TRASH HUSBAND TO TRILLIONAIRE EX-HUSBAND

The ICU unit smelled of antiseptic, strained life and the static consistent beat of the monitor.

Benjamin stared at her daughter under white sheet with an aching heart, an oxygen mask over her head supporting breath she was losing fast because bone marrow infection was taking over.

Aria's eyes flicked open. "Daddy...where is mummy?" Her voice came small, exhaustion palpable.

The question cut something vital inside his chest. He forced a smile that appeared too thin to be genuine and sat beside her bed, carefully taking her arm in his palm.

"Mummy is coming." He said with a gentle voice. "She's on her way, baby." He gave out an assuring smile.

But the moment Benjamin looked away from Aria, his smile was gone, replaced with worry.

"Where are you, Hannah." He whispered with a trembling voice, the weight of the situation pressing him to a corner where he only relied on hope and assurance. "Your daughter needs you." 

Minutes later, Dr. Chad walked in with a medical report that would shattered everything. He adjusted his glasses.

"A minute with you, Mr. Hayes." 

Benjamin stepped to meet the doctor.

Dr. Chad gave him a medical report written in medical jargon he couldn't quite comprehend until the man delivered the news that completely shattered his heart.

"The report update shows infection is spreading," His voice lowered. "In less than an hour, your daughter's immune system will be completely useless and..." 

A pause— so heavy it punched Benjamin somewhere delicate in the stomach.

"...if you can't pay the $5 million for the bone marrow transplant before the time frame, your daughter...dies."

It was flat, matter-of-fact and that made it worse.

Benjamin's knee buckled, the hallway spun around him as the doctor's final word cut through his heart like a blade.

His daughter's life was on count down to permanent disaster and the realization was damning!

With shaking hands, he pulled out his phone, dialing his wife number for the umpteenth time. Hannah is a rising Star in one of the biggest Entertainment industry Silvergate. She could afford $5 million easily.

The phone rang out the first time.

"C'mon Hannah." Benjamin paced the corridor, his patience thinning.

And again, he dialed the second time. 

His heart sank. 

"Heck!"

The third time, Hannah picked up immediately, her voice cutting through the speaker cold, irritating and angry. He was disturbing her.

"What is the problem, Benjamin!" She sneered. "I am busy."

"Hannah." Benjamin called, steadying his voice.

"Speak!" She was impatient.

"You've been ignoring my calls, overlooking my texts," Benjamin said. "Aria is sick. She needs you.. They're asking $5 mill—"

"I am busy, Benjamin." She cut him off before his sentence made sense. "You should handle whatever comes up. I'll come check on her whenever I'm done in the studio." Her voice endured no argument.

"Hannah.."

The line already snapped.

Benjamin stood alone in the hallway where his hope had just been shattered by his wife.

It had always been like that— a marriage that was a beautiful vow in the beginning had turned into hell. It started when her name started rising to the top of the entertainment industries. 

"I'm busy."

"You're calling at the wrong time."

"I won't come home for a couple of weeks."

Three years. Benjamin loved her but Hannah? He wasn't sure anymore. 

Benjamin dialed her number again. Unreachable.

Panic mixed with desperation inside and everything felt like his world was crumbling because his daughter's life was hanging on a thread that would snap at the final count down. Benjamin worked through his contacts with shaking fingers; old friends, colleagues at work, his Boss, but everyone gave him only excuses.

Benjamin always handled responsibilities without complaining even though he was just a delivery guy with meager earnings. But this was an emergency. 

He deposited $5000— everything he had. It wasn't even close to starting the treatment but it was sufficient to keep Aria breathing in an oxygen mask.

Like a cruel twist of fate.

His screen blazed with a notification.

Rising entertainment Star, Hannah Cross had just lavished $10 million to secure a hotel for a purpose unknown to the public.

"Hannah? Cross? " Benjamin's eyes narrowed. 

His wife?

The video played, Hannah in a velvet gown that cost more than some people's rent, smiling as she checked out the penthouse that cost twice her daughter needed to survive.

She said she was busy.

Benjamin felt his stomach twist with something far more dangerous than poison.

He dialed her number again. She dismissed it.

Benjamin was cornered. He'd exhausted every help. He paced the corridor in panic,his mind calculating for a solution in the deadlock.

That was when he remembered it. The private Loan shark his colleague once talked about. His brain sharpened to remember the name. 

"Figure Seven." 

 His finger flew across the screen, searching for address, link or number.

82, Falcon Street.

His chest heaved.

 He glanced at the ward one last time. Aria's eyes were shut, a cruel reminder that she might never wake up again if he wasted any more time. Benjamin bolted out of the hospital.

Derrick Walker, the founder of Figure Eight loan shark lounged on a recliner placed at the centre of the room like his throne. His shirt was unbuttoned, cigarette curling smoke into the air in one hand, a long scar crossed his brow from his temple to his cheek on the left side. Behind him, two thugs flanked with expression that was rigid and dangerous.

"What's the collateral?" His voice came out rough and direct.

"Please..I have nothing...my daughter is dying. I'll repay you.." Benjamin said, Voice cracking with desperation and plea.

Derrick paused with the cigar close to his lips. He shook his head. "You're borrowing five million without a stake?" He leaned forward. "You're that miserable? No house? No inheritance?"

Benjamin's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything. This was his only chance to save his daughter.

"I..I have a Car. It's old but still working please..."

Derrick let out a soft sigh and shook his head in disapproval. 

One of the thugs whispered something to his ear that changed his expression instantly and he leaned forward, looking at Benjamin with a new interest, a faint predatory smile hidden at the corner of his lips.

"I'll give you the loan. $5 million grands." He said. Benjamin gasped, relief flooding his face, unaware of danger wrapped in the favour. "Thank you. Thank you." 

Derrick Leaned forward, his voice dropping to a quiet menacing edge.

"Let's make things clear, Mr. Hayes." He flicked ash from the cigarette. "I'm taking your car as collateral. In addition, you'll return my money plus interest. Same amount you loaned. Are we clear?"

Benjamin paused in shock, hesitation flickering in his eyes.

"$10 million?" His throat tightened.

"You've got any issues with that? Leave." Derrick raised a brow.

Benjamin had heard people become victims of loan sharks with high interest. It doesn't always end well.

But walking out meant Aria was going to die and leaving to explore other help meant wasting time. Either way, his daughter's life is in danger.

Desperation override Hesitation that made Benjamin take a decision that would end in blood in ten seconds but he was yet to know it.

"I'll take it."

Derrick smirked.

Benjamin signed the loan agreement. Derrick smirked in satisfaction that wasn't from inhaling weed but watching a man fall into his trap. He gestured at one thug who walked inside and returned after some seconds with a black briefcase.

"$5 million. " He pushed the briefcase to Benjamin. "I value agreement, Mr. Hayes. Don't make me regret it."

"You won't. You won't."

Benjamin confirmed the content, closed it and bolted out. 

Derrick grinned wickedly. He waved at the thugs. "Do a clean job." 

They simply nodded, understanding the task without further questioning like they've done it before.

Immediately Benjamin stepped outside the Figure Eight building, his phone buzzed with notification again. Live broadcast. The screen  displayed a luxurious hotel background, the one Hannah secured with $10 million. She wasn't alone. She was with a man at the penthouse, laughing over conversation with bottles of champagne and desserts on their table that probably cost more than his entire salary in two years.

Comments exploded under the live video.

"Aww..so sweet. That's Richard Carlson the star of the entertainment world."

"Are they just business partners? They look good together."

"How affectionate! How affluent."

"Hannah..." Benjamin's heart twisted.

While her daughter was dying in the hospital, calling only her name because she needed her presence, she was hanging out with another man in a penthouse suit that cost more than her surgery.