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It seemed wrong. And she definitely didn't want to leave Mark, or anyone else for that matter, with the impression that she was just in this for the money. While her primary motivation had to be saving her mother ... it was the dream of love that pulled her in this direction.

She wouldn't ask for a dime. She couldn't. Right now, she could afford the first four pills from the last of her savings,and with her remaining credit and the expenses she saved on by moving out of her apartment to live with the man who would become her husband.

In that time, she would make a plan that didn't involve asking for anything. She would work for every penny she received.

And maybe, in the meantime, she would fall in love ... like her mother always wanted for Jennifer.

Outside the airport, she spotted the black SUV waiting in front. She checked her phone again, seeing that it was 3:05, and then opened the passenger door.

"Are you Jake?" she asked the man behind the steering wheel.

"That's me. You must be Jennifer. Hop in."

She slid onto the leather seat, stuffing her bag of essentials between her legs—that was all she brought with her. Jake extended a hand to her once she settled in place, and she took his firm handshake.

"Nice to meet you," she said. "Do you usually run errands for Mark?"

He chuckled and put the SUV into drive, circling through the airport and toward the highway. "I wouldn't exactly call picking up Mark's future wife an errand," he said, "but to answer your question, no. I made an exception for you."

"Is that right? What do you usually do?"

"Security. Not that there was any particular concern in getting you back to his place in one piece, but it adds some peace of mind."

If Mark had his own security workers, that seemed like a good sign. He might have a large property that needed maintaining. If she was lucky, maybe he had a business that she could work for as a way to pay for her mom's medical expenses without working three minimum wage jobs.

"I hope you don't mind me asking," she said, "but what is Mark like?"

"Nothing to worry about, I understand you're probably nervous. My wife was a mail order bride, too. If you're willing to approach this scenario with an open mind—unlike I did—I think you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised."

Jennifer smiled, tilting her head in Jake's direction. "What, did you order a bride and then change your mind?"

"Not quite." He laughed. "The story is far more complicated than that—but what matters is that we're happy now. I couldn't imagine being without her. I wish as much luck and happiness to you and Mark. He's a good guy, if a little strange."

Jake seemed like a nice guy, too. Hearing that he, too, had a mail order bride story and ended up in a happy marriage reassured Jennifer. Maybe meeting someone this way could result in true love after all ... just like she was promised. A prickle of anticipation buzzed in her chest. She wanted to meet Mark more than ever, and with each passing moment, her desire became more unbearable.

"What do you mean by strange?" she asked after a while.

"Well, for one," Jake started when he turned off the main highway and onto a secluded road into the trees, "he lives alone in a mansion in the woods."

"Sounds like the start of a horror film," she joked.

"Trust me, I thought the same when he first told me about it. The place is set up like a fortress ... but, well, you'll have to see it for yourself to believe it. We're almost there."

Jennifer wanted to ask more questions about Mark and what he did, but she didn't want to pry too much. Those were questions better saved to ask him directly, but not knowing dug into her nerves and made her squirm. She couldn't stop thinking about Arabelle, about the incredible cost of her medical bills. Jennifer was her only hope at living to see another year.

But it wasn't just that. Jennifer left Portland without saying a word about her intentions to either Arabelle or Lily ... she made arrangements for Lily to watch Arabelle for a few days while Jennifer found a more permanent solution, and that was it.

No word about how she moved across the country, how she sold all her belongings except for her phone, tablet, a couple of keepsakes and other essentials, to make sure she had enough cash on hand to pay for Arabelle's first few treatments.

The guilt of her decision was a heavy one, but she had no other options. There was no way either of them would have let Jennifer become a mail order bride if they knew the truth.

Now it was just up to Jennifer to make this work.

She stopped paying attention to her surroundings, and when the SUV pulled to a stop, she glanced outside to see a vast ocean of trees in every direction. No mansion or house in sight.

"We're here," Jake said, and cut the engine.

But whatever he saw, she didn't.