The billionaire's unwanted love

'S

ng the numbers on the bill in front of me blur together. The antiseptic

created a sense of urgency. Her leukemia diagnosis had left us reeling. The opera

e. I recalled Hannah's reassuring words during our last phone call: "You're strong, Ava

a roadblock. I'd lost my job months ago, and despite my best efforts, I couldn't land another on

laughter, echoing through our small house, and Mom's patient guidance as she helped Hannah with h

es, but I blinked them back. I couldn

at the Blackwood's mansion, a job he'd held for years. I hadn't t

ice steady. "It's Mom. She needs an

"What do you mean? I thoug

ut. "She has leukemia. And the hospital wa

e went

I pro

cracked. "Ava, how... h

idn't want to worry you or Hannah. I thought

figure it out, Ava. We will. I'll

ege life. She'd been thriving, making new friends and exploring

gnawed

open, and Dad entered, h

ing me tightly. "I'm s

s, trying to sta

bed, Dad's expression changed. A d

Blackwood," he sai

s not someone to be trifled with. H

ested. "We can't

p. "He's my employer, Ava

leave, he stopped a

va

s,

bout this, okay?" Hi

tated,

ollege. She has

ung and stressed enough with school. We

g a weight settl

s conversation with Richard Blackwood would br

hut behind Dad, leaving m

aking it hard to breathe. I slumped into the chair

beeped louder, a harsh remind

ories about new friends and exciting classes. Tears pricked at

ed in my mind

Blackwood to help? What if we

at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I

nn

y sister. She had a right to know, but Dad was ri

eeling trapped. The sterile walls see

eded

nd the room. My mind ra

ther way to pay? What if

gered in my mind –

he city skyline stretched before me, a remin

of our struggle. They didn't know that

t as I thought of all the

he kitchen, b

cations a

alks about l

s were worth

h, steeling myself

fight

tter

m's bed, I noticed a n

ther's medication

she expertly adminis

okay?" I asked, my voic

c. "We're doing everything we can. Yo