Nora's standpoint.

I shook off my now stained shirt, I could still feel the hotness of the coffee against my skin as I looked up at the person.

It was a tall stranger, holding an almost empty cup of coffee. His lips parted as if to apologize, but his words caught in his mouth when our eyes met. He stared at me for a few seconds as though he had seen me before.

“Hey!” I snapped my finger, jolting him back to reality. “You don't even have the guts to apologize?”

“I… Um… I apologize for my clumsiness.” He stuttered, not taking his gaze off me.

My eyes twitched with confusion and self-pity. I can't believe this is what has become of me. I wanted him to yell back at me, pick up a fight with me. That way, I would be able to let the tears flow. I could have a reason, but he stood there, calm, as if almost smiling.

I rolled my eyes at him and was about to take a step past him, but he grabbed my arm, pulling me back to the spot. My eyes widened with surprise at the way he looked at me.

A smile curled up his face, like he had been waiting for this moment. Then, confusion flashed on his face.

“Is anything the matter, mister? If not, excuse me.” My voice was harsher than I intended.

Rather than a response, he patted my head gently, stroking down my messy hair. His gentle touch sent a wave of calmness through my body and a tear rolled down my cheeks, guilt gnashing at my insides for being so at peace when I might lose my father.

I melted in his hands, almost letting go of everything, and I couldn't understand why. Why this stranger felt as though he were the one I had been waiting for, why time froze as he stood in front of me.

Just then, a voice cut through my thoughts.

“Alexander?” The frail voice sounded excited, and the man moved to stand beside me, facing the woman on a wheelchair.

Two bodyguards, dressed in brown suits, stood beside the woman and a nurse behind the wheelchair, her hands on its handle.

Though the woman looked weak and sick, a genuine smile played on her lips.

“Mom?” Alexander called in a low voice, his voice icy and his face cold as he looked at the nurse. “Why did you bring her out?” He barked, moving closer to his mom and covering her well with the blanket that sat on her knees.

“It's fine, Alexander. I wanted to get some fresh air, but I think this is more than enough.” She uttered, glancing and smiling at me, which I forced a smile in return.

“Is this the loving lady you've been hiding from me?” She asked, taking my hand in hers.

I wanted to correct her, that I was just a stranger to her son, but Alexander took my second hand, staring at me lovingly.

“Yes, mom. She's my girlfriend.” He smiled, tightening his grip on my hand while I looked at him with my jaw down, almost trembling in shock.

My eyes widened and though I wanted to say something, it was as though I lost my voice for a moment.

“You're more beautiful than I ever imagined,” his mom patted my hand with her other hand, causing me to turn to her with a forced smile that didn't reach my lips.

What should I do? And how dare this bloody stranger pull this kind of string on me? Why now? I thought within me, almost screaming out the words of my thoughts.

But it all came to me when Alexander winked at me with a strained smile that made him look like a cute bunny. A genuine smile spread on my lips for the first time in the day.

“Did I say something funny?” His mom's voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

I slipped my hand from their grasps and knelt beside her. Seeing her so frail, yet happy just by one tiny action from her son filled my heart with joy, my smile like an ironic smile, laughing at how I had failed as a daughter.

If this is all I have to do to put a smile on a stranger's face, then so be. I thought, my finger caressing her face softly as I put her hair behind her ear.

Her eyes shut for a moment and when they opened, they were filled with tears.

“Why does it feel so good?” Her voice came as a whisper, the tears crackling in it.

“Because you're happy. That's how you feel when you're overwhelmed with happiness.” I smiled, a tear rolled off my cheek.

“It's time for your meds,” the nurse butted in.

“I'll see you around then…" She paused, her eyes yearning for how to address me.

“Nora is the name, ma'am.”

“Just call me Yvette.”

The nurse wheeled her away while I rose to my feet, tears still rolling off my cheek and my body trembled as it got more intense.

“Hey!” I felt Alexander's hands on my shoulders as he called to me, but I turned to him, burying my face in his chest.

“Let's get you somewhere quiet,” he offered as he led me out of the hospital.

A few minutes later, we sat on a cemented bench. His back leaned as he stared at the stars. I studied him for a moment and I just can't see why someone like him would say something like that.

“What did you do that for?” I questioned, swiftly shifting my gaze away. Looking at him felt like I could drown in them and forget how messed up my life was at the moment.

He glanced at him before staring at the stars again. “It's been since forever I saw her smile, I just want to make her remaining days peaceful and happy.”

“Her remaining days?” I gulped down hard, fear of losing my dad gnashed at me. I can't make peace with that. “How do you intend to do that when all of this is a lie?” My voice quivered slightly.

He sat up and turned to me, taking my hand in his and our gaze locked. “How about we make it real?” A sly smile, that I couldn't quite trust, curled up his lips.

My heart raced, my cheeks tinted with blushes, reacting to his touch.

“Get a grip!” I snapped at myself, slowly wriggling my hand from his.

“What do you mean by that?” I gulped hard, looking away from him.

“Be mine…" His words grasped my attention, my eyes widened in surprise. “For 100 days. That's all she has left.”

I chuckled and rose to my feet, turning back at him, trying to make out if he was joking. But the look on his face was serious. I wrapped my hands around my arms, shaking my head.

“You can't be serious.”

“Why are you here at the hospital? I'll sort whatever it is you want…" He paused and rose, moving closer until I could feel his hot breath against my face. “Just be mine, and I'll get it done.”

“$5000?” I teased, trying to talk him out of it.

“Done!” He straightened up, his smile bright like something that brings me home.

“You don't just expect me to believe your words?” I shrugged, my hands slipping off my arms. “My dad is in there, and he needs the money to survive.” My voice trembled, thinking about the pain he has to go through.

Alexander brought out his phone and after a few minutes of scrolling, he stretched the phone to him. My eyes screamed with questions.

“Enter your account details,” he urged.

My heart skipped a beat, unable of what or how I should feel if he was serious, as much as how I could feel if this was a lame prank.

I grabbed the phone and wanted my details with my heart in my mouth, and returned the phone to him.

“You can check now,” his voice filled with a hint of pride, but I paid it no attention until I heard a beep from my phone.

I brought out my phone from my pocket, unlocked it and a gasp escaped my lips when I saw the amount. The exact thing I asked for.

My eyes met his.

“Do we have a deal now, Miss Nora?” He questioned, his voice cold, same as when he spoke to the bodyguards.

Without a response, my gaze landed on my phone, a smile contoured with tears I tried to hold back, played on my face.

“My mom would be so happy,” I muttered to myself as I went to my dialer.

But before I could dial her number, her call came in.

Perfect timing, I thought as I answered the call and brought it to my ear.

What I heard on the other end broke my heart in a million shreds; my mom sobbing.

“Mom? Is something wrong? Why are you crying?” I bombarded her with questions, fear and worry etched in my voice.

“Your dad… He's gone, Nora! He left without me. How could he!” She yelled before breaking back into sobs.

It was as though the world crumbled to the ground, I slowly lowered the phone, dumbstruck.

My knees wobbled, but before I could fall to the ground, Alexander caught me, his eyes yearning for answers.

“He's dead.”

Nora's standpoint.

I sat on the floor in the white-walled funeral home in the hospital. The room was decorated with beautiful flowers but nothing was beautiful; not about me, not in my life.

Dressed in a black dress with my hair packed in a ponytail, I wore a dark shade over my eyes to cover my now swollen eyes, from crying throughout the night.

My eyes landed on the coffins in front of the room; my mom laying next to my dad. It felt like a nightmare, only that this is real.

I have the night to sleep it over, but they were still there waiting for me to bury them.

How could she do this to me? I thought, my heart felt like it was being shredded apart across the world. Why did she have to kill her and leave me alone in this messed up world?

The last images of my mom flashed before my eyes.

Blood, knife, her phone covered in blood and her lifeless body in her blood. Her open eyes would haunt me forever.

“Nora?” A gentle voice called, and I turned to its direction. It was Alexander, dressed in a black suit and his face etched with worry and understanding, not some lame ass pity look I've been getting all day.

People trooped in and out of the funeral room; people I haven't seen before, friends I was no longer in contact with and family whom I haven't seen for ages. I was just tired of being pitied.

Every “My condolences,” felt like a mockery to my ears. As though, they were waiting for this.

“Hi,” I muttered in a low voice, shifting my gaze back to the coffins.

Alexander sat beside me, taking my hand in his and our gaze met.

“You're not alone, Nora. I'm here for you.” His masculine voice reached my ear, filling my heart with warmth I fought against

No… I don't deserve this. I don't deserve to be at peace after failing my parents.

If only I had a responsible boyfriend, my dad's life would have been saved and my mom would be here, and I won't have to deal with all these pitiful faces.

I wriggled my hand from his grip, gulping down at the guilt that clawed at my insides.

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” I whispered, tears creeping into my voice.

A nurse approached us, holding a file. “Miss Andrew?” She called in a gentle voice, pulling me away from my lingering thought.

“Do you mind…?” She shrugged, referring to my parents, but before I could respond, Alexander rose to his feet.

“I'll take care of that, you may leave.” He said to the nurse in a cold voice.

As if jinxed by him, she handed the file to him and left.

Alexander sat beside me again, and we watched as the room grew empty. I struggled to get to my feet, Alexander helping me up.

We walked to the front, my hands placed on both.

“It's fine if you're not ready yet, we could…" I butted in abruptly.

“I'm ready.” My voice quivered, and I sniffled, wiping off my tears under the shade.

“Okay,” He nodded but stared at me with his eyes filled with worry that I might break.

“I'm fine, Alex,” I muttered as I met his gaze.

“It breaks me more that you're telling me you're fine when you clearly are not.”

Without waiting for a response, he gave me the document which I signed. I took another look at them, their struggles to live, to win, evident on their now cold bodies.

I must fight, I must avenge them and I must win, I thought within me, clenching my fists as they were wheeled in to be cremated.

“Let's get you home, Nora. You haven't slept a wink since last night.” Alexander uttered which I nodded to.

We walked out of the funeral house and as we walked into the hospital's waiting area, I couldn't hold my tears back. It felt as though my mom would be there, waiting to hug me after all these nightmares, but the waiting area felt empty, despite crawling with people.

“Nora?” His voice pulled me to reality, and we walked out of the hospital.

He held out the door for me, I settled in, and he got into the car, igniting it.

Though I lived alone in my apartment, it felt like home each time my parents visited. My mom, standing at the door with her homemade chicken soup with my dad by her side, getting me beautiful flowers Leon never did.

The journey to my apartment was silent, not that I didn't have anything to say. In fact, I did.

I wanted to ask my dad why he didn't fight harder, just a little more minutes and I would have saved him.

I wanted to ask my mom why she thought suicide was the best option, why she would think about the pain I'd go through.

But I did have the strength… It was as though life had been drained out of my very existence.

Alexander pulled over at the parking lot and walked me to my door. I grabbed the keys from the pants I wore under the dress and tried to open the door. But my wobbly hands wouldn't find the keyhole.

“Allow me,” he said, his fingers brushing off mine as he took the key.

He opened the door, and we walked in, but I halted. My eyes scanned around; it used to be my home, but now it feels like just a mere wall to hide my pain from the world.

“That's enough,” I thought aloud.

“Would you be okay?” Alexander asked, his eyes scanning mine.

I nodded, wrapping my hands around myself. Thanks to the shade I wore, I was able to make it through the day.

“I'll leave then,” He said and dropped something on the table. “That's my card, call me if you need anything.”

He hesitated, his lips slightly parted, and his face contoured with disappointment. “Bye then.”

He walked towards the door but as I watched him leave, the thought of being alone, being alone to wallow in my own thoughts felt as though I was being thrown into the first World War.

“Wait!” My breath hitched with my eyes squeezed shut, not believing myself. He turned to me with his brows raised. “Could… Do you... Stay with me, please. Please.” My voice came with a desperate plea and tears followed.

He rushed to me, wrapping his hands around me while he patted my back.

“Shush… That's enough now, I'm here for you.” He said in a hushed voice that I would have found it sexy on a normal day.

And maybe I do…

Before I could think twice about my action, he carried me off my feet like a bride, waiting to be devoured by her husband, and took me into the bedroom.

He tucked me in and sat beside me, holding my hands. I had never been so scared of being alone.

“Can I ask you something?” I tilted my head to him and asked.

“Sure,” he nodded with a genuine smile. It was the first I've seen for the day.

“Why did you offer me that deal? Not because of your mom, I want the truth.” My voice came like a whisper but just as I suspected, a flash of mixed emotions flashed on his face.

“What do you mean? You know why,” he forced a smile, looking away from me.

“I saw how you looked at me, Alexander and I know there's more to it.”

“Umm… I've always had this weird dream where I fall in love with this lady and I…" He looked at me, his lips trembling slightly. “You're the woman and I want to be close to you.” He swiftly said, squeezing his eyes shut that he might regret what he just said.

I stared at him for a moment before laughing. He opened his eyes, confused.

I sat up and moved closer to him until I could feel his breath on my lips. My thoughts went blurry for a second, and before I could gather them back, my lips pressed against his.

At first, he was reluctant but he gave his body to me, cupping my face like a little baby as he kissed me back, his tongue invading my mouth. While we kissed, my shade fell off, revealing my swollen eyes and causing him to stop.

“Poor you!” He whined as he gently touched my face.

Before I could speak, something got my attention; a clock-like timer on his neck. But I was more shocked when I saw what was written above it.

“Time left to live.”

My chin dropped, and a gasp escaped my lips.

“Are you okay, Nora?”

He has 90 days to live!

Nora's standpoint.

“What?” I blinked, his voice dragging me out of my thoughts and my eyes locked with his. He looked at me confused, his face slightly marred with fear.

“Are you sure you're okay? You seem like you've seen a ghost.” His voice was tender, and I swiftly glanced at his neck, the same spot where I had seen how much time he had left.

But it was gone!

A sigh of relief swept through my lips and I relaxed on my back.

“You have to talk to me, you know that, right? I can't know what's going on in your head unless you tell me.”

“It's nothing, Alex. And I'm grateful that you're here with me, but I think you have to leave now.” I uttered in a tired voice, without sparing him a glance.

“Did I say something wrong?” He questioned, but I shook my head. I was too tired, too numb to give him a response.

“Then I can't leave. I can't leave you alone like this, with nobody to care for you. You need me, and I'll be here for you.” He said swiftly, his voice firm and leaving no room for any choice for me.

I lifted my head up and looked at him. He looked so sincere that I wanted to run into his arms but then, Leonard’s face flashed before my eyes.

His eyes are half the most sincere look I've ever seen, but what did he do to me? He broke my heart. A man I've been in love with for years left me as though I were nothing.

What assurance do I have that Alex is nothing like him? Or perhaps worse?

“No,” I shook my head, though I wanted to kiss him so badly and slept in his arms until the next morning. Though I needed something strong to numb the pain I was feeling, I knew better than to fall for his tricks. “I don't need your help, I'll be okay on my own.”

“Trust me when I say that's the grief speaking. I'll go make you a cup of warm coffee and read you a book.” He smiled as he rose to his feet.

“No,” I uttered, making him look back at me. “I'm exhausted and would like to rest, I'd appreciate it if you can leave.”

He stared at me in disbelief for a moment and nodded with his lips slightly pouted. “Sure, you should rest. I'll be here to check on you later.” He responded and retreated from my room.

I wanted to tell him never to come back, that it was over between us, but my lips wouldn't say the words.

It felt as though something was pulling me closer to him, and it wasn't ready to give up, no matter how much I tried to fight it.

I watched his retreating figure and got out of bed as soon as I heard him shut the front door. I walked to the door and locked it behind, before dragging my feet to the kitchen.

My eyes scanned through the kitchen, and it sank in that almost everything I had in the kitchen was bought by my parents. The same parents I had failed to save.

Tears streamed down my cheeks and my wobbly legs too weak to hold me up, failed, and I came crashing against the slab, to the floor. My hands covered my mouth as I continued to cry, whimpering.

They were gone and it was all my fault. If I hadn't fallen in love with that gold digger and gambler… if I hadn't made the devil herself my best friend, perhaps my parents would still be alive.

I sat on the floor and all I could think was “what if” until my body felt numb, and it felt a bit better.

My eyes fluttered open, and I slowly sat up as I held my hand up to my banging forehead.

“Ouch…” I moaned and got to my feet. My eye got a glimpse outside the window and it was already dark.

I walked to the living room, sank myself on the couch and turned on the television. I searched through the channels to find something soothing, but there was none. So, I leaned my head against the couch, hoping I would be at the mercy of sleep again.

My doorbell went off, jolting me out of what wasn't entirely my thoughts. My eye instinctively landed on the door and no matter how hard I thought about it, I had nobody to come visit me. Still lost about whom it could be, the bell rang again, and I walked to the door.

For a moment and with the slightest of hopes in my heart, I wished it were my parents, wanting to tell me this was all a bad dream I would wake up from.

I peeked through the hole in the door and to my disappointment, it was Leonard and Vivienne. A frustrated sigh surged through my lips as I rolled my eyes.

“Open the door, Nora. I know you're in.” Leonard said with his voice raised as he banged his fist against the door.

Not wanting them to cause a scene, I grabbed the knob and was about to open the door when I heard another voice.

“Who are you?”

It was Alexander’s.

I felt a wave of relief sweep through my body, and I took a step away from the door.

“Well, who do we have here?” Leonard whined teasingly.

“That depends on who's asking.”

“You should head your way, mate. I'm feeling generous today.” Leonard barked.

“How can I go my way when you're standing in my way? And I just asked who you are.” Though Alex's voice was calm and collected, I could feel his rage in his voice.

“You really want to get a good beating, don't you?” Leonard threatened, but Alex chuckled.

“Would that be coming from you? Or was that simply a joke?” Alex grinned and walked to the door.

“Leonard, will you just let him walk over you like that?” Vivienne whined in a cute and childish voice that almost drove me mad.

How could she be this disgusting?

“He doesn't stand a chance, baby.” Leonard uttered and banged on the door again.

Filled with rage, I stormed closer to the door and opened it, but Leonard was already on the floor, holding his face with Vivienne crouched beside him. All eyes landed in me as I stood confused and surprised by the door.

“Is this what you do, Nora? Jump from one man to another? Have you got no shame at all?” Vivienne snapped at me.

I pulled Alex in and our lips met in a kiss, I shifted my gaze to Vivienne, my head up high. “I'm not like you, who seduces her best friend's man. Alex, here is mine and made for me alone.” My voice was firm, as though I were marking my territory.

Of course, I was.

This might have started as a contract with Alex, but I'll make sure Vivienne won't be able to get her hands on him. Same to other ladies.

I turned to him, and he looked at me, yet to recover from the surprise. “You belong to me, don't you dare forget that.”