บททั้งหมดของ BOUND TO THE CRIPPLED CEO : บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

DAVIDDropping the kids off, I headed straight for my new office. It was in the city's upscale district. I loved everything about it, especially the fact that it gave me enough time to be flexible and shuffle between here and the therapy business I co-owned with Danica, which had surprisingly blossomed so well.It was now part of the top three Therapy organizations in the whole of Greece. Something I wouldn't have imagined years back.At work, the day's activity flew by speedily, from one patient's bed to another. IV lines that needed to be fixed, vitals checked and monitored, drugs that needed to be administered and patients that needed to be discharged.“David, love,” she said sweetly, “yes, of course I closed the deal. Oh, you should’ve seen their faces when they realized I’d won. They practically begged me to sign them in.”“Uh, Danica? What deal? Are you—”“Yes, darling,” she cut me off. “We’ll celebrate tonight. The children will be thrilled, don’t you think? Valerie’s been aski

DANICAThe room smelled faintly of antiseptic, that sharp clean scent that clung to every surface in hospitals. I had grown used to it over the last few days, though a part of me still hated it— it always smelled like endings, like goodbyes whispered too soon.But today, the smell didn’t matter as much. Today, Valerie’s color was returning, a soft pink blooming again in her cheeks. Her breathing was steady, her lips not as pale. And yet the relief I should have felt was cut short by the words still echoing in my ears.“She will need a bone marrow transplant.”I blinked at the doctor, my hand tightening around the sheet. It felt like someone had reached into my chest and twisted.“What do you mean by transplant?” My voice cracked. “She’s just a child… she’s nine, she… she’s too young for…” I trailed off, unable to finish.The doctor’s expression softened, though his voice remained clinical. “I know it’s difficult to hear, Mrs. Danica, but this is what explains her recurring illnesses.

DAVIDDays crawled past, after the incident that happened at home, with Ivan stopping by. The thought had been circling my head all morning, a restless bird that refused to land. I had promised myself— no, I had sworn— that today would be the day I finally said it out loud. Three years of pretending, of burying feelings under the guise of friendship and loyalty, was long enough. Danica deserved to know.But Ivan’s shadow lingered like smoke in a closed room. Even here, thousands of miles away, the man found a way to intrude. Greece had been our haven, a place to breathe again, to build something whole out of the wreckage of her past. And yet, the second he appeared on her porch, it was as though the air thickened again, poisoned by his voice, his accusations, his arrogance. But today, I was to pick up little Ivan from school and Valerie from the hospital.I gripped the steering wheel tighter than I meant to. The kids were in the backseat, their laughter bubbling like music as they a

IVANThe weeks quickly flew by as I got occupied with one thing or the other. Business on the other hand, seemed to try out every last nerve of mine.It was just eleven in the morning and I already needed a break from work today. Good thing I had to see Pete. We've been postponing seeing each other for weeks now, if not a month. Due to one reason or the other.“Mia” I spoke into the intercom. “Tell John to get the car started. I'll be down in the next five minutes.”“Alright sir,” replied the clipped female voice.Clearing the huge mess of work on my desk, I picked my phone and headed for the elevator. It was a private one used only by me and in no time, I was at the ground floor.By the time I got to the car, John already made it purr to life. Sliding into the sleek seat, I felt the cool air from the conditioner hit my skin. Just what I needed at the moment.“Where are we headed sir?” He asked courteously.“The cafe upstreet. St Laurent's.”“Yes sir.”The drive was a smooth one. With

DANICAI watched as Ivan’s footsteps echoed down the long corridor. He didn’t look back once. His phone had rung— its sharp vibration filling the silence between us and though he didn’t answer it, I knew it was pulling him back into the business that demanded him.In no time, he was out of sight.My arms tightened around the children, as though shielding them from the angry cloud he left behind. Valerie clung to me, her little face pressed into my side. Beside her, Little Ivan sniffled, his cheeks blotchy from crying.I crouched down, brushing his hair with my fingers gently. “Shh,” I whispered, forcing my voice to soften even though my own chest was tight. “It’s all going to be alright, my loves. Do you hear me? Mama’s here now. You’re safe.”Valerie peered up at me with those questioning eyes that always saw more than I wanted her to. “Why were you shouting at uncle Ivan?”Her small voice broke something fragile inside me.“I wasn’t shouting,” I lied gently. “We were just… talking t