THE ENEMY’S BRIDE

Chapter 3

Andrew’s POV

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice weak but filled with confusion.

The nurse glanced between the two of us, sensing the tension in the air.

I didn’t want anyone to know what I had done. The last thing I needed was for this to turn into a police case.

Turning to the nurse, I gave her a small glare. She immediately bowed her head before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

The woman’s eyes followed the nurse, then snapped back to me. “Who are you? And why did you make her leave?” she repeated.

This time, there was more than just confusion in her voice—I could hear a hint of fear.

I sneered but didn’t answer right away. Instead, I walked over to the couch a few feet away from her bed and sat down. Crossing one leg over the other, I leaned back, resting my arms on the couch.

“Alright, let’s get this over with,” I said.

She frowned, looking even more confused.

“How much do you want?” I asked casually.

Her eyebrows shot up. “What are you talking about?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

She sounded intimidated, which wasn’t surprising. Everyone felt intimidated by me. My cold demeanor had that effect on people, and honestly, I wasn’t complaining.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

I didn’t have all day to waste here.

I pulled out my checkbook from my wallet, quickly signed a check, and ripped out the paper.

“This is a check,” I said, holding it out to her. “You can write any amount you need, and the money will be yours.”

With that, I turned to leave, feeling like I had done enough to ease the slight guilt lingering inside me.

But before I could take another step, her voice stopped me.

“What is this for? Who are you? And why are you giving me a check?”

Her endless questions were starting to irritate me. I considered walking out without another word, but I knew that if I didn’t give her an answer, she might start digging for one elsewhere. That was the last thing I wanted.

I sighed and turned to face her. “I’m the guy who caused your accident.” I paused for a second before adding, “Well… not the only one.”

Her eyes widened as she pushed herself up slightly. “What do you mean? Were you the one who hit me?”

Again with the damn questions.

I clenched my jaw before snapping, “Yes, I was, okay?”

She frowned, and before I could say anything else, her expression twisted in anger.

“How dare you!” she shouted, her voice suddenly sharp and bold.

I raised an eyebrow, slightly stunned by her sudden change in tone.

“What?” I scoffed. Who did she think she was, talking to me like that?

“You almost ended my life with your reckless driving! And now you have the guts to show up here with an attitude, handing me a check like that’s supposed to fix everything?” she screamed at me.

I clenched my fists, my patience running thin. “What else was I supposed to do, huh? Leave you to die on the road?” I shot back, my voice just as loud.

She opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, but no words came out.

That only fueled my irritation. “Maybe I should have left you there,” I blurted out, my tone cold. “At least then, I wouldn’t have to listen to your nonsense ranting.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I saw something shift in her eyes.

“Woah,” she uttered, shaking her head as if trying to process my cruelty.

I expected her to yell again, to curse me out, but instead, she let out a bitter sneer. “I don’t know who you are, but you are the most insensitive human I’ve ever spoken to. You didn’t just almost kill me. You took a life from me. And yet, here you are—without an ounce of remorse.”

My entire body stiffened.

Life?

Was she saying…

My throat suddenly felt dry. “What do you mean by… life?” I asked, even though deep down, I already knew the answer.

“I was pregnant, you asshole! And you made me lose my baby!” she screamed, her voice raw with pain.

I stared at her, momentarily speechless.

I didn’t know she was pregnant.

For the first time, a flicker of guilt passed through me—but just as quickly, I pushed it aside. It wasn’t my fault.

“What was a pregnant woman doing out so late at night, in the middle of the road, during a heavy downpour?” I scoffed, crossing my arms.

Her mouth fell open. “Are you seriously blaming me for what happened?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

I shrugged. “You know I’m right.”

“Get out!” she suddenly screamed, grabbing a pair of scissors from the bedside table and hurling them at me.

I barely dodged in time. “Are you insane?!” I yelled.

“Get out of here right now, or else!” she threatened, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

I rolled my eyes. “Or else what? Spare me the empty threats, okay? I didn’t come here for this.”

I took a step closer, my patience running out. “I came here to compensate you for what happened. I don’t know what else you want from me because, let’s be real, if I hadn’t brought you to the hospital, you wouldn’t even know who hit you. You’d be dead. So how about a little gratitude?”

She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Unbelievable,” she muttered, looking down before raising her eyes back to mine.

Then her expression changed—suddenly, she was calm. Too calm.

“You want to know what I want?” she asked softly.

I narrowed my eyes. “Yeah.”

“I want you to give me security and a chance to live in this miserable world.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

She took a deep breath before looking me dead in the eyes.

“Marry me.”

My entire body tensed. My eyes widened in shock. “What did you just say?” I stuttered, suddenly feeling a strange unease.

She leaned forward, her face filled with determination. “You heard me. Marry me. Bring life back into my life. That’s what I want from you. Can you do that, huh?” Her voice grew louder, frustration leaking through as she hit the bed with her fists.

I took a step back. “You’re crazy.”

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest.

Marry her?

There was no way in hell I was going to marry a stranger. I didn’t even want to get married—ever.

I needed to get out of here.

Just as I was heading down the hall, a voice called out. “Sir.”

I turned to see the doctor approaching. “The patient’s bandages can be removed after a week, you can take her probably by next week .”

I shot him a glare before storming off.

I wasn’t dealing with this.

—

When I arrived home, I saw my mother standing in the doorway, her face lighting up with a smile the moment she saw me.

Before I could ask what was going on, a girl stepped out from behind her, making me frown. Inside, a man and a woman were sitting on the living room couch, their eyes fixed on me.

I narrowed my gaze at the girl beside my mother. “What’s going on here?” I asked, already irritated.

“Welcome home, my son. How was work?” My mother ignored my question, walking up to me and kissing my cheek.

I pulled back slightly. “Mom, tell me what’s happening. Who are they?”

She smiled as if this was some kind of pleasant surprise. “Well, this is Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, and this is their beautiful daughter, Elizabeth.”

I glanced at the girl, who gave me a shy smile. My glare deepened.

“So?” I said flatly, already disliking where this was going.

My mother chuckled lightly, as if my attitude was amusing. “Well, your father and I have decided that you and Elizabeth should get married.”

Elizabeth’s smile widened slightly, but my expression darkened.

“I will never marry her.” My voice was sharp, final.

Elizabeth flinched at my outburst, but I didn’t care.

“You have no choice, my dear. You need to get married to her,” my mother said, her tone gentle but firm.

I clenched my jaw. “No, I don’t. And I won’t, okay?”

She opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off before she could say anything else. “I already have someone else in mind.”

It was a complete lie, but I needed a way out of this. My mother’s eyes widened in surprise, her brows furrowing as she studied me.

Not wanting to give anyone the chance to question me further, I turned and stormed out of the house.

I got into my car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. There was only one place I could go now to make this lie somewhat believable.

I drove straight to the hospital.

I pulled up to the hospital, my mind racing. I didn’t even know why I was doing this. Maybe it was because I was desperate to get out of that arranged marriage, or maybe… just maybe, I couldn’t shake the thought of that crazy woman who demanded that I marry her.

I walked into the hospital and went straight to the reception desk.

“The woman who was in the accident a few weeks ago ,” I said, realizing I never even asked for her last name. “Do you know where she went?”

The nurse looked at me strangely. “She was discharged weeks ago, sir. She left on crutches.”

I frowned. “And where did she go?”

“I’m not sure. She didn’t have any family listed, and no one came to pick her up,” the nurse explained.

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling frustrated. What kind of woman just leaves the hospital with nowhere to go?

Without thinking twice, I turned around and walked out. I got into my car and drove around the city, my eyes scanning the streets.

Then, just as I was about to give up, I spotted her.

She was walking slowly, struggling with her crutches. She looked exhausted, like she had been wandering for a while.

I pulled up beside her and stepped out of the car.

“You,” she muttered the moment she saw me.

Her eyes narrowed, and before I could react, she raised one of her crutches, ready to hit me.

I stepped back. “Whoa, calm down, psycho.”

She glared at me. “What do you want?”

I took a deep breath. This was insane. Absolutely ridiculous. But I had already said it at home, and there was no turning back now.

“I will marry you.”

She blinked. Her grip on the crutch loosened slightly. “What?”

I met her gaze, dead serious. “Let’s get married.”