IN LOVE WITH THE RIVAL BILLIONAIRE CEO

LOSS OF LOVED ONES

Things weren't always like this. Where I had to endure bullying from Fiona and Carla. The Sinclair family had always been one filled with love. But this all ended when life decided to take everything from me, except my grandpa.

FLASHBACK

I was just 11, I remember going up the elevator to my grandpa's office with my dad. My parents were about to go on a business trip without me. And I was going to stay with Grandpa until they returned.

We walked into Grandpa's office to see him working. He sat up when he noticed us.

“Dad," my father called with a small smile on his face. “We're ready to go."

Grandpa looked up from what he was doing and asked. “Oh, and your wife, she still decided to go with you?"

"Unfortunately she has refused to stay back,” my father replied, now smiling widely.

Grandpa frowned slightly. "Ugh, this love the two of you have for each other sometimes annoys me. If she leaves, who will take care of me and little Diane?”

My dad laughed heartily and placed his hands on his father's shoulder playfully.

"Dad, we're only going to be away for two days. She just insists on helping me out with those tough board members of ours."

Then he stepped away, his countenance now different. “Besides, you have your wife there to take care of you."

Grandpa’s eyes darted to mine briefly before returning to my dad's. He sighed. “George, you have to see her as your…”

"She's not and will never be my mother!” my dad snapped, cutting his father off and startling me. "My mother died while giving birth to me. Fiona is just the woman you remarried, nothing more."

He gently squeezed my shoulders when he noticed my expression.

Then he sighed and massaged his temples. “We can't have this argument here or now. Our flight is about to take off; I just needed to see if you wanted to come see us off."

“Alright," Grandpa sighed sadly, putting the tense matter down. “Lead the way."

He stretched his hands to mine which I held gently, a small smile returning to my face.

We stepped out of the office and walked to the front of the building, where my mom, Lara, was standing beside their car, with a very visible baby bump.

“Hey," she calls out to Grandpa, a wide smile on her face.

“You've refused to stay," Grandpa said simply, trying not to look sad.

My mom laughed lightly. "We're not staying long, we'll definitely be back. But for now, it's going to be you and Diane.”

My head dropped. I had pleaded to go with them, but they had vehemently refused and insisted I had to go to school.

"Oh my baby, I promise to come back,” she said calmly while wiping the tears that streamed down my face. "Nothing can stop me from coming back to you, I promise you."

“You really promise?" I asked in my tiny voice.

“I really, really do," she replied. "Now be obedient to Grandpa until we get back."

My dad handed me a lollipop as he hugged me.

They both got into the car and drove off while Grandpa and I waved them goodbye.

"Alright, Diane, let's get back to work.” He said and gently pulled me in, slowing down to match my little steps.

Two days later when my parents were supposed to come back from their business trip, Grandpa and I were in the office, waiting for that one phone call from my dad to come pick them up from the airport, like he requested. But no call ever came.

Grandpa had begun to get worried because it was getting late, as was I. I just kept hoping they were fine.

Until the call came in. Not for what we were expecting, but for a nightmare we never saw coming.

The phone dropped to the floor, shattering on impact, startling me. Grandpa froze, uncontrollable tears suddenly streaming down his face.

“Grandpa?" I called, walking towards him, worried.

I was unsure of what to think but I knew the news wasn't a good one.

He slowly turned to me, and more tears rolled down.

"Grandpa, what's wrong?" I asked as my heart pounded in my chest.

He suddenly snapped out of his shocked state and called for his assistant while putting on his coat. He ordered me to put mine on as well.

His assistant burst into the office, a pitiful expression on his face. “The plane’s ready, sir, and the car is outside."

Without wasting time, Grandpa Walters burst out of the room, pulling me with him. The car drove to his private jet, and it flew to Valdosta, Georgia.

Throughout the ride, grandpa had refused to say what the problem was even when I kept asking.

As soon as the plane came to a stop, grandpa rushed out and boarded a car already waiting, making sure to keep me close to him. When I saw the car pull up to a hospital, my heart thundered even more in my chest. Grandpa left me with his assistant. But I refused to stay back in the car and ran after him. I followed him until he was led to the morgue.

Grandpa burst into sorrow and fell on two bodies inside body bags laid on morgue tables. I slowly walked towards him and got a quick peek of who they were.

My heart stopped beating for a moment when I realized it was my parents.

“Diane.." I heard Grandpa's voice in the background. “Someone get her out of here!"

All voices sounded muffled as I zoned out of my body. My vision blurred until I blacked out.

END OF FLASHBACK