Chapter 41

John's POV 

"Belinda?!" I asked again, but the sound of the call being ended was my response instead. 

The hospital had found out; that was the only explanation that came to mind. It was the worst-case scenario, but I had this strong feeling that was exactly what had happened. 

But where was she? 

I looked outside; it was starting to rain like crazy. I tried calling again, but got no response. I called Aria instead; maybe she'd have some clue where she was.

"She went to work. I don't know where she is right now, but you should start there." I didn't tell her what I suspected—just that I wanted to pick her up and didn't know where she was. There was no reason to cause her to worry too. 

I rushed out, got in my car, and drove towards the hospital. I have an idea. I called the shadow guard, and I got her. 

"Sir?" 

"Where are you?" 

"At my post, sir." Good

"Where is she?" 

"Near her hospital, she's sitting on a bench at the park, not far from where she works." 

"What is she doing?" 

"She's crying." 

"Send me your location; watch her till I get there." 

I drove to the park, and there she was, soaked in rain, her head down, bent down, and as she just sat there, there was no attempt to stop the downpour that was drenching her. 

I got the umbrella in the car, stepped out, and walked to her. Her head rose to face me, her face and eyes were red, and her tears had mixed with the rain on her face, but it was obvious she was still crying. 

"Let's go." I took the box she had in her arms and helped her to her feet. 

"They found out." 

"I know; we don't have to talk about it right now. Let's just go home." 

We got in the car, and her steps were weak and slow. She silently sobbed even during the drive. I felt anger towards the hospital boil up in me, but I couldn't do anything. We had broken the rules after all, and if I tried to fight against them, they might just sue Belinda, and it would just make everything messier.

When we got back to my place, she went up to my room silently, changed into my clothes, and curled herself up in a ball. 

She spent the day in bed, barely speaking and barely eating. She managed to tell me how the hospital found out. 

I stared at the box that held everything she held dear to her. It broke my heart to know that I was the reason she would stop doing what she loved doing best. 

I was still confused about who exactly took those pictures, but there was no way of finding out.

The knowledge of someone tailing us, stalking us, and managing to get all these intimate pictures made me wonder if I'd even done a good job of protecting her. 

Belinda is my everything—my life and soul—and just watching her crumble to smithereens was tugging at my heart strings. 

I leaned against the wall, staring at the small bundle beneath my quilt. She was so small that I felt this sudden urge to protect her from the world. 

I walked slowly towards the bed, and by the time I got to her side, I gently peeled the soft cotton away from her body.

She had cried herself to sleep; the dried streak of tears on her cheeks was enough evidence. 

I got on the bed and turned her body to face mine, and on instinct, she curled into my side, pushing her face into the crook of my neck. 

My very own koala bear. 

“Are you awake?” My voice came out deep and soft, the way I knew she liked it. 

She shook her head vigorously and pushed herself deeper into my embrace. 

I chuckled, “Look at me, baby.” 

She hesitated but slowly lifted her face and stared at me from underneath her lashes. 

“You know how much I like to stare into your eyes.” 

Her eyes slowly looked up at me; her lashes were wet with tears, and her eyes were red and puffy. 

I leaned down to peck each eye and said, “Even now, you're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.” 

She shivered in my embrace and burned beneath my touch. 

“You're shutting me out, Love. It's painful to watch you like this, but the real torment is when you don't allow me to help. 

We promised to face and battle the world together, did we not?” 

“I–it’s…” 

“I'm trying to give you a choice, love; if it were up to me, I'd run down that hospital and blacklist each and every one of them.” I scowled. 

She sat up, leaning on her elbow as she placed her palm on the side of my face. “No, John. Please don't. I won't be able to live with the guilt of being the reason they all lost their jobs. 

I love you, but I don't agree to that.” 

My eyes closed on their own accord as I enjoyed the feeling of her touching me. 

“Promise me you won't do it.” 

So adamant. 

“I promise.”

And I'm going to break that promise in the next few hours. 

“Let me build you a clinic.” I said.

“John–”

“Listen to me. Think of it as an investment on my part. I was going to venture into the medical line anyway.” 

“You've already ventured into it.” She rolled her eyes. 

“Okay, I want to venture into more than one.” 

She smiled and said, “John, I promise, it's okay.” 

“No, please. I understand that you want to be independent and all that, but please let me help you be independent.” 

She looked into my eyes as if she were searching for something, and I hope she could find whatever she was looking for. 

She sighed and nodded. “Alright.” 

I stared at her skeptically at first. “Really? Do you mean it?” 

She nodded again with beaming smiles. 

I hugged her tightly and rolled us over on the bed. 

“Thank you. I won't let you down.” 

Hours later, I finally convinced her to come down for lunch. 

“You need to put something in your tummy. It's too flat.” 

Her head reeled backwards. “What?” 

“Your tummy—it's too flat. I don't like it.” I stroked my chin as I stared at it. 

The picture of her in my head was very different from the one I was currently staring at, and I decided I loved the one in my thoughts too much. 

She looked down at it, her palms touching, and she cocked her head to the side, her eyebrows tilted in confusion. 

“Don't most men love flat tummies? You want me to gain weight.” 

“Well whereas some do, some of us like our women very fleshy and you my dear, are in your way to become fleshy.” 

Her jaw dropped and I smirked. 

“Honestly, I want to see your tummy round and robust with my seed.” 

“John!” She squealed. 

“What?” I asked innocently, “I’m just telling you what I'm going to do very soon.” I shrugged. 

“So you're telling me, that you want to fuck a baby into me?”She asked, her tone was serious but the mirth and amusement dancing in her eyes gave her away. 

“It'll be one of the goals in my mind the next time you're on my bed.” 

“Just in your bed?” She flirted back, her fingers playing with my buttons.

“The kitchen, bathroom…Your skin will feel the texture of every surface in this house.” 

“A threat?” She raised an eyebrow, her lips puckered into a pout. 

My eyes got captivated by it and it was impossible to look away.

“A promise.” I winked and pecked her lips.

I served her food and excused myself to make an important phone call. 

She doesn't have to know but I intend to give her Life Hospital as the clinic. 

I quickly placed a call to my financial team when I was sure I was out of earshot. 

“Yes sir.” 

“I want all the shares in Life Hospital bought at once. I don't care how you do it but I want them all and I want the hospital in my name. 

I'm giving you twenty four hours to do that.” 

I hanged up and went back in to meet Belinda. 

“You okay, love?” I asked her as she was squirming on her seat. 

“I'm too full.” She pouted and patted her stomach. 

I glanced at the table that was still filled with so many dishes. 

“You havent–” 

A call came in and I frowned slightly, it's not even up to twenty minutes. 

I excused myself and picked. 

“Yes?” 

“Boss, we don't have enough to buy the shares of Life Hospital.” 

I frowned, “What do you mean?” 

“The funds in both your account and the company’s account can't purchase Life Hospital sir. 

Our money is flowing away like water down the drain. 

Someone has hacked into our treasury.”