Save the Billionaire

Chapter 08

The shrill ring of my phone shattered the fun of the evening, jabbing me from my tipsiness. I answered, my heart pounding with fear as I heard my father's serious voice on the other end of the line.

"It's your mom," he said, his words heavy with worry. "She's been sent to the hospital."

Without a moment's hesitation, I grabbed my coat and rushed out the door, Carl trailing close behind me, confused. The streets blurred as we sped towards the hospital while calling my best friend Holly, my mind awash with a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty.

When we arrived, my mother lay unconscious in a hospital bed, her frail form a complete contrast to the lively woman I knew. My father and I stood by her side, our hearts heavy with the weight of the unknown.

As we waited for the tests to be conducted, my best friend arrived, her concern showed in the furrow of her brow. She is like a sister to me. I am an only child. We've known each other for so long and protected one another. She greeted me with a hug, her voice concerned as she asked about my mother's condition.

As our conversation continued, my friend's gaze fell upon Carl, her curiosity piqued. "Who's this?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Oh, sorry," I replied, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "This is my friend, Holly. Holly, this is Carl."

Before I could give any further explanation, my friend's words cut through the air like a knife, her bluntness catching me off guard. "Is that your one-night stand?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny with a slightly evil smile towards me.

I glanced at Carl, his expression a mixture of surprise and discomfort as he stared back at us. I felt a pang of sympathy for him, knowing that he was feeling flustered by my friend's rude question.

"No," I whispered to my friend, my voice barely above a whisper. "He's gay." I am too embarrassed to hear that from her.

"Too bad," she said and looked at me with a pout.

With that simple revelation, the pressure in the air dissipated, replaced by an awkward sense of understanding. And as we waited for the test results to come back, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the support of those around me, even in the darkest of times.

As we sat outside in the corridor I thanked Carl for coming but it's fine now that I am with my father and best friend. He can go home. Carl dismissed the idea and preferred to stay longer with us. My father came out of the room and sat beside me.

My father's voice was tinged with concern as he spoke about the future, his words a stark reminder of the uncertainties that lay ahead.

"We worry about you, especially when we're gone," he said softly, his eyes clouded with anxiety. "You'll be left alone, with no one to take care of you."

The thought sent a shiver down my spine, the prospect of facing the world without my parents by my side was daunting. Their concern for my well-being was visible, their fears mirrored in the lines etched upon their faces.

And so, in their desperation to protect me from the unknown lonely future, my father raised the subject of marriage. "You need someone to look after you," he urged, his voice tinged with urgency. "Someone who will be there for you when we're no longer around."

I listened in silence, the weight of his words sinking in with a heavy blow. The thought of marriage had never crossed my mind, but in the face of my parents' worries, it seemed like the only logical solution.

But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that eating at my insides. The idea of entering into a union out of necessity, rather than love, filled me with a sense of dread.

Yet, as I looked into my parents' eyes, filled with love and concern, I knew that their intentions were pure. And so, with a heavy heart and a sense of surrender, I vowed to do whatever it took to ease their worries no matter the cost. I owe them that much.

As we sat in the quiet confines of the hospital waiting room, a sense of unease settled over me like a dark cloud thinking of my father's words.

Suddenly, a man approached, his demeanor solemn. My heart skipped a beat as he made his way towards Carl, his presence casting a shadow over the room.

"Excuse me, are you Carlus Diandus?" he asked, his voice stern yet measured.

He nodded, my nosiness quickening like lightning but I controlled myself to just listen, as I awaited his next words.

The man introduced himself as Argus, an investigator from the police department, and proceeded to inquire about a certain Mr. Matias Calvin. My mind raced with questions, confusion clouding my thoughts as I struggled to make sense of his line of questioning.

"No, I don't know him," He replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"He is connected to a financial institution that Mr. Silva is affiliated with," he informed Carl.

The officer's expression remained impassive.

"Did Mr. Silva commit a crime?" Carl asked, his words heavy with implication.

The officer shook his head, my mind reeling with the probes of his inquiry. Who is Mr. Silva and is he involved in something illegal? And if so, could it be somehow connected to him?

But before I could voice my meddling, the officer offered no further words, merely apologizing for the intrusion before taking his leave.

As the investigator vanished into the corridors of the hospital, Carl's demeanor shifted drastically. His usually composed features contorted into a mask of seriousness and anger, a sight that left me taken aback. In the short time I had known him, I had never seen him display such intense emotions.

His expression sent a chill down my spine, prompting a surge of questions to flood my mind. Who was this man sitting beside me? What secrets lay hidden behind him?

Carl reached for his phone and excused himself, citing the need to make a call. As he stepped away, leaving me alone in the hushed atmosphere of the waiting room, I couldn't help but ponder the enigma that was Carl.

We had only known each other for a few weeks, yet in that short span of time, I had witnessed glimpses of his complexity. He was more than just the calm and subtle man with occasional chuckles, I had initially perceived him to be.

But as I watched him disappear around the corner, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows of the hospital, I couldn't shake the feeling of concern that settled over me. Who was Carl, truly?