Chapter 3: Discussing a Deal

"Alright, I'll have the nurse inform you later."

After Amaya left, the old lady started talking again.

"Look at Amaya, such a young girl with excellent medical skills. She's smart, kind, and even knows how to make me happy. It's thanks to her that I've had company during this time; otherwise, I would have been bored to death in the hospital. You should thank her properly when you have the chance."

"I’ll lower my expectations for my granddaughter-in-law. It would be enough if you find someone half as good as her."

Jaylan raised an eyebrow at this. Did Grandma really like that young doctor so much?

By the time all the tests were done, it was already noon.

He escorted his grandma back to her room and saw Amaya waiting at the door.

He nodded and walked past her.

Amaya quickly followed him. "Mr. Hancock, please wait a moment."

"Is there something you need?" Jaylan's handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Facing the man exuding an aura of coldness and arrogance, Amaya didn't know how to start.

Seeing her hesitate, Jaylan lost his patience and was about to leave.

"Wait! Please give me five minutes." Mustering some courage, Amaya walked to the end of the corridor, knowing this wasn't the place to talk.

Jaylan thought it was about his grandma and followed her.

Looking into his sharp eyes behind those gold-rimmed glasses made Amaya's heart race, but she tried to remain calm.

"Mr. Hancock, I want to discuss a deal with you."

Jaylan's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

"Oh? Dr. Moreno, what kind of deal do you want to discuss?"

"I overheard your conversation this morning. As far as I know, you don’t have a girlfriend or fiancée. If you're looking for someone to marry, would you consider me?" Amaya stared directly at Jaylan.

She didn't want to marry someone like Adam, but her mother's medical bills were a pressing issue. This was her last chance. At least compared to Adam, Jaylan was far better in both appearance and wealth, and he needed a marriage partner urgently.

"Dr. Moreno, are you proposing yourself?" Jaylan's tone was playful.

"Why should I choose you?" His deep voice carried a hint of laziness as he scrutinized the young woman trying to appear calm. Her plain face seemed more attractive than those overly made-up ones.

"Is it enough that your grandmother likes me?"

"If not, I can add another reason: I don't love you. Unlike those women who like you, I won't interfere in your affairs. If you don't like it after marriage, we can live separately. I'll cooperate with anything you need."

"Including fulfilling marital duties if you require."

Her face turned red as she finished speaking, looking down and not daring to meet his eyes.

Yes, she was selling herself. Her only bargaining chips were her lack of love for him and her young body...

Jaylan's prolonged silence made her anxious.

"Mr. Hancock, you're a man at the top of the pyramid. Frankly speaking, you don't need a marriage that matches your status. I'm decent-looking, have no bad habits, and at twenty-five, while you’re ten years older than me. I'm a good match for you. Plus, your grandmother likes me. You wouldn't be losing out by choosing me."

Was she implying that he was old?

Jaylan's eyes narrowed slightly. She had quite a sharp tongue. Unfortunately, he wasn't interested in women who threw themselves at him.

He suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Too bad for you! I'm not interested."

With that, he strode away.

She collapsed to the ground, watching his departing figure. Just as rumored, he was as stubborn, unapproachable, and hard to get along with.

After a long while, she stood up, dusted herself off, and returned to her department.

Amaya performed three surgeries that afternoon. By the time she finished and left the operating room, it was already nine o'clock at night. Exhausted, she dragged herself back to her dormitory.

Just as she sat down, she received a call from the hospital saying her mother's condition had relapsed. She rushed to the inpatient department without even grabbing her coat.

"Dr. Leon, how is my mom?" Tears welled up in her eyes as she tightly grasped Dr. Leon's hand and asked with a choked voice.

"Amaya, have you collected the money? Your mother's condition can't wait any longer. The surgery must be done by tomorrow at the latest." Dr. Leon sighed, knowing how hard things were for her.

"Okay... okay, I'll have the money by tomorrow!" She would find the money no matter what it took; she had to save her mother.

"I'll schedule the surgery for tomorrow afternoon then." Dr. Leon patted her shoulder sympathetically. This child had it tough.

After Dr. Leon left, Amaya sat on a bench like a soulless puppet, pale-faced and disheveled, filled with confusion and helplessness.

Not far away, Jaylan watched everything unfold with slightly relaxed brows.

"How much do you need to marry me?" A cold and deep voice sounded above Amaya's head.

She looked at the custom black leather shoes in front of her and then up at the unexpected "surprise," momentarily stunned and unable to react.

Jaylan's expression remained unchanged as his piercing black eyes fixed on her.

His words were clear; he was asking how much money she needed. Amaya knew he was helping her. He appeared at her most desperate moment; just thinking about it made tears stream down her face.

"What? Don't want the money? Not going to marry me?"

"Yes... Eight hundred thousand." She stood up and threw herself into Jaylan's arms, hugging his waist tightly.

"Jaylan, thank you... thank you!" She sobbed while wiping her nose on him.

Jaylan frowned deeply at the sudden embrace and the snot on his clothes—it was disgustingly annoying. Yet hearing his name from her mouth sounded surprisingly pleasant.

He pried her off him and handed her a bank card. His voice remained cold. "There's one million in this card; the password is one through six."

Amaya stared dumbfounded at the card in her hand with mixed emotions—he had given an extra two hundred thousand. "I only need eight hundred thousand."

Jaylan's face darkened. "Take it if I give it to you."

Thinking about the additional costs post-surgery, she didn't refuse further and thanked him before accepting it.

She hesitantly asked again, "Are you really going to marry me? Didn't you say you weren't interested in me?"

"You talk too much." Jaylan looked displeased.

For him, marrying anyone was the same; he might as well choose someone his grandmother liked and whom he didn't dislike.

"We'll get married in two months. Take care of your family matters."

"And besides money and status, I won't give you anything else. Don't expect anything more from me—like falling in love with me."