Home / Urban / VOWS OF VENGEANCE / A Stranger's proposition
A Stranger's proposition
Author: Mister Mischief
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-26 21:39:48

The beeping sound of the machine was the first thing Ethan heard as his eyes fluttered open. The blinding white light of the hospital room made him squint, and a dull pain throbbed through his body. He tried to move, but his limbs felt like lead.

A nurse leaned over him, her expression a mix of relief and caution. "You're awake," she said softly. "You’ve been unconscious for two days."

"Two... days?" Ethan croaked, his throat dry as sandpaper. He winced as he attempted to sit up, only to feel a sharp pain shoot through his ribs. "What happened?"

"You were hit by a car," the nurse explained, adjusting the IV line in his arm. "The driver brought you here. You’re lucky to be alive."

Ethan's memory was hazy. He vaguely recalled the rain, the blinding headlights, and the sensation of his body hitting the pavement. "Who brought me in?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The nurse hesitated. "She’s still here, waiting outside. Do you want me to call her in?"

Ethan nodded weakly, unsure of what to expect. Moments later, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped in. Her heels clicked against the tiled floor as she approached his bed.

“How are you feeling now?” The woman asked, staring at Ethan, who seemed a little lost. “Yes, I am fine. I am sorry I bashed your car,” he said apologetically. 

“You don't need to apologize.” Miranda looked at his face. “Part of this was my fault too. I should have been more careful.” She said, looking at the nurse who was busy discharging her duty. 

“Is he going to be alright?” Marinda asked, biting into her fingernails. “He is going to be fine," the nurse assured her. "But he needs rest. The injuries aren't life-threatening, but his ribs are bruised, and he has a mild concussion."

Miranda let out a small sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing. "Thank you," she said softly, glancing back at Ethan.

Ethan studied her face, trying to place her. She didn’t look familiar, but there was something in her eyes—a mix of guilt and concern—that unsettled him. "Why are you still here?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "You could’ve just dropped me off and left."

Miranda hesitated, shifting on her feet. "I couldn’t just leave you," she admitted. "I... I felt responsible. Besides, the doctors said you didn’t have anyone listed as an emergency contact." She paused, her brows furrowing. "Do you really not have anyone?"

Ethan’s jaw tightened. The question stung more than he cared to admit. "No," he replied bluntly. "Not anymore."

An awkward silence settled between them, broken only by the steady hum of the machines. Miranda cleared her throat. "Well, if it helps, I made sure all the hospital bills are taken care of. You won’t have to worry about anything."

Ethan blinked at her, surprised. "You didn’t have to do that."

"I wanted to," she said firmly. "And... maybe I can help you with more than just this." She hesitated, as if weighing her next words carefully. "You don’t know me, but I might be able to offer you a way out of whatever situation you’re in."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, skepticism creeping into his expression. "Why would you want to help me? You don’t even know me."

Miranda’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Let’s just say I have a habit of helping people who’ve hit rock bottom. And you... well, you look like you could use a fresh start."

Ethan opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. What did he have to lose? He was homeless, jobless, and completely alone. Maybe this stranger could offer him something he couldn’t find on his own.

"Alright," he said cautiously. "I’ll hear you out."

Miranda’s face lit up with a small smile. "Good. Rest for now, and when you’re ready, then we can talk.” Miranda looked at him. “ I feel…” 

Ethan felt drowsy. He slowly closed his eyes and drifted into another long sleep. 

Waking up, he found himself in a strange environment. “ Where am I?” He said slowly, opening his eyes. “ You are in safe hands, Mr Ethan.” A maid said with a smile on his face. “ And who are you?” Ethan looked at her before the door opened with Miranda walking in 

“ You look okay,Mr Ethan.” She said smiling. “ Why did you bring me here?” Ethan said gently, sitting up. He winced as he looked around the room. It was well furnished with luxurious decor—mahogany furniture, rich velvet curtains, and a chandelier that cast a warm glow across the room. The bed he lay on was soft enough to swallow him whole, a stark contrast to the hospital cot he had woken up on earlier.

Miranda stepped closer, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. "I brought you here because I thought you deserved better than a sterile hospital room," she said with a small shrug, her tone casual but her gaze sharp. "And because I need to speak to you somewhere private."

Ethan frowned, his unease growing. "Private? About what?"

Miranda didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she gestured to the maid. "Can you give us a moment, please?"

The maid bowed slightly and exited the room, closing the door behind her. Miranda turned back to Ethan, her expression unreadable. "I know you’re probably wondering why I’m doing all of this for a complete stranger," she began, her voice steady.

"You're right," Ethan replied bluntly. "It doesn't make sense. People don’t just do things like this without a reason."

Miranda smiled faintly, as if she had expected his suspicion. "Fair enough," she said, taking a seat in the armchair near his bed. "The truth is, I’ve been looking for someone like you, Ethan. Someone... with nothing to lose."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I need your help. There’s a man—a very powerful man—who has wronged me in ways you can’t even imagine. I’ve been planning to take him down for years, but I can’t do it alone. I need someone who can help me without fear of losing anything. Someone who understands what it’s like to have their life torn apart."

Ethan stared at her, his mind racing. This was absurd. He was a man barely hanging onto the scraps of his own life, and here she was, asking for his help to take down someone powerful? "You’ve got the wrong guy," he said, shaking his head. "I’m not some hero or avenger. I can’t even take care of myself."

"Maybe not," Miranda said calmly, "but you’ve got nothing holding you back. No family, no job, no ties. That makes you the perfect person for this."

Ethan scoffed, trying to hide how much her words stung. "And what’s in it for me?"

Miranda’s eyes gleamed. "Freedom. Revenge. A chance to rebuild your life from the ground up. I’ll give you everything you need—money, resources, connections. All I ask is that you trust me."

Ethan leaned back against the pillows, his mind a whirlwind of doubt and curiosity. This was insane. But as he glanced around the opulent room and then back at Miranda’s determined expression, he felt the tiniest flicker of something he hadn’t felt in years: hope.

"And if I say no?" he asked, staring at her in the face. 

Related Chapters

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    Tangled Webs

    Meanwhile, back at Paige's family, they were all glad. “It's a good thing you got rid of him.” Tiffany said with a wide grin. “Why now?” Cassandra’s father asked, staring at her in the face. “I got what I wanted. I see no reason why I should keep him around.” Cassandra said with a smirk etched on her face. “And what is that?” Frank Paige asked. Cassandra was about to talk when her phone rang. “Is that Williams?” Tiffany asked. Cassandra nodded, getting out of her sofa chair. She walked briskly into the other room, where her parents could hear her giggle with laughter. “Mom, what do you think about planning the biggest wedding in town?” Cassandra asked, staring at her mother. “Did he pop the question? Did he ask you out?” Tiffany looked at her. “Yes, Williams would like to marry me, but of course I need to divorce Ethan.” “Why didn't you think of getting him a divorce letter before you decided to end things with him?” Frank looked at her. “Because the marriage was a scam. I see no

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    Betrayal and Alliances

    “Fine. I will do it,” Ethan said after thinking about it. “That is the spirit,” Miranda said with a wide grin. “Don't worry; I have you. All I need you to do is just make his world crumble. I need him to regret ever double-crossing me,” Miranda said with a wide grin. “ Like I said earlier, what is in it for me?” Ethan asked again. “ What do you want? I know you have been badly hurt. Is it revenge you seek? Or perhaps, money,wealth?” Miranda stared at his face. “ I want both.” Ethan replied sharply. “ Fine, you can have all of it as long as you help me take them down.” She looked at him as she drank the whiskey in front of her. “ Don't you think you need to share your last with me. I told you mine.” Miranda looked at Ethan's face. “ Well, I was wallowing in debt.” Ethan said gently and paused. “ I could start with that, pay off everything. Just a phone call and all of them are sorted out.” “ I don't think there is a need for that anymore. She made sure I didn't have a home to retur

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    The Ultimate Betrayal

    A day was picked for Cassandra and William’s wedding. It was the talk of the town with many in anticipation about it. “ Are you ready?” Miranda asked, looking at Ethan in the face. “ I don’t know why but I feel a little bit anxious.” Ethan replied. “ You are not tied to the Paige anymore. You are with me now.” Miranda Said with a smile on his face. “ What do you have on Williams Hargrove?” Ethan looked at her. “ Why don’t we make this more interesting?” Miranda said sharply. “ Interesting? How?” “ Why don’t we get married?” Miranda asked, looking at him. “ Married? Why would you want to marry a man with nothing? Look at me.” Ethan said pitifully “ I don’t think I am ready to get married again. Not after what happened to me the last time.” “ I am not, Cassandra and I will never do anything to hurt you.” She said slowly. Before Ethan could move away any further, She planted a kiss on Ethan’s lips. Miranda’s bold move left Ethan stunned, his mind racing with conflicting emotions

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    A Taste Of Medicine

    Miranda's ears rang at the impact, but she maintained her cool, with her eyes shining in anger as she comforted herself not to go out of character yet. “You slapped me.” She uttered in disbelief. Cassandra nodded, looking grave. “And I will slap you again for being the worst person I could ever imagine. You had that piece of trash in your hands all along, yet you rallied around me, pretending to forget about it and never mentioning a word. How do you think that makes me feel, huh? Do you think that I am happy with the things that I am hearing? Of course not!” Cassandra thundered. Miranda put her hands down and kept on staring at Ethan who sauntered towards the front of the hall with a small smirk on his face. He loved the fact that he shocked them to the bone and they had no words.Cassandra recovered from the shock first before speaking. “Ethan, you have the guts to show up on my wedding day intending to disrupt the process? How dare you!” “No, how dare you have the right to smac

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    Chapter 12

    Miranda and Ethan laughed to the heart's content immediately after they entered the car. Who would have imagined that Cassandra was going to react that way? "I have never seen her this angry in my life. Not even when she wanted me gone out of her life." Ethan commented as a driver turned on the ignition. Miranda couldn't help her laughter from bubbling out of her lips. "I'm sure that you wouldn't be able to believe her eyes but that's part of the package. I have always wanted to see her suffer." Ethan didn't know how to feel about that. He and Miranda had not finally come to a conclusion about what they were about to do to these guys. "Why do you hate your friend so much?" He inquired just to understand the road map of this revenge scheme.Miranda shrugged carelessly but he didn't believe that. "Let's just say that Williams and I have a score to settle and I need to emerge as a winner." She replied earnestly. Nothing disturbed Ethan because he also had a singular goal but was not

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    The Challenge

    "Ma'am, you have a visitor." Miranda's maid informed her and she smiled. She had been looking forward to this visitor and was happy that she wasn't disappointed. Something surged inside of her.Victory. She had not even pulled out all her cards but they were already dancing to her tune. "Let her in." She smirked, before adjusting her position on the seat. She suddenly realized that fighting against Cassandra was going to be easier than she thought. Cassandra strolled into the magnificent house that she had once frequented but didn't know that she was dwelling with someone who had the potential to destroy her. How she hadn't realized this was still beyond her, and she wanted to trash this issue now, once and for all."What a surprise, I thought that you would have left the country to fuel your shenanigans," Cassandra said with a weird smile on her face. Miranda smiled at the challenging look on her friend's face. "You should take a chill pill. It's not a new thing. You rejected him,

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    Boundaries And Plans

    Cassandra locked eyes with Ethan and scowled as he descended the stairs. "Oh, my goodness. Here comes the bride." She mocked."I would have said the same for you but we all know the reason you got married to him. You want a slice of his properties." Ethan didn't waste time returning the energy making her go red in the face. Miranda snickered in the background before averting her eyes pretending not to listen to them. "Oh? Is that what you think my marriage was?" Cassandra fired at him. "Exactly what I think it is. You came here to undermine me. Why should I spare you my thoughts? If you had any tangible reason you would have made it known. I think it's becoming borderline worrisome that you engage yourself in conversations about me when you can simply pretend that I do not exist in any form or shape and we wouldn't have problems." Ethan fired back. Cassandra's eyes remained wide as she tried to figure out what gave Ethan sudden boldness besides Miranda's money. "It's amazing how a

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    The Humble Agreement

    Ethan's hands trembled as he walked toward Cassandra Paige's office. The salary deduction notice had arrived that morning—another blow he couldn't afford. Missing the monthly quota meant his already meager paycheck would shrink further, and with his mounting debts, he had no idea how he'd make it through the month.He knocked on the heavy oak door, his heart pounding. A cold "Enter" was all he got in response.Cassandra Paige sat behind her massive desk, not bothering to look up from her tablet as he entered. The morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast her in sharp relief—expensive suit, perfect posture, an air of dismissive authority that made the spacious office feel suffocating."Ms. Paige, about the salary deduction—" Ethan began, fighting to keep his voice steady."You failed to meet your quota," she cut him off, still not looking up. "The deduction stands.""Please, I can explain—""Your explanation won't change the numbers, Mr. Moore." She finall

Latest Chapter

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    Boundaries And Plans

    Cassandra locked eyes with Ethan and scowled as he descended the stairs. "Oh, my goodness. Here comes the bride." She mocked."I would have said the same for you but we all know the reason you got married to him. You want a slice of his properties." Ethan didn't waste time returning the energy making her go red in the face. Miranda snickered in the background before averting her eyes pretending not to listen to them. "Oh? Is that what you think my marriage was?" Cassandra fired at him. "Exactly what I think it is. You came here to undermine me. Why should I spare you my thoughts? If you had any tangible reason you would have made it known. I think it's becoming borderline worrisome that you engage yourself in conversations about me when you can simply pretend that I do not exist in any form or shape and we wouldn't have problems." Ethan fired back. Cassandra's eyes remained wide as she tried to figure out what gave Ethan sudden boldness besides Miranda's money. "It's amazing how a

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    The Challenge

    "Ma'am, you have a visitor." Miranda's maid informed her and she smiled. She had been looking forward to this visitor and was happy that she wasn't disappointed. Something surged inside of her.Victory. She had not even pulled out all her cards but they were already dancing to her tune. "Let her in." She smirked, before adjusting her position on the seat. She suddenly realized that fighting against Cassandra was going to be easier than she thought. Cassandra strolled into the magnificent house that she had once frequented but didn't know that she was dwelling with someone who had the potential to destroy her. How she hadn't realized this was still beyond her, and she wanted to trash this issue now, once and for all."What a surprise, I thought that you would have left the country to fuel your shenanigans," Cassandra said with a weird smile on her face. Miranda smiled at the challenging look on her friend's face. "You should take a chill pill. It's not a new thing. You rejected him,

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    Chapter 12

    Miranda and Ethan laughed to the heart's content immediately after they entered the car. Who would have imagined that Cassandra was going to react that way? "I have never seen her this angry in my life. Not even when she wanted me gone out of her life." Ethan commented as a driver turned on the ignition. Miranda couldn't help her laughter from bubbling out of her lips. "I'm sure that you wouldn't be able to believe her eyes but that's part of the package. I have always wanted to see her suffer." Ethan didn't know how to feel about that. He and Miranda had not finally come to a conclusion about what they were about to do to these guys. "Why do you hate your friend so much?" He inquired just to understand the road map of this revenge scheme.Miranda shrugged carelessly but he didn't believe that. "Let's just say that Williams and I have a score to settle and I need to emerge as a winner." She replied earnestly. Nothing disturbed Ethan because he also had a singular goal but was not

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    A Taste Of Medicine

    Miranda's ears rang at the impact, but she maintained her cool, with her eyes shining in anger as she comforted herself not to go out of character yet. “You slapped me.” She uttered in disbelief. Cassandra nodded, looking grave. “And I will slap you again for being the worst person I could ever imagine. You had that piece of trash in your hands all along, yet you rallied around me, pretending to forget about it and never mentioning a word. How do you think that makes me feel, huh? Do you think that I am happy with the things that I am hearing? Of course not!” Cassandra thundered. Miranda put her hands down and kept on staring at Ethan who sauntered towards the front of the hall with a small smirk on his face. He loved the fact that he shocked them to the bone and they had no words.Cassandra recovered from the shock first before speaking. “Ethan, you have the guts to show up on my wedding day intending to disrupt the process? How dare you!” “No, how dare you have the right to smac

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    The Ultimate Betrayal

    A day was picked for Cassandra and William’s wedding. It was the talk of the town with many in anticipation about it. “ Are you ready?” Miranda asked, looking at Ethan in the face. “ I don’t know why but I feel a little bit anxious.” Ethan replied. “ You are not tied to the Paige anymore. You are with me now.” Miranda Said with a smile on his face. “ What do you have on Williams Hargrove?” Ethan looked at her. “ Why don’t we make this more interesting?” Miranda said sharply. “ Interesting? How?” “ Why don’t we get married?” Miranda asked, looking at him. “ Married? Why would you want to marry a man with nothing? Look at me.” Ethan said pitifully “ I don’t think I am ready to get married again. Not after what happened to me the last time.” “ I am not, Cassandra and I will never do anything to hurt you.” She said slowly. Before Ethan could move away any further, She planted a kiss on Ethan’s lips. Miranda’s bold move left Ethan stunned, his mind racing with conflicting emotions

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    Betrayal and Alliances

    “Fine. I will do it,” Ethan said after thinking about it. “That is the spirit,” Miranda said with a wide grin. “Don't worry; I have you. All I need you to do is just make his world crumble. I need him to regret ever double-crossing me,” Miranda said with a wide grin. “ Like I said earlier, what is in it for me?” Ethan asked again. “ What do you want? I know you have been badly hurt. Is it revenge you seek? Or perhaps, money,wealth?” Miranda stared at his face. “ I want both.” Ethan replied sharply. “ Fine, you can have all of it as long as you help me take them down.” She looked at him as she drank the whiskey in front of her. “ Don't you think you need to share your last with me. I told you mine.” Miranda looked at Ethan's face. “ Well, I was wallowing in debt.” Ethan said gently and paused. “ I could start with that, pay off everything. Just a phone call and all of them are sorted out.” “ I don't think there is a need for that anymore. She made sure I didn't have a home to retur

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    Tangled Webs

    Meanwhile, back at Paige's family, they were all glad. “It's a good thing you got rid of him.” Tiffany said with a wide grin. “Why now?” Cassandra’s father asked, staring at her in the face. “I got what I wanted. I see no reason why I should keep him around.” Cassandra said with a smirk etched on her face. “And what is that?” Frank Paige asked. Cassandra was about to talk when her phone rang. “Is that Williams?” Tiffany asked. Cassandra nodded, getting out of her sofa chair. She walked briskly into the other room, where her parents could hear her giggle with laughter. “Mom, what do you think about planning the biggest wedding in town?” Cassandra asked, staring at her mother. “Did he pop the question? Did he ask you out?” Tiffany looked at her. “Yes, Williams would like to marry me, but of course I need to divorce Ethan.” “Why didn't you think of getting him a divorce letter before you decided to end things with him?” Frank looked at her. “Because the marriage was a scam. I see no

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    A Stranger's proposition

    The beeping sound of the machine was the first thing Ethan heard as his eyes fluttered open. The blinding white light of the hospital room made him squint, and a dull pain throbbed through his body. He tried to move, but his limbs felt like lead.A nurse leaned over him, her expression a mix of relief and caution. "You're awake," she said softly. "You’ve been unconscious for two days.""Two... days?" Ethan croaked, his throat dry as sandpaper. He winced as he attempted to sit up, only to feel a sharp pain shoot through his ribs. "What happened?""You were hit by a car," the nurse explained, adjusting the IV line in his arm. "The driver brought you here. You’re lucky to be alive."Ethan's memory was hazy. He vaguely recalled the rain, the blinding headlights, and the sensation of his body hitting the pavement. "Who brought me in?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.The nurse hesitated. "She’s still here, waiting outside. Do you want me to call her in?"Ethan nodded weakly, uns

  • VOWS OF VENGEANCE    

    Shattered foundation

    Everything happened so fast. Both lay on the bed, breathing heavily. Ethan looked beside him to see that Cassandra was fast asleep. He gently got up with a white bedspread around him and walked into the bathroom to have his bath. He looked at her once and again before he drifted into a long sleep. [THE NEXT DAY] The loud noise of Cassandra woke him up. “What did you do to me?” She asked with anger. Ethan yawned; he felt so tired, but the lash he received on his back sent an electric jolt to his brain. He opened his eyes in a hurry. “What is it, Cassandra?” Ethan looked at her. “Are you seriously asking me that?” Cassandra said, fuming in anger. She opened the bedspread again and saw she was naked. “Did we?” She looked at him anxiously.“Are you asking if we had sex?” Ethan asked, not sure of what to tell her. “You know what I mean, Ethan, and don't you play dumb with me!” “You got home yesterday and you were drunk. You asked for this,“ Ethan said immediately trying to defend hims