Billionaire's Fake Love

Chapter 1 - An Encounter

"You think you can keep avoiding us, huh?" The voice on the other end was cold and unrelenting. "Your payments are overdue, and we've had enough of your excuses."

It was a call from the debt collector.

"I'm really trying my best," Ashlyn stammered, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. "Please, have some compassion," she implored, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

"I'm not trying to escape my responsibility. I just need a little more time to figure things out. I'm begging you, please understand."

The debt collector's laughter was bitter and unforgiving. "Compassion? You should have thought about that before you got yourself into this mess. We've shown enough leniency. Prepare for the consequences."

"No, wait!" Ashlyn's voice cracked as she clung desperately to the conversation. "I'll do whatever it takes. I'll find a way to pay, I promise. Please, just give me a chance."

"Chances are over," the debt collector replied coldly. "Consider this your final warning. Be ready for legal action if you don't comply."

The line went dead, leaving Ashlyn sitting with a blank expression in the sterile hospital room, enveloped by the rhythmic beeping of machines that surrounded her like a constant reminder of desperation. The walls seemed suffocating, as they closed in on her while the weight of her circumstances pressed down upon her weary shoulders. The scent of antiseptic mingled with the heaviness of anxiety, creating an atmosphere tinged with uncertainty.

Her gaze was fixed on the motionless figure lying on the hospital bed beside her—her fiancé, Ethan. His once vibrant face was now pale and still, trapped in a coma that had held him captive for months. The accident had left him broken, and his heart ached with every breath he took, uncertain if he would ever wake.

Reaching out to hold his hand, the touch of his cold skin sent a shiver down her spine. She fought back tears, refusing to let despair consume her. But deep down, she knew she was at a loss.

The weight of despair suddenly pressed upon her chest, suffocating her as she stared at Ethan's face, searching for any sign of consciousness. "Hey, Ethan," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and anguish. "Can you hear me? Please, open your eyes."

But there was only silence. Ethan remained trapped in a realm of unconsciousness, leaving her alone as the clock on the wall ticked away, each second mocking her. The mountain of medical bills loomed before her, threatening to bury them in a mound of debt.

She had exhausted her savings, sold whatever possessions she could, and borrowed money from friends and family, but it wasn't enough. The hospital bills stood like insurmountable mountains, ready to crush her beneath their weight.

The weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon her chest. How had life brought her to this point? Memories of their dreams and hopes together haunted her thoughts. They were supposed to have a future, to build a life filled with love and laughter. Instead, they were trapped in that sterile room, where time stood still and hope flickered like a distant star.

She glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall, its pages mercilessly turning, marking the passing of days. The realization that she couldn't provide the necessary funds for Ethan's care gnawed at her soul, filling her with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. She had done everything she could, exhausted every option, but the financial strain threatened to suffocate her.

With a heavy heart, Ashlyn reluctantly released Ethan's hand and stepped out of the room. The sterile hospital corridor greeted her, its starkness mirroring the emptiness she felt inside. She needed a moment of respite, a brief escape from the suffocating reality that had become her life.

She made her way to the hospital cafeteria, where the smell of freshly brewed coffee offered a faint glimmer of comfort. As she poured the steaming liquid into a cup, a mix of exhaustion and confusion swirled within her. How had her life come to this? The accident had shattered her hopes and dreams, leaving her drowning in a sea of uncertainty.

Lost in her own world, she didn't notice the man approaching until he stood right in front of her, blocking her path. As she looked up, she found herself captivated by his striking appearance.

He was disheveled, his hair unkempt, and his face etched with lines of exhaustion and pain. He wore a simple hospital gown. Oh, another patient.

He looked at her with a mix of confusion and recognition. "Olivia?" he asked tentatively.

Surprised, she furrowed her brows and shook her head. "I'm sorry?"

"Olivia, you're here."

"I think you have mistaken me for someone else, Sir," she replied softly, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

"Olivia, what are you calling me?"

"Sir, there must be some kind of misunderstanding here. I'm n-"

He rushed towards her, his arms outstretched, and enveloped her in a tight embrace. She stood frozen, caught between the warmth of his embrace and the confusion swirling within her.

Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of the unfolding situation. Olivia? The name echoed in her mind, triggering a sense of both curiosity and unease. Who was Olivia, and why did these men believe she was her?

The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted her as she stood face-to-face with this disheveled man who insisted on calling her Olivia. Another man approached, his face a mix of relief and concern.

"Josh!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with both concern and relief. "Thank God you're okay!"

The man released his embrace on her, turning towards the other man. "Look," he said, gesturing towards her, "Olivia is here to visit me."

Her attention shifted to the other man. Standing a few feet away, his eyes widened with a shock that mirrored her own.

Could it be? Was this man also under the impression that she was Olivia?

"Oh, God. Olivia…"

How could two different men both believe that she was this Olivia, a woman she had never even met?

Ashlyn furrowed her brows and shook her head, her voice filled with a blend of confusion and apprehension. "Please, not you, too. You guys have just mistaken me for another woman."

The man's face registered with some kind of realization, but he didn't relent. His gaze bore into hers, as if searching for something beyond her words. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the truth. That was when he tried to pull the other.

"Joseph, come on. Let's get you back to your room. You need to rest."

Joseph. The name hung in the air, igniting a spark of recognition within her. The pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, and she realized that the disheveled man before her was none other than Joseph Blackwood, the billionaire whose face graced magazine covers and news headlines.

Her mind whirled with a storm of questions and confusion.

Why was Joseph here in the hospital? Who was Olivia? And why did that man call her Olivia?