Chapter 1 Why not pay me to avoid trouble

~THALIA ~ My vision blurred as I opened my eyes. I didn't bother to look around because the antiseptic smell and the beeping of the machines made it clear I was in the hospital. This noon, I was hit by a car. An expensive one. The first thought on my mind when I woke up wasn't my injuries or the throbbing in my head. It was the car owner. I needed to ask the nurses who had attended to me. Whoever it was couldn't simply vanish after an accident like this. I heaved myself up, grimacing, and was ready to swing my legs off the bed when I saw a male wolf sitting next to me. He wore a polished suit that screamed old money. His scent was different from an ordinary wolf like me. His domineering aura filled the room like an Alpha. I bet he was definitely one. I also recalled his car before I was unconscious. It was'Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail'. Anyone who can afford a car like that must be crazily rich. "You're finally awake," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You've passed out for two hours." I shot him a brief, disgusted glare. "You hit me. You need to pay me compensation!" I bellowed in fury. "How much compensation do you want?" He inquired in a calm voice. "500,000 dollars," I replied swiftly. He didn't reply immediately. Clearly, he found me ridiculous. Well, the truth of the incident was that I was the one who ran into his car when I was in a hurry. But before I lost consciousness, I thought of a plan when I saw how luxurious the car was. I was only trying to gamble with my luck. I tried my fucking effort not to show how nervous I was. I didn't have any serious injuries apart from the bump on my forehead and my knees skin that peeled. Although what I tried to do was shameful despite knowing the truth of the incident, I was only desperate. The only family I had left, Aunty Jasmine, was having lung cancer. We've spent all we had at the hospital, and yet it didn't get us anywhere. Right there when I was hit by that luxurious car, I knew I must get the money to save her. "This small injury of yours is worth 500,000? Isn't that an indirect robbery ?" He spoke in a deep voice. I bit my lip."You don't look like someone who cares about a mere 500,000 dollars. Why not pay me to avoid trouble?" "Pay to avoid trouble? So, if I don't pay, what do you plan to do to me? Huh?" He kept looking at me with a reaction I couldn't decipher. "Are all female wolves these days so shamelessly greedy?" At that point, I saw that he wasn't ready to fall into my scheme, so I lost the little courage that I had. I decided to beg for the money with honesty. I became extremely anxious. "Please, can you consider the money as a debt I owe you. I will be eighteen by tomorrow, and I will be able to work in a higher-paying job. I'll pay you back as fast as I can." He laughed loudly as if it were the most insincere promise he had ever heard in all his years, and maybe it probably sounded quite ridiculous. "Do you perhaps know who I am?" "No, I don't." "Then why do you think I will lend that huge amount to a stranger?" My breath hitched. I clenched my hands to steady my nerves as if I were fighting a battle I must win. "Because you're very rich and rich wolves like being praised as a philanthropist." He burst into another loud mocking laughter. "Oh, that's not me. I might be rich but I don't give my money to just anyone." Suddenly, his aura changed, and it carried a hint of contempt. "Well, my time here is up. Here's your compensation," he uttered as he dropped a bundle of money on the table. "How much is that?" "Ten thousand dollars and it's damn enough for you to recover for a month." He remarked. Indeed, ten thousand dollars was a lot as compensation for my minor injury, but it was just a drop in the ocean compared to Aunty Jasmine's medical expenses. "Normally, I wouldn't stick around for this long only to have you wake up and try to swindle me. But today, I just happened to have a lot of free time," he muttered. After he finished speaking, he turned to leave. Just as he was about to reach the door, I dashed behind him and grabbed his clothes tightly. "Please help me. I really will pay you back in the future. I can write you an official agreement." I pleaded desperately with tears dropping from my eyes.