The Call That Shattered Paradise

Hawaii was supposed to be a reset.

The ocean breeze, the turquoise water, the soft crash of waves—everything felt like a temporary escape from the storm my life had become. I told myself I needed this business retreat, that it would help me refocus… but deep down I knew I was running.

Running from the mess in the pack.Running from Kai's unreadable eyes.Running from Alan's spiraling emotions.Running from the ache I'd been ignoring for too long.

I stepped out onto the balcony of the resort conference suite, breathing in salt air. Below, the staff prepared for the afternoon meeting—banners, glass tables, and far too many smiles. Hawaii always made everything feel deceptively beautiful.

Even when your world was falling apart.

"Julia," Hawaii (the person, not the place) called from behind me—it was still weird having an assistant named Hawaii while being in Hawaii. "The investors from Tokyo just landed, they'll join us in fifteen minutes. Kai and Alan are already downstairs."

"Great," I said, forcing a smile I didn't feel.

My phone buzzed.Dr. Yates. Again.

I frowned.Dad's doctor rarely called twice in one morning.

A cold pressure crept into my chest.

"I need a minute," I told Hawaii, stepping back into my room.

The resort was alive outside—waves, laughter, clinking glasses—but my world narrowed to a single vibrating phone.

I answered.

"Doctor? Is everything—"

"Julia…" His voice broke.

My stomach dropped.

"Your father's condition has taken a sudden decline. The cancer has metastasized to his lungs and liver. The medication isn't responding anymore."

My ears began to ring."No, no—doctor, he was stable last week. You told me he was stable."

He exhaled shakily. "He was. The shift was unexpected. I'm… I'm afraid he has very little time left."

Silence stretched. Then he added softly:

"Maybe one week."

The room tilted. I pressed my palm to my forehead.

"One week?" My voice cracked. "He was supposed to have months."

"I'm sorry, Julia. If you want to see him while he's conscious and speaking, you need to return soon."

Return.

Home.

Hospital.

Death.

Everything hit at once.

"I—I'll come immediately." I hung up before my voice completely failed me.

My breathing stuttered. My legs trembled. A cold sweat broke across my skin despite the warm tropical air.

My father…My one constant.My one anchor.My last family.

A week.

Just one week.

A knock sounded, making me jump.

"Julia?" Hawaii peeked inside. Her expression shifted instantly when she saw my face. "What happened?"

I swallowed hard. "I need to leave. Now."

"But the meeting—"

"My father…" I forced the words out. "He's dying."

Her eyes widened with horror. "Oh my god. Julia, I'm so sorry. Do you want me to cancel everything? Book your flight?"

I grabbed the nearest suitcase, fumbling. "Just get me the earliest flight to the mainland. Anything."

She nodded frantically and rushed to make arrangements.

But before I could zip the suitcase, the door swung open again.

Kai.

His eyes sharpened the moment he saw me packing. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head, voice trembling. "I have to go home. My father… he only has a week left."

Kai stiffened—like the words struck him physically. For a moment, his face softened in a way I'd almost forgotten he was capable of.

"Julia," he whispered, stepping closer. "I'm so sorry."

I didn't trust myself to look at him.

Alan appeared behind him seconds later, breath short, confusion on his face—until he saw the suitcase.Until he saw my eyes.

Then the confusion cracked into something raw and painful.

"Jules?" Alan moved toward me instantly. "What happened?"

"My father is dying."I barely got the words out before my voice broke.

Alan froze.Then he whispered, "Do you want me to fly with you?"

Kai shot him a warning look, but I was too numb to deal with their tension.

"No. I need to go alone." My throat tightened. "Please… just handle the meetings."

Kai placed a hand on my suitcase, stopping my frantic movements. "Julia. Look at me."

I did.

His gaze held nothing but concern—no anger from last night, no conflict, no shadows. Just worry.

"You don't have to face this alone."

"I do," I whispered. "He's all I have left."

Both men went still at that.

Hawaii returned breathlessly. "Julia, the earliest flight leaves in forty minutes. We need to leave now."

Forty minutes.

That was all the time I had to say goodbye to Hawaii's bright sun, to the illusion of peace, to the retreat that suddenly felt pointless.

"I'm coming," I said, gripping the suitcase handle.

Kai stepped aside slowly, jaw tight, as if fighting the urge to stop me or hold me or do something.

Alan didn't move. His expression cracked open—fear, sadness, and something darker flickering behind his eyes.Something that would come back to haunt him later.

I walked between the two of them, feeling their eyes burn into my back.

Hawaii rushed ahead to the car.Kai stayed silent.Alan whispered a soft, broken, "Julia…" but didn't stop me.

I left the hotel.Left the ocean.Left the warmth.Left the meetings, the retreat, the political drama, the chaos.

Because none of it mattered.

Not compared to losing the man who used to walk me to school.Who taught me how to ride a bike.Who sat beside my hospital bed when I broke my arm.Who always said my name with pride.

The flight took off. Hawaii shrank beneath me—the resort, the beaches, the world I thought I needed.

As the plane pierced through clouds, I pressed my forehead to the window.

My father was waiting.

And I was running out of time.