Morning sunlight slowly filled the hospital room.
Lina woke up feeling slightly stronger, but the heaviness in her heart remained.
Last night still felt unreal.
Daniel's betrayal.
Vanessa's cruel smile.
The humiliation.
And then there was Adrian.
As if on cue, the door opened.
Adrian walked in holding a small cup of coffee.
"You're awake," he said.
Lina sat up slowly.
"You came back?"
"I never left," Adrian replied simply.
Lina stared at him.
"Why?"
Adrian placed the coffee on the table beside her.
"Because I have something to offer you."
Lina frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.
His voice was calm but serious.
"I want you to marry me."
Lina blinked.
"What?"
"I'm serious," Adrian said.
The room went silent.
Lina let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"You must be joking."
"I never joke about important matters."
"Why would you ask a stranger to marry you?"
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"You need revenge," he said.
Lina's expression froze.
"And I need a wife."
The words hung in the air.
"This is insane," Lina said.
"Is it?"
Adrian's eyes were sharp.
"Imagine walking into Daniel's life again… not as the woman he abandoned, but as someone far more powerful."
Lina swallowed.
"What are you talking about?"
Adrian's gaze was steady.
"I'm talking about making them regret everything."