Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire
Chapter 251: Just Breathe

Chapter 251: Just Breathe

"What’s going on, Rain?" Sanya asked, pouring steaming tea into two cups on the balcony. She’d just lit the portable tabletop fire pit to keep the chill at bay.

They both took a moment to appreciate the cityscape from this side of the twin buildings, which mirrored Alexander’s penthouse on the other side.

Rain took a deep breath, accepting the warm tea. "I missed this chamomile tea. You always add something special," she said, smiling. It had a calming taste she loved, one that always helped her sleep well.

Sanya’s face lit up with a grin. "Well, once you move into Alexander’s penthouse, I’ll be making this for you every night!" She gave Rain a mischievous look, enjoying her friend’s surprise.

Rain chuckled as Sanya’s eyes sparkled. "Spill it out!" she teased, sensing Sanya had more to share.

"Okay, okay. I’m officially William’s chef now, so I’ll be staying here in his penthouse to cook for him and he’s paying me well! I’ll get to experiment and build my skills before opening my own restaurant." Sanya’s excitement was contagious.

Rain raised an eyebrow. "That’s all?" she asked, and Sanya chuckled, blushing. "Of course! What else would there be?"

Rain gave her a look. "You and him, under the same roof..."

Sanya shrugged, still smiling. "It’s a good way to get to know each other, and don’t worry, we’re staying in separate rooms. I may seem a little liberated, but deep down, I’m actually quite conservative."

Rain nodded, still half-smiling. "You’re old enough to know what you’re doing, but keep me posted if anything gets...complicated with William, okay?"

Sanya nodded, then nudged her. "But enough about me. What’s really going on? Your husband looked serious before pulling us out here."

Rain hesitated, glancing back inside with a troubled expression. She took a deep breath, deciding to confide in Sanya. "Alexander has some tough news to share with William tonight. It’s about their father’s health."

Sanya’s face softened with concern. "Oh no... what’s happened?"

Rain bit her inner cheek to contain her own emotion. She took another deep breath before continuing, "Father-in-law has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. It’s serious, and the doctors aren’t optimistic. Alexander feels that William deserves to know, even though it’s going to be hard for him."

Sanya reached out, squeezing Rain’s hand. "That’s... devastating. I can’t imagine how William will take it. His father means so much to him."

Rain nodded, her voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know how he’ll handle news like this."

A heavy silence settled between them before Sanya murmured, "He’ll need someone to be with him tonight. I’ll stay here."

Rain gave a grateful nod, relieved. "That’s a good idea. He’ll need all the support he can get, and you’ve always had a way of comforting people... like you did for me whenever things felt unbearable."

Sanya smiled softly. "That’s what friends are for." She reached over, giving Rain’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

*****

Meanwhile, inside, Alexander took a deep breath, steadying himself. He looked at William, who was still smiling, oblivious to the weight that hung heavily in the air. Alexander’s fists clenched at his sides as he searched for the right words, knowing that what he was about to say would shatter that smile.

"William," he began, his voice steady but heavy with emotion, "there’s something important we need to discuss."

William, leaning against the kitchen counter, asked "What is it?"

"It’s about our father..." Alexander hesitated, searching for the right words. "He’s been experiencing severe headaches, and after running some tests, the doctors found a brain tumor."

The air suddenly grew tense with the weight of Alexander’s words, and William’s eyes widened in shock. "A brain tumor?" he echoed, disbelief painting his features. "Are you serious?"

"I wish I wasn’t," Alexander replied softly, stepping closer. "They say it’s serious, and we need to talk about treatment options. We can’t afford to waste any time." He couldn’t even bring himself to say the words that their father’s days were numbered.

William felt the world spin around him. His father, the strong figure who had always been there for them, now faced something so terrifying and unimaginable. A wave of emotions crashed over him... fear, sadness, and a gnawing sense of helplessness. "No... this can’t be happening. There must be some mistake!"

The color drained from William’s face as he struggled to process the news. "What stage is it? Can they operate? Is there hope?" Each question came out as a desperate plea.

There was no way they could lose him, right? Their father had to survive... there were so many cancer survivors nowadays. But as William’s body trembled, he caught sight of Alexander’s expression. His brother wasn’t one to exaggerate or make light of serious matters. The helplessness in Alexander’s eyes was enough to confirm the gravity of the situation.

"I don’t know yet, but we need to prepare ourselves," Alexander urged gently. "We’ll figure this out together."

But William couldn’t hear him. The reality of the situation hit him like a freight train, and suddenly, he felt unsteady on his feet. He tried to take a deep breath, but it felt like there was a vice around his chest. "No, no, no," he murmured, shaking his head.

Then, in an instant, his vision blurred. "William!" Alexander shouted as William’s legs buckled beneath him. He crumpled to the floor, hitting the ground hard.

"William!" Alexander rushed to his side, panic flooding his veins as he checked for a response. William’s face was pale, and he was unresponsive. "Stay with me!" he urged, shaking his brother gently. "Don’t you dare pass out on me!"

Heart racing, Alexander fumbled for his phone to call for help, but his focus was entirely on William, who lay motionless on the floor. "Please, just breathe!" he begged, desperately trying to keep his composure.

Outside, Rain and Sanya sensed something was wrong. Sanya’s eyes widened in alarm as she saw Alexander’s panicked expression. "Rain! Something’s wrong!" she cried, rushing inside.

Rain followed closely, her heart pounding as she entered the kitchen and saw William on the floor. "Oh my God! William!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side.

"What happened?" Sanya asked, kneeling beside Rain.

"I don’t know! He just collapsed!" Alexander shouted, his voice cracking with fear.