousand dollars? Please. Even if you sold yourself off, you wouldn't be worth that much."

"You!" Joanna pointed a finger at Julissa, her eyes burning with fury. Yet, she had no retort.

There was no denying it-raising that kind of money on such short notice was impossible.

Lifting her chin arrogantly, Julissa said, "I'll give you three minutes to decide. After that, even if you beg on your knees, the offer's off the table."

Joanna's fists curled so tightly that her nails bit into her palms.

Julissa was right.

Dignity meant nothing when life was slipping away.

She raised her head. "What do you want in return?"

There was no way Liam Powell would help without a price. If he truly cared, Martha wouldn't have spent countless nights hunched over her handicrafts, pushing her eyesight to the limit just to scrape by.

Julissa arched a brow. "Smart girl. Of course, there's a catch. I'm sure you heard of the Harvey family. The Powell family and the Harvey family have an old marriage pact. Rhys Harvey just turned eighteen, and now they've come to claim the agreement. Specifically, they want you."

Joanna let out a cold laugh. "You've spent years reminding me I'm nothing more than an illegitimate child. And suddenly, I'm important enough for the Harvey family to ask for me by name?"

For a brief moment, embarrassment flashed in Julissa's eyes.

The reality was, the Powell family's business had been crumbling for the past six months. Desperate for a financial lifeline, they had turned to the Harvey family, begging them to uphold the long-forgotten marriage agreement.

Owen Harvey, founder of the Harvey Group, was a force to be reckoned with. Arriving in Qakvale with nothing but an adopted son, he had built a business empire from the ground up, dominating the market for thirteen years. And he was only thirty-three.

After relentless persuasion, Owen had finally agreed.

His condition was simple-if Rhys agreed, he would invest in the Powell family's business.

Though Rhys wasn't Owen's biological son, he was undoubtedly his favorite. Owen's constant indulgence had only fueled his wild nature.

And in the last three years, with Owen frequently overseas, Rhys had grown even more uncontrollable.

Julissa would never risk her own daughter's future on someone like that. So, she'd set her sights on Joanna instead.

Called out by Joanna, Julissa flared up. "Stop acting ungrateful! This marriage was meant for your sister, but out of the goodness of her heart, she's letting you have it instead!"

Joanna stared at her, sick to her stomach.

Julissa pressed on. "Enough of this. Are you in or not?"

Joanna had heard enough about Rhys Harvey to know what kind of man he was-impulsive, arrogant, uncontrollable. Life with him wouldn't just be difficult.

But there was no other way.

Martha had spent over two decades giving everything for her. Joanna wouldn't let her die. Even if she was walking straight into a trap, she had no choice but to step forward.

Pain twisted inside her as the last of her resistance crumbled.

Her nails dug so deep into her palms that blood welled in tiny crescents. Gritting her teeth, she forced the words out. "I'll do it, but on one condition."