Billionaires with Benefits

83 83. Painful Decision

“Dad, you’re not serious, are you?” Clara asked haltingly. “I am your daughter, dad! Your only daughter.”

“Did you forget what you promised me?” Patrick snapped, piercing at her. “I let you pursue your dream-becoming a doctor-something that has nothing to do with the family business, on only one condition: you must marry Dave! Remember?”

“But-”

“No, buts!” Patrick yelled. “From the start, this marriage was never for love, if you feel you love Dave, that’s just a bonus. I don’t care about it!”

Patrick looked at Clara with a sharp gaze, making Clara paralyzed. Clara’s mouth could only gape without arguing.

“Do you think that the world revolves around you?” Patrick snapped again. “Be a smart and useful woman. There are things far more important than just love ... and even ... fidelity. Everyone makes mistakes. Just forgive him!”

He tapped his daughter’s shoulder and then walked away, leaving her stunned in miserable silence. Shortly after, the Johnsons came to Clara with regretful expressions plastered on their faces.

“Clara, we apologize for Dave’s behavior that has disappointed you so much. However, I hope you can forgive him,” Jack said, patting Clara’s shoulders gently.

Marissa then hugged Clara tightly. She could feel that Clara was getting thinner. The problem was taking a toll on Clara. “Clara, as Dave’s mom, I’m so embarrassed. But I’m sure my son will regret it and will never make the same mistake, dear. Please, forgive him. He loves you very much.”

.....

Marissa and Jack then looked at their son who was standing not far behind them. With eye signals, they ordered Dave to come closer.

“Clara, I know you won’t be able to forgive me quickly. However, I will dedicate the rest of my life to get your forgiveness,” Dave whispered sincerely, about to hug Clara.

However, Clara quickly swatted Dave’s hands away, pushed him away, and said, “Go! You must know that I don’t want to hear anything from you.”

Dave sighed and pursed his lips in disappointment to see Clara, who didn’t even want to look at him. He gave a bitter smile and left his lover with a heavy heart.

Only Linda said nothing. She just hugged her daughter and patted her back lightly, hoping that it could soothe Clara’s pain.

***

Meanwhile, Lea was very confused. The doctor said that her mother’s heart transplant operation had to be done immediately. For that, she should prepare two million dollars. Where would she get that much money from?

“Lea, what should we do?” asked Sarah, Lea’s sister. Sarah was the only one Lea told about their mother’s real condition. The others didn’t know the details at all.

Lea just shook her head. Her puffy eyes could no longer shed tears.

“Lea, you have to borrow the money from William!” Sarah said half forcefully.

“What do you think, are we going to repay the debt? Do you think that’s a small amount?” Lea snapped at her sister and made the girl almost jump in shock.

“He’s a gazillionaire, right? That kind of money must not be much for him!” Sarah argued, challenging Lea with a bold look.

“Are you dumb or something? I’m nothing to him anymore! How could I borrow that much money?” Lea yelled in annoyance.

“This is for mom, Lea!” Sarah insisted.

Leah hissed hopelessly. She couldn’t beg William after the terrible thing she did to separate him from Paula. He must hate her for that.

“I can’t, Sarah!” Lea whispered softly.

Sarah was silent. She could only stare at Lea with a disappointed look. “I regret having an elder sister as stupid as you. Have a rich boyfriend, instead of fighting to keep him, you chose to leave him. If only you weren’t stupidly pregnant with someone else’s child.”

“Sarah!” Lea yelled. That insult was too much for her.

Sarah pounded the small dining table in front of her so that the cups of hot chocolate shook violently, splashing some of their contents onto the table. “Lea, I know that you are a naive woman who thinks money can’t buy happiness. But you know now, right? Life needs money. You have no right to judge me and lecture me!”

That jet-black-haired girl then walked away, leaving Lea alone in the kitchen in doubt. She desperately wanted to contact William, but doubts returned to her. She didn’t know any rich one other than him. She had no choice.

Finally, Lea picked up her phone and called William. How to pay off the debt, she would think about it later.

***

In Tokyo....

Paula was in a hurry, putting on her pantsuit and blazer quickly. After confirming her appearance in the mirror, Paula added nude pink lipstick to her lips.

“Will, I have to get to the office immediately,” Paula said as William snuggled in, wrapping his arms around her stomach.

“Is it true, you can’t take a day off?” William asked in a spoiled hoarse voice.

“Oh, God! Can’t you wait for tomorrow, big baby?” Paula said while pinching William’s hard waist which could not be pinched. “Instead of spending time making love, you should go to the gym to burn calories. Take care of your appearance so that you remain sexy for me,” Paula said, laughing out loud.

William sulked because he felt that he was being treated unfairly, being a stay-at-home husband was boring because there was not much to do. He just had to sort the trash and clean up. For the rest of the day, he could only watch television until Paula came home.

“Let’s at least have breakfast first!” William said. “It’s so hard to swallow food without you accompanying me.”

Paula giggled. “Then why don’t you bring lunch boxes to my office? We can eat together there.”

“Wow, what a great idea!” William chirped happily. He would be able to practice the hundreds of recipes he had collected and show Paula the results. “Now, wifey, please sit down because I will prepare breakfast for you.”

Obediently, Paula sat down at the kotatsu table, tucking her feet in for warmth. She didn’t move to the new place since finding a new place was very troublesome. After all, William had been reluctant to spend more money since his father disowned him. He said that he had to save a lot because no one knows the future. He was one of the examples. A week ago he was still the heir to one of the richest families. Now, he had only less than a million.

Three minutes later, breakfast was ready. William served it joyfully, humming while pouring orange juice into Paula’s glass.

“Thank you,” Paula said, smiling widely to see her husband. “Be careful. Don’t cut your hand again!”

Paula warned William, reminding him about the scar on his palm. Of course, William didn’t tell Paula the truth. He just said that it was an accident in the kitchen instead of a bedroom incident with Lea.

“Ah, sure! I’ll be careful,” William replied with a playful you-can-count-on-me look.

“Don’t forget that you have to apply for a residence permit so you can take the driving license test,” Paula warned, making William look happy because he certainly wouldn’t be bored at home.

After breakfast, Paula immediately left for the office, after William smugly hugged her again as if they had been years apart. As William was about to do the chores, his smartphone rang. Surprisingly, it was a call from Lea.

“Lea? How are you?” William greeted her awkwardly. Something must have happened. He was sure of it.

“I-I’m fine,” Lea answered hesitantly.

There was silence for a few moments as neither of them knew what to say. William didn’t even get to say sorry and thank Lea.

Thinking that it was his chance to thank her, William then said, “Lea, I wanted to say-”

“Will, my mom-she needs a heart transplant urgently. I-I need two million dollars for that. Can I borrow the money from you?”

Lea’s stuttering words made William’s heartache. This was the first time Lea had asked for some money from him, but he didn’t have that much money.

“Lea, I actually ... I really want to help you, but I don’t have that amount of money,” William said regretfully.

“Will, I know you hate me-”

“Leah, I don’t hate you. Never! That’s not the reason.”

“It’s only two million, Will. Everyone knows that you are too rich to say you don’t have two million,” Lea said desperately amidst her sobs. “I beg you, Will. It’s for my mother.”

“Lea, I’m sorry,” William answered very apologetically. He then told her that his father had kicked him out of the company and he would no longer get the right to his inheritance.

“So... you are now ... broke?” Leah asked, in disbelief. She then laughed bitterly, her heart was being torn apart.

In the past, he didn’t even dare to leave his family to elope with her. However, now he was doing it for Paula. It was hard to believe.

Hurt and jealousy attacked her fragile heart again, making her hang up without even saying goodbye.

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