The billionaire's unwanted love

mind. The thought of my little sister marrying a stran

grasping her hands. "We can find ano

determination. "Ava, I have to do this. Mom's life is at stak

laced with desperation. "It's not right, Hannah

ffered, Ava. Mom's illness, Dad's struggles... it's

protect our family. I remembered the countless nights she'd stayed up

ged to meet Richard Blackwood in two days. He'

hed on her face. "I'll do

y room, memories

superior had assigned the piece, and I'd poured my heart into it,

vidence. Choosing to keep my suspicions hidden,

to fall into the hands of

ran down

ect Hannah from

ver the spines of my old journalism textbooks. Memo

sed some shady business dealings, but I'

past, the more questions I h

earch. My eyes scanned articles and interviews, searchi

in helping our family, or

my research, a nagging

on moms hospital care, we took turns staying by

ared to leave the hospital, D

, his voice low. "We have a m

up, her shoul

y, Dad,"

etermination was admirable, but I couldn't sha

red to leave, I felt a

ful," I said, hu

ringly. "I'll be fin

ldn't hel

ed to Mom's hospital room, m

ckwood be like? Would

e Mom, hold

ed for Hannah,

ed open, her gaze

she whispered back.

at the corne

shared Mom'

y, each one feelin

ing that Hannah's life wa

AH'S

th thoughts. I knew I was making a hard decision

her own dreams further to care for Mom and suppo

g a stranger, Richard Blac

like? Cold, cal

nd me, support me

hands, trying to sh

ook and placed a reassu

id softly. "You're doing this for our

ile, trying t

, Dad," I said, my voic

e, I was

have to c

fice my happiness for o

my eyes as I thought about all

choose my own partner, to b

y from me, replaced by a c

d solemn, his eyes loc

will, sweet

ng driveway, the Blackwoo

skipped

ts imposing structure a testament to

iver run do

was

ment o

the silence. "We

h, steeling myself

up at the mansion's facade, my hear

aited m

kwood be my salvat

ainty was

to a prison, trading my free

eeks as I realized the

my dreams, my ha

ur fa

r

r

f my decisio