"If the rent for the past three months isn't in my hands within the next twenty-four hours, all of your belongings will be on the street!"
Mrs. Gary's sharp, commanding voice echoed through the small apartment's living room. She was around fifty years old, her face flushed with anger, and she stood with her hands planted firmly on her hips, asserting her dominance. She stomped her foot in front of the sofa.
Standing before her was twenty-one-year-old Area. She wore an extremely plain, old, faded blue dress. Her face showed clear signs of exhaustion, sleepless nights, and deep fear in her eyes. In her hands, she held some hospital receipts and empty medicine packets.
Area raised her moist eyes and said in a helpless voice, "Please, Mrs. Gary... I'm begging you. Just give me two more weeks. My mom's health suddenly deteriorated very badly. She's on a ventilator in the hospital right now. All my money is going toward her medicines and ICU expenses."
Mrs. Gary scrunched up her face in disgust and waved her finger near Area's face, saying, "Your mother is sick how is that my fault? This isn't a charity house; this is my apartment! I don't care about your crying face. I just want my money. Three months... you haven't paid a single cent in three whole months!"
Area took two steps forward. Helplessness was clearly visible on her face. She tried to gently touch Mrs. Gary's coat sleeve and said, "I'm not lying. I'm working day and night. As soon as I get my salary from my part-time job, I'll pay you back every single cent. If you throw us out in this biting cold, where will my mom go after being discharged from the hospital? Please, ."
"A mere beggar girl!" Mrs. Gary jerked her hand back with a sudden movement, causing Area to lose her balance and stumble against the corner of the sofa.
Mrs. Gary pulled an eviction notice from her bag and slammed it forcefully onto the table. "This is your final warning. Tomorrow morning at exactly ten o'clock, I will arrive here with my men. Either have the money ready, or be prepared to become homeless. You won't get a single minute's extension from me."
With that, Mrs. Gary stomped her feet and walked out, slamming the apartment's main door shut with a loud bang! The sound shook the entire small room.
As soon as the door closed, a flood of tears streamed from Area's eyes. She slowly sank to her knees on the floor. In the silence of the room, only the sound of her sobs echoed. She looked at the notice on the table, with the word 'EVICTION' written in large letters. She now had only twenty-four hours left, and the hospital kept calling repeatedly about her mother's surgery. She couldn't understand how she would arrange so much money so quickly.
In a desperate state, Area rushed out of the apartment and ran crying onto the street. Her eyes were so filled with tears that she couldn't even see the path ahead clearly. In her mind, only her mother's face and the landlady's bitter words kept echoing.
Just then, suddenly, a gleaming black luxury sports car screeched to a halt. The car stopped just inches away from Area, but in her panic and fear, Area's foot slipped and she fell straight onto the road. The hospital receipts and medicine lists she held in her hand scattered in the air.
The car door opened and an extremely tall, handsome, and stylish young man stepped out. He was about twenty-six years old and wore an expensive designer suit. This was Liam Blackwood, the youngest brother of the city's largest business empire, 'Blackwood Corporation.'
"Are you blind? Why are you running in front of a car?!" Liam shouted angrily.
But as soon as his eyes fell on Area lying on the ground, his words got stuck in his throat. In the soft sunlight, Area's innocent, crying face and her fair skin visible through her torn blue dress caused a strange stirring in Liam's heart. Area had already fainted from the pain and shock.
Without delay, Liam stepped forward, lifted Area into his arms, and laid her on the back seat of his car. He noticed the scattered hospital receipts on the road, which bore the name of his own family's 'Blackwood Memorial Hospital.' Liam immediately started the car and drove straight toward his own hospital.
When Area regained consciousness, she was lying on the bed of an extremely luxurious private cabin in the hospital. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Liam standing before her.
Area tried to sit up and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you... thank you, sir, for bringing me here. My mom is also in this hospital; I need to go to her..."
Liam gestured for her to lie back down on the bed and said in a very calm voice, "Stay calm. You fainted after hitting my car. The doctor said you're suffering from dehydration and severe stress. By the way, I've looked into your mother's case—she's on a ventilator, and her treatment bill is quite substantial and overdue."
Tears began to flow from Area's eyes again. She lowered her head.
Liam looked deeply at Area's innocence and her beauty. He pulled out a gleaming golden VIP Business Card from his pocket, with large letters reading 'BLACKWOOD CORP - LIAM' and his company's address printed on it.
Liam placed that card in Area's hand and said, "This is my personal business card. It has my company's full address. If you need financial help for your mother's treatment, come to my office at this address tomorrow morning. We will discuss this matter."
Area took that precious card with trembling hands. She looked at Liam and said again, "Thank you so much, sir."
Liam looked at Area one last time and walked out of the room without saying another word.
The next morning, Area was caught between the terror of her landlady and the hospital's deadline. She had no other option. She took out the golden card Liam had given her and, reading the address written on it, arrived directly in front of the city's tallest and most luxurious building, 'Blackwood Towers.' This was the headquarters of Liam and his brothers' massive company.