Chapter 7 - Ivy Collapsed
The crisis arrived during breakfast.
Ivy dropped her spoon.
Then fell.
Naomi screamed.
William reached first despite the wheelchair.
Marcus called emergency services.
Ivy woke seconds later.
Pale.
Confused.
At the hospital, doctors discovered a congenital heart rhythm disorder.
Treatable.
But serious.
Naomi blamed herself.
“I should have known.”
William sat beside her.
“You aren’t her cardiologist.”
“I’m her mother.”
“Exactly.”
“That means I should notice.”
“No.”
William looked toward Ivy’s room.
“It means you show up when there’s something to notice.”
Naomi cried.
William took her hand.
This time she leaned into him.
Treatment succeeded.
Ivy recovered.
William paid nothing directly.
Because Naomi refused.
Instead, his foundation covered uninsured pediatric cardiac care for every child in the same program.
“You cheated,” Naomi said.
“How?”
“You helped everyone so I couldn't reject it.”
“Yes.”
“That is manipulative.”
“Efficient.”
She smiled.
“Terrible man.”
Then kissed him.
Brief.
Unexpected.
Both froze.
June walked in.
“I knew it.”
Naomi nearly died from embarrassment.
William laughed.
Their relationship began awkwardly.
Slowly.
No declarations.
No billionaire fairy tale.
Naomi insisted on keeping her apartment after leaving the shelter.
William respected it.
Mostly.
He complained about the neighborhood.
She complained about his security.
They compromised.
The twins adored William.
Not because of his money.
Because he let them attach ridiculous stickers to his exoskeleton.
One said:
SUPER LEGS
He wore it to a board meeting.
His directors stared.
May you like
William dared anyone to comment.
No one did.
