DEAR EX-WIFE: IT'S PAYBACK TIME

CHAPTER 6

RYAN

I stalked into the room, laying her gently on the bed as she kept sobbing.

"Sweetheart, Daddy is fine," I whispered, wiping her tears, and more poured out.

"I'm so sorry, Daddy, I...I..I didn't mean to cause trouble." She stuttered, choking on her teary voice. "I'm sorry, it's my fault, mummy hit you because of you. I..I... shouldn't have said those things. It's all my fault, I...I am a bad child. A very bad child."

My heart twisted at her words. I pulled her into my arms, gently patting her hair. "You are not a bad child at all. You, my little angel, and the sweetest girl in the whole world. Mummy and I just had a little misunderstanding, it's not your fault. In fact, I should be the one at fault. I shouldn't have let you witness such an ugly scene especially when it was between your parents. I'm sorry, sweetheart. Daddy is very sorry." She stared, eyes widened while I spoke. Slowly she reached for my wound, pressing her tiny finger against the scar.

I flinched.

"Sorry, Daddy." She pouted. “I’ll blow on it for you,” she said softly, “then it won’t hurt anymore, the pain vanished like boom,” she emphasised with her tiny hands, crawling herself up.

I leaned in, letting her grip my head as she blew hot air on it.

"Is it still hurting?? "

"A little."

She continued, blowing harder with all her might and focus.

"Is it still hurting you??." She asked again, peering at me.

"Nope " I lied

"Yay!!! I told you." She giggled placing a little kiss on my forehead. "You are strong, daddy."

"Of course." I held her closer. "Aren't I Supergirl, daddy?"

"Yes, and... and that makes you super daddy. You are my super daddy and.. and I...I love you, Daddy." She placed a peck on my cheeks, smiling happily.

"Daddy loves you too." I held her even closer, my gut nudge painfully.

She was so cute, and innocent, so lovely, she was his little angel. One i couldn't protect. She deserved everything and more; she deserved to be happy and not caged in a hospital yearning for her selfish mother.

Guilt gnawed at me for failing to give my daughter the warm, happy family she deserved.

A knock came at the door interrupting our moment.

I inclined my gaze to the nurse who stepped in.

"Mr Ryan, there is a man looking for you." My eyebrow kicked up at her words. "He seemed unfamiliar, so the security couldn't allow her to cross the ICU ward. You will have to come out and meet him."

I nodded, it could only be one person.

"Sweetheart.." I turned to Jasmine. "Daddy will be back."

"Can't I come with you??."

"No need, I will be back sooo soon."

"Really??."

"Yes."

"Okay, Daddy." I lay her back on the bed, tucking her in the bed. I spun, ready to leave, before my gaze met the nurse.

"Keep an eye on her, I will be back soon "

"No problem, sir."

With that, I left, navigating my way through the halls and heading to the reception.

My step halted at the sight of my supposed visitor.

Aiden??.

He was my assistant back before I left the company, one of the many people I personally mentored years ago. He looked bigger.

Heck!! I was expecting Sub Chief or anyone else to get the medicine.

"Sir??." Aiden called out bridging the distance between them. "Uhmm I...I heard from the company about your daughter; she needed the medicine, so I opted to bring it myself." He explained and I watched silently. His hands trembled slightly as he looked everywhere else than at me.

He hasn't changed a bit. He would this, all those years ago, especially when he was nervous or scared.

"Sir, take." He stretched forth his hands, handing the drugs to me.

Finally!.

I clasped my hand around the package.

The cure for my little angel was here.

I handed the nurse at the side. "Give this directly to Doctor Nelson, about patient 206. It's important." She nodded and hurried off.

"Sir,..."

"Want to grab a coffee??." I asked as his face brightened.

"Sir, are you .."

"Please don't call me sir, I no longer work there, just call me Ryan."

"But...." He wanted to say something but stopped. "Okay."

Good.

We made our way to the cafe which was directly opposite the hospital.

"Sir, after you left, a lot happened."

I didn't press him on why he called me sir

Old habits die hard.

"What happened??."

"The product line you were leading had successfully launched and, following all your instructions, it has performed brilliantly in the market and even now remains one of the company’s most profitable products."

I wouldn't say I didn't expect it, I had put my sweat, time, hard work and blood into the project.

"Sir, even your junior employee you once mentored has become the backbone of the company." A proud smile ghosted my lips.

Even though I dropped out later, my student didn't back down or let the handwork we poured into be in vain, they carried on, they lived by the principles and ploughed their way to the top.

I puffed out a sigh.

I had withdrawn to the care of my family, and sacrificed six long years of my life with my family, doing my best, putting them first. Only to end up with a wife with no shame who flaunts her affair and demands divorce.

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself.

"Sir, your head is scarred. If there was anything I could do to help, then I...."

"Nothing." I waved it off "There was no point in talking about unhappy things."

Today's drama was one I didn't see coming, it wasn't meant to happen. A mistake which I could have controlled.

I hissed, swiping my hand over my jaw.

Not now, I didn't have time to think about it, to count the possibilities. It was done and there was nothing I could do.

I focused my gaze on Aiden, who was trying his best to urge me to come back.

I couldn't, not now. Not when my little angel was still in this hospital.

Just then, my phone vibrated, disrupting my thoughts. I pulled it out staring at the caller.

The hospital.

I leaned out and swiped the answer button.

"Sir..." The nurse practically screamed in panic. Fear surged through me, and I trampled it, trying to know what exactly happened. "You...you have returned to the ward now."

"Is Jasmine okay??." I gushed, already sprinting out.

"She... she had vomited a lot of blood and lost consciousness.”