THE 24-HOUR SEARCH

Prince Adams grew up with no knowledge of where he came from. His mother abandoned him in the hospital the night she gave birth, leaving him only in the hands of Nurse Cindy—a quiet, mature widow whose greatest heartbreak was her inability to have a child of her own. With no paperwork, no questions asked, Nurse Cindy took the baby home and raised him as her own. She protected him with her life, enrolled him in the best schools, trained him with discipline, faith and kindness, and gave him a childhood full of love even though the world believed she lived alone. Today, the abandoned newborn she once rescued has become Prince Adams—one of the country’s youngest and wealthiest business moguls. He owns a thriving multinational group that invests in real estate, tech, shipping, luxury hotels, and manufacturing. His name alone moves markets. CEOs chase his signature. Investors study his decisions. And magazines call him “The Empire Builder.” But behind the elegant suits, the power, and the billions, Prince Adams is still a man with only one friend—Daniel. The two grew up like brothers, attended the same schools, built companies side by side, and today Daniel is also a respected business owner in his own right. Everything in Prince Adams’ life seemed structured and in control—until the day Nurse Cindy whom he called granny fell sick. It began with weight loss, fatigue, and bleeding she tried to hide. When Prince Adams forced her to go for tests, the diagnosis crushed him—stage four cancer. The doctors explained that treatment could only slow it down, not stop it. But Adams poured out millions anyway, flying in specialists, paying for constant care, buying every hope money could purchase. Daniel watched his best friend break slowly. Prince Adams spent every evening by her side—cooking her meals, making her laugh, reading the scriptures to her, telling her stories from work like a little boy desperate to keep his only parent alive. Grandma would look into his eyes and say ; “Son, God is still faithful. Be strong. Be good. And keep serving Him.” But the coughs grew worse. Her bones weakened. Her voice thinned out. And one afternoon, while Prince Adams rushed to hold her hand, her breathing changed. He called the doctor. He called Daniel. He prayed. And then, in a slow final breath… Granny slipped away in his arms. Daniel arrived and held his friend tightly as he cried—a deep, wounded cry of a man who had never known a father or mother, and had now lost the only person who ever loved him like family. In a mansion full of wealth and success, Prince Adams suddenly felt like the loneliest man alive. _______________________________________ PRINCE ADAMS POV I wasn’t taking care of myself anymore, and I knew it. Ever since Granny passed, everything in my life had felt gray and unbearably heavy. I missed appointments, ignored calls, and shut everyone out. Daniel even sent the cleaner and the security guy home because, according to him, I was 'turning the mansion into a haunted house'. He walked into my living room that afternoon, worry written all over his face. Prince, this isn’t you, he said quietly. Granny wouldn’t want to see you like this. I didn’t answer. I didn’t turn. I just stared into space and let the silence swallow me. Granny had been the only real family I’d ever had. She chose me. She raised me. Losing her felt like losing the ground beneath my feet. Daniel sighed and headed to the kitchen. A moment later, I heard him laugh. Look at you, he called out. You’re acting like a little girl whose candy just got taken. His voice tugged something inside me. Granny was everything to me, I said. She was the mom and dad I never knew. And now… she’s gone. Daniel clutched his chest dramatically. So I’m not family? After all these years? I actually chuckled a little and looked away. I'm not happy anymore, I admitted. I’m a shadow of myself. Daniel came back, chewing biscuits loudly. You can be happy, Prince, he said. You just have to let yourself be. He shrugged. Come on, let’s travel. A boys’ vacation. That sounds too girly, I muttered. I’m not going. He rolled his eyes. With biscuits stuffed in his mouth, he said, Then get yourself a woman and marry her. You look lonely. And honestly? You’re starting to look ugly too. I stared at him, and he snapped his head up. What? he asked. I’ve never known a woman, I confessed. All I do is work; He burst into loud laughter. You? Prince Adams? Every woman would want to be with you. His words reminded me of Granny’s voice—her constant urging for me to find a good woman before I got older. For the first time in weeks, a smile stretched across my face. I grabbed my keys and headed toward the door. Where are you going? Daniel shouted. To the barber’s, I said. To get my handsome face back. Daniel laughed loudly. You’re welcome! I’ll be right here in your house, eating your food till you return! And for the first time since Granny left this world, I felt a small spark of hope flicker inside me—faint, but real. Slowly, it was returning.. _______________________________________ *Flashback* Granny had been enjoying the kind of weather she loved most—the soft, sleepy warmth of a late afternoon sun, the kind that spread gently over the verandah like a comforting shawl. A mild breeze wandered through the compound, stirring the leaves and carrying the smell of dust and hibiscus. She rocked slowly in her wooden chair, eyes half-closed, taking in the peace. Days like this made her feel young again, as if the world still understood how to be soft. Her phone vibrated on the small table beside her. She ignored it at first, thinking it was one of those promotional messages she disliked. But when it rang again, insistently this time, she frowned and reached for it. A strange number flashed on the screen. She answered slowly. Hello? A woman’s voice came through—gentle, shaky, oddly familiar. Hello… Nurse Cindy? Granny’s spine stiffened. No one had called her that name in years. She quickly hung up, her chest tightening. Before she could even breathe, the phone rang again. Her heart hammered as she picked up once more, this time saying nothing. I know you remember my voice, Nurse Cindy, the caller said softly. Please… please don’t hang up. I really need your help. Can we meet? Granny swallowed hard. Her voice was stern when she finally spoke. I don’t know who is on this call. And I don’t know what you think you want from me. Please, the woman begged, her voice cracking.I’ve searched for you everywhere. I’ve been looking for you for years. I just need to see you. Just once. Where did you get my number?Granny demanded, her voice trembling in a way she hoped the caller wouldn’t hear. But the woman didn’t answer that. Can I see you? Please. I— Granny hung up, breathing unsteadily, staring at the phone as if it might ring again. She pushed herself up from the rocking chair and paced the verandah, the weather no longer comforting. The sun felt too warm, the breeze too thin. After a moment, she dialed her longtime friend, another retired nurse. Hello, Ama, she said, trying to steady her voice.Did you ever… give my contact to someone? Someone I don’t know? There was a pause, then Ama sighed loudly. Oh, Cindy, I meant to tell you… I forgot entirely. I’m sorry. Forgot what? Granny pressed. I posted our old picture on f*******:—the one from the ward. A woman texted me after that. She said you helped her many years ago, and she had been searching for you ever since to thank you. She asked for your contact, and I… I gave it to her. I didn’t think it would frighten you. Frighten me?Granny whispered. Ama, you should have told me. I know. I’m sorry,Ama repeated.She sounded harmless. Just emotional. That’s why I didn’t think— It’s fine,Granny cut in, though it wasn’t. Take care, Ama. Before her friend could say another word, she hung up. Granny stood still on the verandah, the breeze now brushing cold across her skin despite the warm afternoon. She looked troubled, deeply confused, as if trying to convince herself the call wasn’t real—because if it was real, it meant the past was no longer finished with her. And the past was the one thing she feared most. Not because of what it had done to her… But because of what it could still take away. *End of flashback*