LOVING A CALLOUS BILLIONAIRE: DECEIT AND LOVE

Hannah's POV

"On today's news report, the head of the Davidson family, Robert Davidson, breathed his last. After struggling with brain cancer for six months, the billionaire industrialist has finally kicked the bucket through a heart attack. His daughter, Elizabeth Davidson, disclosed the news to the public in Dan's Care Hospital. According to her, the tragedy happened at 3 a.m. this morning. As we speak, the Davidsons are still finding it difficult to leave the hospital. Robert's death is preceded by a remarkable plummet in the family's stock. Once again, the Davidson stock has fallen by over 25%. This is in sync with the 45% decline it experienced a month ago. According to experts, investors are becoming seemingly uninterested, and the family is running into bankruptcy. Our correspondent is closely following the case, and we will give you more reports later. Stay tuned," the news reporter stated.

I switched off the television and quickly rushed into my room to get myself a gown. I opened my wardrobe and draped myself in a blue sleeveless gown. The gown had a jacket and so, I complemented it with it.

I rushed to the garage where I met Philip, my driver. He was draped in a crisp black suit, doing nothing.

"Philip, I need to get to Dan's Care Hospital right now," I said, breathing heavily. "Like, very fast."

"Okay, ma. Let me get the keys to the 488," Philip said, rushing inside the mansion.

"Hurry!" I exclaimed.

I could only imagine how John was feeling right now. Ever since his father had been sick, he hardly spoke to anyone. Now, he would become mute.

Elizabeth was really strong in releasing the news to the public. She must have prepared herself emotionally for the moment. I knew for certain that John's mom, Amanda, would be wailing and crying uncontrollably in the hospital.

When Philip returned with the car keys, he quickly got into the car and opened the door to the passenger's seat. Without hesitation, I hopped into the red Ferrari 488 GTB. Philip started the engine and began our journey out of the estate with hyper speed.

We reached the hospital in fifteen minutes and just as I predicted, Mrs. Amanda Davidson was weeping profusely in the waiting room. Elizabeth stood by her side, unable to comfort her mother. The guards around let her mourn tearfully as she sat on the ground. Her black jacket had removed from off her shoulders and her black gown was saturated with tears.

I got close to Mrs. Davidson, but I paused when I saw Elizabeth shaking her hand. This gesture suggested that I should stay back and let the aged woman continue wallowing in her pain.

I sat close to Elizabeth, who was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and a black gown. Her dark chestnut hair had been disheveled. Her eyes looked swollen and her skin looked pale. The once joyful friend I knew was now unrecognizable.

"I came immediately after I saw the news," I began. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"He died at 3 a.m. this morning. He said he only wanted John in his room. Maybe he wanted to tell him something," Elizabeth sniffled. "He fought a good fight. He dealt that dreadful sickness for a long time."

I saddled Elizabeth in my embrace and said, "You have to be strong, Elizabeth; you just have to."

"He was the pillar of the family. What will happen now?" Elizabeth cried, softly.

"It's going to be okay," I said, with a drop of tear slowly cascading down my cheek.

I couldn't find the perfect words to comfort Elizabeth. I didn't even know who to comfort. Was it the wife that was crying uncontrollably? Or the daughter that looked sick? Or the son I didn't know where he was?

"Where's John?" I asked.

"I don't know," Elizabeth answered. "I saw him taking the stairs to the roof some time ago. I don't know what my father told him but since he died, John hasn't said anything."

"Let me go look for him," I said, letting Elizabeth out of my embrace.

"Okay," Elizabeth sobbed.

Taking the stairs, I shivered, thinking of what John would have become now.

John, the first child of Robert Davidson, was the heir to the Davidson family's wealth. We both attended the same high school and college. The tall athletic light-skinned figure grew up learning how to best handle this moment - the time when he would take control of his family's wealth.

John, since I knew him, was always so emotionally attached to his father. He would spend the hours he had after school working with his father in the office. He usually spent his holidays off college, learning from his father. He didn't need a business school; his father was everything.

At the top of the building, I met John. I could only see his back. His light skin was clad in a black suit. I walked towards him and noticed that his dark hair was meticulously combed. His brown eyes were fixated on the city below and his rose petal lips were mute. His feet were adorned with an Oxford - the expensive type. He just stood, letting the cool breeze blow past his skin.

"I came as soon as I heard the news," I stated. "I'm sorry for your loss, John."

"There are many young men who are dying to be me right now. They want to inherit this dwindling wealth," John sighed. "My dad meant everything to me. I just hope he is in a better place right now."

"I know so."

"Go home, your presence here doesn't change a thing. He's dead already," John said.

"I came here to sympathize with you and your family, John."

"My family doesn't need sympathy. Are you happy? Your family, the Andrews, is the richest in New York right now. I can only imagine how much celebration is going on in your home right now."

"What?" I questioned. "Are you insane? Why would think my family will celebrate your father's death?"

"The Davidson stock has fallen by 70%, investors are withdrawing their money from the company, my father is dead, and your father's plan is about to come into reality - a contract marriage."

"John, are you mad?" I questioned, angrily. "Why would you think I would concede with my father to destroy your family? Your father died of a heart attack; he wasn't assassinated. And the marriage wasn't even my idea. Why would you think such?"

"Because you've always loved me, and I've never loved you," John said. He gently walked away from my presence into the hospital.

A wave of pain hit my heart. John was right; I had always loved him, but he had never given me even a moment of peaceful discourse. It was either an altercation or a quarrel. I have had a crush on John since high school and for this reason, I've stayed single since then, praying relentlessly that he would notice me.

The arranged marriage, in question, was proposed by my father, Richard Andrew. He had proposed the marriage out of goodwill because he noticed the consistent drop in the wealth of the Davidsons. He proposed that since he had no male heir, John should marry me to keep Davidson's wealth afloat. John's father aggressively dismissed the proposal, stating that he would restore Davidson's wealth to its former glory. Perhaps, his incessant trials led him to heart attack.

John didn't like the idea of the proposed marriage but he knew, deep down, that it was the only way to save his family from bankruptcy. With this father's death, only God knew his next step.