Chapter 004

Mabel really had some nerve.

The way she said it so easily still echoed in my mind. She actually suggested that I should call Dominic Hale the billionaire and ask him for money. Not just any amount, but fifteen million dollars.

It sounded absurd.

Dominic Hale was a complete stranger to me. I did not know anything about him beyond his name and the fact that he was wealthy enough to admit my father into one of the most expensive hospitals in the city. I had never seen his face, never spoken to him before, and yet here I was, being told to call him and beg for help.

The idea made me uncomfortable.

It felt wrong and slightly humiliating, like crossing a line that should not be crossed. I wanted to reject it immediately and tell Mabel that I could never do something like that. But the more I thought about it, the harder it became to say no.

Because the truth was simple.

I was desperate.

There were no other options left for me. Fifteen million dollars was not an amount I could gather through hard work or borrowing from friends and family. Even if I spent years trying, it would not be enough. Time was something I did not have, and every second that passed only made things worse.

If there was even the slightest chance that Dominic Hale could help, then I had to take it.

I could not let pride stand in the way of my father’s life.

Earlier that morning, my father had woken up.It was a brief moment, but it meant everything to me.

When his eyes slowly opened and he saw me sitting beside him, a weak smile appeared on his face. He called my name softly, and for a second, it felt like everything was going to be alright. I held his hand tightly, trying to hide the fear in my eyes as I reassured him that I was there.

But the moment did not last.

Even as he smiled, I could see the pain he was trying to hide. His face was pale, his voice was weak, and his grip on my hand lacked strength. It did not take long before I called the nurses, unable to ignore the signs any longer.

They arrived quickly, followed by Doctor Mabel, and began attending to him immediately. They checked his vitals, adjusted the machines, and asked him questions to monitor his condition. I stood quietly by the side, watching everything unfold, wishing there was something I could do to help.

After they were done, Doctor Mabel asked me to step outside.

Her expression was calm, but there was a seriousness in her eyes that made my heart sink. She spoke gently, explaining his condition in careful words, but I could hear the urgency behind them.

She did not say it outright, but the message was clear.

Time was running out.

If the transplant was not done soon, my father’s condition would continue to worsen. There was only so much they could do to stabilize him. Without the surgery, there was no real solution.

I thanked her quietly before she left, but her words stayed with me long after she was gone.

Now, I stood just outside my father’s hospital room, trying to gather my thoughts.

The hallway was quiet, but my mind was filled with noise.

In my right hand, I held Dominic Hale’s business card, staring at the bold letters of his name. In my left hand was my phone, the weight of it suddenly feeling heavier than usual.

Calling him did not feel like a simple decision.

It felt like stepping into something unknown.

I knew I could not start the conversation by asking for money. That would only make me seem desperate and ungrateful. The right thing to do was to thank him first. He had helped my father when he did not have to, and I owed him that much.

After that, I would try to understand him through his voice. If he seemed approachable, then maybe I could explain my situation and ask for help. If not, then I would not push any further.

It was a risk either way, but it was one I had to take.

Taking a deep breath, I dialed the number on the card.

The phone rang for a few seconds, each one stretching longer than the last, but eventually, the call ended without an answer.

I lowered the phone slightly, unsure of what to feel. A part of me felt relieved, as though I had been given an excuse to back out. But that feeling quickly faded when I remembered why I was doing this in the first place.

One missed call was not enough to make me give up.

I dialed the number again.This time, the call connected.

“Hello?”

His voice came through clearly deep, steady, and controlled.

For a brief moment, I hesitated, caught off guard by how composed he sounded.

“Hi… I’m Ava,” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

There was a short pause before he responded.

“Ava who?”

“I’m the daughter of the man you helped yesterday,” I explained quickly. “The one who was admitted into Hope’s Heritage Hospital.”

Another pause followed.

“Oh. You.”

His response was short, almost indifferent, making it difficult to read what he was thinking.

“I just wanted to thank you,” I continued, forcing myself to stay calm. “For helping my dad. I’m really grateful. I don’t know how to repay you.”

“Are you at the hospital?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” I replied.

“Good. Meet me at the hospital lounge. Last floor. Fifth door on the left.”

The line went dead immediately after.

I stared at my phone for a few seconds, surprised by how abruptly the conversation had ended.

He wanted to meet me.

I was not sure what to expect, but it felt like an opportunity I could not ignore. Meeting him in person might give me the chance to explain everything properly. It might even be the only chance I would get.

I turned to one of the nurses nearby and asked if she could keep an eye on my father for a while. She agreed without hesitation, offering me a reassuring smile.

After thanking her, I made my way toward the elevator.

Each step felt heavy, weighed down by uncertainty and hope at the same time.I did not know what kind of man Dominic Hale truly was.

I stepped out of the elevator and moved quickly down the hallway, my heart beating faster with every step. When I reached the lounge area, I slowed down, stopping in front of one of the doors. For a brief moment, I hesitated before pushing it open.

Inside, the room was filled with people quietly eating. No one paid attention to me as I stood there awkwardly by the entrance, unsure of what to do next.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I suddenly realized something important.

I had no idea what Dominic Hale looked like.

Shaking my head at my own carelessness, I quickly reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I dialed his number, and he answered almost immediately.

“I can see you already,” his voice came through calmly. “I have my hand raised.”

My eyes lifted at once, scanning the room until they landed on him.

He was seated at a table not too far away, one hand slightly raised just as he had said. Even from a distance, he stood out effortlessly. He looked young far younger than I had imagined and was dressed simply in a white sweatshirt and black joggers that fit him perfectly.

There was something about him that drew attention without trying.

A pair of dark sunglasses covered his eyes, and several men dressed in black sat around him, their posture alert and watchful.

Bodyguards.

The realization made my steps slow for a second.

He was not just rich..he was powerful.

Taking a quiet breath, I walked toward him, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I finally stopped in front of the table, I froze for a moment.

Up close, he looked even more striking.

I lowered my head slightly in greeting, unsure of what else to do. As he removed his sunglasses, I found myself staring.

His eyes were… different.

One was a clear shade of blue, while the other was brown.

The contrast was unexpected, yet it suited him perfectly, making him look almost unreal like someone you would only see in magazines or on television.

For a moment, I forgot why I was even there.

He looked familiar too, as though I had seen him somewhere before, but I could not place where.

“Are you going to keep standing there, Miss Ava,” he said calmly, “or would you prefer to sit?”

His voice snapped me out of my thoughts immediately.

“Sorry,” I murmured, quickly taking the seat across from him.

I noticed that the table was empty no food, no drinks which meant they had only just arrived.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

I shook my head without hesitation. How could I possibly feel hungry at a time like this?

“No, thank you,” I replied softly.

He studied me for a brief moment, his gaze steady and unreadable.

“How is your father?” he asked.

The question hit me harder than I expected.

My chest tightened instantly, and I felt my emotions rising all over again.