FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 149

CHAPTER 149

MON

Jamie walked beside me through the hospital corridors, our footsteps echoing against the linoleum.

Chloe was waiting outside the pediatric wing, her arms wrapped around herself, her face pale She straightened when she saw us coming.

“Mr. Hart-”

“Where is she?” I didn’t slow down.

“Room 412. The doctors said-”

I was already past her, pushing through the door.

Lily was curled up in the hospital bed, looking impossibly small against the white sheets. Her cheeks were flushed with fever, her hair stuck to her forehead, and her little hands clutched Mr. Ears to her chest like he was a lifeline.

“Uncle Simon?” Her voice broke when she saw me.

“I’m here, princess.” I crossed the room in three strides and sat on the edge of the bed, drawing her into my arms. She was much too hot, much too fragile. “I’m right here.”

Jamie came up beside us, her hand settling on Lily’s back as she rubbed slow circles.

“Miss Jamie.” Lily’s lower lip trembled. “You came too.”

“Of course I did.” Jamie’s voice was gentle. “We both came. We’re not going anywhere.”

Lily buried her face against my chest, and I felt her little body start to shake.

“Hey.” I leaned back just enough to see her face. “What happened, Lily? The doctors said you have a fever. Do you feel sick?”

She shook her head against me.

“Then what is it? Does anything hurt?”

Another shake of her head.

“Lily.” I kept my voice soft. “You have to tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help if I don’t know.”

She went quiet for a long moment. Then, so softly I barely heard her, she said, “I don’t want Miss Chloe to leave.”

I went still.

“What?”

“Miss Chloe.” Lily’s eyes filled with tears. “She said she can’t stay with us anymore. She said you didn’t like

14

29

G

10

:57 Tue Sep 29 ) MT.

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

her work, so she has to go.”

words hit me like a punch.

“She said what?”

Lily crumpled. “She said she had to find another job because you weren’t happy with her, and that means she can’t take care of us anymore. I don’t want her to leave, Uncle Sinton. Please. Please don’t make her go.”

Then the tears came, hot and desperate, soaking my shirt as she clung to me.

“I don’t want to be alone again,” she sobbed. “First Mommy went to sleep and won’t wake up, and now Miss Chloe’s leaving. What if you leave too? What if everybody goes and I’m all alone?”

My chest tightened.

“Lily-”

“I heard Grandma talking to the doctor,” she went on, her voice breaking. “She said Mommy might not wake up. And now Miss Chloe’s leaving, and I don’t understand what I did wrong to make this happen.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Jamie’s voice turned fierce. “None of this is your fault, sweetheart. None of it.”

“But Miss Chloe said-”

“Wait.” I cupped Lily’s face in both hands and made her look at me. “Lily, look at me. Who told you Miss Chloe was leaving because I wasn’t happy with her work?”

She sniffed. “Miss Chloe did.”

“When?”

“Yesterday. When she was tucking me in. She said she was sad because she loved us, but she couldn’t stay because you didn’t want her here anymore.”

The anger that rose in me was immediate and violent. I felt it burn through my chest and climb into my throat, setting my jaw hard. I let go of Lily’s shoulders before I lost control.

“Uncle Simon?” Her voice was tiny. “Are you mad at me?”

“No, princess. I’m not mad at you. That’s not it. I’m not mad at you at all.”

“Then please don’t make Miss Chloe leave. I’ll be good. I’ll do everything she asks. I won’t fight with Sam anymore. I promise.”

“Lily-”

“Please, Uncle Simon. Please.”

She was crying so hard she could barely breathe. Jamie held her, rocking her gently, while I tried to find the words that would make it better.

24

29

O

G

10

|||

O

12:57 Tue Sep 29 1 MT

FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS

I couldn’t.

here was nothing I could say to a seven-year-old that would explain why the woman she trusted had used he fear to protect her own job.

“Okay,” I said at last. “Okay, princess. Easy. Take a breath.”

“I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered.

“You’re not alone.” Jamie’s voice came from beside me, thick with emotion. “You have your brothers. You have your grandma. You have me. You have Simon. You’re not alone, Lily. You never have been.”

“But what if-”

“No what-ifs.” I spoke up. “I’m going to talk to Miss Chloe right now. I’ll take care of it. But you need to stop crying, okay? You need to rest. The doctors said you need to rest.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify