Chapter 3: Forty-Eight Hours
1062 Words
I stared at the black business card long after Adrian Hale left.
It sat on the small table beside Ethan's bed like it belonged there.
Simple.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
I picked it up with shaky fingers.
Adrian Hale
CEO, Hale Global Holdings
Just his name.
No personal number.
No email.
Nothing else.
Who puts only their name on a business card?
Someone who expects everyone to already know who he is.
"Lydia?"
I looked up.
Grace was standing at the door, watching me with a worried expression.
"Who was that man?"
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
How was I supposed to explain what had just happened?
"He..." I paused. "He offered to marry me."
Grace blinked.
"What?"
"I know how it sounds."
"No, you don't." She walked into the room and lowered her voice. "A man you've never met before just asked you to marry him?"
"It's not a real marriage."
She folded her arms.
"Then what is it?"
"A contract."
Silence filled the room.
Grace looked at me as if she was waiting for me to laugh and admit it was a joke.
When I didn't, she slowly sat beside me.
"Tell me everything."
I told her about the meeting.
About Adrian coming to the hospital.
About Ethan's medical bills.
About the one-year contract.
About ten million dollars.
By the time I finished, Grace looked just as shocked as I felt.
"This is crazy."
"I know."
"You can't seriously be thinking about it."
"I don't know what I'm thinking."
Grace sighed.
"This is Adrian Hale we're talking about."
"I know."
"He didn't become one of the richest men in New York by helping strangers."
"I know."
"So why you?"
That was the same question running through my mind.
Why me?
There had to be hundreds of women who would happily marry him.
Beautiful women.
Rich women.
Women who belonged in his world.
Not me.
A tired woman with unpaid bills and a sick brother.
None of it made sense.
A soft groan pulled my attention away.
"Ethan."
His eyes slowly opened.
"Lydia?"
I leaned forward immediately.
"Hey."
"You came."
"Of course I came."
He smiled weakly.
"I told you not to worry."
I laughed through the tears in my eyes.
"You collapsed."
"I just got a little dizzy."
"A little?"
"You know doctors love making everything sound worse."
I gently touched his forehead.
"You scared me."
"I'm sorry."
"No."
I shook my head.
"I'm the one who's sorry."
His smile faded.
"You missed the presentation, didn't you?"
I looked down.
"Yes."
"You shouldn't have."
"Ethan."
"You've worked so hard for that project."
"I'd miss a thousand presentations if it meant being here with you."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he stared at the ceiling.
"I heard the doctor."
My heart dropped.
"You weren't asleep?"
"I woke up before he left."
I reached for his hand.
"We'll figure something out."
"How?"
I had no answer.
He turned to look at me.
"I don't want you borrowing more money."
"I won't."
"I don't want you selling the apartment."
"I won't."
"I don't want you giving up your dreams because of me."
I forced a smile.
"You're my dream, Ethan."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I hate this."
"I know."
"I hate being a burden."
"You are not a burden."
"I am."
"No."
I squeezed his hand.
"You've never stopped fighting."
He looked away.
"I'm just tired."
"So am I."
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
We both laughed quietly.
For the first time since yesterday, it felt real.
Not perfect.
Not happy.
Just real.
That evening, after Ethan fell asleep again, I stepped outside the hospital for some fresh air.
The city was alive.
Cars moved through the streets.
People laughed as they walked past.
Some carried shopping bags.
Others hurried home from work.
Life continued.
Even when yours felt like it had fallen apart.
I sat on a bench outside the hospital entrance.
The business card was still in my hand.
Forty-eight hours.
How could anyone decide something like this in two days?
"Miss Brooks?"
I looked up.
A man in a black suit stood in front of me.
He looked to be in his fifties.
His gray hair was neatly combed, and his posture was perfect.
"Yes?"
He smiled politely.
"My name is Samuel Foster."
I waited.
"I've worked for Mr. Hale for twenty-three years."
"Oh."
"He asked me to deliver something."
He handed me a large envelope.
"What's this?"
"Information."
"About what?"
"The contract."
I hesitated before taking it.
"Mr. Hale also wanted me to remind you that no one is forcing you to accept."
That surprised me.
"He said the choice must be yours."
Samuel gave a small nod.
"Good evening, Miss Brooks."
Before I could ask another question, he walked away.
I looked down at the envelope.
My name was written neatly across the front.
I slowly opened it.
Inside were several documents.
The first page explained the agreement.
A legal marriage for one year.
Public appearances together.
Live in the same house.
No romantic relationships with anyone else during the contract.
Confidentiality.
A generous monthly allowance.
Every medical expense for Ethan was paid in full.
At the very end was one sentence.
You are free to refuse without consequence.
I frowned.
That wasn't what I expected.
There was no threat.
No pressure.
Nothing forcing me to say yes.
Just... a choice.
Then another paper slipped from the envelope.
It wasn't part of the contract.
It was a report.
Ethan's medical report.
Attached to it was a note written in neat handwriting.
Our medical team reviewed his case this afternoon. His chances are excellent with immediate treatment. Waiting too long may reduce those chances.
I felt my throat tighten.
Adrian hadn't sent the report to scare me.
He wanted me to know the truth.
For the first time, I realized this wasn't only about money.
Time was running out.
I looked toward Ethan's hospital wi
ndow.
Then back at the papers in my hands.
My phone buzzed.
Grace.
Have you made a decision?
I stared at the message.
A decision?
How could I make one when my heart wanted one thing and my head another?
I looked up at the dark sky.
Then down at Adrian's business card.
Forty-eight hours suddenly felt far too short.
And deep inside, I knew sleep wasn't coming tonight.
- Writer
