All Chapters of Protecting the Billionaire’s Daughter: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The ceiling looked like it was moving.It wasn’t, obviously. Hospitals didn’t move. But my vision kept swimming in and out, warping the white tiles above me. Everything felt distant—like I was watching myself through water. Voices floated around me, too loud and too soft at the same time.“She’s losing too much blood.”“We need a transfusion now.”“Her pressure is dropping—move!”My heart hammered, each beat slower than the last, like it was dragging itself through mud. My fingers tingled. My arm wasn’t even pain anymore—it was numb. Cold.Someone squeezed my hand. Hard.“Aria, sweetheart, stay with us.” That was Carl. His voice cracked like he’d been crying.I tried to respond, but my tongue felt too heavy. My lips barely moved.Then another voice—a familiar one, deeper, trembling with panic.“Aria! Aria—oh my God.”My dad.He appeared beside Carl, chest heaving, tie loosened like he’d driven here without breathing. His eyes darted over the machines, the blood on my clothes, my pale

I don't even remember ripping the envelope open. One second I was staring at it like it was a bomb, and the next... the paper was already in my hands. My heart was pounding so violently I could feel it in my teeth.My eyes scanned the page once.Twice.A third time.And then I froze.No breath.No thoughts.Just stillness.A horrifying, suffocating stillness.Because the test said exactly what it shouldn't say.Exactly what was impossible for it to say.Richard - 99.9% probability of paternity.I blinked. Hard.Then again. And again.But the letters didn't rearrange themselves. The number didn't change. The words didn't magically correct into something that made sense.It was still there.Blinding.Mocking.Final.My hands started shaking so badly the paper rustled. I pressed it to my chest just to stop it from slipping through my fingers."No," I whispered. "This... this is wrong. This is wrong."Because it was wrong.How could he be my biological father when he couldn't donate blood

The moment my feet touched the ground outside the hospital, Carl scooped me straight into his arms like he'd been waiting his whole life to do it."Careful!" I squeaked.He only grinned and spun me once, ignoring the bandage on my arm and the fact that I was still slightly light-headed. "I'm careful," he said, "you're fragile cargo. Two babies in there."His joy was so loud it wrapped around me like sunlight. So big, so bright... it almost blinded the part of me that was drowning.Almost.By the time we got home, he had already decorated the living room. Balloons. Lights. Flowers. A giant ribbon across the door that said Welcome Home in bold gold letters. I didn't even know when he did all this. When did he have time?He lifted the ribbon dramatically. "For you," he announced, like unveiling treasure.I couldn't even fake a smile; the real one came on its own. "Carl...""I know, I know," he said lightly. "I'm too much. But you deserve everything."Before I could respond, a cheer erupt

Aria's POVThe fourth call came in with the same unknown number, loud enough to vibrate Carl’s phone against the nightstand.I tried to ignore it at first.But when it rang the fifth time—insistent, sharp, like whoever was calling refused to give up—I frowned and reached for the phone.Maybe it was work. Maybe it was something urgent. Maybe—Before I could finish the thought, it rang again.I sighed and answered.“Hello?”A soft, feminine giggle slid through the speaker.“Oh, Carl…” the girl breathed, her voice light and sweet. “I’ve been thinking about yesterday. I can still feel you on my skin.”My heart dropped.No—no, maybe she dialed the wrong number. Maybe this was someone playing a sick joke.I didn’t breathe, didn’t blink.“I can’t wait to see you again,” she continued, oblivious to the fact that it wasn’t Carl answering. “Same time, same secret spot. Don’t make me miss you too long.”My mouth felt dry. I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to.The girl laughed again—soft, flirty,

Aria’s POVCarl walked into the bedroom like nothing in the world was out of place.“Hey, baby,” he said softly, dropping his keys on the dresser. “I’m back.”My heart clenched.My face smiled.“How was work?” I asked, keeping my tone light, pretending I wasn’t screaming internally.He ran a hand through his hair and let out a shaky breath. His shoulders sagged a little, like he’d been running from something. Or maybe someone.“It went… very well,” he replied. “Just a lot to handle. I’m pretty shaken, honestly.”Oh, I bet you are.I nodded slowly. “Sorry, baby. You must be exhausted.”He smiled faintly. “Yeah. But seeing you… that helps.”My stomach twisted. He had the audacity to say that after kissing my maid until her lipstick smeared on his jaw.I stood from the bed.“I need to get something from the living room,” I murmured.He nodded, already loosening his tie.I stepped out of the room with calm steps, but the moment the door closed behind me, the calmness evaporated.I scanned