Billionaire's Lover

Pushing open the door to Lisa's ward, Betty's eyes fell upon her sister's frail form lying motionless in the hospital bed. Tubes and wires connected to various machines were a stark reminder of the battle Lisa was fighting. Betty's eyes welled up with tears as she approached her sister's bedside.

"Lisa, I'm here. It's me, Betty," she whispered, taking her sister's cold, pale hand in her own.

Lisa's eyelids fluttered weakly, and she managed a faint smile. "Betty," she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible. "I'm so glad you're here."

Tears streamed down Betty's cheeks as she tried to be strong for her sister. "I missed you, Lisa. We're going to get through this together."

Lisa had been admitted to the hospital two months ago after the fire accident that happened at their house. Betty had taken on the role of a caregiver since their parents passed away two months ago from the same fire accident that made Lisa end up in the hospital. Betty was exempted from the accident because she no longer lived with her parents at the time the accident occurred.

Since the time Lisa was admitted to the hospital, Betty had been working tirelessly to support both of them and ensure that Lisa received the best medical care possible. The hospital bills had been mounting, and Betty's savings had been depleted. She had even borrowed money from friends and sold personal belongings to cover the expenses, but it was still not enough.

As Betty settled into the chair beside Lisa's bed, the door to the room swung open, and a doctor entered, his face grave and solemn. It was Dr. Anderson, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair.

"Miss Betty," he began, his voice gentle but filled with a weight that made Betty's heart sink further, "I need to talk to you about Lisa's treatment."

Betty nodded, her anxiety deepening. "What's going on, Doctor?"

Dr. Anderson sighed and took a deep breath before delivering the news. "Betty, as you know, Lisa's condition is critical, and she requires ongoing treatment and care. However, the hospital bills have reached a substantial amount, and we can't continue her treatment until a certain percentage of these bills is covered."

"What?" Betty's eyes widened in shock. "Doctor, you can't do this. She needs the treatment to survive! I've been doing everything I can to pay the bills."

The doctor's expression remained sombre. "I understand, Betty, but we have policies in place to ensure that we can continue to provide care for all our patients. Without a significant payment, we won't be able to proceed."

Betty's world seemed to crumble around her. She glanced at her sister, who was struggling to stay awake, her breathing laboured. The desperation in Betty's voice was palpable as she pleaded with the doctor, "Please, Doctor, I'll find a way to pay, but Lisa can't stop treatment. She's all I have left."

Dr. Anderson's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Betty's shoulder. "I know this is incredibly difficult for you, Betty, but the hospital's hands are tied. We can't continue without a substantial payment."

Betty's tears flowed freely now, her voice breaking as she begged but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Betty, listen up! Today, we're short-staffed, and I need you to cover three tables at once. No mistakes, or you're out," Betty's manager, Mr. Johnson, a stern man with a perpetual scowl, instructed her. This was Betty's second week working at Fort Club after losing her parents. She was 33 and had no family except Lisa. Her work was the only hope she had to survive and get Lisa out of the hospital.

Betty nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her order pad. She couldn't afford to lose this job; it was her lifeline. Mr. Johnson handed her a tray laden with dishes and pointed to her first table, a group of impatient businessmen.

"Start with them," he ordered. "They're in a hurry."

In the dimly lit, bustling diner, the clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation filled the air as Betty approached the tables Mr Johnson had instructed her to serve, her heart pounding. She greeted the men with a forced smile, but her inexperience showed as she fumbled with the menus. This made the businessmen exchange annoyed glances.

As the orders piled up, Betty rushed from table to table, desperately trying to keep up with the demands of impatient customers.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she approached the fourth table, clutching the tray of steaming hot plates. She attempted to place a plate of spaghetti in front of the suited man on the left but ended up sloshing the sauce onto his crisp white shirt.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" Betty stammered, her face turning crimson as the man's scowl deepened. Sauce dripped from his shirt onto the tablecloth.

Mr. Johnson, who had been observing from the corner of the diner, swiftly approached with a stern glare. "Betty," he hissed through gritted teeth, "how many times have I told you to be careful? This is a restaurant, not a circus!"

"I'm... I'm sorry," Betty's voice quivered as she frantically grabbed a napkin to dab at the sauce-stained customer. The man, clearly irate, muttered something under his breath.

At the seventh table, Betty's hands trembled as she poured a glass of red wine for a couple celebrating their anniversary. Her hand wavered, and a crimson river of wine cascaded onto the pristine white tablecloth.

The couple exchanged incredulous looks, and Mr. Johnson's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Betty, I can't believe this!" he snapped. "Do you want to ruin this restaurant?"

Tears welled up in Betty's eyes as she stammered another apology, her voice barely audible over the clatter of dishes and the murmur of disgruntled patrons.

"Betty, you're a mistake! We can't keep you here any longer. You're fired!" Mr Johnson yelled.

Betty's face turned a deep shade of crimson, her eyes welling with tears as she remembered her sister's hospital bills which she was yet to pay. This was the fifth job she would do in two months!

In those two months, she had desperately tried to hold onto any job she could find, a lifeline in the chaos of her grief. But her emotional turmoil had betrayed her, leading to her rapid departure from five different workplaces! She found it difficult to recover from the tragic loss of her parents.

Mr Johnson's voice was a cold blade slicing through her fragile composure. Tears streamed down Betty's cheeks, her vision blurred as she struggled to maintain her dignity. She felt the weight of her parents' absence and her sister's sickness crushing her soul, and now, this latest rejection threatened to shatter her completely. She had fought so hard to keep going, to pretend that life could be normal again, but each firing felt like another nail in the coffin of her dreams.

With a trembling voice, she choked out a plea, "Please, I need this job. I don't know what I'll do without it." But her manager's resolve remained unyielding, the decision final. Betty crumpled to her knees, her sobs echoing through the restaurant, a poignant symphony of grief and despair.

After a while, she emerged from the restaurant with her eyes swollen with tears. The words of her manager kept on echoing in her mind, "We can't keep you here any longer." She felt sad that her emotional instability had cost her yet another job, and despair gnawed at her heart.

With each step she took away from the restaurant, her world felt bleaker. As she walked down the busy sidewalk, her vision blurred through the tears, and then a voice called out to her from behind. "Hey, wait up!"

Betty turned to see a middle-aged man in his forties hurrying toward her. His concerned expression was framed by salt-and-pepper hair, and his eyes held a genuine kindness that instantly drew her attention.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, genuine concern etched on his face.

Betty hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond to a stranger's inquiry. But something about his demeanour and the empathy in his eyes made her feel like she could trust him. She wiped away her tears and managed to utter, "I just got fired from my job."

The man's brow furrowed as he nodded. "I'm really sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Betty's voice quivered as she explained her predicament. "You see, I lost my parents two months ago and I have a sister in the hospital whose bills I'm yet to settle. I've been struggling to hold onto jobs ever since. I don't have anyone to fall back on, and each firing pushes me deeper into despair."

The man's eyes softened with understanding, and he reached out a hand to gently pat her shoulder. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, Miss. It must be incredibly tough for you. But don't lose hope. Sometimes, life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it."

Betty appreciated his kind words but couldn't help feeling a sense of hopelessness that had become all too familiar in recent months. She looked down at the sidewalk, her voice barely a whisper. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't know how things will ever get better for me."

The man smiled at her. "I have an offer for you. Let us find somewhere to sit and talk." He said as he led Betty to a nearby coffee shop. They sat in a corner when the man finally broached the subject he wanted to talk about. " I'm not pleased with your situation, and I want to offer you a solution."

Betty looked at him with curiosity, her brow furrowing slightly. "A solution? What do you mean?"

The man cleared his throat, his gaze focused intently on her. " I've been fortunate in my business endeavours, and I have the means to help you. I'll give you a good job and settle your sister's hospital bills."

Betty's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. "That's an incredibly generous offer, but it's an enormous amount of money. It costs $10000. I can't accept that kind of help from a stranger."

The man burst into laughter. "$10000 is no money, my Angel. I can take care of it and do much more if you grant my request."

Betty's heart raced as she wondered what the man was about to ask of her. "What kind of request is it?"

The man's voice was gentle but firm as he explained, "I'd like you to marry me. It's not just about the hospital bills; I promise to care for you deeply, and I believe we could build a future together. I'm ready to provide for both you and your sister, to give you a stable and secure life."

Betty's heart was torn as she considered the proposal. On one hand, she longed for the stability and security that the man could offer. Moreover, she barely knew him and wondered if she would be making the right decision by accepting his proposal. The burden of caring for Lisa and providing for their future had taken a toll on her, and the promise of a comfortable life was tempting. On the other hand, the idea of marrying for financial reasons alone went against her ideals and dreams of love and genuine connection.

The man noticed Betty's silence, so he became inquisitive. "What are your fears?" He asked.

"Well, I don't even know you, and just on our first meeting, you propose marriage to me," Betty managed to communicate her feelings.

The middle-aged man nodded, his expression serious. "You're right, young lady. My name is Liam, and I own one of the largest companies in this city," he said.

"Well, that's not what I mean. I'm not just talking about your name or identity. I..."

"Well, I think I understand you," the man interrupted. I know we haven't known each other before now and this might seem sudden. But I believe in us, and I'm willing to put in effort so that we build something beautiful together."

The middle-aged man reached out and took Betty's hand, his touch gentle yet firm. "Betty, I want to be completely honest with you. I know this might sound unconventional, but it's not just about the bills I promised to pay or the life I promised to give. I promise to love you," the man said. Betty was surprised at how the man got to know her name. They hadn't met before, so she wondered. "You wonder how I got to know your name?" The man asked, reading Betty's countenance.

Betty quickly nodded, affirming the man's thoughts. "Your name tag. You're still wearing your tag..."

"Oh..." Betty reacted as she looked down at her shirt. The tag was resting neatly on the right side of her blouse. It was the only thing the security guard had forgotten to retrieve from her at the restaurant so she knew she would have to go back to return it.

"Betty, I know this might seem sudden. I've been searching for someone like you for a long time, and I can't shake the feeling that you're the one I've been waiting for."

Liam's voice was filled with conviction as he spoke. "Betty, will you marry me?"

Betty's mind raced, processing the audacious request that had been laid before her. The man watched her intently, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and anticipation.

Betty stared into her half-empty coffee cup, her mind racing as she contemplated the choice before her. The man's proposal had the potential to change her life in ways she had never imagined. Finally, she looked up at the man with a warm smile, "Yes, Liam. I will marry you."

Liam's face lit up with joy as he reached across the table to take Betty's hand. Their love story had begun with a bold proposition.

"Can we get married in a few weeks?" Liam asked.

The words hung in the air, a weighty and unexpected proposition that left Betty momentarily speechless. She stared at Liam, her mind whirling with a mixture of emotions and thoughts. The idea of a wedding in just two weeks took her by surprise.

"Why the rush, Liam?" Betty finally managed to say, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Liam leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Betty, I've realized that life is short, and I don't want to waste any more time. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't want to wait for the perfect moment because there may never be one. I want to create our perfect moment, and I want to do it now."

"But two weeks, Liam?" Betty said, her voice filled with uncertainty. "That doesn't leave us much time to plan a wedding."

Liam reached out to gently take her hand, his touch warm and comforting. "I know it's sudden, Betty, but we don't need a grand, extravagant wedding. I want something small and intimate, just between our families and a few close friends. It's about us, our love, and our commitment to each other."

Betty took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. She thought about her dreams, her vision of a love that was slowly nurtured over time. But she also thought about her sick sister in the hospital, and how urgent she needed to pay the hospital bills.

Finally, she looked into his eyes, her gaze steady. "Alright, then."

Liam's face lit up with joy as he embraced her tightly. "Betty, you've made me the happiest man in the world. I promise you, our wedding will be a beautiful celebration of our love."