HE LOST HIS DAUGHTER ONCE, NOW HE’S A RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

“Mr. Brandon, the test results are clear. Your daughter has a rare illness that affects her heart. Early intervention is what makes the difference in most cases. But her case..." Dr. Evans let out a slow breath and pushed a thick folder across the desk. His voice was heavy. "The optimal treatment window has almost completely passed."

The hospital hallway was filled with the sound of fluorescent lights buzzing. It was a heavy sound that went straight into Brandon's head.

Brand’s hand shook as he reached for the folder. His voice trembled.

"What does that mean exactly?"

"It means your daughter has only a month to live. Maybe even less if her condition continues to deteriorate." The doctor sighed.

Less than a month. The words kept repeating in Brandon's ears.

His mind was blank. He drew in a breath, but it barely reached his lungs.

Maggie was only six years old. How could this happen to her?

How long had she been suffering?

Could anything still be done?

Was there any chance the diagnosis was wrong?

A thousand questions crashed through his mind. But when he opened his mouth, not a single word came out.

Brandon stood up, his legs shaking.

He walked out into the hallway pulling out his phone with his fingers moving fast as he dialed his wife's number. It rang three times before she picked it up.

There was a lot of noise on the other end. Music was loud, glasses were clinking and people were laughing. It sounded like a party.

"Lyra?" Brandon said, his voice tight. "Can you hear me?"

"Brandon? Why are you calling now?" Lyra sounded irritated from the moment she answered. "I am in the middle of a party. Speak fast."

"I need you to come to the hospital. Now,” Brandon said, holding the phone tight. "I have something to tell you. It is about Maggie."

People cheered on Lyra's end. Someone opened a bottle of champagne.

"Are you serious?" Lyra said, walking away from the noise. "I am at a party for our company. We just made a big deal. I do not have time to listen to you use Maggie as an excuse to get me away from this."

"Lyra." Brandon’s body started to shake with anger. He bit his cheek to stay quiet so Maggie who was in the waiting room would not hear him. "Our daughter is sick. This is not about us.”

"Oh come on! Stop lying! I will be home when I am home." Lyra sighed loudly, clearly annoyed. Her irritation was obvious over the phone.

 “Jake is back. He's helped me secure several major contracts. We're celebrating. I don't have time for another one of your scenes now." 

 "Lyra..."  but the line went dead.

 She hung up.

Brandon stared at his phone screen, which had gone black.

Jake. 

Of course.

Her first love.

The man who had disappeared several years ago, but had just returned now with his son.

The quiet hospital hallway seemed to close in on him. He took a deep breath trying to calm down.

He then put his phone away then walked back to the waiting room. Sitting on a chair holding a teddy bear was Maggie. Her pale skin looked almost see-through under the lights and her little legs hung off the edge of the seat. Despite being weak her eyes lit up when she saw him.

Brandon forced a loving smile onto his face. He walked over and knelt in front of her.

"Hey sweetie,” he said softly, his voice shaking a bit.

Maggie looked up at him with eyes searching his face. "Daddy, am I sick?"

Brandon gently rubbed her cold shoulder. “ You’re fine. You just need to rest a lot. Daddy will fix everything. I promise you."

Her little face brightened. "Okay! Daddy, my birthday is almost here. You remember, right?”

"I could never forget your birthday, princess, " Brandon said, pulling her into a hug.

Maggie leaned against his chest, her voice above a whisper. "Daddy... Do you think Mommy can come home on time on my birthday? Just for a bit? To cut the cake with me? I am going to be really good from now on. I think if I am good enough.Mommy will want to come home more, right?”

Brandon felt a sharp pain in his chest and it took his breath away. He closed his eyes tightly trying not to cry.

All she wanted was one moment with her mom. She didn't want toys; she just wanted her mom to be there with her.

"I... I will talk to her, Maggie," Brandon managed to say, kissing the top of her head. "Let's go home now."

He knew where Lyra was and he was going to confront her.

Enough was enough.

***

The neon signs of the hotel were a blur as Brandon drove through the rain. He had left Maggie safe in bed.

He soon got to the venue and parked the car as he got out to see so many people easily lounging around and talking to each other.

"To the future of our company,” Lyra shouted into a microphone as Brandon looked through the glass of the door to see what was going on. "We did it."

The crowd cheered, shouting, "To Lyra! To the boss."

When the noise died down a senior manager stood up waving his glass. "Let’s not forget the man of the hour we need to give a shout-out to. Jake, am I right?"

The crowd clapped loudly, "Yes to Jake."

The manager kept talking and laughing. "Ever since Jake came back to the city half a year ago our company has been doing great. We have signed three big contracts, our business has been thriving."

A tall man in an expensive black suit stood up from the front table. It was Jake. He fixed his watch and smiled at Lyra.

"I just make sure I'm there whenever Lyra calls."

Someone laughed. "You make it sound like she can't do without you."

Jake paused for a beat before answering.

"Maybe she can't."

The room erupted with knowing laughter.

“If only Lyra's husband could help her career the way Jake does."

"Please. Her husband? He stays at home all day cooking and cleaning. It’s already a miracle if he doesn’t drag her down."

Jake chuckled softly. Then he shook his head pretending to show deep concern.

He looked up at Lyra on the stage. "Hey, let's be polite guys. Lyra, what about that phone call from your husband? Was it something important?"

"It was nothing,” she said indifferently, . "He just wanted to trick me into coming home. He always uses our daughter to play his emotional games."

The crowd laughed harder.

"Sounds like you have two kids at home Lyra!"

"Tell him to act like a grown up!"

Then another voice spoke up.

"Speaking of kids, Jake, how's your son doing? I heard he wasn't feeling well last week."

Immediately, Lyra answered before Jake could.

"He's doing much better. I made sure he saw the specialist I recommended."

Her voice softened in a way Brandon hadn't heard in a long time.

"He still needs to be careful with his diet. I told him to call me if he feels uncomfortable again."

Several people exchanged amused looks.

"You're practically his mother at this point."

Lyra laughed lightly but didn't deny it.

Jake's voice followed, warm and appreciative.

"Honestly, I don't know what we'd do without you."

The manager who spoke earlier stood up again, his face red from drinking.

He raised his glass high. "Let's celebrate the power couple of the night! Lyra, Jake come on! “Come on! A cross-cup toast to celebrate this massive fifty-million-dollar victory!”

The people in the room laughed and started cheering for Lyra and Jake.

"Yes! Cross-cup toast! Cross-cup toast!" the crowd began to chant rhythmically banging their silverware against the tables.

On stage Lyra smiled and looked at Jake who was already walking toward her with a confident grin holding his glass out. 

She did not refuse. She smiled, lifting her arm to intertwine it with Jake's arm as they readied to drink.

Outside the door, the last remaining light in Brandon's world went dark. 

Their six-year-old daughter was lying in a bed, with less than a single month left to live and here in this bright and expensive room, his wife was standing on a stage caring so much about another man’s kid, preparing to drink a Jaketic cross-cup toast with him.

At that moment the very last thread holding back his fury finally snapped.

Using his full strength, he shoved the bouncer out of the way and kicked the heavy wooden doors open.

The doors slammed against the walls with a sound like a thunderclap as everyone turned to the door to see him standing there.

Lyra gasped. “Brandon?”