Chapter 4

Dominic’s POV

I paused at the door before walking in, the room was quiet. For someone who was supposedly very sick, everything looked a little too perfect. The machines were on, the bed was arranged neatly, and my grandfather was lying there with his eyes closed like he was on his last breath.

I stepped inside slowly and closed the door behind me.

“Are you going to keep pretending,” I said calmly, “or should I call a real doctor this time?”

No response.

I walked closer to the bed, my hands slipping into my pockets. “Three days,” I added. “You’ve been ‘dying’ for three days now. That’s a new record.”

Still nothing.

I stopped beside him and looked down at his face. “If you don’t open your eyes, I’m leaving. And this time, I won’t come back.”

A second later, his left eye slowly opened.

“There you are,” I muttered.

He frowned at me. “You have no respect.”

I let out a quiet breath. “And you’re faking an illness to get my attention.”

He pushed himself up slowly, clearly not weak at all. “If I don’t do this, you won’t come see me.”

“I came,” I said. “Now talk.”

He turned his face away from me like a child. “I have nothing to say to you.”

I nodded once. “Then I’ll go.”

“You will not,” he snapped immediately.

I raised a brow. “You just said you had nothing to say.”

He looked irritated, then sighed. “You already know what I want.”

Of course I did.

Still, I said, “Say it.”

He looked straight at me this time. “Bring a wife home.”

There it was. I let out a short breath, almost like a laugh. “So that’s why you’re pretending to be sick?”

“If that’s what it takes,” he replied without shame.

I shook my head slightly. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you are stubborn,” he said back. “That is why we keep going in circles.”

I stared at him for a moment, then asked, “You really faked all this just because I’m not married?”

“Yes.”

No hesitation.

I looked away for a second, trying to stay patient. “You think forcing me will make me get married?”

“I don’t care how you do it,” he said. “Find someone. Marry her. Bring her home.”

My jaw tightened slightly. “That’s not how marriage works.”

He gave me a look like I was the one being unreasonable. “Marriage is not always about love. Sometimes it is about responsibility.”

He softened his voice just a little. “Bring me a wife, Dominic. After that, I will stop bothering you.”

I looked at him again, studying his face.

He was serious and I let out a slow breath, then nodded once.

“Fine.”

His eyes sharpened immediately. “You mean that?”

I turned toward the door.

“I’ll bring one.” 

If he wanted a wife…Then I would give him one.

—

Ava’s POV

Earlier this morning, my sister woke up.

It was only for a short time, but it meant everything to me.

When she opened her eyes and saw me beside her, she smiled weakly. She called my name in a soft voice, and for a moment, I felt hope again. I held her hand and told her everything would be okay.

But I could see the truth, she was in pain.

Her face was pale, her voice was weak, and her hand felt light in mine. It did not take long before I called the nurses. I could not pretend everything was fine.

The nurses came quickly, and Doctor Mary came with them. They checked her, adjusted the machines, and spoke to her softly. I stood there and watched, feeling useless.

After they finished, Doctor Mary asked me to step outside.

She spoke calmly, but I could hear the seriousness in her voice.

She did not say it directly, but I understood.

We were running out of time.

If the surgery did not happen soon, my sister would not survive.

I thanked her, but her words stayed in my mind.

Now, I was standing outside the hospital room.

The hallway was quiet, but my thoughts were loud.

In my right hand, I held Dominic Hale’s business card. In my left hand, I held my phone.

Calling him did not feel easy.

It felt like stepping into something I did not understand.

I knew I could not just call him and ask for money immediately. That would be wrong. The first thing I needed to do was thank him. He helped my sister when he did not have to.

After that, I would listen to how he spoke. If he sounded kind, maybe I could explain my situation. If he sounded cold, then I would not ask.

I took a deep breath and dialed his number.

The phone rang for a few seconds, but he did not answer.

I lowered the phone slowly. For a moment, I felt a little relieved. Maybe I did not have to do this after all.

But then I looked at my sister again.

I could not stop now.

I dialed the number again.

This time, he answered.

“Hello?”

His voice was deep and calm.

I felt nervous immediately.

“Hi… I’m Ava,” I said.

There was a short pause.

“Ava who?” he asked.

“I’m the Elder sister of the girl you helped today sir,” I said quickly. “The one who was brought to Hope’s Heritage Hospital.”

There was another short silence.

“Oh. You.”

His voice was simple. I could not tell what he was thinking.

“I just wanted to thank you,” I said. “For helping my sister. I really appreciate it.”

“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 call ended immediately.

I stared at my phone.

He wanted to meet me.

I did not know what to expect, but I knew I had to go.

I turned to one of the nurses and asked her to watch my sister for a while. She agreed and smiled at me.

I thanked her and walked to the elevator.

My heart was beating fast as I went up.

When I got to the last floor, I walked down the hallway and found the lounge.

I stopped at the door for a moment, then pushed it open.

Inside, people were sitting and eating quietly. No one paid attention to me.

I stood there, not knowing what to do.

Then I realized something.

I did not know what Dominic Hale looked like.

I felt a little embarrassed and quickly took out my phone. I called him again.

He answered immediately.

“I can see you,” he said. “I have my hand raised.”

I looked around the room.

Then I saw him.

He was sitting at a table, one hand raised slightly.

Even from far away, he stood out.

He looked young, dressed in a simple white sweatshirt and black joggers. But there was something about him that made people notice him.

Men in black were sitting around him.

Bodyguards.

I took a small breath and walked toward him.

When I reached the table, I stopped up close, he looked even more handsome.

I lowered my head slightly to greet him.

“Are you going to keep standing there, Miss Ava, or will you sit down?” he asked.

I quickly sat down.

“Sorry,” I said softly.

There was nothing on the table, so I knew they had just arrived.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“No, thank you.”

He looked at me for a moment.

“How is your Sister?” he asked.

The question made my chest tighten.