Chapter 140
During Elizabeth's hospital stay, visitors came and went—mostly company colleagues coming to check on her. Whatever their motives, Elizabeth was thoroughly annoyed.
She understood clearly—everyone was here to gather information. They might be colleagues, but they were all competitors too.
On the third day, the doctor examined her and confirmed she was fine. Elizabeth planned to check out.
That evening, as she packed her clothes, someone knocked on the door.
Sam entered carrying a fruit basket. Seeing Elizabeth with her hand on a suitcase of clothes, he asked, "Checking out already? Why not stay a couple more days?"
Elizabeth set the suitcase by the bed. "Yes, I've recovered."
Sam placed the fruit on the table, noticing she seemed thinner than before. "Actually, you could stay two more days."
Elizabeth's body was still weak. Just packing a few clothes had made her sweat. She sat on the bed to catch her breath. "I won't stay. I can go back to work tomorrow."
Sam sighed helplessly. "Working so hard? You're sick and still thinking about work."
Elizabeth said frankly, "I need money."
Sam knew Elizabeth's father's hospitalization required money, but her previous livestreaming income should have filled that gap.
He'd specifically had someone investigate. Elizabeth's recent livestreaming earnings were good. Combined with the company bonuses, it was enough to cover several months of her father's medical expenses. "Your father's hospital fees—didn't you pay them with money earned from livestreaming? Why do you still need money?"
Elizabeth lowered her eyes.
She couldn't talk about Becky. That was Becky's privacy. She could help, but she couldn't broadcast Becky's difficulties everywhere.
"I need it for myself." She spoke vaguely.
Sam stared at her for several seconds before suddenly asking, "How much do you need?"
Elizabeth froze.
Sam revealed a gentle smile. "If you have difficulties, you can tell me. You're an employee of my company, and also..."
He paused. The atmosphere seemed to become somewhat ambiguous.
Elizabeth looked at him without speaking.
Sam continued, "A friend, too."
The ambiguous atmosphere quietly dissipated. Elizabeth felt relief. "Thank you."
Sam had helped her so much all along. She remembered everything.
"Don't be stubborn." Sam had long expected she'd say this and wasn't surprised at all. He just gently advised, "I know you're proud, but sometimes accepting others' help isn't a weakness. Besides, we're practically family."
He was Cornelius's cousin, and Elizabeth was Cornelius's wife. How were they not family?
Elizabeth was about to respond when her phone suddenly vibrated.
She picked it up—a bank notification text.
[Your account received a transfer of $2,000,000.00 on September 21 at 18:23. Balance: $2,003,456.78.]
Elizabeth froze.
Two million dollars.
She stared at the screen, repeatedly confirming those numbers, making sure she hadn't misread.
Sam noticed her expression change. "What's wrong?"
Elizabeth looked up, calmly turning her phone face-down. "If I need help, I won't be polite with you."
Sam nodded without pressing further. "Rest early then. I'll go. If you still feel unwell tomorrow, take another day off. No salary deduction."
"Thank you, Mr. Habsburg."
After Sam left, the hospital room returned to quiet.
Elizabeth sat on the bed, looking at the deposit notification on her phone screen, her mind blank.
Who transferred the money?
Cornelius?
Impossible. He'd left angrily yesterday, saying she didn't know what was good for her. How could he turn around and transfer two million dollars?
Aiden was in school, relying on scholarships and part-time jobs to get by. He definitely couldn't have two million dollars.
Flora... she wasn't the type to transfer money without saying anything.
Elizabeth thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out.
She even suspected it might be a bank system error or some new type of scam.
Thinking this way, she became alert instead. If it really was a scam, she'd have to go to the bank tomorrow to check. She had no money to begin with—she couldn't afford to be inexplicably defrauded.
While thinking, the hospital room door opened again.
Cornelius walked in.
He wore a black suit today with a dark gray overcoat, holding a folder in his hand. Seeing Elizabeth had packed everything, he frowned slightly. "You're checking out?"
Elizabeth didn't answer, countering, "Why did you come?"
Cornelius walked up to her and handed her the folder. "Sign."
Seeing the white document, Elizabeth's first reaction was: divorce papers.
She couldn't describe her feelings in that moment—excited, thrilled, and a little... lost. This day had finally arrived.
She took a deep breath and opened the document, only to freeze when she saw the text.
This was a loan agreement.
Party A: Cornelius
Party B: Elizabeth
Loan Amount: $2,000,000.00
Loan Term: Three years
Annual Interest Rate: 0%
Repayment Terms: Party B may repay at any time during the loan period without penalty. However, before the debt is fully repaid, Party B may not disappear or lose contact under any pretext, or else the debt must be repaid tenfold.
The terms were simple—only two pages.
Elizabeth looked up in bewilderment. "What does this mean?"
"Can't read?" Cornelius casually tossed his coat on the sofa. After a full day of meetings, he was utterly exhausted. He looked up at her coldly. "Lending you two million dollars."
Of course, Elizabeth could read. She understood every word, including punctuation marks. But she didn't understand—what was Cornelius doing? "I'm asking why you're doing this."
Yesterday, he'd been angry she wouldn't take the money and stormed off, slamming the door so hard it shook. He'd practically pointed at her nose and called her ungrateful.
Why was he suddenly willing to lend her money today?
Cornelius loosened his tie, letting out a breath, shifting his gaze to look out the window. "Didn't you need money? You wouldn't take it as a gift, so I'll lend it to you. Borrow and repay, a fair transaction. Now you have no complaints, right?"
Elizabeth stared at him. "You're this kind-hearted?"
Cornelius was angered into laughter. "Elizabeth, in your heart, what kind of person am I?"
Was he some heinous criminal or a demonic monster?
Elizabeth didn't speak for a moment.
Anyway, not a good person.
Cornelius's expression grew colder. He spoke deliberately, "I just don't want you doing something embarrassing because you have no money. After all, we're still maintaining a marriage relationship. If you lose face, it means I lose face."
The reason was reasonable enough.
Besides, two million dollars was merely a drop in the bucket for Cornelius. A single bottle of wine he drank casually cost more than that.
Elizabeth looked at the agreement, complex emotions surging through her.
If she signed this agreement, she could get two million dollars, help Becky solve her urgent problem, and give herself room to breathe.
But it also meant another layer of financial entanglement between her and Cornelius.
"What, still won't take it?" Cornelius's deep eyes fixed on her, his cool voice carrying sarcasm. "Elizabeth, must you be so pretentious?"
Yes.
He was right. Since it was a loan to be repaid, why be pretentious?
Elizabeth took a deep breath and picked up the pen. "I'll borrow it."
She signed her name in the Party B signature space.
Cornelius watched her finish signing, took back the agreement, pulled out a pen from his pocket, and signed his name in the Party A space.
One signature flowing and elegant, one neat and precise—side by side together.