UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

CHAPTER 4

Henson Corporation – CEO's Office

Liam had barely settled into his chair when his laptop began ringing.

Incoming Video Call: Mom

He sighed before answering.

"Mom..."

"What's the problem this time?"

"Why are you calling so early? Did you move your flight back to Manila?"

His mother laughed from the other side of the screen.

"You really are such a grumpy son."

"But I'm happy."

Liam frowned.

"...Happy?"

"What do you mean you're happy for me?"

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Come on, Mom."

"What are you up to this time?"

Instead of answering, she smiled from ear to ear before sending him a news link.

His phone vibrated.

He opened it.

A headline immediately appeared on the screen.

«CEO OF HENSON CORPORATION SPOTTED PLAYING WITH HIS SON?

Has the Henson family finally found its heir?»

Liam's eyes widened.

"...What the hell?"

He instantly stood up.

"Cedric!"

His secretary rushed inside.

"Y-Yes, Sir?"

Liam threw the phone onto his desk.

"Call the PR team."

"I want this article taken down immediately."

"If investors see this ridiculous headline, it'll become another unnecessary issue."

Cedric immediately nodded.

"Right away, Sir."

Meanwhile, Liam's mother burst into laughter.

"So..."

She teased.

"Are you embarrassed by your son?"

Liam rubbed his temples.

"Mom."

His voice became serious.

"That is not my son."

"He's my ex-girlfriend's child."

"And honestly..."

"I don't even want kids."

His mother immediately frowned.

"Hey!"

"Don't ever say something like that."

She folded her arms.

"Remember..."

"I'll be home in six months."

"And when I get back to Manila..."

"I expect you to have a wife."

"I want grandchildren."

"I refuse to die before meeting my future grandchild."

Liam let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"...Fine."

"Whatever you say."

"But please stop asking me the same question every single time."

"I have work to do."

Without waiting for another lecture...

He ended the call.

---

The Next Morning

Liam had no idea...

...that the peaceful morning he was enjoying would soon become the beginning of another disaster.

---

Outside the CEO's Office

Cedric glanced at the appointment list in his hand before calling out the next visitor.

"Mrs. Lydian De Vera..."

"...from Gonzon Institute Research."

Lydian immediately stood up.

"That's me."

She smiled politely.

"I have an appointment with Mr. Henson regarding his company's investment in our research institute."

"I'm here to clarify a few documents and present the revised proposal."

Cedric quickly checked the schedule.

Everything matched.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please go right in."

Lydian nodded.

"Thank you."

She walked toward the CEO's office.

A few seconds later...

Cedric's eyes suddenly widened.

"...Wait."

His face slowly turned pale.

"...Lydian?"

He slapped his own forehead.

"Oh no..."

"I'm dead."

He looked toward the closed office door with genuine pity.

"Good luck, Ma'am."

"I just hope Boss doesn't eat you alive."

---

Inside Liam's Office

Lydian quietly entered.

Liam was still facing the floor-to-ceiling windows, his executive chair turned away from her as he reviewed several documents.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"Yes?"

"Leave the files on the table."

Lydian walked forward.

"Good morning, Sir."

"I'm here from Gonzon Institute Research."

"These are all the documents and revisions your company requested."

"I've also included the updated investment proposal."

"Thank you."

Liam casually spun his chair around.

The moment he looked up...

His expression froze.

"...You?"

Lydian's eyes widened just as much.

"You again?!"

The office instantly became suffocatingly silent.

Liam slowly stood from his chair.

His jaw tightened.

"Who let you into my office?"

Lydian crossed her arms.

"Your secretary did."

She answered without the slightest hint of fear.

"So stop yelling at me."

"Or I'll shove these documents down your throat."

Liam slammed both hands onto his desk.

"You've got a lot of nerve."

His voice turned dangerously cold.

"What if I withdraw every investment Henson Corporation has in your institute?"

He stared directly into her eyes.

"Let's see where all that pride of yours takes you."

Lydian met his glare without backing down.

"You think that scares me?"

She took one step closer.

"Go ahead."

"But don't threaten my job."

Her voice trembled—not from fear, but determination.

"Because someone's life depends on it."

Liam's expression remained unreadable.

"I don't care."

"Whether it's your future..."

"...or someone else's."

His voice echoed throughout the office.

"Get out."

"Now."

For a few seconds...

Neither of them moved.

Then Lydian snatched the folder from the table.

"I was already leaving."

She rolled her eyes.

"You don't have to tell me twice."

She forcefully pulled open the office door.

Bang!

"Ouch!"

Cedric, who had been secretly eavesdropping outside, was struck squarely on the nose by the door.

He stumbled backward while covering his face.

"S-Sir!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I wasn't spying!"

"Please don't fire me!"

Liam glared at him.

"I'm not firing you."

Cedric let out a relieved sigh.

"...Yet."

Liam's cold voice immediately followed.

"I want every investment Henson Corporation has in Gonzon Institute Research..."

"...withdrawn."

"Immediately."

Cedric's smile disappeared.

"...Sir?"

"You heard me."

"Pull everything out."

"Is that clear?"

Cedric lowered his head.

"...Yes, Sir."

As Lydian walked away from the office, she froze for a brief second after hearing Liam's order.

Her fingers tightened around the folder in her hands.

She knew exactly what those words meant.

If Henson Corporation withdrew its funding...

Not only would her career collapse—

but Yuhan's only chance at getting the life-saving heart surgery he desperately needed... might disappear with it.

Inside the Taxi

The city lights streaked past the taxi window as Lydian sat in silence on her way back to Gonzon Institute Research in Makati.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

She glanced at the screen, and her heart nearly stopped.

A message from the company's Human Resources Department flashed before her eyes.

«Henson Corporation has officially withdrawn its investment from Gonzon Institute Research. Following the CEO's decision, your employment has been terminated effective immediately.»

Another notification appeared seconds later.

«The Heart Support Program covering Yuhan's surgery has also been canceled due to insufficient funding.»

"...No..."

Lydian's voice trembled.

She immediately called the company's CEO, desperately pleading for another chance.

"Sir... please."

"My son needs this operation."

"I'll do anything."

"Please don't fire me."

But before she could finish—

The call was disconnected.

She stared blankly at the dark screen of her phone as tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

In a single day...

She had lost her job...

...and the only financial support keeping her son's surgery alive.

---

St. Luke's Medical Center Global City

On the same day, Liam arrived at St. Luke's for his scheduled cardiac follow-up.

As he walked past the children's play area, his eyes landed on a familiar little boy.

Yuhan sat alone on a bench, quietly watching other children laugh and play with their fathers.

For reasons Liam couldn't explain...

He found himself walking toward him.

"Why do you look so sad?"

Yuhan looked up.

"It's you..."

"The bad guy."

"Go away."

"You might hurt me again."

Liam sighed before sitting beside him.

"Do you really think I'd hurt you?"

"Come on."

"Tell me what's bothering you."

Yuhan lowered his head.

"I'm just jealous."

He pointed toward the playground.

"They all have dads."

"They can run around."

"They can play all day."

"They have normal hearts."

He slowly placed a hand over his chest.

"But I can't."

Liam frowned.

"Why can't you run?"

"I have a heart disease."

"The doctors said I need another operation."

For a moment, Liam fell silent.

Then he smiled faintly.

"You know..."

"I had the same heart condition when I was your age."

"I couldn't play with the other kids either."

"They bullied me because I was weak."

"I was jealous too."

"My friends all had fathers."

"I didn't."

---

Flashback

When Liam was seven years old, doctors discovered that he had a congenital heart defect.

Because of his illness, he became the target of constant bullying.

Everyone avoided him...

...except one person.

Lydian.

She stood up for him whenever he was bullied.

She stayed by his side when everyone else walked away.

As the years passed, the two grew up together.

They spent countless afternoons beneath the old acacia tree where they had first met.

That was where they laughed together...

Made promises...

And dreamed about spending the rest of their lives together beneath the shadow of Mt. Arayat.

But time...

...had other plans.

---

End of the Flashback

Yuhan suddenly stood up.

His hand clutched tightly at his chest.

"...Yuhan?"

Liam immediately noticed the change in his expression.

"Does it hurt?"

Yuhan's vision blurred.

His breathing became shallow.

"My... chest..."

Before Liam could react—

Yuhan collapsed.

"Yuhan!"

Liam caught him before he hit the ground.

"Nurse!"

"Doctor!"

"Help!"

Within seconds, nurses rushed over and wheeled Yuhan into the emergency room.

---

A few minutes later, Lydian arrived at the hospital just as emergency announcements echoed through the building, calling every available pediatric cardiologist to the operating room.

After what felt like forever, Mark finally stepped outside.

"Lydian..."

His face was filled with worry.

"Yuhan's condition suddenly became critical."

"His heart can no longer be supported by medication or the machines."

"He needs emergency surgery right now."

He paused.

"But we have another problem."

"We urgently need AB-positive blood."

"Our current supply is critically low."

Without hesitation, Liam stepped forward.

"I'm AB-positive."

"I've passed all my medical screenings."

"I'll donate."

Lydian immediately shook her head.

"...No."

"You can't."

Liam stared at her in disbelief.

"What do you mean I can't?"

"Your son's life is on the line!"

"Are you seriously letting your pride get in the way?"

Tears streamed down Lydian's face.

She turned and hurried outside.

"Lydian!"

Liam followed her.

He grabbed her arm.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I'm trying to save him."

"This isn't about proving you're a bad mother."

"It's about Yuhan's life."

Lydian broke down.

Her tears would no longer stop.

She looked straight into Liam's eyes.

"...Because..."

Her voice cracked.

"You're Yuhan's father."

Liam froze.

"...What?"

"I was already three months pregnant when I left you in Pampanga."

"I hid the truth because I believed I was protecting you."

Liam slowly pulled his arm away.

He shook his head.

"No."

"I don't believe you."

"You think you can use a child to get money from me?"

"Over my dead body."

Lydian wiped away her tears.

"I don't expect you to believe me."

"I'm not forcing you to."

"But now that you know the truth..."

"Please..."

"Leave us alone."

---

Several hours later...

The operating room doors finally opened.

Mark walked toward Lydian with a tired smile.

"Lydian..."

"Yuhan made it."

"The operation was successful."

Relief washed over her face as she broke down in tears.

"And one more thing," Mark continued.

"I spoke with the billing department."

"They said someone anonymously paid every hospital bill."

"No name."

"No information."

"It happens from time to time."

Neither Mark nor Lydian noticed Liam quietly walking away down the hallway...

Keeping the truth to himself.