The Billionaire's Betrayal

Chapter 2

The hospital doors slid open, and the sterile scent hit me all over again, sharp and familiar. My steps were quicker this time, uneven, driven by something between panic and urgency. The report was still clutched in my hand, slightly crumpled from how tightly I had been holding it.

I didn’t stop at the reception desk. I didn’t look at anyone. My eyes were fixed straight ahead as I made my way down the corridor toward the doctor’s office.

“Miss Bella?”

I paused mid-step as his voice reached me. He was already standing outside his office, as if he had been waiting.

“I just came back,” I said, my voice slightly breathless. “I needed to talk to you.”

He nodded and opened the door, gesturing for me to step inside. “Of course. Please.”

I entered, sitting down without waiting this time. My fingers tightened around the edge of the chair as I tried to steady myself.

“Have you made any arrangements?” he asked gently.

I swallowed. “I spoke to her father.”

The doctor’s expression shifted slightly, attentive but careful. “And?”

I looked down at the report in my hands, my voice quieter now. “He hasn’t agreed. Not yet.”

A brief silence filled the room.

“I understand,” the doctor said after a moment. “These situations can be complicated.”

Complicated.

The word felt almost bitter.

“I don’t have time for complications,” I said, lifting my eyes to meet his. “You said it yourself. We need to start immediately. Tell me everything. Every option. I don’t care how difficult it is.”

He studied me for a second, then gave a small nod. “All right.”

He pulled a file closer and opened it, his tone turning more clinical, more precise.

“The treatment plan involves aggressive chemotherapy, possibly followed by a bone marrow procedure depending on how she responds. It will require constant monitoring, multiple hospital stays, and a strict schedule.”

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to listen.

“And the cost?” I asked.

He hesitated, then named a number.

For a moment, everything went silent.

It was more than I had expected. More than I could even begin to manage. But I didn’t let myself break.

“There has to be something,” I said quickly. “A payment plan. Partial treatment. Anything we can start now.”

“We can begin initial stabilization,” he said. “But without securing the full course, it will be risky to proceed halfway.”

“I’ll secure it,” I said immediately, even though I had no idea how. “I just need time.”

His gaze softened slightly. “All right. I’ll arrange for the preliminary procedures. But you need to move fast, Miss Bella.”

“I will.”

My voice didn’t shake this time.

I stood up, clutching the report again. “Can I see her?”

“Of course,” he said. “She’s in her room. Nurse Lina is still with her.”

I nodded and turned, walking out before my resolve could crack. The corridor felt longer than before.

Every step echoed. Every second stretched.

When I reached the room, I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. Then I pushed it open.

Aina was sitting up on the bed, her small legs tucked under the blanket. Nurse Lina stood beside her, adjusting the IV line carefully.

The moment Aina saw me, her face lit up. “Mom!”

That single word shattered something inside me. I forced a smile and walked toward her. She held her arms out, and I wrapped mine around her, pulling her close. She felt lighter than she should have, fragile in a way that terrified me.

“You took so long,” she murmured against my shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, brushing her hair back gently. Her face was pale, her eyes tired, but her smile was unwavering.

“Did the doctor scold you?” she asked softly.

I let out a quiet laugh. “No… not this time.”

She giggled, then winced slightly, her hand moving to her side. My heart clenched. Nurse Lina gave a small nod, reassuring me silently.

“Are we going home soon?” Aina asked, leaning into me.

“Not yet,” I said, kissing her forehead. “The doctor wants you to stay a few days.”

She pouted, and I couldn’t help but smile faintly. “I know… but I’ll be right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her fingers curled around mine. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

And this time, it wasn’t just a word. It was a vow.

I sat beside her, not letting go, watching every small movement, every breath she took.

The door behind me opened quietly.

At first, I didn’t turn, thinking it was Nurse Lina stepping out or returning with something. Then a familiar voice broke through the silence.

“You’re here.”

My entire body went still. Slowly, I turned. Adrian stood at the door, his presence filling the room instantly. His expression was controlled, unreadable, but his eyes were fixed on Aina.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak. How did he know we were in this hospital? And then, almost immediately, the second thought struck me. He must have read the name on the report.

Aina looked past me, her eyes widening in surprise. “Dad?”

Her voice was small, uncertain, but filled with hope.

Something shifted in Adrian’s expression at that single word. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, like he wasn’t sure how to respond to it.

He stepped forward.

Aina’s face lit up immediately. “Dad!”

She reached out to him without hesitation.

Adrian paused for a brief second before moving closer. He sat on the edge of the bed, a little stiff at first, then placed his hand lightly on her head, almost cautiously.

“Hey,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.

I watched them, unable to look away.

Aina beamed, her earlier discomfort forgotten. “You came!” She shifted closer, her small hand clutching his sleeve, holding on like she needed to make sure he wouldn’t leave. “I missed you,” she said softly.

Adrian’s hand stilled for a moment, as if the words had caught him off guard. His fingers tightened slightly against the blanket before he spoke.

“…I’ve been busy,” he said, but his tone lacked its usual sharpness.

Aina didn’t seem to mind. She smiled anyway.

“Look,” she said, lifting her arm a little. “I didn’t cry today.”

His eyes dropped to the IV, and something flickered across his face, faint but there, almost like he didn’t quite believe it. “That’s… good.”

His jaw tightened just a fraction, but his hand moved again, adjusting the blanket around her in a careful, almost distracted way.

She looked up at him again. “Will you come tomorrow?”

The question hung between them.

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. His gaze stayed on her, but there was hesitation in it, like he was measuring something, or holding something back.

“I’ll try,” he said finally.

Aina smiled as if that was enough.

“I’ll wait,” she called gently.

Those simple words seemed to land deeper than anything else. He stayed for another moment, not pulling away, but not fully settling either.

When her energy began to fade, her movements slowing, he gently eased his hand away and stood up.

His phone buzzed against his side. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, then cut the call and slipped it back into his pocket. That small action gave me a flicker of hope. Maybe he was feeling something for his daughter. Maybe, just maybe, he had finally realized how much she mattered to him.

Then he looked at me.

“Come outside. I need to talk to you.”

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Aina softly.

She smiled, already calmer. “Okay, Mom.”

I followed him out into the corridor, the door closing softly behind us. The quiet outside felt colder, heavier.

I turned to face him. “What is it?”

He didn’t waste time.

“I will pay for all of it,” he said. “Every treatment. Every expense.”

For a second, I just stared at him, my heart skipping.

Relief surged so suddenly it almost made me weak.

But then he continued.

“But I have one condition. Tell me you will accept.”

I looked into his eyes, searching for something, anything that would tell me where this was going.

“What is that?”

“You will have to sign the divorce papers.”

The words hit like a blow.

I froze, my breath catching. “What are you saying, Adrian? How… how can I do it just suddenly?”

His expression didn’t change. “You will have to.”

I shook my head slightly, struggling to process it.

“You’re asking me to end this marriage right now?”

“I’m giving you a choice,” he said calmly. “Here, I will place the amount, and there you will sign the documents. Both of us will have what we want.”

My hands curled into fists.

“What we want?” I repeated, my voice tight. “You think this is what I want?”

“You want the money,” he said without hesitation. “You need it. And I want a clean separation. This solves both problems.”

I stared at him, disbelief and anger rising together.

“You’re bargaining over your daughter’s life.”

His jaw tightened slightly, but his voice remained level. “I’m setting terms.”

Silence fell between us, heavy and suffocating.

Behind that door, our daughter lay on a hospital bed, trusting us without question.

And here he was, turning her survival into a transaction. My throat burned as I forced myself to stay steady, but inside, something was already breaking.

I pressed my hands against my thighs, trying to stop them from shaking. “You don’t get it,” I said, my voice tight. “This isn’t just about money. This is about her life. You can’t put a price on it.”

“This is the only way I’ll agree. No exceptions. No negotiations. Take it or leave it.”

“Give me some time, please…” I choked out, my voice trembling. “I can’t just sign it suddenly.

Please try to understand. Where will I go? How will I manage everything when she’s already struggling through her life?” My irises glistened, tears threatening to spill as my voice broke.

Adrian’s eyes didn’t waver. His tone was calm, precise, almost surgical. “Asking for divorce time means asking for time to start her treatment. There is no delay in it, Bella. You have to do it, or let her die by your own hands.”