Her Accidental Husband

Chapter 5 Crazy Proposal

"What the hell am I doing? Lily muttered to herself as she sat on the edge of the worn motel bed, the thin mattress sagging beneath her like a broken promise.

The old and faded wallpaper curled at the corners, and the single bare bulb overhead flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the cracked, threadbare carpet. The stale, heavy smell of damp and cigarette smoke clung stubbornly to the air, a sharp reminder of just how far from everything familiar and safe she had fallen.

In her trembling hands, she held the crumpled lottery ticket, smoothing its glossy surface again and again as though sheer will could erase the cruel reality written in the fine print:

Newlywed couple.

Married less than five months.

No property in either name.

The words had etched themselves into her mind now, a cold and unforgiving barrier between her and hope. None of those conditions applied to her anymore.

She had no husband. No partner to share the villa with. No home, no job, no future planned. Only a deep ache in her chest and the bitter sting of betrayal, her dreams shattered like fragile glass.

She reminded herself for the millionth time that none of this was her fault; it was Leon's. How could he be so stupid, so selfish? Did he really think that Lily would be okay with him having s*x with other women when they were just weeks away from committing their lives and souls to each other?

Lily swallowed hard, biting her trembling lip, fighting back tears as she glanced around the cramped room. The cracked windowpane rattled faintly with the wind outside, carrying the muffled sounds of distant traffic and the occasional bark of a dog. The faint glow of streetlights seeped in through the threadbare curtains, casting a dim halo that seemed to isolate her even further.

The phone on the bedside table glowed softly in the dimness, offering a faint flicker of light and the possibility of connection. Lily’s fingers hovered over the contacts list, hesitating as they scrolled down to a familiar name: Adam Wright.

Adam.

Her oldest friend — the one who had found her that night, who had quietly stayed by her side when her world fell apart.

The one who had paid the hospital bills without question, leaving that simple, carefully written note by her bedside promising to take responsibility.

Her throat tightened as she stared at the screen. The weight of what she was about to ask pressed down on her, heavier than any suitcase she’d dragged through these last couple of days.

Would he say no?

Would she be a burden?

Would she shatter what fragile connection they had left?

The silence of the motel room pressed in around her as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, swallowing the lump of panic rising in her throat. How could she explain her desperation without sounding weak? How could she ask for help without pushing him away?

For hours, she paced the tiny room, drafting message after message, deleting them again before the words could take shape.

“Adam, can you help me?”

“I need a favour. It’s crazy, but I have nowhere else to go.”

“Would you marry me? Just pretend. Six months. No strings.”

Each attempt felt clumsy and humiliating, as though the words belonged to someone else — someone braver than her.

She sank to the bed at last, exhausted and trembling. Her heart felt like it might burst, and the tears she’d held back all day finally slipped free, hot and unrelenting. She pressed the phone to her ear, whispering to the empty room, “If I don’t ask, I’ll never know.”

With trembling fingers, she pressed the call button and held the phone close. The seconds stretched endlessly as it rang twice before his calm, familiar voice answered.

“Hello?”

“Adam, it’s me… Lily,” she began, voice cracking, raw with uncertainty. “I don’t really know how to say this…”

“Lily? Are you alright?” His voice was steady but laced with genuine concern.

She drew a shaky breath and poured out the story — the betrayal, the broken engagement, the hospital stay, the lottery win, and the impossible conditions attached to the prize.

“I don’t have a husband,” she said quietly, barely above a whisper. “But I need to claim this prize. It’s the only chance I have right now.”

Tears stung her eyes as she added, “Would you… Would you be willing to marry me? Just pretend for six months. We get the villa, then we divorce when it’s over. No strings, no promises.”

Silence fell between them like a heavy curtain. Lily’s heart pounded so loud she was sure he could hear it. Her palms were slick with sweat. She held her breath, waiting for a refusal, for the line to go dead.

But then, finally, Adam’s voice came, low and steady, threaded with something she couldn’t quite place.

“Alright. I’ll do it. But only because I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Relief crashed through her in an overwhelming wave, leaving her breathless and shaking. “Thank you, Adam,” she whispered, her voice thick. “Thank you so much.”

The call ended quietly, leaving her clutching the phone like a lifeline.

What Lily didn’t see — what she couldn’t possibly know — was the slow, satisfied smile curling at the corners of Adam’s mouth—a smile of quiet triumph, of a plan finally set into motion. The glint in his eyes was unmistakable. His years of silent longing, watching over her from the sidelines, had brought him to this moment.

For the first time, he could take control.

For the first time, he could fight for what he’d always wanted.