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

The hospital hallway was filled with the sound of fluorescent lights buzzing. It was a heavy sound that went straight into Brandon's head. Inside the doctor's office the air felt cold. Dr. Evans let out a slow breath and pushed a thick folder across the desk. 

"I am so sorry, Mr. Brandon," Dr. Evans said. His voice was heavy. "The test results are clear. Maggie has a rare illness that affects her heart."

Brandon's hand shook as he reached for the folder. "A rare illness? Maggie is only six years old. We found out early, right? We can make her better."

Dr. Evans shook his head. "That is the hard part. We should have started treatment three months ago. If we had, Maggie would have a chance. Now without a new and experimental treatment Maggie likely has less than a month or two before her condition gets worse. After that her heart will start to fail."

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

"There has to be something…" Brandon said quietly, his voice breaking. "You are the best doctor in the city. Tell me what to do."

"Maggie's illness is not impossible to cure," Dr. Evans said, leaning forward. "I have to be honest with you. It will cost a lot of money. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions for medicines. You can consult other doctors as well for a second opinion but in the end, the answer will be the same. It will take everything you have to save her."

Brandon sat in silence. His mind was blank. He drew in a breath, but it barely reached his lungs. He tried to stay calm but inside he was filled with regret.

Three months ago he thought. If only we had come to the hospital three months ago.

Maggie had said she was not feeling good many times. She had said her legs felt heavy and her fingers felt weird. Every time Brandon had asked his wife, Lyra to take a day off so they could take Maggie to the doctor.

Every single time Lyra had said no.

"The company is in a great stage now Brandon," she would say, looking at her laptop. "I am close to getting the money we need. Do not worry much. Maggie probably just has growing pains. Stop being so worried."

Now those excuses replayed in his head like a nightmare. Brandon stood up, his legs shaking. "Thank you Doctor. I need to make a call."

He walked out into the hallway pulling out his phone with his fingers moving fast as he dialed Lyra'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."

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.

"Lyra, listen to me," Brandon said, his voice low and serious. "This is not a joke. This is life and death. Leave the party. Come to the hospital. It is about Maggie's health."

"Oh come on! Yesterday it was a little fever and today it's a life or death situation!" Lyra sighed loudly, clearly annoyed. Her irritation was obvious over the phone. "You're doing this on purpose, Brandon. You're trying to make me choose between my family and my job again. You've always been jealous of my success."

"Lyra she's sick!"

"Brandon, you make everything so dramatic.” Lyra shouted over the background noise. "Take care of her. Stop smothering me with your unnecessary drama. I have guests to attend to. And don’t call me again tonight."

“Lyra…” but the line went dead.

Brandon stared at his phone screen, which had gone black. 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 what did the doctor say? Will I get better if I eat veggies and rest?"

Brandon's heart broke. He gently rubbed her cold shoulder. "Yeah, baby. You just need to rest a lot. Daddy will figure something out. I promise you. I will fix everything."

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? She is always working.”

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

For years Lyra had used her company as an excuse to stay away from the family. She missed events, dinners and hadn't been home for a single birthday in three years. Yet all Maggie 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."

The drive home was quiet.

City lights blurred past the windows as Brandon drove through the suburban streets lost in thought.

In the backseat, Maggie was already falling asleep clutching her teddy bear, her small reflection faint against the dark window.

Brandon looked at her through the rearview mirror and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

For the first time in years, he stopped wondering how to protect his marriage, and started wondering if it was even worth saving anymore.

Brandon whispered quietly. “Maybe I’ve been trying to save the wrong thing all these years.”