His Greatest Mistake

Episode5

Elena didn't sleep well that night. She kept reading the note over and over again.

Who was Adrian Voss? Why would a billionaire pay part of Noah's hospital bill? And what did he want from her?

She had no answers.

The next morning, she went to the hospital to check-in on Noah before going to work. Noah was still asleep, so she decided not to interrupt his sleep.

“When Noah's awake, tell him I'll be back soon to check-in on him” Elena told the nurse on duty.

The rest of the day passed slowly. Every time Elena looked at the clock, she became more nervous. By three o'clock, she could no longer focus on work. She asked her manager if she could leave early.

Luckily, he agreed. She hurried home first, stood in front of the small mirror in her room and changed into a clean white blouse and a black skirt.

They weren't expensive, but they were the nicest clothes she owned. She tied her hair neatly behind her head. Then she picked up Adrian's note.

"This is only to thank him," she whispered to herself. "Nothing more."

Half an hour later...

She stood outside Voss Global Holdings. The building was even bigger than she remembered.

People in expensive suits walked in and out of the glass doors. Luxury cars stopped one after another.

And for a moment… She almost turned around.

"What am I doing here?" She took a deep breath.

"I'm doing this for Noah."

With that, she walked inside.

The lobby was beautiful. Everything looked clean and expensive. Bright lights shone from the ceiling. Elena looked around and felt like she didn't belong there.

A young receptionist looked up and smiled.

"Good afternoon Ma'am."

"Good afternoon. I'm Elena Hart."

"I... I have an appointment with Mr. Adrian Voss."

The receptionist smiled again.

"Yes, Miss Hart."

"Mr. Voss has been expecting you."

She picked up the phone.

"She's here."

After a few seconds, she hung up.

"Mr. Carter will be with you shortly."

A minute later, Daniel walked into the lobby.

"Good afternoon, Miss Hart."

"Thank you for coming."

Daniel led her to a private elevator, and neither of them said a word as they went up. When the doors opened, he walked toward a large wooden door and knocked once.

A deep voice came from inside. "Come in.”

Daniel opened the door.

"Miss Hart is here, sir."

He stepped aside, and Elena slowly walked in.

The office was huge. The windows overlooked the whole city.

A tall man stood beside them, He turned around and for the first time… Elena saw Adrian Voss up close.

He looked exactly like the man she had seen on television.

Calm. Cold. Powerful.

His grey eyes stared at her for a few seconds.

Then he spoke.

"So… You're Elena Hart."

She nodded.

"Yes."

Adrian pointed to the chair in front of his desk.

"Sit."

She sat down quietly.

Daniel placed two cups of coffee on the desk before leaving the office, and closed the door behind him.

Now it was just the two of them.

Elena looked at Adrian.

"You paid part of my brother's hospital bill."

"I did."

"Why?" She asked

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he opened a drawer and took out a thick document.

He placed it on the desk between them and said "I have a business proposal."

Elena looked down. The words on the first page made her eyes go wide.

MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

She looked back at him.

"I think you've given me the wrong file."

"I haven't." He said

"You want me to... marry you?" She asked

"Yes." He said coldly

She stared at him in disbelief. For a moment, she thought he was joking.

But his face never changed.

"I'm serious. I'll pay every hospital bill, clear every debt you owe, and I'll make sure your brother gets the best treatment available."

Elena slowly stood up.

"And what do you get?"

Adrian looked her straight in the eyes.

"You become my wife."

Silence filled the office.

Elena couldn't believe what she had just heard.

She pushed the document back across the desk.

"No."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"I'm not selling my life."

"I'm not marrying a man I don't know just because he has money.”

She picked up her handbag.

"I came here to thank you, and not to sell myself."

"Goodbye, Mr. Voss.”

She turned and walked toward the door.

Just as her hand touched the handle...

"Miss Hart."

She stopped but didn't turn around. Adrian's calm voice filled the room.

"Your brother has two days left."

Elena's fingers tightened around the handle.

"After that..."

"The hospital will stop his treatment."

Her breathing became uneven.

Adrian slowly stood up.

"Think carefully before you throw this opportunity away."

"Because when those two days are over..."

"...I won't make this offer again."

Elena stood there without moving, her eyes slowly filled with tears, but she still opened the door...

...and walked away.

After leaving Adrian's office, Elena didn't go straight home. She kept walking through the busy streets without knowing where she was going. Her mind kept replaying Adrian's words, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about them.

"Marry me."

She still couldn't believe a stranger had asked her to become his wife.

"No."

She shook her head.

"I can't do it. I won't."

The next morning...

Elena went straight to the hospital.

She forced herself to smile before walking into Noah's room.

Noah looked much weaker. Even talking seemed to make him tired.

"You came early," he said with a small smile.

"I wanted to see you before work."

Noah looked at her for a moment.

"You've been crying."

She quickly looked away.

"I haven't."

"You always say that." He smiled again, but this time it didn't last long.

Suddenly, Noah started coughing badly. He tried to stop, but the coughing only got worse.

Elena quickly rushed to his side.

"Noah..."

"I'm okay," he said, trying to smile.

Before he could finish speaking, another painful cough shook his body. This time, it was much worse.

The nurse immediately ran into the room.

"Miss Hart, please step outside," she said urgently.

Elena's heart started beating faster as more doctors and nurses hurried into the room to treat Noah.

She stood outside the door, her hands shaking as she waited.

A few minutes later, Dr. Collins walked toward her.

One look at his face told Elena that something was wrong.

“I'm sorry, Miss Hart," Dr. Collins said quietly. "Your brother's condition is getting worse."

Tears filled Elena's eyes.

"But... you told me he was stable."

"He was," the doctor replied. "But his condition has changed. He needs the next stage of his treatment as soon as possible."

The doctor's face became more serious.

"If we wait any longer..."

He stopped speaking.

He didn't have to finish.

Elena already knew what he meant.

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Doctor... I'll get the money."

"I promise."

Dr. Collins looked at her with sympathy.

"I truly hope you do.”

The rest of the day was one disappointment after another.

Elena went everywhere she could think of, hoping someone would help her. She visited three different banks, but each one turned her down. She called everyone she knew, but no one had that kind of money.

She even sold the little jewellery she owned.

It still wasn't enough.

Not even close.

By evening, she was sitting alone at a bus stop.

Rain began to fall.

People around her hurried away to find shelter, but Elena stayed where she was. She didn't have the strength to move anymore.

With shaking hands, Elena opened her handbag.

Adrian's business card was still inside.

She picked it up and stared at his name for a long moment.

Her fingers trembled.

"No," she whispered to herself.

"There has to be another way."

Just then, her phone started ringing.

She looked at the screen.

It was the hospital.

Her heart skipped a beat as she answered.

"Hello?"

"Miss Hart, this is Dr. Collins."

"I'm calling because we still haven't received the remaining payment for Noah's treatment."

Elena closed her eyes.

"The deadline ends tomorrow morning," the doctor continued. "If the payment isn't made by then, we'll have no choice but to stop his treatment."

The call ended.

Elena slowly lowered the phone and looked at Adrian's business card again.

This time, she didn't put it back in her bag.

She held it tightly in her hand, knowing she had reached the end of every other option.

The next morning, Elena stood outside the Voss Global building. She looked up at the tall glass tower and took a deep breath.

Yesterday, she had walked out of this building with her pride still intact.

Today, she was walking back because she had no other choice.

As soon as she entered the lobby, the receptionist recognized her.

"Good morning, Miss Hart," she said with a polite smile. "Mr. Voss is expecting you."

A few minutes later, Daniel came to meet her and led her upstairs. He opened the office door and stepped aside.

Adrian was standing by the window with his hands in his pockets. When he heard the door open, he slowly turned to face her.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

Elena walked up to his desk. She looked at him, then quietly placed the unsigned marriage contract in front of him.

Her voice was soft as she asked, "If I sign this... will you really pay for Noah's treatment?"

Adrian held her gaze.

"Every bill," he replied. "You have my word."

Tears filled Elena's eyes.

She picked up the pen, but her hand refused to move. She sat there for a few seconds, trying to find one reason not to do it.

She couldn't.

With a trembling hand, she signed her name.

Adrian picked up the contract, looked at her signature, and closed the file.

"It's done," he said quietly.

Three days later, Elena stood inside a small private chapel.

The wedding was simple and quiet.

There were no reporters, no expensive decorations, and no large crowd.

Only a few people were there to witness the ceremony.

Less than twenty minutes later, it was over.

Elena softly said, "I do."

Adrian said the same.

Throughout the ceremony, he never smiled once.

When everything was over, the guests congratulated them before quietly leaving.

Elena watched them go and held on to a small hope in her heart.

Maybe things wouldn't be as bad as she feared.

Maybe Adrian wasn't as cold as he looked.

Maybe, with time, this marriage could become something real.

That night, she stood outside the bedroom, staring at the closed door.

Her heart was beating so fast she could hear it.

She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and slowly pushed the door open.

Adrian was standing by the window with his back to her.

He didn't turn around.

He didn't welcome her.

He didn't even look at her.

The room was completely silent.

After a long moment, Adrian finally broke the silence.

"Close the door."

Elena quietly closed it and stood where she was, waiting for him to say something.

Adrian slowly turned to face her.

There was no smile on his face.

His cold grey eyes showed no emotion.

"Don't get the wrong idea," he said. "You are not here because I love you neither are you here because I wanted to help you."

The small smile on Elena's face slowly faded.

"This marriage has nothing to do with love," Adrian continued. "And it has nothing to do with you."

"It's just a business deal."

Elena felt her chest tighten.

She stared at him in disbelief.

"I... I don't understand."

Adrian took one step toward her.

"You will."

His voice was calm, but every word felt cold.

"Your family destroyed mine."

"I married you for one reason."

"Revenge."

Elena stood frozen.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Adrian looked straight into her eyes.

Then he said the words that broke her heart.

"When I'm done with you..."

"...your family will have nothing left."

"...and neither will you.”