Page 17 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part One

“A show of good faith,” Jackson said, pulling her gaze from her phone. “I’ll make equal monthly instalments until the end of our agreement when I’ll deposit a lump sum. Though I’ll be taking care of your sister, too, that money is there for you to use should anything unforeseen happen.”

Was he that desperate for a child with his lover? Had they been trying for a long time to end up going this route? But he looked so young, somewhere in his mid-twenties. Why was he rushing into having a child when many men waited until they were older? Having a child was a huge responsibility. She loved her sister, but taking care of her was an experience she wasn’t ready to repeat anytime soon.

Maybe he’d grown up alone and wanted a family of his own. Perhaps he lived in a place that still had prejudices against gay people. Her heart softened a little towards him, knowing he must have gone through some shit to get to this point. But they were talking about her giving up a child...

“Please read my offer, Layla,” Jackson said, his voice low.

Though he was still cold and aloof, she sensed some desperation in his tone. She looked back at the folder for a moment before she flipped it open.

The first thing she saw was a cheque; this time, she almost had a heart attack. It was in her name and was for an amount she had never imagined she would ever earn in her life.

"The day my child is born, that will be all yours. But I will take care of all your needs until then. And I’ll give your sister a bank card to use here while you settle in your new home."

Her eyes snapped from the cheque to Jackson.

"What? What new home?"

"Your sister must stay in this suite and finish her senior year. Her security will be on the same floor, and she will be driven anywhere she wants. You don't have to worry about her."

"Why do I have to leave her here?"

"As I said, I have my reasons. That's my offer. Take it or leave it," he answered.

And he didn't look like he cared that he was putting her in an impossible position. Leave Brit here with Costas looking for her? Trust strangers to keep her safe? Since their mother had left, she had never trusted anyone else to look after her sister.

"Or you can just take your chances out there. I assume you can't go home now, and the money I’ve transferred won't get you far. What will you do? Become homeless and take her out of school?"

"I can't just leave my sister. She needs me."

"You know that the best thing for her is to graduate and go to college. She’ll have better options in the future. You can do that for her. I'm only asking for nine months of your life, and at the end of it all, your bank account will be healthy enough for you to buy a house or two somewhere away from here and a fresh start."

She looked down at the cheque again. Brit needed a lot of things for college. Clothes, books, and money to feed herself. She was actually considering this. Was she so easily bought?

Did this make her a terrible person? Choosing her sister over a baby she would carry?

"You can come and see her anytime you want. You won’t be a prisoner, Layla. But I need you close to me so I can protect you."

His choice of words struck her as odd. Protect her from what?

"Read the rest of it."

She looked away from his probing gaze to look at the typed document under the cheque. It was everything he had promised, plus more. A lot more.

With the money he was promising, she wouldn't just take care of Brit. She could help her father, even though he didn't deserve it. And she could go back to school. She could finally graduate and get a degree. She could live the life she had always dreamed of.

But could she trust him? He could easily cancel the cheque before she cashed it, but for now, he was the only person keeping them from a life on the streets.

"Do we have a deal?”

She swallowed hard as she looked back up at him. She had no choice; that much was clear.

Blinking back her tears, she nodded at the handsome man. She would carry his baby to keep her sister safe.

“Good. We leave in an hour. Say your goodbyes to your sister,” Jackson said as he stood up.

“So soon?”

She picked the folder up and followed him inside.

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