The billionaire's unwanted love

AVA'S POV

The fluorescent hospital lights overhead cast an unforgiving glare, making the numbers on the bill in front of me blur together. The antiseptic smell, a constant reminder of Mom's frailty, clung to me like a bad omen.

As I sat beside Mom's hospital bed, the soft beeping of life-sustaining machines created a sense of urgency. Her leukemia diagnosis had left us reeling. The operation she desperately needed came with a staggering price tag: ten million dollars.

Panic threatened to consume me, its familiar grip tightening around my chest like a vice. I recalled Hannah's reassuring words during our last phone call: "You're strong, Ava. We'll get through this together." But now, her optimism seemed like a distant memory.

As an investigative journalist, I'd faced tough stories, but this was personal. My career had hit a roadblock. I'd lost my job months ago, and despite my best efforts, I couldn't land another one. It was as if an invisible force worked against me, shutting doors and silencing opportunities.

Memories of Mom's warm smile and gentle touch flooded my thoughts. I remembered Hannah's childhood laughter, echoing through our small house, and Mom's patient guidance as she helped Hannah with homework. Hannah's quirky sense of humor and unwavering empathy had always been a source of comfort.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I couldn't lose my mother, not now, not ever.

With trembling hands, I dialed Dad's number. He worked as a butler at the Blackwood's mansion, a job he'd held for years. I hadn't told him about Mom's condition, not wanting to worry him or Hannah.

"Dad," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's Mom. She needs an operation, and we can't afford it."

Dad's concern was palpable. "What do you mean? I thought she was just... unwell."

I took a deep breath, the words spilling out. "She has leukemia. And the hospital wants ten million dollars for the operation."

The line went silent.

"Dad?" I prompted.

"Ten million?" His voice cracked. "Ava, how... how did it get this far?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I didn't want to worry you or Hannah. I thought I could handle it, but... it's too much now."

Dad's voice was resolute. "We'll figure it out, Ava. We will. I'll come to the hospital right away."

As I waited for Dad to arrive, my mind wandered to Hannah's college life. She'd been thriving, making new friends and exploring her passion for medicine. How could I keep this secret from her?

Guilt gnawed at me.

The hospital door swung open, and Dad entered, his face etched with worry.

"Ava," he said, embracing me tightly. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

I held back tears, trying to stay strong for him.

As we stood beside Mom's hospital bed, Dad's expression changed. A determined glint appeared in his eye.

"I'll talk to Mr. Blackwood," he said, his voice firm.

My heart sank. Richard Blackwood was not someone to be trifled with. His reputation was ruthless, cunning.

"Dad, no," I protested. "We can't ask him for help."

But Dad's mind was made up. "He's my employer, Ava. Maybe he can... help us."

As Dad prepared to leave, he stopped and turned back to me.

"Ava?"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Don't tell Hannah about this, okay?" His eyes were serious.

I hesitated, unsure.

"Dad, she's in college. She has a right to know-"

"No, Ava." His voice was firm. "She's young and stressed enough with school. We can't afford to have her panic. Not now."

I nodded, feeling a weight settle on my shoulders.

As I watched Dad walk away, I wondered what his conversation with Richard Blackwood would bring. Would it be our salvation or our downfall?

The hospital door swung shut behind Dad, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Fear, anxiety, and desperation tangled together, making it hard to breathe. I slumped into the chair beside Mom's bed, my eyes fixed on her frail form.

The machines surrounding her beeped louder, a harsh reminder of our desperate situation.

I recalled Hannah's optimistic emails from college, full of stories about new friends and exciting classes. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes again, but this time, I let them fall.

Thoughts swirled in my mind like a vortex:

What if Dad can't convince Mr. Blackwood to help? What if we lose everything? What if Mom...

I couldn't bear to finish the thought. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I had to stay strong for Mom, for Dad, and for Hannah.

Hannah.

Guilt gnawed at me for keeping this secret from my sister. She had a right to know, but Dad was right – she was already stressed enough with college.

I glanced around the hospital room, feeling trapped. The sterile walls seemed to close in on me, suffocating me.

I needed air.

I stood up, pacing around the room. My mind racing with possibilities:

What if we could find another way to pay? What if there was a miracle cure?

But the numbers lingered in my mind – ten million dollars.

I stopped pacing and gazed out the window. The city skyline stretched before me, a reminder of the world outside these hospital walls.

People went about their days, unaware of our struggle. They didn't know that my mother's life hung in the balance.

A lump formed in my throat as I thought of all the memories Mom and I shared:

Laughing in the kitchen, baking cookies

Summer vacations at the beach

Late-night talks about life and dreams

Those memories were worth fighting for.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead.

I would fight for Mom.

No matter what.

As I turned back to Mom's bed, I noticed a nurse entering the room.

"Time for your mother's medication," she said softly.

I nodded, watching as she expertly administered the medication.

"Is she... will she be okay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The nurse's expression was sympathetic. "We're doing everything we can. Your father will be back soon, I'm sure."

BLACKWOOD'S MANSION

Richard Blackwood, CEO of Blackwood Corporation and the city's wealthiest entrepreneur, stood tall at six-foot-two, his chiseled features and piercing blue eyes commanding attention. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his tailored suit accentuated his broad shoulders.

He stepped into his mansion, grateful to have left the office early. A nagging headache had been plaguing him all day.

As he entered the study, the rich aroma of leather and scotch wafted through the air. Richard poured himself a glass, feeling the smooth liquor burn down his throat. He gazed out the window, the city skyline twinkling like diamonds against the evening sky. His butler, Mr. Samuels, greeted him.

"Welcome home, sir. I wasn't expecting you until later."

Richard nodded. "I wasn't feeling well. Any messages?"

Mr. Samuels hesitated. "Actually, sir, your grandfather, George Blackwood, visited earlier today."

Richard's gaze narrowed. "What did he want?"

"He asked me to remind you to call him when you returned home, sir," Mr. Samuels replied.

Richard sighed, knowing what was coming.

He made his way to the study, pouring himself a glass of scotch before dialing his grandfather's number.

"Richard, boy!" George boomed over the phone. "I've been waiting for your call."

"What is it, Grandfather?" Richard asked, bracing himself.

"When are you going to settle down and give me some great-grandchildren?" George demanded.

Richard rolled his eyes. "We've discussed this, Grandfather."

Richard's frustration simmered. "I'm not interested in marrying anyone right now."

George huffed. "You're as stubborn as your parents were."

Richard's thoughts drifted to his parents, who had passed away when he was a child.

As he spoke on the phone, his deep voice remained calm, but a hint of annoyance seeped through.

"I understand, Grandfather," Richard said, rolling his eyes. "You want me to settle down and produce an heir."

Old George Blackwood's voice boomed over the phone, laced with frustration. "You're thirty-five, Richard! When will you take responsibility? My friends have great-grandchildren already!"

Richard's gaze drifted to the city skyline outside his window. "And I'm sure they're all thrilled to have their great-grandchildren calling them 'old'."

George's tone turned venomous. "You think you're funny, don't you? Well, let me tell you, boy, you're not amusing anyone."

Richard's smile twisted. "I'm shaking with fear, Grandfather."

George's anger escalated. "You'll be sorry when I'm gone, and you're left with nothing but regret!"

Richard's expression turned cold. "I'm sorry, Grandfather. Sorry that I don't meet your expectations."

The line went silent, then George spat out, "Fine. Do what you want. But mark my words, Richard, you'll pay for your arrogance."

Richard ended the call, his eyes narrowing.

Just then, Mr. Samuels cleared his throat.

"Sir, I apologize for the interruption, but I have a personal matter to discuss with you."

Richard turned, his expression softening.

"What is it, Samuels?"

Mr. Samuels's face etched with concern. "It's my wife, sir. She's ill, and... well, we need your help."

Richard's gaze locked onto Samuels, intrigue sparking within.

---

AVA'S POV

I drifted off to sleep beside Mom's hospital bed, exhausted from the day's events.

My phone buzzed, jolting me awake. Hannah's name flashed on the screen.

"Hannah?" I whispered, answering.

"Hey, sis! How's it going?" Hannah asked, her cheerful tone a stark contrast to my somber mood.

I forced a smile, feeling guilty for hiding the truth. "It's... going."

Hannah's voice turned serious. "I've been trying to reach Mom, but she's not answering my calls. Is everything okay?"

My heart sank. I couldn't bear to tell her the truth.

"Mom's... sleeping now," I lied, trying to sound convincing. "Her phone's been acting up, so she hasn't been able to answer."

Hannah's concern lingered. "Okay, but is she doing alright? I've been worried."

I swallowed hard, maintaining the facade. "Yeah, she's... fine. Just resting."

Hannah's tone lightened. "Okay, good. Tell her I love her, and I'll try calling again later."

I nodded, even though Hannah couldn't see me. "Will do."

As we chatted, my guilt grew. I hated deceiving my sister, but Dad's words echoed in my mind: "Not now, Ava. She's stressed enough with school."

We wrapped up our conversation, and I hung up, feeling like I'd just dug myself deeper into a hole.

Mom's frail hand lay in mine, a reminder of the secret I kept.

Why was it so hard to tell Hannah the truth?

Fear of worrying her?

Fear of breaking her heart?

I gazed at Mom, my eyes welling up with tears.

How could I keep this secret from my own sister?

After the phone call, my heart remained troubled. I gazed at Mom, her pale face a map of worry lines.

"Mom," I whispered, taking her frail hand in mine. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this from Hannah. She's going to find out eventually."

Mom's eyes fluttered open weakly, her gaze locking onto mine.

"Ava..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "I'm here, Mom. I'm not going anywhere."

Mom's eyes drifted shut, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.

I leaned forward, my forehead resting against her hand.

"What am I doing, Mom? Why can't I just tell Hannah the truth?"

The machines surrounding us beeped steadily, but Mom's silence was the only answer I received.

Richard Blackwood leaned back in his chair, his mind still reeling from the conversation with his grandfather. The old man's constant nagging about settling down and producing an heir had become unbearable. But Mr. Samuels's words echoed in his mind, a welcome distraction.

"Sir, I apologize for the interruption, but I have a personal matter to discuss with you."

Richard focused on his butler, his expression etched with concern.

"Proceed, Samuels," Richard encouraged, his deep voice soothing.

"It's my wife, sir. She's ill, and... well, we need your help," Mr. Samuels explained, his voice laced with desperation. "The doctors say she requires an expensive treatment, and we can't afford it."

Richard raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the request. "How much?"

Mr. Samuels named the figure, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ten million dollars, sir."

Richard didn't flinch, accustomed to dealing with large sums. He thought for a moment, weighing the benefits of helping Mr. Samuels.

"I'll provide the funds," Richard said, his eyes locking onto Mr. Samuels, "but with one condition."

Mr. Samuels's eyes widened, hope flickering in his gaze. "Anything, sir."

"I want a wife," Richard stated, his tone even. "My grandfather's been pestering me, and I need someone to shut him up. Someone respectable, obedient, and intelligent."

Mr. Samuels's face paled.

"Sir, I... I have two daughters," he stammered.

Richard waved his hand dismissively. "Give me either one. I don't care. Just ensure she's willing to cooperate."

Mr. Samuels's shoulders slumped.

"Take the next two days off, Samuels," Richard instructed. "Tend to your family. I'll have my assistant arrange the transfer."

As Mr. Samuels departed, Richard couldn't shake the feeling that this favor would prove beneficial in the future.

Little did he know, this small act of kindness would set off a chain reaction, altering the course of his life forever.

---

Ava's POV

I stepped into the once lively house, now dull and empty without Mom's warmth. The past two days had been a blur, spent by Mom's hospital bed. I hadn't returned home, and the silence felt suffocating.

I freshened up, shaking off the hospital's antiseptic scent. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since morning. As I prepared a simple meal, the door creaked open.

Dad entered, his face pale and worried.

"Ava, sweetie, I'm glad you're home," he said, his voice laced with tension.

I frowned, concern etched on my face. "Dad, what's wrong?"

Dad's eyes darted around the room, avoiding mine.

"Nothing, dear. Just... family stuff," he muttered.

I approached him, sensing something was amiss.

"Dad, tell me," I pressed.

He sighed, his shoulders sagging.

"I'll tell you soon, Ava. Just... trust me, okay?"

I nodded, unease creeping up my spine.

What was Dad hiding?

I tried to shake off the feeling, focusing on Mom's recovery.

"How's Mom doing?" Dad asked, his voice softer.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal.

"She's... stable. The doctors are doing everything they can."

Dad's expression turned grim.

"I'll visit her tomorrow," he promised.

As we ate in silence, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Dad.

Just then, the door swung open and Hannah burst in with a bright smile on her face

"Surprise!" she exclaimed, dropping her bag.

I stared, shocked. "Hannah! What are you doing here?"

Hannah's eyes sparkled. "I wanted to surprise you guys! I missed you so much."

Dad's expression softened, but his eyes still held a hint of worry.

"Hannah, sweetie, we're glad you're home," he said, forcing a smile.

As we hugged and caught up, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

After a while, Hannah's expression turned serious.

"Where's Mom?" she asked, looking around the room.

The silence was palpable.

Dad's face fell, and I avoided eye contact.

"Hannah..." Dad began, his voice trailing off.

Hannah's brow furrowed. "What's going on? Where's Mom?"

I took a deep breath, but Dad's warning glance stopped me.

Not now, Ava.

Hannah's eyes narrowed, sensing something was amiss.

"Tell me," she pressed.

Dad's shoulders sagged, and he looked away.

After Hannah's little outburst, I managed to calm her down and told her about our mother's situation and tears streamed down her face.

"I'm sorry, Hannah. I should have told you earlier," I whispered, feeling guilty.

Hannah's body shook with sobs. "Why didn't you, Ava? Why did you and Dad have to keep something as serious as this from me?"

I hugged her tightly. "Dad was trying to protect you, Hannah. He didn't want to worry you, he wanted you to focus on your academics."

But the truth was, Dad had been right. Hannah was fragile, and the news had shattered her.

As I held my sister, I couldn't shake off the feeling that our lives were about to change forever.

Hannah's tears slowly subsided, replaced by determination.

"We'll get through this, Ava. Together."

I smiled, feeling a surge of love for my sister.

Here's the rewritten continuation:

Just as Hannah and I were about to continue our conversation, Dad cleared his throat, his expression solemn.

"Girls, I need to talk to you about something important," he said, his voice low.

Hannah and I exchanged a nervous glance.

"What is it, Dad?" I asked, my heart racing.

Dad took a deep breath before beginning. "You know I had decided to meet my boss concerning the payment of your mother's hospital treatment right?"

Hannah nodded, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Well, I had a discussion with Richard Blackwood today," Dad continued.

"What about him?" Hannah asked, curiosity etched on her face.

Dad hesitated before speaking. "He's willing to provide the funds for your mother's treatment, but... there's a condition."

My mind racing, I leaned forward.

"What condition?" Hannah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dad's eyes dropped, avoiding ours. "He wants to marry one of you."

The room fell silent.

Hannah's eyes widened in shock, but then her expression changed to determination.

"Dad, what do you think?" Hannah asked.

Dad shook his head. "I haven't agreed to anything yet. I wanted to discuss it with you both first."

I remained quiet, processing the information.

Hannah spoke up, her voice firm. "Dad, I think we should accept his offer."

My head snapped towards her, surprised.

"Hannah, are you sure?" Dad asked, concern etched on his face.

Hannah nodded. "What other options do we have, Dad? Mom's life is at stake. If marrying Richard Blackwood can save her, then I'm willing to do it."

I felt a pang of guilt for not speaking up, but my mind was still reeling.

Dad's eyes locked onto mine. "Ava, what do you think?"

I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

But Hannah's words echoed in my mind: "What other options do we have?"