**Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Ontario, Canada**

6:00 PM

A voice on the other end of the line inquired, "Hello, am I speaking to Code Anderson?"

"Yes, this is Code Anderson. May I know who's calling?" he responded.

"This is Dr. Covey from Unity General Hospital in the USA," the voice replied.

Code expressed mild surprise, "Dr. Covey, you could have called my personal number directly. Why use the landline?"

Apologizing, Dr. Covey explained, "I couldn't access your personal number. I'm calling regarding your mother's health; she urgently requires a kidney transplant within the next two weeks."

Code's concern deepened, "Oh my goodness, have you found a suitable donor?"

Dr. Covey's voice held a note of concern, "Not yet, and that's why I suggest you contact your father. As of now, he's the only matching donor we know of."

Code's father had abandoned him and his sick mother when Code was just 17, marrying a wealthy woman who had supported his business, leading to his success. From that time till now, his father had not reached out to them and even if they tried to contact him, he would either ignore them or come up with an excuse to get away from them. His rich wife was the one controlling him now, and he had no say since he owes everything he had to her.

After becoming one of the richest people in town, Code Anderson never believed he would ever need his father's help again, most especially now that he was more than three times richer than his father and his new wife.

Tears began to well up in Code's eyes as he contemplated his options. "I don't think he would agree, but I'll do my best to convince him."

Dr. Covey's voice faded as he concluded, "You should. Goodbye for now," and the call ended.

Martina, sensing the change in Code's demeanour, couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?" She noticed his reddened eyes and the effort he made to hide his emotions.

Code took a deep breath before responding, "It's nothing much, but I need to get back to the United States as soon as possible."

Concern etched on her face, Martina persisted, "Please, Code, can you share what's bothering you?"

With a sigh, Code relented, "Martina, it's a personal matter. Just book me the next available flight to the U.S."

"Of course, I'll do that right away. But can I come with you? As your fiancee, I want to support you in any way I can. Plus, it might help me take my mind off my parents' recent divorce drama."

Code considered her request for a moment, then conceded, "Do as you wish. Just secure me a flight ticket."

Martina swiftly turned to her keyboard, her fingers clicking away as she searched for available flights. "There is midnight 1:00 am and afternoon 1:00 pm tomorrow," she informed him.

"1:00 am would do"

****

**Kira's House**

"Oh no... Kira, stop. I need to attend that party, you can't do this to me." Chloe begged desperately.

"I thought you came over to talk, What is wrong with you?" Kira retorted.

"Talk...pheww. I just want to go partying." Chloe replied in her usual carefree tone.

"Hell No! girl, I ain't making the same mistake I made last time. Look how drunk you became last time, talkless of all the stupid things you kept on saying." Kira picked up a pair of jewellery from her table and put them back into the drawer.

"I promise I would be better, I wouldn't get drunk... Please just let me come along with you." Chloe continued to plead.

"Chloe, I can't, That was what you said the last time and look what it turned out to be, a total disaster. Girl... don't you see that your drinking habit these last six months has been so out of control." Kira crossed her hand over her chest, her tone a little more serious.

Chloe rolled her eyes in defense, "You can't blame me for that, I am presently going through hell."

"Regardless, I won't make the mistake of tagging you along. Try to understand me, this is for your own good, you need to minimise your drinking. It has made you become the worst version of yourself." Kira closed the gap between them and bent over to meet Chloe's gaze.

"You don't get it, Whether I go partying or not, I would still get drunk... You know I live in this big mansion where I have everything at my disposal. I just don't enjoy drinking all alone, it makes me sad, and then I begin to think of him."

"Him as in... Felix or the fucking billionaire?"

"I got over Felix a long time ago, of course when he chose to be with Lily over me, but Code..." Chloe paused, trying her best not to expose herself. "You know what let's just forget it." Chloe said, dampening her teary eyes with Kira's blanket.

"Girl... show some respect for my stuff" Kira yelled as she grabbed the shit away from Chloe's hands. " You know, we can't just keep pushing this topic away, for the past few months you have been something else and it's all because of that son of a bitch."

"Come on girl don't ruin my mood, I just want to go to a party." Chloe snapped.

Kira's once loud tone soon became a gentle whisper, "You love him don't you?"

"What the butts are you talking about? Please don't bring this terror upon me." Chloe pleaded.

"I have been a bad friend but now I want to change that, I only led you to parties whenever you had a problem and I made you drink away your problems but now drinking is your problem. I guess sometimes you just have to you know... stand up to your problems," Kira placed a comforting hand on Chloe's shoulder as a form of support.

"I can't believe we are talking about Code Anderson right now. Thanks for ruining my mood, I'd be on my way." Chloe blurted out as she stood to her feet, in an attempt to leave.

"Chloe..." Kira yelled. "What is going on in your head? You are hurt, stop trying to hide it. We've been friends for years, I literally know when something is wrong."

"I...I don't know Kira" Chloe stammered as tears began to flow uncontrollably from her eyes. "Having to live without your husband for fucking six months after just two months of marriage, no calls, no texts, no explanation of what happened, I don't even know if he is dead or alive, I just have to live all alone in his annoyingly big mansion, all because I am a part of some stupid contract." Chloe's tears continued to stream down her pale face as she fell to the floor in pain.

"I'm sorry girl... I'm so sorry." Kira sat beside her, slowly rubbing her shoulder and sobbing along.

Chloe stands up and cleans her tears, then she comes right in front of Kira, ready to explain every detail of her unfortunate life. "You know when my mother was sick, my dad had to borrow from his boss and they agreed on a date but even after the surgery and everything, Mom still died. Now we are left with a pile of debt to pay and the dew time was so near, and that is where I came in. He said I would serve as collateral, such an idiot. And just when I started developing feelings for him, he disappeared into the thin air."

Chloe chuckled in pain, "The funny thing is that his friend, Nathan, keeps coming to check up on me, offering me support in weird ways. I don't even know if this is part of their plan or something. To make me cheat while he is away... I don't just get any of this."

"Chloe it's fine, it's worth getting angry over, but I guess it's better you just moved on with your own stuff. Focus on what you want your life to become after this crazy contract marriage your father got you into."

Wipes off her tears with the back of her palm, "You are right... It feels really good to hear you make sense, Even if this is going to be the last time, I would never forget this moment."

"Don't get used to it, now get over here" Kira squeezed her into a choking hug while Chloe struggled to break free from her embrace.

"It's enough, no more hugs, stay away from me." Chloe checks her phone for the time, "I guess I'll be on my way out now, I think I feel better after this session. Thank you so much, Kira."

"It's fine, I got you, buddy" Kira smiled.

"Bye" Chloe said before making her way to the door. Kira blows kisses in the air and Chloe waves them off aggressively before running off.

****

3:40 am

Chloe woke up to grab herself a cup of water cause her throat was so dry that she actually felt it in her dream. She stumbled out of bed, rubbing against her sleepy eyes as she made her way to the kitchen.

The floorboards creaked beneath her feet and she winced, hoping that she wouldn't wake anyone else in the house.

Chloe took the first sip, and she felt the cold liquid soothe her parched throat which made her let out a satisfied sigh. She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing in the quiet of the night, before turning to head back to bed.

On her way back to the room, she was startled by a noise from behind her and she froze in her tracks, her heart racing as she turned to see where the noise had come from. It was just her cat, or would I rather say Code's cat, sitting on the kitchen counter and staring at her with its bright green eyes.

"Good morning, Lizzy," she said with a soft chuckle, relieved that it was him. She took no chances to scratch him behind the ears before continuing back to bed.

In a bit, Chloe was in her room, and just then, she got a text alert and quickly reached for her phone which was on the side table. It was 3:47 AM and she had just received a text from an unknown number.

Clicking on the message to see what it contained, she dropped her phone unconsciously, "He is back?" She blurted out in fear.