An hour later, Isabella was dressed in a green scrubs and everything carefully laid out for a surgery. She knows the one she was going to be working with is that man, the one she wished she'd not met. The sterilised equipment needed were properly placed aside too.

The patient has been wheeled in and soon the tall figure of Dr Rian walked into the theatre. His gaze fell on Isabella first and he snorted silently. He walked over, trying to find errors with her work and arrangements and found none.

Two other doctors joined them and another nurse and the surgery was done. In ten minutes, it was over and the patient was wheeled out of the theatre. Isabella stayed behind and cleared the equipment and the hospital attendant was surprised at her simplicity.

He was an older man, probably in his thirties. Other nurses would just go and leave other things they have to do behind and he asked "Why are you helping to clear the operating table?"

"Because there are my colleagues waiting to receive the patient into the recovering bed. So I felt I should just give a hand, I hope you don't mind?" She asked, smiling and just then Rian walked in

"Oh no...I don't mind, I'm grateful,thanks" he said and Dr Rian interrupted them "What are you grateful for, what is she offering you that you wouldn't mind having?" he snapped at the attendant, his gaze cold and freezing, glancing from the man to Isabella and back again.

"I offered to help clear the operating table and..." she was saying when Rian Whiteson interrupted her. "I wasn't asking you the question. I don't have patience for women who happen to be loose for everyone and anything in trousers at any time..."

Isabella Green was shocked. What has been loose got to do with this? She turned her gaze on the attendant and he locked eyes with her before saying "Please leave Miss Green, I'll just finish up soon"

Isabella Green turned and stepped out. She changed into her uniform and returned to her cubicle. Why does she feel her stay in that hospital will be short. Is he indirectly calling her a loose woman?

The phone on her desk rang and she answered it quickly "Come over to my lounge immediately" he ordered and hung up. Isabella sighed softly, she's already exhausted just from the first day at work. She knew who called and the lounge he wanted her to come immediately.

As she arrived at his lounge, she knocked and the now familiar masculine voice invited her to come in. She stilled her heart and went in. She saw him standing with his back to her.

"I'm here sir" Isabella said and scanned his back view. He is a tall, well built man. His designer shirt showcases his perfectly ripped body and a glance at him, one would tell he does workout a lot.

"I know" he replied and gently turned himself to face her, a glass of coffee in his hand. His gaze was still the same cold ones like she'd always known and again, he glared at her from her head to her toes.

"I called you here to warn you, stay professional with all the male employees in this hospital. There are a lot of them here. I don't trust you with them, you are a whore and you can do anything provided you get paid.

I saw your gaze on Dr Rodrigo the last time and now, are you flirting with Grey as an attendant as well? How did you become a nurse in the first place? Did you pass through college by offering your pussy to earn marks...?" He was saying when Isabella interrupted him.

"Dr Rian, please you should respect yourself and the medical profession. I don't goddamns understand what your problem and resentments are towards me. I wasn't the first who had a one night stand with a mystery lover and neither are you the first.

You don't know me and you said horrible words to me that night after you forced yourself into me. Did you even know that you lost your senses and begged me to fuck you forcing me against the wall when I brought your orders?

It was you who begged me and couldn't control yourself. You forced me and started kissing me. I didn't take up a case against you because I don't know your identity and at least your name. And I let it go because it was my first sexual experience and we both had a satisfied pleasure from it.

If you keep taunting me, you will force me to take..." Isabella was saying when Rian's fury got loose, he threw the glass of coffee against the wall with a shattering noise and walked closer to her., his fury surging within him like a volcano.

"Are you threatening me? Are you for real, threatening Rian Whiteson? Are you courting death?" He demanded, holding back his fury as his palm formed into a fist. Doesn't she know who he is?

"How could I have begged you for sex if I wasn't drunk? If I didn't lose my mind, why would I go for a whore like you? I requested for a prostitute and you were sent to my room and I paid you for getting into your cunt.

If you dare to threaten me again, I'll make sure you disappear from X-city for the rest of your miserable life. Did you understand me? Now get out" Rian bellowed.

How dare she threaten him, who does this poor tramp think she is?

Isabella walked out of Rian's office but her mind was in turmoil. Manager Paul sent her to give a client an order, despite it was already past the closed hour for the day. She'd changed from her uniform into her home wear when he sent her there.

He sold her out to a client? He actually knew everything that happened that night? How can he betray her that way, how can he?

For the rest of the day, Isabella couldn't concentrate on anything else. And when she closed from the hospital, she returned to the club where she worked as a waitress.

Manager Paul was surprised when Isabella charged him "how much did he promise you that made you send me to his room with this assumption that I was one of the call girls you use?"

Paul shivered at Isabella's words and was remorseful "I'm sorry. He is a powerful person in society and he was in need of a woman. His assistant came to me and requested for a woman and I had no one at hand..." he trailed off, refusing to complete his statement.

"So, you sold me off to him? What makes you think that I will agree...Isabella paused, she remembered something. Why couldn't she resist him when he begged her and forced her against the wall?

"You drugged me to be vulnerable?" She asked and Paul turned his gaze away, avoiding to meet her gaze "I didn't mean to. I didn't want to lose such a client and I know how you work hard to pay your father's hospital bills.

At that moment, I could only think about the gains of my selfish ambition and I did that to you. I'm sorry, Isabella..." he apologised.

From that moment, Isabella quit her job in the clubhouse. She can no longer work in a place where her wellbeing and dignity is not a top priority. She requested for her payment and just before leaving she turned her gaze on Paul and promised "I will never forget this betrayal and I won't forgive either"

Her work went well in the hospital. In a matter of days, every patient she attended to, fell in love with her. Some called her the new Nightingale and that makes Mrs Adele happy.

Dr Rian was secretly observing her work and was dazed that she was good at her work. Looks like the whore was destined to be the best in whatever she does. She's exceptionally skillful, either as a prostitute or as a nurse.

He'd slept with women before her but he can't shake off that night of rough sex and passion with her. It left an indelible memory in him. She was good in bed just as she is good in her profession.

They both avoided each other like a plague. She worked with Rian and they hardly exchanged words and Rodrigo was observing. He'd never seen someone that was capable of making his friend Rian so self conscious like Miss Green.

She doesn't appear like a whore that Rian describes her to be. Her composure, words and actions could describe her as a decent woman with self esteem. But one question kept lingering in his heart, why was she doing jobs at a clubhouse if she's not what she was described as?

Everything went well with Isabelle after quitting her part time job at the clubhouse. She'd also secured a job as a sales woman in a reputable grocery shop. She is on a permanent evening shift and this particular day, she'd been paid by the X-city hospital and together with her daily pay from the grocery store, she'd gotten enough to pay her Papa's hospital bills.

When she arrived home, she saw from the distance that the sitting room was brightened up with lights. Why isn't her mama sleeping yet? It's close to midnight and she shouldn't stay awake at such a time. But as she drew closer, just before stepping at the threshold, she overheard a conversation:

"...do you think she would agree to accept the proposal? What If she didn't?" That was Isaac talking, he is Isabella's stepbrother. After her adoptive mother did, her Papa remarried a single mother. And this single mother is now her stepmother and she has a son, Isaac.

"Of course, she will agree. That fool thinks that I love her father and I was going to do everything for him. She is my trump card and I will use her to get everything that I ever needed...." She was saying when Isabella shrugged it off.

Who on earth is her stepmother talking about? Anyways she felt so tired that she couldn't think anything straight right now. She needed to get in, take a dinner and rest her head for the day.

As she turned the doorknob and got in, her stepmother was shocked, her complexion temporarily turned pale and she exchanged glances with her son. Did she eavesdrop on their conversation?

Not observing her looks, Isabella asked "Why aren't you asleep, it's about midnight" she scolded. If her mother isn't resting well, how can she look after her Papa?

Relief washed over Jane Green. Thank goodness, she didn't hear anything. She immediately put up her act "I was worried about you. You're not back from work and you haven't had your dinner, how can I possibly go to bed?" She asked, in a shaking voice.

"You didn't stay awake in the past, why would you start today? I'll simply take my dinner and get into my room..." Isabella was saying, sinking into the sofa, she's so exhausted and worn out.

She pulled out the bundle of the money she'd earned, both from the hospital and from the daily pay of the part time job and handed them over to her mom "this will cover dad's hospital bill for another month plus"

Jane Green collected the money and placed it aside, swallowing hard. She wore a broad smile and her excitement was all over her until Isaac said "We are really unhappy how you work your fingers to bone just to pay for dad's bills. We hope for a miracle sis" he said, a feigned concern on his face.

"Yes, Isaac is right" Jane agreed, her tone filled with worries "Your father's condition calls for concern and now, we got a good Samaritan who is willing to send your dad abroad for a surgery and he will be responsible for the treatment. So why wouldn't I stay awake, waiting for you?" Jane briefed.

Isabella's eyes brightened up "what did you say mom? Someone is going to help Papa with his surgery?" She asked, her tired body got energised and she sat up properly, a Megawatt smile spread across her face.

"Of course, Isabella" her stepmother assured, coming over to sit beside her and taking her hand in hers. The two women stared at each other with a broad smile. This is a miracle.

"Who is this person helping us mom?" Isabella asked. Her dad had a brain injury and they could only keep him alive by Life support while they raise money for the surgery.

"Mr Grimmard, our neighbour opposite the street," Jane replied. She smiled but saw Isabella's eyes flicker when she mentioned that name. Is she suspecting anything already?

Isabella felt a gush of uneasiness. My Grimmard is an old man in the neighborhood but he was also a terrible person. Since her father met with the unfortunate condition that left him in comatose, the man had never stopped by to say hello.

Is he suddenly interested in helping them now?

Seeing Isabella was silent, Jane quickly continued "he felt sorry for your dad and wished he would get alright and return home. I pleaded with him to help us and he agreed. He will take care of the hospital bills, the flight, surgery and the medications, everything 100%..." she hurriedly explained.

Despite not being convinced, Isabella shrugged. Despite being a terrible person, perhaps, he might have a bit of humanity in him and decides to help them.

"Alright, tomorrow morning, before going to work, I'll stop by to thank him," Isabella declared. Maybe after appreciating him, he'll ask them when they want the surgery to be done.

"That won't be a problem. But he gave a condition and I already agreed. I am willing to do anything just for my husband's wellbeing and recovery" Jane added, now holding Isabella's hands and cuddling her.

Isabella squinted, a condition?

She sighed softly. She knew something might be rolling up the old man's sleeve. Otherwise, how can he willingly agree to help her Papa without a string attached.

"He said he wants to marry a young, beautiful virgin in exchange. He would make her happy and give his entire property to her..."Jane was saying when Isabella interrupted her.

"How's that our family's responsibility? There are a number of virgins out there. He could get one of them and marry. Why is he attaching that to his condition to help Papa?"

"He doesn't just want any virgin. Since he would be helping the family, he chose you. He said he would take care of your father if you agreed to marry him.

And as your mother, I attested to the fact that you're still a virgin. I agreed and gave my consent to the marriage and promised him that he would get my virgin daughter for wife provided he was willing to take care of..." Jane was blabbing when Isabella raised her hand.

"Enough mom, just be quiet!" Isabella's eyes went reddened. What nonsense is her mother saying, she gave consent to her getting married to who?

That old man, who can be her grandfather? She wants her to be married to him? Is she for real?

"Are you serious now, stepmother? You want me to get married to that old hag who lived all his life as a single father because he was jailed several times for domestic violence? A man known for his promiscuous life despite his age?

Like seriously, I should marry that man simply because he promised to help Papa? Do you believe him? A man of a questionable character?" Isabella demanded.

"He is an old man. He is obsessed with women's virginity and once you marry him, he will give all his properties to you. He is going to die soon, considering his age and you will be the madam over his estate and wealth.

Our financial life would be settled forever. You're our hope of growing out of this middle class status to those of the higher class in the society. Since you're still a virgin, marry him. It's a win-win situation here..." Jane was trying to coax her stepdaughter when Isabella stood up.

This is so inhuman, how can she expect her to marry that old man and say she will be the one to change their financial status. If she was her daughter, would she say the same thing to her?

"You said he wanted a virgin right?" Isabella asked, acting so calm and composed.

"Yes, strictly a virgin. That is his condition" Jane replied quickly. Looks like her words had worked on this stupid gullible girl. She would be glad to sell her off to him and disappear with her son.

"Well, I'm not the ideal candidate for the deal. Because the last time I checked, I am no longer a virgin" Isabella announced, a smirk spread across her face. For the first time since she had that night of passion, she was glad she did.

"What!" Jane blurted in haste. The sweet persuasive gaze she held towards Isabella before suddenly took a twist. She was glaring at her in hostility and fury. She cannot believe the nonsense this girl was saying.

"You've been sleeping around like a slut now, Isabella. How dare you turn yourself into a cheap prostitute?" Isaac bellowed. This foolish woman was going to ruin all his mother worked hard to achieve to this point.

Isabella turned a sharp gaze on Isaac. "Are you crazy? How dare you refer to me that way? Have you forgotten that you were expelled from college because you were caught making out with a classmate behind the school library..."

"Be quiet, you fool" Jane Green bellowed. Her eyes filled with resentment and a killing intent towards her. "How dare you speak so despicable about my son, how dare you?

You've been sleeping around like a prostitute and now you want to ruin my hard work? You want me to lose the only opportunity to become a wealthy woman ...."Jane Green was saying as she was glancing around, looking for whatever.

She sighted the flower vase, made of clay and went for it. Isabella saw her taking the flower vase and her instincts warned her to run. She turned and ran quickly away but how far can she when Jane went after her and threw the flower vase on her.

"Before you ruin me, I'll be the first to ruin your miserable life" she bellowed.

Isabella felt a hard hit on her back head, her eyes immediately went dizzy and her knees gave way, as she felt her entire body slumped to the floor...

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Isabella opened her eyes wearily. She didn't see anything or better put, she saw everywhere blank. She couldn't focus on anything nor did she recognize anything as well.

Her head aches and her body is weak. Her limps felt fatigued and she stayed motionless. She heard a familiar voice "Isabella, Isabella, you're awake..." the tone was filled with excitement.

She didn't know what happened next or how long she drifted back to sleep but when she opened her eyes again, she saw herself in the hospital. The walls, the drip she was being transfused, the cabinet and bedside desk, only confirmed to her that she's in the hospital.

What is she doing in the hospital? She tried to think but her memory was temporarily blank. She turned and saw Ethan by her bedside. He held her hands and smiled.

Ethan is her childhood friend and they went to college together. "Ethan" Isabella called and he smiled at her "I'm happy you have regained consciousness again. I was worried about you"

"Regain consciousness? How long have I been unconscious?" Isabella asked, now remembering everything that happened. She was attacked by her stepmother and that was all she knew except opening her eyes in a hospital bed.

"Three weeks Isabella, you've been unconscious for three weeks" Ethan replied and she shivered. For three whole weeks, she'd been locked within herself alone?

She sighed softly trying to hold back her tears but she couldn't. They flowed down the sides of her eyes. Her stepmother hurt her because she refused to marry that old hag?

"No tears Isabella. You should be happy that you've returned to your loved ones..." Ethan consoled before saying, "I'll call the doctors" and stormed off.

Isabella Green just closed her eyes momentarily. Her loved ones, he said. Besides her adoptive father, she cannot point at anyone else as those who loved her.

The door opened again and Doctors Rian, Rodrigo and Mrs Adele walked into the ward. That was when Isabella realised that she's in X-city hospital.

"Isabella, glad you are awake" Rodrigo chimed, coming over and placing his hand on her temple. He was all smiles and Mrs Adele's excitement was visibly expressed "We were afraid that we might lose you..." she said.

Isabella smiled weakly. She took Mrs Adele's hand and the woman gave her palm a soft squeeze. Rodrigo took out his stethoscope and examined her before saying "You're fine and out of harm's way.." he declared.

"We'll place you under observation for a few more days and then you'll be discharged" Rian said and turned away as he walked out of the ward. That was the only utterance he made and left.

Rodrigo's brow furrowed into a frown.