His Greatest Mistake

Episode4

The rain had started falling again.

Elena walked out of the Grand Astoria Hotel without knowing where she was going.

The cold wind hit her face, but she didn't care.

Margaret Ashford had been her last hope.

Her mother's letter. The promise.

Everything had led her to that moment.

And it ended with just a few words. "I'm sorry. I can't help you."

Elena laughed quietly. It wasn't a happy laugh.

"So... this is how it ends."

She quickly wiped away the tears in her eyes.

She had promised herself she wouldn't cry in front of those rich people.

She kept that promise.

But now...

There was no one left to see her fall apart.

Just as she reached the subway entrance, her phone rang.

It was the hospital.

Her heart skipped.

She answered quickly.

"Hello?"

"Miss Hart?"

"Yes."

"This is Dr. Collins."

Elena held the phone tighter.

"Is Noah okay?"

"He's stable."

She let out a small sigh of relief.

"But I'm calling to remind you that the payment deadline is tomorrow."

Those words made her heart sink.

"I know."

"If we don't receive the payment, we'll have to stop the treatment we've started."

Elena closed her eyes.

"I understand."

"I'm trying."

"I really am."

"We know you are."

The call ended.

Elena slowly lowered the phone.

Tomorrow. She only had until tomorrow.

After that...

She didn't even want to think about it.

Later that night...

The apartment felt quieter than ever.

Elena changed into an old sweatshirt and sat on the edge of her bed.

She couldn't sleep.

Her eyes moved to the hospital bill on the table. Then to her mother's letter. Then back to the bill again.

She had tried everything.

For the first time in years...

She asked herself the question she had been trying not to think about.

"What if I can't save him?"

Tears filled her eyes.

She quickly shook her head.

"No."

"I'll find another way."

"I have to."

Across Manhattan...

The lights inside Voss Global Holdings were still on.

It was almost midnight.

Almost everyone had gone home.

Only one office was still occupied.

Adrian Voss stood by the large window, looking down at the city.

Then someone knocked on the door.

Daniel walked in carrying a thick file.

"The report is ready, sir."

Adrian didn't turn around.

"Go ahead."

Daniel opened the file.

"Elena Hart."

"Twenty-four years old."

"She works as an editorial assistant during the day, and as a waitress every evening. And on weekends, she tutors students."

"She works almost every day just to make enough money."

He turned another page.

"No criminal record. No expensive lifestyle. No gambling. No suspicious activity."

"Everything we found shows she's just trying to survive."

Adrian finally turned around.

"What about her family?"

"She only has one close family member."

"A younger brother."

Daniel placed another file on the desk.

"His name is Noah Hart. He's nineteen years old. And he's currently battling a serious lung disease."

"The hospital has given Elena one last deadline."

"If she doesn't pay by tomorrow… Then they'll stop his treatment."

Adrian didn't say anything.

Daniel quietly placed several photographs on the desk.

One showed Elena leaving the restaurant late at night.

Another showed her carrying groceries home.

Another showed her sitting beside Noah's hospital bed.

The last picture caught Adrian's attention.

Elena had fallen asleep in the chair beside Noah.

One of her hands was still holding his.

She looked completely exhausted.

Adrian picked up the picture.

He looked at it for a long time.

Then he spoke.

"Are you sure everything in this report is true?"

Daniel nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"We checked everything."

Adrian looked at the picture again.

"So..."

"The daughter of the family that ruined my mother's life..."

"...can't even afford to save her own brother."

Daniel stayed quiet.

It wasn't his place to answer.

After a long silence...

Adrian placed the picture back on the desk.

"Pay part of Noah Hart's hospital bill."

Daniel looked surprised.

"How much, sir?”

"Pay enough to keep his treatment going for another two days."

Daniel frowned.

"But not the full amount?"

Adrian slowly shook his head.

"No."

"I don't want her problems to disappear. I just want to give her enough hope."

Daniel understood what Adrian meant.

Adrian wasn't trying to save Elena.

He wanted her to have no choice but to come to him.

"I'll take care of it tonight, sir."

As Daniel turned to leave, Adrian stopped him.

"One more thing."

Daniel turned back.

"When she comes..."

"Make sure she walks into my office willingly."

Daniel nodded once.

"I understand."

He quietly left the office.

Adrian looked out the window again, his eyes showing no emotions.

The next morning...

Elena rushed into the hospital.

She had spent the whole night thinking about what she was going to say to the doctor.

She was ready to beg for more time.

She didn't care if she had to get on her knees.

She just wanted Noah's treatment to continue.

As soon as she reached the nurses' station, one of the nurses smiled at her.

"Good morning, Miss Hart."

Elena forced a small smile.

"Good morning."

"I'm here to see my brother."

"Of course."

The nurse looked at the computer for a moment.

"Before you go in, the doctor would like to speak with you."

Elena's heart dropped.

She followed the nurse to Dr. Collins' office.

The doctor looked up as she walked in.

"Please, have a seat."

Elena remained standing.

"Doctor..."

"I'm sorry."

"I couldn't get the money."

"I know I promised I would."

"But please..."

"Please don't stop Noah's treatment."

"I only need a little more time."

Dr. Collins looked at her quietly.

Then he gave her a small smile.

"You don't have to worry about that for now."

Elena frowned.

"I don't understand."

"The hospital received a payment early this morning."

She blinked.

"A payment?"

"Yes."

"It wasn't the full amount."

"But it was enough for us to continue Noah's treatment."

"We've also extended your deadline by another two days."

For a few seconds...

Elena couldn't say a word.

She wasn't sure she had heard him correctly.

"...Two more days?"

The doctor nodded.

"Yes."

Tears filled her eyes.

"Oh, thank God."

She covered her mouth with both hands.

She had been carrying so much fear.

Now...

For the first time in days...

She could breathe again.

After a few moments, she looked at the doctor.

"Who paid for it?" She asked

"I'm sorry but we're not allowed to tell you."

"The person asked to remain anonymous."

Elena frowned.

"Please."

"I just want to thank them."

The doctor shook his head.

"I wish I could help but I gave my word."

Elena slowly nodded.

"I understand."

She thanked him before leaving the office.

A few minutes later...

She walked into Noah's room.

He smiled as soon as he saw her.

"I knew you'd come."

She smiled back.

"Of course I would."

He noticed her red eyes.

"Were you crying again?"

She laughed softly.

"No. I'm just tired."

He wasn't convinced.

"You shouldn't worry so much."

"We'll figure it out."

She sat beside him and gently brushed his hair away from his forehead.

"We will."

She hoped those words were true.

Later that afternoon...

Elena was back at the Restaurant.

She tied on her apron and got straight to work.

The lunch rush had already started, Customers filled almost every table.

She carried plates from one table to another with a smile on her face.

But inside...

Her mind was somewhere else.

Who had paid Noah's hospital bill?

She thought about Margaret Ashford.

Then she shook her head.

"No. It couldn't be her."

"She didn't even remember my mother."

So who was it?

The question stayed in her mind all afternoon.

Just then...

The bell above the restaurant door rang.

A tall man wearing a black suit walked inside.

He looked different from the usual customers.

Everything about him was neat.

From his polished shoes… To his expensive watch.

Instead of sitting down...

He walked straight toward Elena.

"Excuse me."

"Are you Miss Elena Hart?"

She looked at him carefully.

"Yes."

The man gave her a polite smile.

"My name is Daniel Carter."

He reached into his jacket and handed her a business card.

She looked down.

Daniel Carter. Executive Assistant to Voss Global Holdings.

She looked back at him.

"I'm sorry… I don't think we've met before."

"We haven't." Daniel said

"I'm here on behalf of my employer."

He placed a black envelope on the counter.

"My employer asked me to give this to you."

Elena looked at the envelope.

She didn't touch it.

"Who's your employer?"

"Mr. Adrian Voss."

She frowned.

"I've never heard that name before."

Daniel nodded. "I know."

"But he knows about your brother."

Her heart skipped.

"What did you say?"

Daniel looked at her.

"The payment your brother's hospital received yesterday..."

"It came from Mr. Voss."

Elena's eyes grew wide.

"You mean..."

"He's the one who paid part of Noah's bill?"

"Yes."

"Why?" She asked almost immediately

Daniel gave a small smile.

"That's something only Mr. Voss can answer."

Elena looked down at the envelope again.

Her hands slowly reached for it.

"What does he want from me?"

"I don't know the details."

"My job was only to deliver the message."

She carefully opened the envelope, Inside was a single sheet of paper.

She unfolded it. The note was short.

«Miss Hart,

I believe I have a solution to your financial problems.

If you're willing to listen, meet me tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

Voss Global Holdings.

— Adrian Voss»

Elena read it again.

Then again.

Nothing made sense.

She looked back at Daniel.

"Why would a man I've never met help me?"

Daniel answered honestly.

"I can't answer that."

"But if I were you..."

"I wouldn't ignore the invitation."

He gave a small nod.

"Enjoy the rest of your day, Miss Hart."

Then he turned around and walked out of the restaurant.

Elena stood there without moving. The note was still in her hand and her heart was beating faster.