Chapter 8 - What Lily Deserved to Know
Sarah asked Felix to leave the room.
He did.
He hated it.
But he did.
For fifteen minutes, he stood alone beside the hospital window while Sarah spoke quietly with Lily.
He could not hear the words.
He watched Lily’s expression change.
Confusion.
Surprise.
Then tears.
Felix turned away.
He had faced cameras during corporate scandals with less fear.
Finally, the door opened.
Sarah stepped out.
“She wants to see you.”
Felix entered.
Lily sat propped against the pillows.
Her oxygen had been reduced.
She looked very small.
Felix sat in the chair beside her.
Neither spoke.
Then Lily asked, “Are you my dad?”
Felix’s throat closed.
“Yes.”
Lily studied his face.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Mom said Grandma Odette stopped you from knowing.”
Felix looked at Sarah.
She remained near the door.
“That’s true.”
Lily frowned.
“Do you like me?”
The question destroyed him.
Felix leaned forward.
“I don’t know how to explain what I feel yet.”
Lily’s eyes dropped.
He immediately continued.
“But I know this.”
“If I had known you existed, I would have come looking for you.”
“Every day.”
Lily looked back up.
“Even when I’m sick?”
“Especially then.”
She considered this.
“Mommy says people get scared because I get sick a lot.”
Felix shook his head.
“I’m scared because you matter.”
Lily reached for his hand.
Felix gave it to her.
Her fingers were warm.
“You have cold hands.”
Felix laughed softly.
“So I’ve been told.”
For the first time, Sarah smiled.
It lasted only a second.
Felix saw it.
So did Lily.
Later that afternoon, a hospital administrator arrived.
“There is a problem with Lily’s private coverage authorization.”
Sarah looked confused.
“What problem?”
“The Kingsley Family Medical Foundation had previously guaranteed supplemental payment.”
Felix frowned.
“I never arranged that.”
The administrator checked the file.
“It was arranged last night.”
“By whom?”
The woman hesitated.
“Celeste Arden’s office.”
Felix’s face hardened.
“And now?”
“The guarantee was withdrawn twenty minutes ago.”
Sarah stood.
“What does that mean for Lily?”
“Her care continues.”
The administrator raised both hands.
“No one is being discharged.”
“But certain specialist authorizations may be delayed while we resolve payment.”
Felix’s anger became terrifyingly calm.
“Put every expense in my personal name.”
The administrator nodded.
Felix turned toward the window.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Celeste.
You wanted a life outside Kingsley.
Now pay for it yourself.
Felix stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
Come back before Sarah costs you everything.
Felix showed the phone to Sarah.
She read it.
Then looked toward Lily.
“This isn’t about the company anymore.”
Felix nodded.
“No.”
“It’s about punishing us.”
Felix saved screenshots and forwarded them to his attorney.
Then he looked back at Sarah.
“Celeste thinks taking away Kingsley money makes me weaker.”
“What are you going to do?”
Felix’s expression settled.
May you like
“I’m going to show her exactly how little of me belonged to Kingsley in the first place.”
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