8
1150 Words
Elena’s POV
After leaving Alexander’s office, Elena’s mind was hazy. “Marry me.”
The words followed her everywhere.
Out of Alexander’s office.
Through the silent executive hallway.
Into the elevator.
And all the way down to the crowded company lobby where people moved around normally while her entire world tilted sideways.
She couldn’t even hear properly anymore.
The sound of heels against marble floors.
Phones ringing.
Coworkers laughing nearby.
Everything sounded distant.
Muted.
Like she was underwater.
The elevator doors opened, but Elena didn’t move immediately. She stared blankly ahead, her fingers trembling around her bag strap.
Marry him?
Alexander Vale wanted to marry her?
No.
Not wanted.
Needed.
Because there had been no emotion in his voice.
No warmth.
No love.
Just pure control.
Like it was another business deal.
Her stomach twisted painfully.
“Elena!”
Liv’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
She looked up slowly to find Liv hurrying toward her from the reception area, concern written all over her face.
“Oh my God,” Liv breathed. “What happened? You look pale.”
Elena opened her mouth.
Closed it again.
How was she supposed to explain this?
Hi Liv. The billionaire CEO offered to save my brother’s life if I marry him.
It sounded insane.
Unreal.
Like something from a terrible movie.
“Well?” Liv asked nervously. “Did he agree to the loan?”
Elena forced herself to breathe normally.
“No,” she lied quietly.
The word tasted bitter in her mouth.
Liv’s face fell instantly. “What?”
Elena nodded stiffly, unable to meet her eyes.
“He said no.”
The disappointment on Liv’s face almost made Elena cry again.
“Oh, Elena…”
Liv immediately pulled her into a hug, but Elena stood there stiffly, her mind still trapped inside Alexander’s office.
One condition.
Marry me.
“Elena,” Liv said softly, rubbing her back gently. “We’ll figure something else out, okay? Don’t lose hope yet.”
But Elena didn’t answer.
Because for the first time since Daniel got sick…
She truly felt hopeless.
—
The rest of the workday passed like a blur.
Elena barely spoke.
She answered emails incorrectly twice, forgot an important document in the printer room, and nearly spilled coffee on herself because her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
More than once, she caught herself staring blankly at her computer screen while Alexander’s voice replayed endlessly in her head.
Marry me.
Every time she thought about it, her chest tightened.
Why would a man like Alexander want to marry her?
It didn’t make sense.
Men like him married models.
Socialites.
Women from powerful families.
Not women drowning in hospital debt.
Not women whose lives were falling apart.
And definitely not women who insulted them.
By evening, Elena could barely think straight anymore.
The moment work ended, she grabbed her bag and left immediately.
But instead of going home—
She went to the hospital first.
—
Daniel looked exhausted.
The moment Elena walked into his room, guilt hit her so hard she almost stopped breathing.
Her little brother lay weakly against the hospital bed, wires attached to his chest while machines beeped softly around him.
But despite looking pale, he still smiled when he saw her.
“There she is,” Daniel said weakly. “My favorite person.”
Elena forced herself to smile back.
“Favorite?” she teased softly while walking closer. “I’m your only person.”
Daniel laughed quietly, then winced slightly afterward.
That tiny reaction shattered her inside.
She sat beside him carefully.
“How are you feeling today?”
Daniel shrugged weakly. “Alive.”
“Daniel.” She whispered.
“I’m kidding, but hey, I’m here,” he murmured.
But neither of them laughed afterward.
The silence became heavy.
Daniel studied her face for a moment before frowning slightly.
“Have you been crying? You look terrible.”
Elena looked away immediately. “No, I haven’t.”
“You always have a red nose when you cry.” He said pointing at her nose.
That almost broke her completely.
She quickly smiled to hide it.
“You notice too much.”
Daniel’s expression softened.
“What happened?”
Elena hesitated.
Everything happened.
Ryan cheating.
Tessa betraying her.
Alexander.
The proposal.
The loan.
Her entire life collapsing.
But she couldn’t dump all of that onto him.
Not now.
So instead, she reached over and adjusted his blanket gently.
“Nothing,” she whispered.
Daniel didn’t believe her.
“You look tired.”
“I am tired.”
“Because of me?”
Her heart cracked instantly.
“No,” she said firmly. “Never because of you.”
Daniel looked down quietly.
“I heard the doctors talking earlier,” he admitted softly. “The surgery is expensive.”
Elena froze.
“Daniel—”
“You don’t have to lie to me.” His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“I know things are bad.” He said.
Tears burned Elena’s eyes immediately.
She grabbed his hand tightly.
“Listen to me,” she whispered shakily. “I’m going to handle this. Okay? I promise.”
Daniel gave her a sad smile.
“You always say that.”
“Because I will.”
“But you look scared.”
That sentence destroyed whatever control she had left.
Elena looked down quickly before he could see tears sliding down her face.
Because he was right.
She was terrified.
Terrified of losing him.
Terrified of the choice Alexander placed in front of her.
Terrified that maybe she was running out of options.
Daniel squeezed her hand gently.
“You don’t have to carry everything alone.”
Elena almost laughed at that.
Because who else was there?
Her parents were dead.
Her best friend betrayed her.
Her boyfriend cheated on her.
And now the only man offering help wanted an incredulous condition.
She stayed with Daniel until visiting hours ended.
And when she finally left the hospital, night had already fallen.
—
By the time Elena reached her apartment building, exhaustion sat heavily in her bones.
She walked slowly toward the stairs, searching inside her bag for her keys.
Then she stopped.
Someone was standing outside her apartment door.
When she got closer, it was Ryan.
The moment he saw her, he straightened immediately like he had been waiting for hours.
“Elena.”
Her entire body went cold.
Rage exploded so suddenly inside her chest that it shocked even her.
After everything.
After all the pain he caused.
After breaking her heart—
He had the audacity to stand here?
“Elena, please,” Ryan said quickly, stepping toward her. “Just listen to me.”
She stared at him silently.
And for the first time since the gala—
The heartbreak inside her began turning into anger.
"What do you think you’re doing here?" She yelled.
- Writer
