Chapter 1 One

Christabel's POV

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The day started off nice but felt weird. Still, I overlooked it as I got ready to meet Cole. It was our three-year anniversary...

I can't believe it's already been that long.

I needed to dress hot and sexy for him, so I picked out a long black satin dress and my Favorite heels. It hugged my curves perfectly-and more importantly, it was easy to take off. It had been three months since I last saw Cole due to his business trips, and I was horny as hell.

I needed him-badly. I kept fantasizing about him filling me up with his thick cock... I was already wet just thinking about it.

I was about to head out to the airport when I got a text from Cole.

Cole: "Babe, flight's delayed. I'll be a little late."

Ugh. I sighed and decided to make lunch. I'd been too excited to eat earlier.

While eating, I absentmindedly flipped through the news, not really paying attention-until a headline made me drop my fork.

"FAMOUS BILLIONAIRE WILLIAMS GATE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER COLLAPSING AT HIS OFFICE"

At first, I didn't believe it could be my father. He looked perfectly healthy the last time I saw him. Though, come to think of it, I hadn't actually seen him in two weeks. He'd been coming home late-sometimes not even coming home at all.

A sick feeling twisted in my gut. Something was wrong. I could feel it.

I started to panic and called his number over and over again. No answer.

Next, I tried Johnson-my father's driver. He's been with him for over six years now. He didn't pick up at first, which only made me more anxious. After several tries, he finally answered...

They said my father had been taken to our family hospital...

When I arrived, I saw Johnson and a few of my father's business partners already there. I rushed over, my heart pounding, demanding to know what was going on-but no one had the answers I needed.

"We were told to wait here," Marcus, one of my father's closest partners, said quietly.

I broke down in tears. The thought of losing my father in the same hospital where my mother had taken her last breath twelve years ago shattered something deep inside me. All I could do was stand there and pray while the doctors tried everything, they could to stabilize him.

An hour passed-but it felt like forever.

Finally, a doctor came out to speak with us. His expression was serious.

"Your father suffered a major heart attack," he explained. "After running several tests, we also discovered signs of kidney failure-likely due to prolonged alcohol consumption."

My breath caught in my throat.

When it was time for us to see him, I went in last-I had stayed back a little longer, still discussing things with the doctor, trying to understand everything they'd found.

As I stood outside his room, I took a deep breath before pushing the door open. The steady beeping of machines greeted me, and there he was-my father.

The strongest man I knew, now lying pale and fragile, connected to wires and tubes. My heart ached at the sight.

He turned his head slowly, managing a weak smile. "Christabel..." he whispered.

"Daddy," I choked, rushing to his side. I grabbed his hand gently; afraid I might hurt him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if the weight of everything was too much. "I didn't want you to worry... I thought I could fix it before it got out of hand."

I frowned. "Fix what?"

He sighed deeply, and I saw the shame in his eyes. "The company... it's going under, sweetheart. We've been struggling for months. Investors are pulling out, demanding their money. I tried to hold it together, to protect you... but everything just kept crumbling."

My chest tightened. My father had always been the picture of strength and stability. It never occurred to me that behind all his late nights and tired eyes was a man drowning in pressure.

"You should've told me," I said softly, brushing away a tear that had slipped down his cheek-and mine. "We could've figured it out... together."

"I didn't want you to see me like this. Weak. Failing," he murmured.

"You're not failing," I said firmly, even though I didn't fully believe it myself. "You're human."

He gave a faint smile, but I could see the pain behind it-the pain of a man who had given everything and was watching it all slip away.

"I just... I just didn't want to lose everything your mother and I built."

I squeezed his hand tighter. "You still have me. That's something."

We sat there in silence for a while, the hum of machines filling the space between us. For the first time, I wasn't just his daughter-I was all he had left to lean on.

And I swore in that moment, I would do whatever it took to help him get through this.

As I sat outside my father's hospital room, numb from the news, Marcus returned.

"There's only one man who can save the company," he said.

"Let me guess," I muttered. "Another investor who wants a piece of what's left?"

Marcus hesitated, then handed me a black envelope. No name. No logo. Just a card inside.

DAVE BLACKWOOD

CEO | Blackwood Global Holdings

Everything has a price.

I frowned. "And what exactly is his price?"

Marcus looked away, almost ashamed.

"You."

I laughed-dry and hollow. "Right. Of course. Because selling your daughter is the new business model."

"He's not just interested in the company, Christabel." Marcus lowered his voice. "He's been watching your family for years."

My chest tightened. "Why?"

He looked at me.

"Ask Cole."

I froze.

"What... what does Cole have to do with this?"

But Marcus was already walking away.

I stared down at the card, the black letters burning into my skin.

Ask Cole.

Suddenly, I wasn't sure who the hell I could trust.