Billionaire’s Unlikely Bride - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Mason sat quietly beside his father’s hospital bed, his fingers drumming absently on the cold steel of the armrest. The steady beeping of machines was the only sound in the room. Charles’s chest rose and fell slightly, with the aid of the oxygen mask. Although Mason sat close to his father, he felt as if his father were miles away.
"Why didn't you tell me about your heart sooner? We'd have found a solution for it earlier," Mason's voice was barely above a whisper, more for himself than his unconscious father. "Instead, you kept such a huge thing from me."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You never tried to explain what happened between you and Margaret," Mason continued. "You just let me believe that you’d forgotten about Mom. Maybe if you’d talked to me, our relationship wouldn’t have been so bad." His voice wavered slightly, breaking through his calm facade.
Mason sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "You just do things without caring how bad it makes you look in my eyes."
"And I've been thinking about everything you've done that caused us to drift apart, but there’s one question you never really answered," Mason said, eyes fixed on his father’s pale face. "What was your reason for paying Darcy to leave town? I've thought hard about it since then, and I know there's got to be more to it."
For a moment, the silence felt deafening.
"You have to wake up soon, Dad; Julie needs you, and I need you as well." Mason pleaded. "I know I haven't been the best son, but leaving me now, after everything, is too big of a punishment. I already lost mom. I don't want to lose you too."
As if on cue, Charles stirred, his eyelids fluttering. Mason’s heart leaped in his chest as his father’s eyes opened, weak but alert.
"I... was only... doing what I... thought was best for you and our family," Charles said, his voice hoarse and barely audible.
Mason jumped up, instinctively moving toward the door to call a doctor, but Charles raised a frail hand to stop him.
"No, let me enjoy this moment," Charles whispered. "Sit with me for a little while. It’s been so long since we’ve had a real conversation, one that’s not about business."
Mason hesitated before returning to his chair, taking his father’s hand in his. "I spoke with the doctor," Mason said softly. "Tomorrow they’ll implant an ICD, a device that can help manage your heart."
But Charles shook his head weakly. "I don't want any of that," he said. "I've lived a long life, Mason. I've always looked forward to one thing for a long time now, and that’s finally getting the chance to be with Ellie again. So don’t try to extend my life and prolong the inevitable."
Mason's stomach twisted. "How can you say that, Dad? You can’t just give up like this. What about Julie, how do you think she'll feel? What about me? Do you suddenly not care anymore?"
Charles gave a soft, tired smile. "We all come and go, son. The most important thing is what we do with the time we’re given. I think I've done everything I set out to do. I’m not saying I’ll die today or tomorrow, but when the time comes, I want you to let it happen naturally."
Mason sat silently, stunned and unable to process the thought of losing his father one day.
"And as for your question about Darcy," Charles continued, "you're right. There was a reason why I asked her to leave the city."
Mason's breath hitched, his mind racing back to those unanswered questions. Charles took a deep breath and then began to explain, he knew Mason needed some kind of closure.
"I paid Darcy to leave because I didn’t want her to create a rift between you and Justin," Charles said. "I had her investigated and found out that she had been in a relationship with Justin, but she broke up with him after you asked her out. Justin was heartbroken, and that’s been the source of his anger ever since. Darcy didn't love either of you, she only needed money to clear her family's debts. So she felt if she dated Justin, he could help her out. But when you approached her, she saw it as an even better opportunity, that's why she ended things with your cousin to be with you. She confessed to this herself after I'd gone to have a chat with her."
Mason felt his blood run cold. He had never known Darcy was involved with Justin. If he had known, he wouldn't have pursued her.
Charles continued, his voice low. "You and Justin have always competed, but there was no real hatred between you until Darcy came along. I didn’t want to see your relationship with him destroyed over her." He sighed. "I guess my efforts couldn't weren't good enough."
Mason sat back in shock, his mind racing. Justin had hated him for years, and it was all because of Darcy. He finally understood why Justin had gone after Candice. It had all been to get back at him.
Meanwhile, in another part of the hospital, Blair was sitting in her standing outside her ward, her head bandaged from the fall she’d taken after trying to seduce Mason. She hadn’t yet heard about what had happened at the Barrett house, but she had witnessed the scene with Candice earlier. A devious smile played across her lips as an idea began to form. She stared at Candice’s retreating figure, Candice was just the right person to use in destroying Mason’s marriage with Raven.
She waited until Mason had left the scene with Raven. She went out of the hospital, ignoring the nurse’s protests, and went after Candice.
"Candice," she called out, catching up with her. Candice stopped, turning around with a look of disdain.
"What do you want?" Candice asked coldly. "And, do I know you?"
"No, but I need to talk to you for a moment."
Candice scoffed. "I don't have time for this."
Blair smiled slyly. "What if I told you I could help you get Mason back, and get rid of Raven for good?"