02. The End of a Life

Everything was calm that night. The city seemed to breathe in silence as the lights softly illuminated the streets, and inside our home the atmosphere was warm—almost perfect. The evening was spectacular, and we celebrated our wedding anniversary as it deserved, with laughter, complicit glances, and promises whispered between glasses of wine. For a moment, I completely forgot the weight of the hospital, the long shifts, and the responsibilities resting on my shoulders.

I got ready quickly to go to the hospital, mentally reviewing my schedule and the patients I needed to see that morning, when one of Matt’s words abruptly pulled me out of my thoughts.

—My Moon, I want a baby, —he said suddenly.

His voice was firm and serious, with no trace of a joke, so I slowly turned to look at him. His eyes were locked onto mine, bright and full of a determination that took my breath away.

—Matt… are you serious? —I asked, completely stunned, trying to find any sign that he was playing with me.

—Yes, my Moon, —he replied as he stepped closer. —I want us to have a beautiful child, an heir to K.O. I want you to carry in your womb the fruit of our love.

I felt as if my heart shattered into a thousand pieces and, at the same time, overflowed with an indescribable emotion. Matt could be cold toward the world, distant from everyone, but when it came to me, he transformed into the most romantic and sensitive man I knew. I was deeply in love with him, and in that moment, I knew it with absolute certainty.

I smiled at him tenderly, trying to hide the storm of emotions rising inside me, and slowly nodded.

—Alright, Matt… I’ll stop taking the contraceptive pills.

It wasn’t an easy decision. I had been on hormonal treatment since I was young, and I knew detoxifying my body after so many years wouldn’t be simple. I also needed to undergo medical exams; there was a possibility my body no longer functioned properly due to the prolonged use of contraceptives. Still, I was willing to do everything within my reach.

That day at work was one of the best I could remember in a long time. I treated my patients with a genuine smile, with a lightness in my chest I hadn’t felt in months. However, everything changed when I entered the room to see my next patient and my eyes widened in shock.

—Philip… what are you doing here? —I asked, surprised. —You were supposed to be on a business trip to China.

The man in front of me lifted his gaze calmly.

—I came back a few days ago, Sofía. I wanted to talk to you.

His serious tone immediately put me on alert. Something in his eyes told me that this conversation would not bring good news.

—Tell me, Philip. I’m listening, —I set the medical chart aside and looked at him attentively.

—You see… I didn’t go to China for business, —he confessed after a few seconds of silence. —I went for treatment. I’m dying, Sofía, and this news would destroy my son. I know my illness has no cure, and I’ve already accepted my fate.

His words fell on me like a bucket of ice water. Even so, his voice remained calm and serene, like someone who had already made peace with death. I looked at him with immense sorrow; to think that this man—so harsh and domineering—had changed my life forever.

—Isn’t there anything else that can be done? —I asked, though I already knew the answer.

—You know better than anyone, —he replied with a faint smile. —I don’t have much time, and I want to leave everything in order. Matt will become the new CEO of K.O., and I want you to keep a part of the company.

My face twisted in confusion. I stared at him, unable to fully process his words.

—I trust Matt, —he continued— but only because I’m still alive. When I’m gone, I don’t know how he’ll react. Before he does something foolish, I want to leave the company name to you. You’re a good girl, Sofía, and I know you’ll do the right thing.

That was how, from one day to the next, I—barely twenty-three years old—became the owner of one of the largest companies in all of Canada.

The days that followed passed slowly. I tried to make Philip’s final moments the best possible, staying by his side, listening to him, and caring for him as both his doctor and his family. When we told Matt about his condition, something inside him changed; he grew quieter, sadder, and his pain was impossible to hide.

Philip had no more than a month to live, so legal preparations began. Matt never brought up the baby again, and I didn’t mention it either. I knew that kind of news would only worsen his emotional state.

According to Dr. Edward, the Stone family’s primary physician, I was infertile. I wouldn’t be able to get pregnant. That news shattered me inside. Medically, there was no possibility—but deep in my heart, I still believed in miracles.

That night, when I arrived at the mansion, Matt was surrounded by legal documents, completely frustrated. When he saw me, he smiled tiredly and let out a deep sigh.

—This is terrible… I don’t know how Dad managed all of this, —he said as he approached me.

—Years of experience, —I whispered. —Besides, he lives for his work. He has no other concerns.

—That’s true… he didn’t have a wonderful wife like I do, —he murmured into my ear, gently stroking my back.

His eyes sparkled again in that way that always managed to move me.

—Maybe you should hire a secretary, —I said between kisses.

—Or maybe we should practice for our future heir, —he replied with a smile.

I couldn’t stop a tear from sliding down my cheek. It hurt knowing that Matt didn’t know the truth, but I couldn’t tell him. He was far too vulnerable.

Hours later, a phone call shattered the silence of dawn. It was one of Philip’s bodyguards—they were at the hospital.

We left immediately. Matt drove with white knuckles gripping the steering wheel, his jaw clenched. I, though heartbroken, was calmer; I was accustomed to death—but not to seeing Matt like that.

The hospital was filled with cameras and journalists. We went straight to Philip’s room, where he lay almost unrecognizable due to the illness.

—Everyone out! —I ordered the doctors, nurses, and bodyguards.

Matt cried like a child in my arms.

Hours later, as I handled the legal paperwork, the news officially announced the death of Philip Stone, CEO of K.O. Company.

The news spread across the world… and reached Anais.

At that moment, I didn’t know it, but what was coming would be a thousand times worse than anything else. Philip had died, and everything would finally come to light. At that moment, I could never have imagined that Matt and Philip had been conspiring against me.