The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Dominic

"It really doesn't look good for me, my children. The cancer's spread to my lungs."

I would've never guessed that this was what my father-in-law had to say and it's for this reason that it leaves me feeling crushed in a way that scares me, especially for Vanessa. I look over at her and she just freezes in her spot, not even blinking as she struggles to find her words.

Hearing this devastating news makes the air thick with tension as no one wants to speak and I can only imagine what's going through her mind right now.

Hoping to break the painful silence, I compose myself to hide my shock as I prepare to say something, but he sighs heavily, his voice breaking as he speaks.

"Remember the time I was away for two weeks? I told everyone that I was leaving to go on business but the truth is I actually went for chemo. I've actually been frequently doing this in secret, but it didn't work because the tumor's grown."

"But...but when did you find out about this?" I ask, glancing at Vanessa's trembling shoulders and hands.

"I found out a few months ago but I didn't want to say anything. I wanted to wait until my daughter got married and I'd hear the good news that I would become a grandfather and it finally happened. I didn't wan anything to come in the way of that joy."

"You shouldn't say it like it's the end of the world." I smile through the sadness in my heart.

"For me, the end is closer than you think. I have less than a year."

As soon as he says that, Vanessa rises to her feet and runs off, placing her hand over her mouth. Concerned, I get up so I can go after her.

"Give her some time," my father-in-law says to me.

I stop in my tracks and my heart actually breaks for her as I can only imagine what she's going through right now. I take a few steps back, sitting back down with him and I can tell he's trying to hold back his tears.

I sorrowfully bury my face in my hands, thinking about how much Vanessa and her father treasure each other.

The two of us sit in silence as I can't even think of any words of comfort but by the looks of it, he doesn't need them. He keeps a smile on his face like he's thinking about a lot, but that doesn't make me feel any better.

The more I sit here, the more I feel the need to see Vanessa and speak to her.

get up without saying a word and he doesn't even stop

I use my phone and call her

while, but finally, I find her standing in the corner

the door behind me, keeping my eyes on her trembling shoulders. Though I don't hear her

my hand in the hopes that she doesn't push it away since I can't tell what state

in contact with her shoulder, I gently say, "Come

burying her face in my

my arm wrapped around her

I

It's not," her

do everything I can to prevent the worst from happening," I assure her as I close my

holding her for a few minutes so she can let it out, until I feel the need to make a

go downstairs to your

I don't want

my hands on the sides of her face, looking into her teary eyes as I wipe her tears away. "You need to talk to him

as to

that

and I wipe them away again, then hold her hand after she agrees to come

make our way out of the room, she wraps her arm around mine, resting her head on the

I tightly hold her hand, this

as

me, running toward him and bursting into tears again as they embrace each other. She pulls on the fabric of his sleeves, the sorrow in her

down before, but not like this and it makes me face the ceiling just so I can hold back my own tears. I don't remember the last time I felt this

my sweet child," he says to her, his

about... surgery?" she asks, the desperation in her voice filled

have the strength for that.

lose you, too!" She holds him tighter as her voice gets louder

in place, fighting