Aiden returned back to the hospital, since he couldn’t return back to the Campbells Mansion, he decided to stay at the hospital until he’s able to pay for Hope’s treatment and then he would figure out life from there.

Hope’s treatment.

Yet again, Aiden had failed woefully at another attempt to raise money for the transplant. A part of subconsciousness rebuked him for refusing Katherine’s offer; she was sexy and rich so why not accept her offer, instead of clinging to a woman who despised him and his daughter. The logical part of his subconsciousness encouraged him, telling him that he had done the right thing by rejecting Katherine’s advances, her money and her marriage offer. It showed he was a man of principle.

Aiden then contemplated what to do next and he paced around my lobby, pondering deep in thought. He needed to find a solution to this quickly and the only option he had was to try and phone some of his friends from college again. He really hoped they will help, it wasn’t for him this time but it was for his dear daughter Hope and she was on the verge of dying.

Aiden picked up his phone and dialed Lucas's number, his best friend from college. Lucas had a successful Real Estate Agency and money wasn’t his problem, so he had the resources to help. What Aiden didn’t know was if he still had the heart to help because he was owing Lucas a lot of money and had been avoiding his calls all these while since he couldn’t pay off the debt.

After a few rings and what seemed like all of eternity, Lucas finally picked up, “Hello, Lucas? It’s me, Aiden.” He introduced himself.

“Aiden? Are you finally calling me so you can pay up the money you owe me? It’s been a year and a half, Aiden and I’ve been calling you endlessly but you’re always unavailable.” Lucas narrated with annoyance in his timber. Little did he know that Aiden wasn’t unavailable, he had just blocked his number and he wasn’t calling to pay up my debt.

*Lucas, I’m sorry. I’ve been in a lot of mess lately and things haven’t been looking up for me that’s why I haven’t been able to pay up my debt all these while and I’m truly, extremely sorry.”

“It’s okay, Lucas. So I believe you’re calling because you want to pay up now?” He inquired and I sighed pathetically.

“Lucas, I have a request.”

“Do you need my account number?”

“No Lucas, I will pay up the money as soon as I can but for now I can’t. I’m calling because my daughter is seriously sick and she needs a heart transplant. She needs a deposit of fifty–five thousand dollars.” Aiden narrated his ordeal to Lucas and he went silent for a moment.

“Aiden, what do you take me for?” Lucas practically yelled at Aiden over the phone. “Do you think I have a money tree in my backyard I grow just to harvest and spend on you?”

“Lucas, I’m sorry but I—”

“Shut up, Aiden. I’m not lending you another dime. Not after you’ve refused to pay me the twenty thousand dollars you borrowed from me more than a year ago and the accumulated fifteen hundred in interest. Now you want another one? I’m not giving your ungrateful self any money until you pay up the former.” Lucas harshly lashed out at Aiden. He expected this.

“Lucas, I know. But it’s my daughter and she’s in critical condit—” Lucas hung up the phone before I could lay another word in and I tried to call back a few times but he didn’t take my calls, they went straight to voicemail. Aiden knew he messed up, but must Lucas extend the callousness to his little daughter?

The same thing played out when Aiden called his old college mates — John, Rita and Gary. They all explicitly refused to lend him any money until he paid up the ones he owed them. After many unsuccessful trials, Aiden finally gave up and lowered unto the chair in puzzled confusion not knowing what next to do or who else to call.

He only had one last person in mind, and he wondered if she was going to be of any use, but he wouldn’t know if he didn’t try. . .

-;-

The next moment, Aiden was on his way to Walt Enterprises where Riley worked as a secretary. Walt Enterprises was a huge company that partnered with the Campbell’s company. Lady Elizabeth had asked Riley to be employed as the CEO’s secretary so that she could find a way to seduce him to marry her and then it would cause an uplift in the Campbell’s business.

Now that Katherine had given Aiden an impossible ultimatum to agree too before she could render help to him and his friends refused to help him, Aiden had to look for the money for his daughter’s treatment elsewhere. He was desperate, so he decided to go meet Riley even though he had just disgraced him two days ago and watched as her mother called security guards to beat him up.

Shameless, he knew. But he had no choice. And he really hoped Riley has a heart this time and help his dying daughter.

Aiden arrives at the office complex and makes his way up the building, taking the elevator. The CEO’s office was on the top floor and Riley’s desk was in his waiting room. However when he got there, he met with an empty desk.

No one was on ground and that was strange because it wasn’t time for her lunch break yet. Aiden looked around and saw that no one was in the waiting room, not even the CEO’s visitors. He found it very strange.

Aiden was about to turn around and leave, deeming it that Riley had some work to do out of the office but he froze in his tracks. He listened keenly, to confirm. He was hearing voices, muffled voices coming from the direction of. . . The CEO’s office.

Anger fills Aiden as rage surges within him, he knew exactly what he was heading and he was completely pissed by the act. He let his anger take over him and he stormed into the CEO’s office without protocol and even though he knew this was what he would meet with, he was still stunned at the sight.

Riley, his wife was sat on the CEO’s laps and the two had their lips locked in a deep kiss!