4
~Bella's POV
The hospital room felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just my heart. I sat by Mia's side, watching the machines beep and whir, keeping her alive. She looked so fragile, her little body lying motionless on the bed. My tears flowed freely as I thought about Noah, sitting in a jail cell.
I wiped my face with trembling hands and looked at Mia. "I'm so sorry, Mia," I whispered. "I've failed you and Noah. I don't know what to do anymore."
I tried everything, everywhere I turned, I searched for a job. I applied at diners, shops, even factories, but no one would hire me. They all had the same excuses: no experience, no vacancies, no time for sympathy. Days turned into weeks, and every rejection chipped away at my hope.
Noah's trial came too quickly. I couldn't afford a lawyer, so he was sentenced to prison. I sat in the courtroom, clutching my chest as the verdict was read. My brother, my baby brother, was being taken away, and I was powerless to stop it.
The weight of it all crushed me as I sat beside Mia that evening. My tears soaked the sleeve of my sweater, and I didn't even try to wipe them away. I didn't care anymore. What was the point?
"Miss Carter?" a voice called gently, startling me.
I looked up to see a man, probably in his late forties or early fifties, standing at the door. He was dressed in an expensive suit, his graying hair slicked back neatly.
"Yes?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
He stepped into the room, his expression kind but unreadable. "My name is Mr. Lawrence. I was your father's business partner."
"My father?" I blinked, confused. "You knew him?"
"Yes," he nodded. "We worked together many years ago. When I heard about your situation, I knew I had to find you."
I didn't know whether to feel hopeful or wary. "Why are you here?"
"To help," he said simply. "I know things are tough for you right now. I can provide the money you need for your sister's bills and to get your brother out of prison."
My breath caught in my throat. "You can?"
"Of course," he said smoothly. "But nothing in life is free, Bella. You'll have to work to pay me back."
I nodded quickly, desperate. "Anything. I'll do anything."
He smiled, but something about it felt off. "Good. Come with me."
I hesitated but glanced at Mia. I couldn't let her stay like this, and I couldn't leave Noah in prison. "Alright," I said softly, following him out of the hospital.
We drove in silence to a part of town I'd never been to before. The streets were dimly lit, lined with sketchy bars and rundown buildings. Finally, he pulled up in front of a building with neon lights flashing in the windows.
"This is it," he said, stepping out.
I followed him inside, and my stomach turned almost instantly. The air was heavy with a sickly mix of smoke and perfume, making it hard to breathe. Dim, colored lights blinked in every corner, casting strange shadows on the walls. Laughter and chatter filled the room, but it wasn't the carefree kind—it felt forced, like everyone here was wearing a mask.
Women dressed in flashy, revealing clothes were scattered around, some draped over the arms of men, others leaning against the bar or perched on high stools. They laughed too loudly, their smiles too wide, their eyes flicking toward every man who entered the room like hawks spotting prey.
I felt my skin crawl as my eyes darted around, taking in the garish decorations—the gaudy chandeliers, the velvet chairs that looked worn from too much use, and the walls covered with pictures that made my face heat up in embarrassment. The place reeked of desperation, and I couldn't shake the sense that I didn't belong here.
"What is this place?" I asked, my voice trembling. I didn't want to know, but I had to ask.
"A brothel," he said bluntly, his tone so casual it shocked me.
The word hit me like a punch to the stomach. I stumbled back a step, horrified. "A brothel?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," he said, his expression unreadable. "This is where you'll work. You'll make money here faster than anywhere else."
"No!" The word burst out of me before I could stop it. "No, I can't do this. This… this isn't right!"
He sighed, his patience clearly thinning. "Look, Bella, you said you'd do anything to save your sister and brother. This is your best option. You'll earn enough to pay off the debts and give them a chance at life. Isn't that what you want?"
I shook my head, my chest tightening. "Not like this," I whispered, my voice cracking. "There has to be another way."
He took a step closer, his gaze cold and unrelenting. "There isn't. You have no job, no money, and no one else willing to help you. You're desperate, and this is your only way out."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked around again. The women here moved with confidence, but their eyes told a different story, tired, hollow, resigned. I didn't want to end up like them, but his words echoed in my mind.
Desperate.
My throat tightened, and I took another step back, closer to the door. But as I turned to leave, I overheard a conversation nearby.
"That'll be a thousand dollars for the night," one of the women said to a man. Her voice was steady, almost bored.
My heart skipped a beat. A thousand dollars. For one night.
I froze, my thoughts racing. A thousand dollars could cover a chunk of Mia's bills. It could mean food for Noah in prison. It could be a lifeline.
I stared at the door, my hand hovering over the handle, and then back at the room. My stomach churned, my chest felt tight, and my mind screamed at me to leave. But the weight of everything I owed, everyone I was failing, pulled me back.
Reluctantly, I turned around. My voice was barely audible as I whispered, "What do I have to do?"
The years dragged on, each one heavier than the last. Every night was a struggle—a fight between what I believed in and what I had become. I told myself it was for Mia and Noah, but that didn't make it easier. The guilt clawed at me every time I stepped into that smoky, suffocating room.
The money trickled in, just enough to keep Mia's machines running and make sure Noah had food in prison. But it was never enough. The hospital bills piled higher, the lawyer fees for Noah's appeal stayed out of reach, and hope felt like a cruel joke.
Ten years. A decade of my life wasted in this place. The bright, flashy lights that once made me cringe were now normal. The men's hungry stares and sleazy words barely fazed me anymore. Even the fake smile I plastered on my face each night felt like it had fused to my skin.
But inside, I was breaking.
Sitting in the tiny, windowless room they called mine, I stared at the mountain of bills on the table. My hands trembled as I picked up one envelope after another. Overdue. Final notice. Payment required immediately. Each letter was a slap to my already battered spirit.
I let out a shaky breath, burying my face in my hands. Tears burned my eyes, but I was too tired to cry. I had sacrificed everything—my pride, my dignity, my dreams—and yet, I had nothing to show for it.
Mia was still in a coma, her pale face etched in my memory every time I closed my eyes. Noah was still locked up, his letters growing shorter and less hopeful with each passing year. And me? I was stuck, spinning in circles, getting nowhere.
I glanced at the cracked mirror on the wall. The woman staring back at me wasn't someone I recognized. Her eyes were hollow, her face lined with exhaustion. She looked older than her years, worn down by a life she never wanted.
"I can't keep doing this," I whispered to the empty room. But the words felt meaningless. What choice did I have?
As I sat there, a sickening mix of anger, sadness, and frustration churned in my chest. I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of failure pressing down on me again.
No matter how hard I worked, it was never enough. Never enough to save them. Never enough to escape.