The Billionaire Who Saved Me

Day after day. In life, there will always be different shades at every turn of the changing times.

White.

Black.

It’s only a matter of time before they visit each individual’s story. And this time it seems that gray is paying a visit.

Not too dark. But certainly not light. It’s a state in between. Between despair and hope. Standing on a thin thread. Falling or trying to be able to. Struggling to stay upright when the fear becomes more pressing.

Exactly what they felt. Family and loved ones when they heard what happened to Elice. News that shattered common sense and elicited hysterical screams from everyone who heard it.

Norah, Wilda and Rita walked fast. Navigating the corridors of the hospital. Cutting through the bustle of the medical staff. Making their way to a main ward, closely guarded by several personal guards.

The door to the room opened. Norah, Wilda and Rita were welcomed to enter and find the figure of their concern.

Elice lay on the hospital bed. Next to Garrett, who did not let go of his wife’s hand for a second. He looked weak and helpless. Just like the shadow of fear that filled their minds when they received the bad news.

It felt like an unbelievably long journey. In panic and fear for Elice’s condition, they could only surrender to fate. And finally, after many tense moments, it all came to an end.

“Elice.”

Wilda was the first to embrace Elice. Tears streamed down her face. Her defenses crumbled when she saw how heartbreaking Elice’s condition was at that moment. Her lips were pale, and as they hugged, Wilda could clearly feel her trembling body.

“Mom.”

Just like Wilda, Elice felt a fleeting thought that she would not see her mother again. But fate gave her another chance. To meet Wilda. To hug Wilda. And feel Wilda’s worry.

“Oh God, Elice.”

Wilda’s sobs broke out. Releasing her embrace, she cupped Elice’s face. She checked her only daughter’s condition with undiminished concern.

“H-how are you? Are you okay?”

Allowing her tears to continue to flow, Elice nodded. “I-I’m okay, Mom.”

After leaving the abduction site, Elice was immediately taken to the nearest hospital. To ensure her condition. And after a series of tests, Elice was declared to be fine. As was her pregnancy.

“Thank God. Oh, God. Thank you.”

That’s enough. That’s all Wilda wanted. Relief, to know that nothing bad had happened to her daughter. Because Wilda could not imagine how her world would end if Elice suffered.

No more, God. Don’t. Don’t make Elice suffer again.

It was a prayer, like a mantra, that Wilda repeated over and over in her heart. A little strength to keep her going. Strengthening her heart to meet Elice as soon as possible.

Now the prayer was answered. Nothing less than what Wilda had hoped for. She cupped Elice’s face. She nodded repeatedly in relief. Through tears she smiled.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

The grayness around Wilda faded. Preparing to disappear. Prepared to be replaced by the brightness of relief. But there was something that kept the grayness from leaving.

Wilda could see it clearly. There was something different in Elice’s eyes. There was a pain there.

“W-what’s wrong, Elice?”

When her comfort couldn’t stop Elice’s constant tears, Wilda knew something was wrong. Something was happening that she didn’t know about.

Elice held onto Wilda. She tried to hold back her sobs by biting her lower lip. But when she answered her mother’s question, her crying became unbearable.

“Ariel.”

Wilda froze. “W-what’s wrong with Ariel?”

For that question, Wilda received only tears. Elice could not answer. And grief shattered all hearts in an instant.

*

The grayness still enveloped. That afternoon. After the autopsy was done and the cause of death was determined, Ariel’s body was taken to the cemetery.

The sky looked dark. The atmosphere was one of sadness. No one spoke. Only the sound of sobbing filled the air.

Garrett hugged Elice. He was still standing there when the mound of earth separated Ariel from the world. And from all of them.

The news spread quickly. Articles and repeated broadcasts on television kept everyone informed. Now there was no one who didn’t know the hidden flaw behind the big name of the conglomerate.

Some eyes looked at each other. Without speaking or whispering, those glances clearly contained their own signals.

They were worried. Clearly aware of the immense grief and guilt the husband and wife now carried. Garrett and Elice owed Ariel a great debt. A debt they could never repay.

But not everyone seemed to think so. On the other side of the street, there was a middle-aged woman with police security who glared at Garrett and Elice.

“You! You caused the death of my son! You killed Ariel!”

Farrah was hysterical. She disturbed the peace of the funeral with her screams.

“Are you satisfied now?!” Farrah yelled as a policeman took the initiative. He planned to take Farrah away, but she resisted. Tried to stay there. “Are you satisfied after watching Ariel die because of you?!”

Regardless of what Farrah had done and what had happened, Elice realized the truth in those words. She couldn’t say anything. Just stay silent with tears rolling down her cheeks.

The funeral atmosphere, originally filled with grief, instantly turned chaotic. Farrah acted out of control. She tried to free herself from the police and continued to curse Garrett and Elice.

But that was not all. As Farrah continued to resist the police’s attempt to take her away, someone emerged from the crowd of mourners.

A hard slap flew and landed on Farrah’s cheek. More than enough to silence the middle-aged woman’s screams.

*