Chapter 005

I knew it was too soon to tell Dominic Hale everything.

I needed to calm myself first… act normal, at least for a few minutes. If I rushed into begging him immediately, it would only make things worse. I needed to ease into the conversation, maybe start with something small, something casual, and then slowly find a way to bring up my father.

But definitely not in front of his bodyguards.

My eyes drifted toward the men in black sitting quietly around the table. They barely moved, but their presence made the entire atmosphere feel heavier. I could feel my nerves rising again.

I must have looked uncomfortable because Dominic suddenly cleared his throat.

“They mean no harm,” he said calmly. “They are just here to protect me from obsessive fans. You don’t have to be tense around them, Miss Ava. Just act like they are not here.”

I nodded slowly, even though I could still feel their eyes and presence in the room.

“Right…” I muttered.

How could I act like they were not there when they were literally right there?

But I said nothing more.

Who was I to complain anyway?

I was just a stranger sitting in front of a billionaire, trying to save her father’s life.

Nothing about this situation belonged to me.

Dominic leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.

“You didn’t answer my question, Miss Ava,” he said. “How is your father doing?”

My throat tightened immediately.

Of course he would go straight back to that I forced myself to sit straighter and cleared my throat.

“He is okay,” I said quickly, though the words did not feel right leaving my mouth. Then I tried to change the subject before I got stuck in that emotion. “Why are you here at the hospital though?”

It was a weak attempt, but I needed something anything to shift the focus away from my father before I broke down.

Dominic looked at me for a second before answering flatly.

“I own the hospital.”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him.

My brain stopped.

He what?

He owned the hospital? My eyes widened slightly before I could stop myself.

That explained everything… and yet it also made everything more overwhelming.

Why didn’t Doctor Mary tell me that?

Or maybe she wasn’t allowed to.

I swallowed hard, trying to process it. So this wasn’t just any billionaire I was talking to.

This was the owner of the hospital where my father was fighting for his life.

The realization made my stomach twist.

Dominic continued, as if it was nothing important.

“But that’s not why I’m here. My grandmother was admitted recently, so I stayed with her last night.”

I nodded slowly, still stuck on the fact that he owned the entire hospital.

My thoughts were racing now.

If he owned it… then he had full control over everything. The bills, the treatment, the decisions…

Everything.

That meant there might actually be hope.

A small one… but still hope.

My heart began to beat faster.

This was it.

This was my chance.

I just needed to ask him properly.

Carefully this time.

I opened my mouth slightly, preparing myself, rehearsing the words in my head. I would be polite. I would explain everything clearly. I would not rush it.

But before I could say anything, Dominic’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“You look distracted, Miss Ava. Is something wrong?”

I froze.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe properly.

This was it.

The moment.

My hands trembled slightly under the table, and I bit my lower lip to hold back the tears that were already rising.

I couldn’t do this slowly anymore.

I couldn’t plan it.

My emotions had reached their limit.

“Please… save my father, sir,” I blurted out, my voice shaking badly.

The words came out faster than I intended, raw and unfiltered.

Silence followed.

Dominic’s expression changed slightly.

Not soft… not angry either… just unreadable.

“That was sudden,” he said quietly.

My heart dropped immediately.

I had done it wrong of course I had done it wrong.

I should have spoken properly. I should have explained first. I should not have just thrown the words at him like that.

Panic washed over me.

“I’m sorry,” I quickly said, shaking my head. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. It’s just… my father is not okay at all. I lied earlier. He is not fine.”

My voice cracked, but I continued anyway.

“He needs a kidney transplant. His kidneys are failing. The doctors said it will cost fifteen million dollars, and I cannot afford it. I can barely survive on my own. I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”

My hands clenched tightly as I finally looked at him properly.

“Please… help me. I’m begging you.”

Without thinking, I slid off the chair and went down on my knees.

The moment I did, I heard the shift in the atmosphere immediately.

Dominic’s expression hardened.

“Sit down, Miss Ava,” he said sharply. “You are causing a scene.”

His tone was low, controlled… but firm enough to make my body react instantly.

I quickly stood back up and sat down again, my heart pounding wildly.

I had gone too far.

I could see it on his face. His jaw tightened slightly as he looked at me.

“Do I look like charity to you?” he asked coldly.

The question hit harder than I expected.

My breath caught.

“Just because I helped your father get admitted does not mean I owe you anything. Or is it because I own the hospital now? Are you trying to use that against me?”

His voice rose slightly, and a short, humorless laugh left him.

And now I didn’t know what would happen Seeing the irritation on his face, I quickly realized I had already pushed things too far. It would be foolish to make him angrier than he already was.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to speak carefully.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Thank you so much for helping my father. I think… I should leave now.”

I started to rise from my seat, hoping to escape the tension, but before I could fully stand, Dominic reached out and grabbed my wrist.

“Sit down, Miss Ava,” he said firmly. “I am not done talking.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Slowly, I lowered myself back into the chair, my heart pounding uncontrollably.

He looked at me for a moment before speaking again.

“I never said I wouldn’t help you.”

My eyes widened in shock.

For a second, I couldn’t even process what I had just heard.

“R-really?” I asked, my voice filled with sudden hope. “You mean you’ll help my father? I would be so grateful, sir—truly, I don’t even know how to thank you.”

Dominic leaned back slightly, studying me with a calm expression.

“I can help,” he said slowly. “But it depends on you.”

My confusion returned immediately.

“Depends on me?” I repeated.

He nodded.

“Can you help me as well?”

I frowned, not understanding what he meant.

What could someone like him possibly need from me?

A billionaire… asking a girl like me for help?

It didn’t make sense.

“If it is within my power, then yes,” I said quickly. “I will do anything to help you, Mr. Hale. Just tell me what you need.”

His brows lifted slightly, as if he was testing my answer.

“Anything?”

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation. “As long as it is something I can do, I will do it.”

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

Slowly, his gaze moved over me, studying me from head to toe in a way that made me uncomfortable. I shifted slightly in my seat under his stare, my unease growing with every passing second.

Then I noticed it.

The way his eyes lingered.

The way he licked his lips slightly, almost absentmindedly.

A chill ran through me.

Something about this did not feel right anymore.

I had a sudden, uneasy feeling about where this conversation was heading.

“You interest me, Miss Ava,” he said quietly. “Everything about you does.”

My stomach tightened.

This was not the kind of interest I wanted.

“I want you to marry me.”