Chapter 8 I bleed either way
CHAPTER 8: I bleed either way
Vera
Cherry's sharp intake of breath cut across the charged stillness in the room.
Silas straightened slowly, putting some distance between us, giving me room to breathe, filling my lungs with much needed air. Even then, the weight of his presence didn’t lift; it lingered, heavy and unsettling, even as he stepped back.
When I finally dared to sneak a peek in his direction, I noticed then that my phone wasn’t on the bedside table where it had been left.
He was holding it.
I flushed with shame when I realised that that was what he had been retrieving.
I watched as his fingers moved across the screen with practised ease.
The room was silent except for the faint taps as he typed.
Across the room, still standing by the door, Cherry gaped, wide-eyed.
I watched, oddly frozen, heart still racing from how he had leaned over me earlier.
He turned the screen toward me.
“I’ve saved my number,” he said simply, extending the phone towards me.
I took the phone from his hand, my fingers brushing his for the briefest second. The contact sent a strange jolt through me. But he may as well have been made of rock, because he didn't react, only watched me for a brief second longer, his gaze unreadable, before stepping away.
“I’ll keep in touch.”
With that, he turned around already heading for the door.
Cherry stepped forward, clearing her throat nervously.
He paused briefly.
“Um—sir?” she said, her voice tentative. “I… I just wanted to say thank you, once again. For earlier. For helping us. When Vera collapsed… And for helping Lily too.”
He gave a single curt nod.
Then he walked past her and out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. It was as though the room was still holding its breath in the wake of his departure.
Then Cherry rushed to my side.
“Oh, Vera” she said breathlessly, her hand flying to her chest. “Oh…thank God. Are you okay? I swear, you scared me half to death,” she said, gripping my arm gently. “One minute you were there and the next—” Her voice wobbled, and she swallowed, her eyes shining. “I’m just glad you’re awake… that you're okay now,” she sniffled, wiping a tear. “I don’t know what I'd have done if I lost you too. I almost went crazy earlier.”
I tightened my grip on her hand, tears of gratitude brimming in my eyes.
Cherry had lost her family at a young age, and considered Lily and I family…sisters. I could only imagine what she had gone through.
“I'm sorry for putting you through that, Cher. But I promise I’m okay, now,” I said quietly, though my head was still spinning. “Just… tired.”
She wanted to say something, then changed her mind, glancing toward the door instead.
“That man…do you know him?”
I silently withdrew my hand, and gripped the sheets tightly. I was avoiding eye contact with her at this point, because I didn’t know how to begin to tell her what had happened…what was going to happen.
She didn't push the issue, but went on,
“You know, the moment he arrived, everything changed. Everything.” She inclined her head, a contemplative look on her face. “I'm actually grateful he arrived when he did. We were lucky,” she mused.
“When was that? I mean, when did he arrive?”
“Almost immediately you passed out. I was going crazy, Vee. But when he arrived, the doctors stopped pressing about payment…they stopped hesitating. He told them to proceed immediately with Lily’s surgery, and they did. Immediately,” she said, eyes shining with joy and relief. “Did you know that Lily’s currently getting surgery now.”
I nodded once, then wiped a happy tear that slid down my face.
“Yes. He told me.”
She held my gaze for a while, her expression shifting.
“And then,” she continued, her voice lowering. “The doctor told us something else, after they ran some tests on you.”
My stomach tightened.
Cherry’s gaze lowered to my middle before the words tumbled from her lips.
“They told us you’re pregnant.”
The words landed softly, but I lowered my eyes to my fingers tangled in the sheets, unable to meet her gaze.
Cherry studied my face. “Vera… I don't understand. I didn’t know. I mean—” She swallowed. “Did you know? The doctor said you're four weeks along. Who’s the father?”
I hesitated.
She hesitated, then asked gently.
“Is it Damien?”
“No,” I said quickly. Too quickly. I took a breath, steadying myself. “It’s not him.”
Her shoulders relaxed visibly, but almost immediately, confusion replaced it.
“Wait a minute. If it's not him, then who is it?” Her brows furrowed. “I know you were not seeing anyone else.”
“No”
I closed my eyes for a brief second to collect myself, then I told her.
I told her about that night. About being drugged. About waking up stripped of memory and dignity.
I confessed to my best friend about not knowing the man that had taken a piece of my soul and left me with a part of him.
I told Cherry that I didn’t know the father of the child I carried.
My voice shook despite my efforts to keep it steady.
Cherry’s face crumpled and drained of color.
“Oh, Vee,” she whispered, reaching for my hand. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered in a choked voice, heavy with emotion.
She squeezed my fingers gently, pain and anger flashing across her features. “That’s… that’s so horrible. I didn’t know that you went through this much,” she whispered. “No one deserves that. No one.”
I nodded, blinking rapidly. “I didn’t even know until today…about the baby.”
I never imagined that that dark night had produced this result.
She leaned back a little, slowly, brows furrowed, looking at me again, confusion creeping in.
“However, I don't understand. How…how did you even end up with Silas Rutherford? How does he fit into all this? How do you know each other?” She asked. “I mean…Vera, do you even know who that man is?”
I didn’t know what to say.
“No,” I said quietly. “I don’t really know him.”
“Huh?” She looked confused.
I managed to sit up on the bed with her assistance, and I was thankful that the woozy feeling didn't act up this time.
“I mean I met him today…at the club.”
Cherry's frown deepened, the confusion etching deeper. “When was that?”
“After the incident with the lady.”
She nodded, eagerly waiting for me to go on.
“And then, I saw him in this room when I woke up.”
Cherry was still confused. “Just that?”
I nodded.
“Did you talk? What did he say to you? At the club, i mean,” she added.
“No,” I replied quickly.
I wasn't about to tell her that he had practically propositioned me. I had no doubt that Cherry would go off on him.
Why I even protecting him, i had no idea.
“Hmm,” she hummed. “It's quite strange, almost bizarre, because how did he know where to find you?”
I didn’t even know how to answer that question.
“That man is the owner of the top leading investment firm in the country. Calling him wealthy would be an understatement,” she revealed, easing into the vacant seat beside the bed. “Silas Rutherford doesn’t just show up for people. A stranger nonetheless. Men like him don’t—”
“I know,” I interrupted softly. “That’s why I need to tell you something.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What is it?”
I told her.
I told her everything.
The marriage proposal. The contract. The two years. His responsibility over the baby. The divorce. The lie that would come after. The money.
When I was done, Cherry was staring at me like I’d just told her the sky had cracked open.
“He wants to marry you?” she said faintly. “Vera…no. No, this is insane. You can't possibly be considering this,” she almost cried in alarm.
“I know.”
“Men like him… powerful men like Silas Rutherford…they're dangerous,” she said urgently. “Especially for girls like you. You're going to end up getting hurt.”
“I know,” I repeated, my voice quieter now.
“But Lily needs this. And so does the baby. Whether I do it or not, I'll still bleed.” I smiled sadly, tiredly. “I'm already used to getting hurt, Cher. At least this time, it will be worth it.”
She shook her head, worry etched deep into her expression.
“Jesus, Vera. This is a very different and dangerous world we're talking about. When all this is over, or even before it is over, you'll be consumed.”
“I know,” I said. And I meant it. But I really didn't have a choice.
She sighed, clearly torn, but then nodded slowly.
“Your mind’s already made up, isn't it?”
I nodded.
“Does he know?”
I knew she was asking if he knew about my past, and Damien.
“No. He doesn't need to know.”
He did say so himself.
Cherry exhaled heavily.
“Alright. If that's your decision, then I'll respect it. I won’t push you. I'll just support you and stand by you. I just—” Her voice softened. “I just want you safe.”
A wave of gratitude and relief swept over me, and a single tear slid down my face.
I drew her into a hug, and we held each other for a while, the knowledge that my decision was going to change our lives forever, heavy in our minds.
When we drew back, a new worry crept in.
“Do you think he’ll be angry that I told you? About the deal?”
He had not mentioned anything about utmost secrecy, but I knew that an arrangement of this sort was best kept a secret.
Cherry frowned. “No. I don't know, and frankly I don't care,” she arched her brow. “You’re allowed to have someone. And I’m not going anywhere.” She squeezed my hand again. “Nothing’s going to happen.”
Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door.
A doctor stepped in, his expression
professional, measured.
My heart somersaulted when I recognised him to be Lily’s doctor. Even my palms suddenly got clammy with sweat.
“Miss Bennett?” he said.
My breath caught. I straightened instinctively. “Yes?”
“The surgery has just been concluded, and we have some news for you.”